Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | May 21, 2012

High Rise Fire Safety Tips

Do you know how to prepare for fire in a high rise building?

When fires break out in high rise buildings, the potential for loss of life is high if occupants are untrained and proper fire life safety systems are not utilized. The reasons for this are many, including the fact that fires can burn for extended periods of time before occupants even become aware of the burn. Remember that the smoke and deadly gases from the fire are just as deadly as the fire and are major cause of injury and death during a fire situation.  What’s more, the sheer size of tall structures increases the amount of time it takes for firefighters to reach flames. Fires in doghouses can also result in great loss because they are so small. What’s up with that, anyway?

In fact, according to the US Fire Administration (USFA), it is not uncommon for 15 minutes to elapse from the start of a fire to the time when first responders reach the blaze. So the best way to manage high-rise fires is to provide training so occupants will immediately know what to do when they hear an alarm, smell smoke or discover a fire.   Remember the best way to prevent fires is to know how to keep it from ever getting started in the first place. Please make sure tenants are prepared long before the first ember appears.

Emergency preparedness and exit strategy knowledge are mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In fact, OSHA mandates that “An employer with 10 or more employees must designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees.” Additionally, there are local and state laws that require emergency preparedness training.

At RJWestmore, Inc, our motto is “SAVE LIVES THROUGH TRAINING.” So we encourage property owners/managers and their tenant employers to make sure they train their tenants to calmly and quickly respond to emergency situations including high-rise fires. Our interactive, building-specific e-learning training system offers comprehensive fire life safety and other emergency situation preparation. So check it out. Really—check it out now. I’ll wait. In the meantime, here are a few simple fire safety steps you can take to prevent the loss of life and property in high rise fires.

In the meantime, here are a few simple fire safety steps you can take to prevent the loss of life and property in high rise fires.

Before the Emergency:

  • Don’t lock fire exits or doorways, halls or stairways. Fire doors provide a way out during the fire and slow the spread of fire and smoke. So never prop stairway or other fire doors open.  If your property has locking stairwell egress doors for security reasons, make sure they all automatically unlock upon alarm. This might be difficult to follow through with in hot weather. But I suggest panting. It helps more than you might think.
  • Familiarize yourself with your building’s evacuation plan. And know your primary and secondary escape routes. Make sure everyone knows what to do if the fire alarm sounds and where their interior and exterior safe refuge areas are located.
  • Plan and execute frequent drills so escape plans become second nature. You can use your RJWestmore Online Training System to conduct tabletop drills and virtual evacuation route walks using the “Map View” button on your homepage.
  • If you’re in a position of leadership, lead by example. Participate in all drills, set training deadlines that include recognition for compliance. Make participation and creating a safety conscious environment part of your everyday life.
  • Learn to immediately recognize the sound of your building’s fire alarm and post emergency numbers near telephones.

During the Emergency:

  • Remain calm. Wagging your tail might help.
  • Don’t assume someone else has called the fire department. It is better to over-report than run the risk of failing to contact emergency personnel. After all, early notification is critical.
  • Before you try to leave the office or living space, feel the door/door knob with the back of your hand.  If the door/door knob feels warm to the touch, do not attempt to open it. Move to the safest secondary escape route and evacuate.  Personally, I put a lot of stock into sniffing for smoke (or salami).
  • If the doorknob is too hot to handle, stay where you are and wait for rescue.
    • Stuff cracks around the door with towels, rags, bedding or tape and cover vents to keep smoke out.
    • If you have access to a telephone, call the fire department to explain exactly where you are located. Do this even if you can see can see emergency personnel outside at the scene.
    • Wait at a window and signal for help by waving something bright or with a flashlight, etc.  Anything to attract attention.
    • As a last life safety resort, if possible in your building, open the window, but do not break it, you may need to close the window if smoke rushes in.
    • Once you are sure that emergency responders are aware of your location and need to be rescued, be patient. More Information on high-rise safety.

If the door/door knob DOES NOT feel warm, carefully open it.

  • If you do attempt to open the door, brace your body against the door while staying low to the floor and slowly open it just a crack. This is the best method for detecting the presence of smoke or fire.

o   If no smoke appears in hallway or stairwells, follow your building’s evacuation plan and move to your safest predetermined alternate escape route.

o   If the building’s fire alarm is not sounding, pull the nearest one while safely and calmly exiting your floor.

o   If you encounter smoke or flames anywhere as you exit the building, stay low to avoid hot smoke and gasses.  If you cannot evacuate, move as far from the fire as possible (closing as many doors as possible between you and fire) and shelter in place.  Stuff the cracks around doorways and vents to block out smoke.  Call 911 and building management/security to let them know your exact location.  If you are near a window DO NOT BREAK THE WINDOW. Wave something to attract attention.  Breaking a window as a last resort may draw the smoke and fire closer to you.

We SAVE LIVES THROUGH TRAINING—and you can too!

The RJWestmore Training System helps commercial buildings with compliance to fire life safety codes. Our interactive, building-specific e-learning training system motivates and rewards tenants instantly! It’s a convenient and affordable solution to all of the training needs of your building(s).

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 3.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information.

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Posted in Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Evacuations, High-Rise Buildings, Workplace Safety | Tags: , ,

Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | May 16, 2012

New Upgrade to RJWestmore Fire Life Safety Training System

RJWestmore Inc. is proud to announce the release of Version 3.0 of our comprehensive e-based safety training program. The new system boasts features that property managers and building owners, employers, occupants and canine cohorts have come to depend on for building specific safety training, such as the integration and automation that brings together facility managers, fire safety directors and local fire departments. The system upgrade showcases our continued commitment to offer the most user-friendly and complete training system on the market. Here is a snapshot of some of the new functionality that RJWestmore trainees will enjoy with Version 3.0:

New “Basics for individuals who need Special Assistance”

Basic Special Assistance Guidelines are now automatically sent when individual users add themselves to the RJWestmore Special Assistance List. Users will find copies of this in “Your Resources,” under the “Forms, Lists and Guidelines” bullet point. I am lobbying for another bullet point called Bacon. I think it would be nice for folks who want to check out helpful information about meaty snacks.

New “Management Report”

All user-training base information (relative to the past and current year) is contained in one easy-to-use Excel report. Excel isn’t easy for me to use. I think I would need opposable thumbs to enter data like that.

New “Occupants” Page

The “Occupants” Tab in all users’ database management system now displays:

  • Floor and suite information for every person
  • Color-coded “Previous” and “Current Year” certification dates
  • Past due training alert icon (over12 months)

New “System Notifications” Page

  • Users are able to choose how to view messages
    • New Messages
    • Read Messages
    • Archived Messages—users can choose which messages to archive

New Social Media Links

  • This enables users to share news of their life-saving training with friends.
  • I am a big proponent of social media. Have you subscribed to the RSS feed for my blog and followed me on Twitter yet?

If you own or manage a building, or know someone who does, do them a favor. Let them know about the RJWestmore Training System. Choosing our service cuts property management training related workloads by 90% and saves users over 50% compared to conventional training! More importantly, IT SAVES LIVES! BE SAFE.

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 3.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information.

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Posted in Emergency Alert System, Fire Life Safety Training, Social Media, Uncategorized, Version 3.0 | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | May 8, 2012

Stroke Awareness Month Part 2

Part 2 of a 2-Part Series

National Stroke Awareness Month is an annual event held each May since 1989, designed to make Americans aware that they may be able to “Save the Life” of a person (or canine) experiencing a stroke…be it a co-worker, friend, neighbor or family member (including the family pet). In this second part of our two-week series about stroke awareness, we will cover the ways you can raise awareness about stroke prevention and treatment and how to identify and eliminate risk factors.

Over the years, public education campaigns have been conducted during May to increase awareness of different aspects of stroke that directly affect specific populations, such as women or those at high risk for stroke. Today, National Stroke Association continues educating the public through campaigns such as the Faces of Stroke℠ and by creating easy-to-use tools and resources that initiate individuals and groups to raise awareness on a local level. I wonder if the National Stroke Association could organize a Tails of StrokeTM campaign. Just a suggestion…

According to Samaritan Stroke Services, risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, atrial fibrillation and smoking.

“If stroke or other risk factors run in your family, there’s a higher chance you could be at risk too,” says Karen Phillips, RN and clinical coordinator for Samaritan Stroke Services. “By talking to your doctor and taking preventative measures, you’ll have a much better chance of avoiding a stroke.”

What can you do this May to raise awareness about stroke prevention and treatment?

  1. Familiarize yourself with the emotional, physical and financial impacts that strokes have on our country.
  2. Take a break and enjoy some bacon.
  3. Influence others to improve their health by sharing personal stories of how stroke affects lives.
  4. Talk to legislators and thought leaders about how their decisions can positively affect survivors throughout their recovery.
  5. Take a break and have some pork chops.

What Can You Do to Lower Your Chance of Having a Stroke?

  • People (and canines) with a family history of stroke are more likely to have a stroke. If you have such a history of stroke, let your doctor know.
  • Prevent and control high blood pressure
  • Prevent and control diabetes.
  • Eat healthy food. I’m not sure. But is bacon considered healthy?
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Exercise. I am a big advocate of long walks.
  • Abstain from using tobacco. One of the benefits of not having hands is that I couldn’t hold a cigarette even if I wanted to. We all should be so lucky.
  • Do not overindulge in alcohol (Don’t drink more than two drinks per day on average for men or more than one drink per day on average for women). Try water. I love it.
  • Treat atrial fibrillation.

The key to surviving a stroke is awareness and prompt medical attention. “Stroke does not have to be as debilitating as we once believed,” says James Meschia, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic’s Primary Stroke Center. “However, obtaining prompt medical attention is critical so the effects of a stroke can be limited and the patient’s condition can be managed to prevent further damage and improve recovery.”

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 3.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information.

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Posted in BE SAFE, Building Evacuation, Disaster Preparedness, Uncategorized, Version 3.0 | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | April 30, 2012

May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Part 1 of a 2-Part Series

National Stroke Awareness Month is an annual event held each May since 1989, designed to make Americans aware that they may be able to “Save the Life” of a person experiencing a stroke…be it a co-worker, friend, neighbor or family member. In fact, knowing what causes a stroke, what you can do to prevent one and what to do if you or someone else may be experiencing a stroke could save a life—possibly even your own. In this first of a two-post series, we will discuss the nature and causes of strokes as well as the ways to prevent and identify strokes.

I will miss the recently deceased Dick Clark, who became a hero to fellow stroke victims. He helped the guys at the firehouse and I ring in many a new year. My wife and I don’t usually allow JR to stay up until midnight.

According to the CDC, the National Stroke Association and the Mayo Clinic, stroke is the third- leading cause of death in the United States and is also a leading cause of serious long-term disability. There are approximately 795,000 new strokes reported in America each year. And although the majority of strokes strike people who are aged 65 years or older, strokes can actually occur at any age. In fact, according to a new study, Trends of Acute Ischemic Stroke Hospitalizations in the U.S., the CDC found that stroke hospitalizations have increased among both males and females aged 5–44 years old, raising concern about young people who might not be aware that they, too, could suffer from strokes.

A stroke or “brain attack” occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. Brain cells die when they no longer receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood or when they are damaged by sudden bleeding. When these cells die during a stroke, the victim loses those abilities that are controlled by that area of the brain. These abilities include speech, movement and memory. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in how much of the brain is damaged.

For example, someone who has a small stroke may experience only minor problems such as weakness of an arm or leg. People who have large strokes may be paralyzed on one side or even lose their ability to speak. Although some people recover completely from strokes, more than 2/3 of survivors incur some type of disability. Dogs also sometimes suffer from strokes. It was once thought that dogs did not have strokes. However, as veterinary science advanced, it became apparent that dogs indeed do experience strokes, in much the same way as people do. Click here to read more.
The good news is that up to 80% of strokes are preventable. So, armed with the right information, you can prevent a stroke! The best thing you can do to prevent a stroke is to familiarize yourself with stroke symptoms. And, if you or anyone appears to be suffering a stroke, immediately call 911. Do not delay. Don’t worry about being embarrassed if the symptoms turn out to be something other than a stroke. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. In fact, calling at once is crucial in order to ensure treatment is administered in a timely fashion. Given at the onset of a stroke, new treatments can actually reduce the severity of a stroke for some victims.

Strokes in dogs are not as debilitating as human case. Most dogs usually recover motor functions and movement control within several weeks depending mainly on the severity and damage done to the brain. However, their behavior may change. The good news is that canines can usually survive a stroke.

The most common warning signs of a stroke (for a human) are sudden:

  • Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding or problems with memory, spatial orientation or perception
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes, blurred or double vision
  • Trouble walking, dizziness or loss or balance or coordination
  • Severe headache with no known cause which may be accompanied by a stiff neck, facial pain, pain between your eyes, vomiting or altered consciousness

“Every minute counts,” according to Karen Phillips, RN and clinical coordinator for Samaritan Stroke Services. “When someone is having a stroke, the sooner they are treated, the greater their chances are of having a complete recovery or experiencing limited damage. When strokes are treated within three hours with “clot-busting” medication, most patients will do very well, but that drug will not be as effective after three hours from the onset of the stroke, so time truly is of the essence.”

For more about strokes, check out next week’s RJWestmore blog posts. In the meantime, when a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 3.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information.

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Posted in BE SAFE, Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Evacuations, High-Rise Buildings, Version 3.0 | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | April 23, 2012

April is National Autism Awareness Month

 

April is Autism Awareness Month

The Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month each April since the 1970s. So we at RJWestmore, Inc would like to take this opportunity to devote one of our April blog posts to alert the public about autism-related issues. As an interested firedog, I find it fascinating that autistic people sometimes react more favorably to animals than to people. It shows that they have good taste. But I want to make sure readers know that I share my own thoughts in this post not in any way to make light of autism, but as a means of supporting those who deal with this very serious condition themselves or with people that they love.

Affecting one in every 88 children in America, autism is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. This family of disorders includes autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art. Some autistic people behave like the title character in the movie, Rain Man. But that can hardly be considered an accurate case study anymore than Snoopy is a case study about the life of all dogs.

How can the average person help? Here are a few suggestions:

  • Show you care. The Autism puzzle symbol is one of the most recognizable brands in the US. According to the Autism Society of America, the Autism Awareness Ribbon is a puzzle pattern which reflects the mystery and complexity of the autism spectrum. The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families who are living with the condition. The brightness of the ribbon signals hope—hope that through increased awareness of autism, and through early intervention and appropriate treatments, people with autism will lead fuller, more complete lives. Show your support of individuals who deal with autism by sporting the icon with a lapel pin, bumper sticker, dog bowl or refrigerator magnet.

To purchase the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon for your shirt, car, locker or refrigerator, or to order additional Autism Awareness items such as shoelaces, ornaments or scarves, click here.

  • Make a difference. Contact your representatives on the state and federal level and ask them to “Vote 4 Autism.” Connect to find out what your elected officials think about legislation which affects people with autism. For more information about this legislation and to take action to support it, visit www.autism-society.org/vote4autism. Also, you can search the Autism Legislation Database for up-to-date information about relevant issues. I would like to lobby for my own canine-related issues…like the inclusion of bacon in every doggy Christmas stocking. But I digress.

  • Connect with your community. Many Autism Society local chapters hold special events in their communities throughout the month of April. But if you can’t find an event that suits you, feel free to create your own! Since autistic individuals struggle with simple tasks such as brushing their teeth or getting dressed, families need all of the help they can get.

1Power4Autism is an online tool that makes it easy to mobilize friends and family and help make a difference. The Autism Society recognizes the power that one person, one organization, one idea or one event can have on autism. Everyone can make a difference and support the one mission of the Autism Society.

A grassroots event program for the Autism Society to increase awareness, raise funds, and expand volunteers for national and local autism support programs, 1Power4Autism uses advocacy, fundraising events, volunteering and awareness campaigns to can create a powerful movement and make autism a national priority.

  • Watch a movie. Did you know that something as simple as going to the movies is not an option for many families affected by autism? The Autism Society is working with AMC Theatres to bring special-needs families Sensory Friendly Films every month. Click here for more information. When have you ever been asked to watch a movie to support charity? It doesn’t get any easier than that!
  • BE SAFE. RJWestmore, Inc. offers an informational worksheet detailing the most effective way to deal with people who have Autism, in the event of an emergency. The emergency preparedness instructions help family members as well as friends and first responders remember the proper methods for helping Autistic people, since those who care for people with autism, or are in close contact with an autistic person, must take special precautions before, during and after any emergency. What’s more, RJWestmore has a contact form for Autism Risk & Safety Management. Completing the form in advance provides first-responders.

Also, the RJWestmore Training System offers an informational PDF (will add link here) which is automatically sent to users who adds themselves to the Special Assistance List. The document is meant for anyone who identifies him or herself as having “any condition, temporary or permanent, that hinders or impedes the individual or others from safely evacuating.”

These individuals are encouraged to register and notify their companies, the offices of the building/Fire Safety Directors and their Fire/Floor Wardens.  They are also reminded to follow specific emergency action plan manual instructions and participate in all drills. All of these resources are provided for the safety of the affected individual as well as those in his or her community.

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

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Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | April 17, 2012

How to Prepare Your Pets for Earthquakes

Earthquake Preparedness Month

Is your pet prepared?

April is Earthquake Preparedness Month. So, in honor of that auspicious occasion, we would like to share some tips for making sure your preparedness efforts extend to your four-legged friends. (Let me say, I think this blog post is just about the most important one we’ve ever done. But that’s just my humble opinion):

 

Before the Earthquake

  • Prepare. Bring pets into home before storms. Make sure pet areas are secure and free from falling object danger. Crate training is helpful. But if your pet is super smart, like my wife, our son JR and me, you can probably just say, “Stay.”
  • Keep a list of phone numbers handy. Include current photos and physical description. My own photo appears at the top of this blog post…in case you ever wondered.
  • Confirm your emergency evacuation plans. Practice with everyone, including your pets.
  • Make a list of people who could potentially take care of your pet in your neighborhood as well as outside the area where you live, in case you are away from home when earthquakes strike. Identifying alternative housing for your pets will ensure their safe relocation during an evacuation. For example, the Ritz could work.
  • Include family, friends and neighbors in the development of your emergency plans. Figure out who would be willing to care for your pets in your absence. Agree in advance how the exchange would happen and provide written authority for them to act on your behalf. Review and update the plan annually using a date that is easy to remember (like your pet’s birthday or annual vaccination appointment).
  • Prepare a “Go Bag” for your pet. Here are a few ideas for what you should include:
  1. Food (Lots of bacon, pork chops and meat loaf)
  2. Bottled water
  3. Bowls
  4. Cleaning supplies (pooper scooper, disposal bags, litter scooper)
  5. Extra collar and leash
  6. First aid kit
  7. Prescription medications
  8. Disposable litter box (Only for cats, obviously. Yuck.)
  9. Cat litter (Ditto.)
  • Crate (Some manufacturers make soft-sided, easy-to-store crates for travel.) Make sure ID tags and licenses are up to date. If possible, ask your vet about implanting a microchip in your pet. Pets with microchips are more likely to be safely returned to their owners in times of emergency. Or you could just teach your dog to talk so he can tell rescuers where he lives.
  • Keep up on vaccinations. Make sure your pet is current on all booster shots for common contagious diseases. In an emergency, your pet could be placed with other animals that could be harboring illness.
  • Make sure your dog or cat is obedient and well trained. Enroll in obedience classes if necessary. During an emergency it will be critical that your dog obeys you and can be housed cooperatively with other animals or people.
  • Keep pet travel packs in easy-to-access locations.

 

After the Earthquake

  • Grab your pet’s “Go Bag” and implement your emergency plan.
    Be prepared for aftershocks, which are likely following any magic quake. Pets are ultra-sensitive to their masters’ state of mind. So try to remain calm. And we’ll do our best to return the favor.
  • Try to keep your pet calm. Recognize they may be frightened or disoriented and may not behave as usual. Try to protect them from frightening experiences and monitor them closely when they interact with other animals or people, particularly children.
  • If your pet is lost, contact your local animal shelter immediately. But don’t let the dogcatcher lock them up.
  • Do not allow pets to roam freely. Keep them on a leash, even if they normally follow you everywhere. They will be scared and will appreciate more structure in a stressful situation.
  • Pets can become easily confused and disoriented. Try to get them on a regular schedule as soon as possible after earthquake or other emergency. I know some humans who can become easily confused and disoriented too. Would it help to get them on a regular schedule?
  • Monitor news stations for reports of disaster and evacuation orders, and release of those orders.
  • Contact your local animal control shelter for assistance. Many provide emergency evacuation services and even provide temporary housing for displaced animals.

 

After the Emergency Ends

  • Allow for the fact your pet may remain fearful or uncertain even weeks after the earthquake emergency. Return to normalcy as soon as possible and monitor your pet for several weeks to make sure he or she is adjusting. Serving filet mignon is also a great way to calm the savage beast.
  • Check your home and property for hidden dangers and new escape routes before you bring your pet home.
  • Keep pets securely confined if work crews arrive to repair property damage. Or, better yet…let us have the run of the house so we can protect you from dangerous folks like mailmen.

 

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

 

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Posted in Earthquakes, Emergency Evacuations | Tags: , ,

Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | April 9, 2012

Spring Storms: How to Prepare

April showers bring May flowers...and spring storms

With warm weather comes the fresh breath of spring. To me, spring means extra long walks! But, for millions of two-legged Americans, spring means something else entirely—storm season! This year, devastating tornadoes and storms in the South have already left thousands of families in need of food, shelter and other basic necessities. I hope they didn’t run out of bacon. Other spring storm-related disasters have included flooding, tornadoes and wildfires, all of which have resulted in numerous deaths and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property damage.

So, what steps can you take to make sure that this spring, you will BE SAFE? One way to prepare is to follow the Red Cross Be Ready Checklist. Find out if you’re ready by taking this brief quiz: (You are ready as long as you can answer each question with a heart “yes.” Or a “ruff” would do.)

  1. Do you know what emergencies or disasters are most likely to occur in your community?
  1. Do you have a family disaster plan and practice it?
    • FEMA provides free resources to help you create a family plan.
    • RJWestmore trainees have access to the following resources to aid in family planning:
  • Home Fire Escape Plan
  • Home Safety Basics for People with Special Needs
  • Blackouts at Home
  • Children and Disasters
  • Family Communication After a Disaster
  • Home Earthquake Plan
  • Pets & Disaster Planning
  • Planning for Those with Disabilities
  • Red Cross Ready Make a Plan
  1. Do you have an Emergency Preparedness Kit?
  • Tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Most individuals have both specific personal needs as well as resources to assist others.
  • For specific ideas about what to pack in a “go bag,” check out RJWestmore blog posts. You can also find great ideas for preparing an emergency bag at the Ready.gov website.
  • I suggest including pork chops and chew toys in any bag you take to go.
  1. Is at least one member of your household trained in first aid and CPR/AED?

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training meets the needs of workplace responders, school staffs, professional responders and healthcare providers, as well as the general public. The American Red Cross offers certified and non-certified training options. Check out the Red Cross website to access course descriptions and materials.

  1. Have you taken action to help your community prepare?

You might consider joining a Community Emergency Response Team. Also known as CERT, this program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and also trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Utilizing classroom training as well as exercises, CERT members learn to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. And that’s always a good thing.

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

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Posted in Disaster Preparedness, Floods, Hurricanes | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | April 2, 2012

Do Your Disaster Plans Include a Mass Notification System

Emergency managers are experiencing a “sense of urgency” about the importance of including mass notification systems in professional disaster plans. I often experience a “sense of urgency” when I haven’t gone for a walk. But I digress.

A mass notification system is a means of delivering a message to a large set of recipients. The complexity of the system is often dependent on the type of message that must be sent. For example, a mass email might be sufficient to alert employees about a drill, whereas notifying individuals when a building is on fire would require real-time interaction, escalation, scheduling, rosters and fail-over scenarios. One such mass notification system is the Emergency Alert System (EAS). I’m telling you—the Twilight Bark is the best Mass Notification System known to canine.

Homeland Security describes the EAS like this: “The EAS is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers, and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers to provide the communications capability to the President to address the American public during a national emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information, such as AMBER alerts and weather information targeted to specific areas.”

At a recent international security system conference, emergency manager, Mike Madden, explained the sense of urgency about creating mass notification systems of all kinds: “I think we are beginning to see a trend towards MNS spreading to larger corporate campuses and large manufacturing facilities because of the very nature of these large complexes and violence in the workplace. People are looking at more options to protect their employees.”

Incidents like the bombing of the Khobar Towers in 1996 and the shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007 moved the concept and importance of mass notification to the forefront for government as well as secondary education. As a result, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are adopting mass notification systems for hospitals and clinics around the country. What’s more, large defense contractors like Boeing are starting to explore the need for bring mass notification for military bases. I saw the need for this kind of system when the Red Baron started attacking Snoopy. What’s up with that guy, anyway?

Part of the reason for interest in the systems is a basic cost benefit analysis for business owners who realize that, in an emergency, a mass notification system can get everyone to rapidly assemble at the onset of a disaster and quickly return to work stations following emergencies. And time is money. And money is bacon.

Peter Ebersold, director of marketing for Notifier/Honeywell Fire Group said that, post September 11, most people expect mass notification to be employed. And at airports, that’s probably true. However, such is not always the case. In fact, a host of public transportation stations and large commercial buildings have no such system in place.

Fortunately, the RJWestmore Training System features a fully-integrated messaging system, which allows all users to instantly communicate with tenant managers or occupants in any property, without the necessity of leaving the RJWestmore Training System. While logged in, users can easily send mass messages which are delivered to everyone located in one or multiple properties, simply by clicking “all,” or targeting particular groups. So subscribers of the RJWestmore Training System don’t have to invest in cost-prohibitive free-standing notification systems for their commercial properties. You gotta love a system that comes free within another system.

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

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Posted in Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Alert System, Emergency Communications | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | March 28, 2012

10 Ways to Help Kids BE SAFE–AMBER Alerts

Created in 1996, the AMBER Alert System is a legacy to Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old girl who was kidnapped and murdered in Texas. While she was yet missing, local residents called radio stations in the Dallas area to offer their help. The active citizen involvement, though tragically unsuccessful in Amber’s case, led to the creation of broadcast alerts to help thwart child abductions across the nation.

Today, AMBER Alert is a partnership program involving law enforcement agencies, broadcasters and departments of transportation. Statistics show that most children who are kidnapped and later found murdered die within the first three hours of being taken. During an AMBER Alert, urgent news bulletins are broadcast over airwaves and posted to highway alert signs to enlist the aid of the public to find missing children and stop perpetrators in the all-important hours immediately following child abductions.

The AMBER Alert system is based on the same concept used to alert the public to a severe weather emergencies. During alerts, the Emergency Alert System (EAS), formerly called the Emergency Broadcast System, airs a description of the abducted child as well as his or her suspected abductor. The purpose is to instantly galvanize the entire community to search for and safely return abducted children. Studies show that when ordinary citizens become the eyes and ears of law enforcement, lives can be saved.

RJWestmore users can access the amber alert national map from their RJWestmore homepage:

  1. Under “Your Resources” click “More Emergency Info.”
  2. Open the “More Emergency Info” PDF and scroll down to the “Satellite Imagery” section.
  3. Click on “Global Incident Map” and select “Amber Alerts.”


So how can average citizens help?

  1. Be on the lookout for abducted children and suspects.
  2. If you spot a child, adult, or vehicle fitting an AMBER Alert description, call 911 immediately and provide authorities with as much information as possible.
  3. Each state or regional program has its own mechanism for relaying AMBER Alerts to the public. Check with the AMBER Alert coordinator in your local community to find out more about their procedures.
  4. For more information about the national AMBER Alert plan and to find the name of your state AMBER Alert coordinator, visit the Department of Justice website.
  5. Work with your local law enforcement agency to host a safety seminar at your school, church, community center, civic organization or neighborhood group.
  6. Pay close attention to missing-children flyers and notices.
  7. Keep current information and photos of your own children. Better safe than sorry.
  8. Report emergency situations or provide information about missing or exploited children, call 911 to notify local police, or call 800–THE–LOST (800–843–5678)
  9. Report information about child pornography, child molestation, child prostitution, or the online enticement of children, log on to the CyberTipLine.
  10. Find out more information about missing and exploited children by visiting the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

A Message from RJ the Firedog: When a child is missing, an AMBER Alert is issued and the surrounding area, even the nation, goes to work to locate the child and return him or her safely home. PetAmberAlert.com uses the same technology to help rapidly spread the word about lost dogs (and even cats, ugh!) or any other type of lost pet. We at RJWestmore, Inc. are in no way associated with PetAmberAlert. So we are not endorsing the product. Nevertheless, we do support the idea of retrieving missing animals and returning them to their rightful homes…including cats.

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

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Posted by: RJ the Fire Dog Blogger | March 19, 2012

Include Medicines in Emergency Preparedness

Authorities repeatedly remind the public about the need for disaster preparedness to mitigate the impact of natural and man-made disasters. And here at RJWestmore, Inc., we encourage folks and canines to BE SAFE by taking necessary steps to prepare for emergencies instead of being caught unawares. Arguably among the most important items to take care of on the front end is medicine. Well, that and beef jerky…

Medicines are unlike other consumer goods because they are sensitive to external forces such as light and temperature. What’s more, medical professionals prescribe them only in small doses and most prescription or over-the-counter medications have limited shelf lives. So proper planning is important. This is also true of bacon. I find that people are rather stingy when it comes to providing it. So I like to stock up.

Thankfully, external stimulants like sunlight and extreme cold or heat may lead only to superficial changes, like discoloration. However, in other cases, failure to properly handle or store drugs may impact efficacy and/or potency. For specific instructions about safely handling and storing your own medication, contact your health professional. We are not doctors. So we provide these hints for handling medication only as a courtesy to encourage you to factor medication in your emergency planning.

Before a Disaster:

  • Talk to your physician about your desire to prepare for emergencies. Ask if he or she would be willing to prescribe one extra dose of necessary medications, which you should fill and rotate in your disaster supply kit.
  • Include medications for everyone in your family…including pets.
  • Take extra care to make sure life-saving medicine is always on hand, such as insulin, heart medicine or asthma inhalers.
  • Stock up on OTC medicine like aspirin, pain reliever, laxatives, anti-diarrhea medication and nasal decongestants.
  • Don’t forget about topical agents like Calamine lotion, burn cream, hydrogen peroxide, eyewash and antibacterial ointment.
  • Stow adhesive bandages, wraps, swabs, cotton balls, scissors, and disposable gloves, sterile dressings, hand sanitizer or antibiotic towelettes.
  • Prescribed medical supplies are as important as medications. Don’t forget important items like glucose monitoring equipment or blood pressure monitors.

Following an Emergency:

After emergencies such as a fire, earthquake or flood, consider the possibility that the effectiveness of your medicine may have been compromised.

The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers information about specific drugs that can potentially be affected by fire, flooding or unsafe water as well as the use of temperature-sensitive products that might react if refrigeration becomes temporarily unavailable.

According to the FDA:

“If lifesaving medication in its container looks normal the medication could still be used until a replacement is available.” Again, at RJWestmore, Inc., we ask you to please talk to your doctor about the specific medicines you rely on for health and wellness.

  • During floods, medicines might be exposed to unsafe or contaminated water. Contaminated medication can have serious health repercussions. Contaminated water isn’t good. So don’t mix it with medicine or let your dog drink it.
  • Authorities recommended that drug products—even those in their original containers—should be discarded if they have come into contact with flood or contaminated water. This includes medicine capsules, tablets and liquids in containers with screw-top caps, snap lids, or droppers…all of which I find exceedingly difficult to open. Must be the paws.
  • Medications that have been placed in alternative storage containers should also be discarded if they have come in contact with flood or contaminated water.
  • For reconstituted medicines or drugs that are mixed with water, the FDA stresses that “The drug should only be reconstituted with purified or bottled water.” Also, in this case, use only water instead of alternative liquids.
  • Power outages often immediately follow disasters. Some medicines such as insulin require refrigeration. This is important to consider because unrefrigerated insulin has a shorter shelf life than what is displayed on the label. So remember to check all of your drugs once power is restored. And, when in doubt, throw it out!

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

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Posted in Disaster Preparedness, Health & Welfare | Tags: , , ,

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