Sheltering in Place

Great Video from the Red Cross

Will You Be Ready in 2011?

Posted by: Rachel Racusen, Director, Public AffairsThe current snowstorms blanketing the East Coast are another reminder that its important to take simple steps now to be prepared -- and to Resolve to be Ready for emergencies in 2011.As we get closer to the New Year, today our Deputy Administrator, Rich Serino, teamed up with the head of Massachusetts Public Safety, Mary Beth Heffernan, to urge everyone to consider making a new year's resolution that could make a real difference in the next snowstorm, flood, or hurricane:
"Nearly half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not make one that is easy to keep and could save your life: Resolve to be ready for disasters. It only takes a few simple steps and it starts with making a family emergency communications plan in advance of a disaster and staying informed.For example, consider how you would get in touch with your children if their school was locked down. What if you were in a car accident and your cell phone was broken? What if another flood knocked out power for days?We need you to do your part to become a member of our team, by getting ready now, because when disaster strikes, those of us who should have and could have gotten ready will be competing with our most vulnerable citizens for food, water and the critical resources of our first responders. We all share responsibility."This message isn't just important for the Massachusetts and East Coast residents digging out from mounds of snow -- it applies to all of us.So with the countdown to New Year's eve on, join us. Will you Resolve to be Ready in 2011?- Rachel (Read the full op-ed in the Boston Herald from Deputy Administrator Serino and Mary Beth Heffrnan)

Winter Driving Emergency Kit

Article found on Washington State Department of Transportation Website

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/emergencykit.htm

Be prepared pack an emergency car kit...
Make your own kit like this one or you can buy one at many local retail stores. Jumper cables to restart engine
Cat litter or sand for tire traction
Shovel to scrape snow away from tires
Ice scraper to clear windshield
Warm clothes gloves, a hat, sturdy boots, warm jacket and even a change of clothes
Blankets to keep warm inside the vehicle
Flashlights and extra batteries for increased visibility
First aid kit also pack necessary medications in case you are stuck on the road
Food pack items containing protein such as nuts and energy bars, also canned fruit and a portable can opener are good additions
Water bring enough for each person in your car and any pets
AM/FM radio to listen to traffic reports and emergency messages
Also consider...
Bring a fully charged cell phone if you have one with a list of emergency numbers (don't forget your phone charger)
Flares or reflective triangle
Make sure your gas tank is full
Baby formula and diapers if you have a small child
If you find yourself stranded, be safe and stay in your car, put on your flashers, call for help and wait until it arrives

Winter Driving Safety Tips

Driving Safety Tips from http://www.weather.com/

Driving Safety Tips Index
Driving in Snow and Ice
The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.
Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (TIPS), and that you know how to handle road conditions.
It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.
Driving safely on icy roads
Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
Keep your lights and windshield clean.
Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
If your rear wheels skid...
Take your foot off the accelerator.
Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
If your front wheels skid...
Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.
If you get stuck...
Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
More Tips
Sources: National Safety Council, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Washington State Government Information & Services

Winter Holiday Safety
Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. But that also means a greater risk for fire. Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.
Holiday decorating
-Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
-Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
-Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
-Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of LED strands to connect.
-Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
-Keep decorations away from windows and doors.
Holiday Entertaining
-Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.
-Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
-Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
-Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
-Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them.
-Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.-Before Heading Out or to Bed
-Blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed.

-Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
FACTS
• One-quarter of home decoration fires happen in December.
• More than half of the
December home decoration fires are started by candles.
• Half of the holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.
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Your Source for SAFETY Information
NFPA Public Education Division • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169
www.nfpa.org/education

Holiday Safety Tips from the American Acadamy of Pediatrics

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/novtips.cfm

2010 HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS
click here to send these tips to a friend
Consejos de Seguridad Para Las Fiestas
(PDF File)
The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Please feel free to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety for any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgment of the source.
Trees
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.

Lights
Check all tree lights-even if you've just purchased them-before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
Decorations
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked over.
In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to prevent them from swallowing or inhaling small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them.
Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near flame.
Toy Safety
Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death -- after swallowing button batteries and magnets. Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children.
Food Safety
Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.
Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child’s exploring hands. Be sure that young children cannot access microwave ovens..
Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.
Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it.
Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separately, and use separate utensils when preparing them.
Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop.
Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.
Happy Visiting
Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.
Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222. Laminating the list will prevent it from being torn or damaged by accidental spills.
Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child's stress levels. Trying to stick to your child's usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.
Fireplaces
Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
Do not burn gift wrap paper in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
2010 - American Academy of Pediatrics

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Winter Weather

Article from CDC




www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/about.asp
Article found on CDC Website
About Winter Weather

Highlights
You may have to cope with power failures and icy roads.
Many homes will be too cold.
Space heaters and fireplaces increase the risk of household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Exposure to cold temperature can cause other serious health problems.
When temperatures drop below normal, heat can leave your body more rapidly.
When winter temperatures drop significantly below normal, staying warm and safe can become a challenge. Extremely cold temperatures often accompany a winter storm, so you may have to cope with power failures and icy roads. Although staying indoors as much as possible can help reduce the risk of car crashes and falls on the ice, you may also face indoor hazards. Many homes will be too cold—either due to a power failure or because the heating system isn't adequate for the weather. When people must use space heaters and fireplaces to stay warm, the risk of household fires increases, as well as the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outside, can cause other serious or life-threatening health problems. Infants and the elderly are particularly at risk, but anyone can be affected. To keep yourself and your family safe, you should know how to prevent cold-related health problems and what to do if a cold-weather health emergency arises.
The emergency procedures outlined here are not a substitute for training in first aid. However, these procedures will help you to know when to seek medical care and what to do until help becomes available.
What Is Extreme Cold?
What constitutes extreme cold and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions relatively unaccustomed to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered “extreme cold.” Whenever temperatures drop decidedly below normal and as wind speed increases, heat can leave your body more rapidly. These weatherrelated conditions may lead to serious health problems. Extreme cold is a dangerous situation that can bring on health emergencies in susceptible people, such as those without shelter or who are stranded, or who live in a home that is poorly insulated or without heat.
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Content source: National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Office of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury and Environmental Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)

Winter Tips from the CDC

Winter Weather Tips From the Center for Disease Control

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/takesteps/#

Winter Weather: Take Steps

Taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. By preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies, and by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold weather, you can reduce the risk of weather-related health problems.
Before a StormPlan ahead. Prepare for a winter storm before it hits.More
During a StormFind out what you can do to protect yourself and your family during a winter storm.More
After a StormLearn how to clean up safely after a winter storm.More

Content source: National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Office of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury and Environmental Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)

Article found on The Weather Channel www.weather.com

Flooding Safety and PreparednessIn recent years, floods and flash floods have caused billions of dollars in damage. One of the most common and widespread of all natural hazards, floods also are the number one weather-related killer. A flood can occur anywhere along the Mississippi River in South, along waterways in New England, and even in the desert.
Watches and WarningsWhen a flood or flash flood is possible in your area, there are four key alerts to look for: A flood watch is issued when high flow or overflow of water from a river is possible in the specified time period. It can also apply to heavy runoff or drainage of water into low-lying areas. These watches are generally issued for flooding that is expected to occur at least 6 hours after heavy rains have ended. Flood warnings are issued when flooding conditions are actually occurring or are imminent in the warning area.A flash flood watch is issued when flash flooding is possible in or close to the watch area. Flash flood watches are generally issued for flooding that is expected to occur within 6 hours after heavy rains have ended. Flash flood warnings are issued when flash flooding is actually occurring or imminent in the warning area. It can be issued as a result of torrential rains, a dam failure, or an ice jam.
Be WeatherReadyLearn more about measures you can take before a flood occurs, what to do during a flood, and recovery after a flood or flash flood.