“Animals are dependent on people when disaster strikes.”
That’s why you need to plan and prepare for your pet – SOS Survival Products is offering a free class at its training center January 21, 2012 in Van Nuys, CA. See the flyer below for more information or visit http://sosproducts.com/trainingcenter.html.
-Eland
Conventional wisdom states that faulty electrical wiring or arson often causes fires. USFA, a division of FEMA, announced two separate reports dealing with individuals with disabilities and mental illnesses where human factors contributed to the ignition of the fire.
The report states:
An estimated 1,700 residential building fires involving individuals with mental disabilities are reported to U.S. fire departments and cause an estimated 85 deaths, 250 injuries, and $61 million in total loss. Additionally, there are an estimated 700 residential building fires involving individuals with physical disabilities that occur each year, resulting in 160 deaths, 200 injuries, and $26 million in property loss.
This report is especially important because it highlights human error with regard to fire deaths and injuries. Freak accidents do not usually have a solution but when human cause is a factor, they do. We hope that USFA working with FEMA can come up with a solution to prevent these scary statistics.
The reports can be downloaded at: www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/
-Andy, Eland
(we thought this Bruce Springsteen song might make a nice musical accompaniment to this article)
We usually come to you with scary statistics about alcohol, drugs, and cell phones making our nation’s highways and streets very dangerous places. Not today! A new study says:
Statistics show that 29 percent of men admitted being distracted by short skirts and low-cut tops in the Summer weather, leading to record numbers of accidents on the roads.
Instead of drunk driving roadside sobriety tests, are police going to be checking for revealing clothing?
And it’s getting worse:
In 2009, men made 16.4 percent more claims during the Summer than in any other month.
So when you are driving on the road and see girls in more, revealing, clothing, take caution!
To read the full article visit – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7917861/Male-road-accidents-soar-in-summer-due-to-womens-short-skirts.html
-Andy, Eland
We have to admit we were rather impressed when we heard the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) would be conducting two live Twitter chats in honor of the release of the Hollywood film Contagion starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and a host of other big-name stars. Contagion follows the swift progress of a deadly indirect contact transmission virus that is fatal within days. Pop culture has been a secret weapon for the CDC with their brilliant Zombie Apocalypse Preparedness Guide earlier this year which got them huge buzz.
The first chat is underway now and features CDC expert Dr. Jennifer McQuiston taking questions about how the CDC investigates deadly diseases and protects people against their spread. Didn’t get a chance to be a part of today’s chat? No worries — once more, on Monday, September 19th at 2:00 pm EDT, you can chat with some of CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officers. Kate Winslet plays an EIS officer in Contagion!
We love it when a government agency is able to get the public engaged in different and interesting ways. Just because it involves safety and the government does not mean it has to be boring.
Here are the instruction from the CDC for the chat: “Using your Twitter account, go to CDC’s Twitter page, and follow #CDCcontagion during the chat. If you can’t participate during the event, you can still submit questions in advance on Twitter to @CDCgov (include the #CDCcontagion hashtag), or on CDC’s Facebook page at any time before the event. If you need more information about Twitter, here’s the link.”
-Andy, Eland
As parents we hope it never happens. It could be anything from a biking accident to a natural disaster or even an out of control fever. You hope against hope that you never see your child spend a night in the hospital. A new study says you might have more to worry about than your child having to visit the hospital.
According to research led by Dr. Chris Feudtner of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who analyzed 2006 data from more than 580,000 pediatric patients from 463 hospitals across the country, kids are overmedicated. In fact, the study said that:
[Children] received as many as 13 different drugs throughout their hospital stays. After a weeklong stay, a number of children received 35 different drugs.
These days, it comes as no shock that children in hospitals are given too much medication. It shows the importance of asking a lot of questions during your child’s hospital stay (and even your own!!) to make sure that your child is only given medication that is absolutely necessary.
You can read the full story about the study on the ABC News website here: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/09/05/are-hospitalized-children-overmedicated/
-Andy, Eland
What if your family isn’t in the same place when disaster strikes? Do you have a communications plan in place? How will you coordinate…get back together…tell everyone you are ok (or not)? Ready.gov created this emergency communications plan for families. Tips include:
Your going to need to make quick decisions and get everyone on the same page. Our families have taken steps to determine out of state contact(s). We encourage you to take a few minutes and set up your plan. Read the full article here: http://www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/index.html
What other ideas do you have for an emergency communications plan?
-Dan, Eland
FEMA updated us with information about SBA & Agility Recovery Solutions — they are hosting a free webinar on the “10 Basic Steps toward Business Disaster Preparedness” When? September 14 from 2-3pm Eastern.
Recent hurricanes, floods and wildfires are reminders that business owners should have a plan to protect their assets, recover quickly and be ready for the next emergency. During National Preparedness Month, the U.S. Small Business Administration and Agility Recovery Solutions are hosting weekly webinars aimed at helping business owners take responsibility for the economic well-being of their own companies, as well as their communities.
James Rivera, SBA’s associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Assistance, will discuss business continuity plans and there will be an overview on preparing a supply chain, developing a communications plan and assessing risk.
WHO: James Rivera, Associate Administrator, SBA Office of Disaster Assistance
WHAT: “10 Commandments of Disaster Preparedness” will be presented by Rivera. Q&A Follows.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 14 at 2:00 p.m. EDT
HOW: Space is limited. Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/767371552
The SBA provides disaster recovery assistance in the form of low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, private nonprofits and businesses of all sizes (to learn more, visit www.sba.gov/disaster)
Dan, -Eland
When you hear Waffle House, don’t you think of the calorie inducing food chain that serves greasy breakfast and a million ways to eat hash browns? How about Waffle House as an emergency management tool? W. Craig Fugate of FEMA can explain. From a recent Christian Science Monitor report:
Using what’s come to be known as the ‘Waffle House Index’, Fugate checks to see if the restaurant is open in any given area. If it is and serving a full menu, the index is green. That means there’s water and power, he says, and area residents should be fairly well off. If the restaurant is open but serving a limited menu, the index is yellow. That means there’s water but no power. If the restaurant is closed, the ‘Waffle House Index’ is red and there’s no power or water.
Hmmm…to laugh…or applaud FEMA’s efforts? Who knows…the real winner here is Waffle House. Makes us want some of those hash browns…mmmm….hash browns. Wait, huh, what?! Oh yeah, read the full article here – http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/new-economy/2011/0901/Waffle-House-index-How-breakfast-signals-storm-damage
-Andy and Dan, Eland
A manufacturer of Povidone Iodine Swabsticks, Povidone Iodine Prep Solutions, Povidone Iodine Scrub Solutions and Povidone Iodine Prep Gel is issuing a voluntary recall on its products.
H & P Industries, Inc. manufactured these products without a) microbial testing at the time of release b) having a system for testing of incoming components and c) having procedures designed and established to prevent objectionable microorganisms in these drug products
H & P’s investigation and extensive testing did not find contamination, and the products met H&P Industries, Inc., finished goods specifications; however the recall was initiated at the request of the FDA.
Read the full details here: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm269642.htm
-Dan, Eland Staff
9/11 Bus in DC
Vehicles and pedestrians along our nation’s highways and cities have been doing double-takes the past 5 months as the 9/11 Bus (wrapped in photos of fire scenes with the unmistakable 9/11 Patch graphic on the hood) rolled through over 28 states, visiting with 130 1st responder organizations and communities, so far.
The bus, driven by FireCareers.com owner Craig Freeman and co-piloted by his wife Pam, bears the large words, FireCareers.com across each side. Fire Careers, a 28 year old national firefighter recruitment company, is the major sponsor for the 9/11 Patch Project. The two companies came together to confirm a clear message to Americans across the nation, “We Will Never Forget.” With the 10 Year Anniversary of 9/11, around the corner, both the Freeman’s and the 9/11 Patch Project founder, Brett Hill, felt it was time to take the message on the road–coast to coast.
The 9/11 Bus left Manhattan Beach’s Fire Department on January 25th, in route to Manhattan (NY). The purpose of the cross country trip is to have fellowship with hundreds of 1st Responder organizations, record the hosted stops with group photo’s in front of the bus and raise funds for the FDNY Bravest Scholarship Fund, the Terry Farrell Fund and the Feal Good Foundation. Funds are being raised through the sale of the 9/11 Patch Project’s iconic patches and decals. The bus is also raising funds by applying the names and logos of organizations along the way through the “Don’t Miss the Bus,” sponsorship program. This also funds the cost to run the bus at nearly $2 per mile.
More important, the names and logos on the bus send a clear message to the FDNY and other New Yorkers as the bus rolls into Manhattan, that organizations across the nation DID NOT FORGET.
Read more about the story here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8708620.htm
-Dan, Eland Staff
