Every Life Secure - Emergency Preparedness Blog

Chicago NATO Summit - Businesses Prepare for Emergencies

As the NATO Summit in Chicago nears, many businesses in the downtown Chicago area have put in place special plans to safeguard their employees and facilities in case of violence or terrorism. Many businesses will just be shutting down for the days of the summit. This is in part because of how difficult it will be for their employees to get to work given the many public and private transportation limitations caused by the security precautions.

I have friends who live and work in downtown Chicago who warned us to reschedule a celebration we had planned for a non-profit group to another weekend because downtowners are planning to hunker down for the weekend and watch whatever unfolds on TV.

We also know that some businesses just don't have the luxury of closing and so are taking precautions including beefing up their emergency supplies in case they need to evacuate or shelter in place. As Chicago braces for possible violence or terrorism at the NATO Summit these businesses understand the need to be prepared. Some of these businesses and government agencies have turned to LifeSecure for help in their preparation.

Such events are good reminders of the need for businesses to be prepared every day for an unexpected emergency or disaster.  Such preparation requires not only emergency plans but also emergency kits and supplies.  We continue to see more and more businesses purchasing emergency preparedness supplies to keep their employees safe in case of an emergency or disaster.  At the same time, many businesses remain unprepared for such possibilities. 

If you are responsible for the safety of employees in your workplace, we can help you prepare to keep them safe.  Contact now us to see how we can help secure your business and its employees.  877-877-5522 or info@LifeSecure.com.

 Every Life Secure... Is Yours?^TM -- Over 500,000 Lives Secure and counting.

How do we prepare for earthquakes? Lessons from the L'Aquila, Italy Earthquake

Unfortunately, we have seen once again the destructive power of earthquakes in the latest tragic tremor (6.3 on the Richter Scale) in L'Aquila in central Italy.  As of this writing, over 150 people are believed dead with 1,500 or more injured.  With some 10,000 to 15,000 buildings damaged or destroyed, over 100,000 people have been left homeless.

Some takeaways from this tragedy in Italy are:

Disasters can happen at any time of day.  This quake occurred at 3:32 a.m., so most were caught in their sleep -- at their most vulnerable.  The stories emerging speak of many fleeing in their pajamas and barely making it out of their houses and apartments as they crumbled around them.  This speaks to such easy preparedness steps as having a pair of shoes or slippers at your bedside, a light source (light stick or flash light) handy, and a robe or some other covering close by to grab for warmth in case of a need to evacuate without warning.  It also speaks to having your emergency supplies were they can be easily grabbed as you exit your home or workplace.

Basic services were immediately disrupted.  It is clear from images of damaged streets and infrastructure that water, sewer and electricity were instantly cut off to many homes.  As I viewed images of regular citizens helping in the rescue efforts (digging through debris with their bare hands), I noticed one young man with a military style canteen strapped around his waist.  I realized that he was probably among the few that was prepared to hydrate himself during the initial hours of response.  I was reminded that without emergency supplies on hand, we may be left without survival basics for hours, days or longer after a major disaster.

Don't expect the government to be able to immediately respond to your basic needs. One civil protection official was quoted as saying that the key priority was to provide shelter for everyone by nightfall.  One can only imagine the challenge of trying to shelter over 100,000 people "by nightfall".  One can also image that attempts to provide food, water, and sanitation facilities would be less than 100% successful, at least in the short-term. 

Access to basic tools will allow you to aid in rescue efforts.  As video images show many people working with their bare hands to assist professional responders in clearing rubble in an attempt to find survivors, it is apparent that they lack no willingness to do all they can to help rescue others. It is also clear that simple tools and supplies like gloves, shovels, picks, sledgehammers, axes, etc could significantly aid their efforts.  Having your own basic emergency tools will significantly increase your usefulness should you remain among the able-bodied people who survive the disaster.

Medical facilities may not be immediately available to treat injuries.  Sections of the main hospital in L'Aquila had to be evacuated because they were at risk of collapsing in the aftershocks.  People were being treated on the street and in the hospital courtyard.  Many bloodied victims had to await treatment as the facilities and personnel that were available were overwhelmed by the massive need for medical attention.  Each of us should think about having basic first aid supplies on hand to stop bleeding, help someone to start breathing again, splint a broken limb, etc. 

Obviously, basic training in first aid, CPR, and other skills will be invaluable as we help our own families, neighbors and others in the absence of immediate professional medical attention after a disaster.  Be aware that many basic home first aid kits are designed for minor day to day "cuts and scrapes" and provide little to help in more advanced, yet basic life saving situations.  Trauma first aid kits and supplies will be of greater help in a true disaster.  I keep a lot of trauma bandages and supplies on hand at home as even untrained individuals can help stop bleeding if they just have the right basic supplies.  I also figure that I can help resupply professionals if supplies of such basics as blood stopping bandages run low in the initial hours of response.

Here are some links that provide more information on how to prepare for an earthquake and how to respond if you are hit by one:

Selected information from Are You Ready?, FEMA

CDC - Earthquakes - Before, During, After

The greatest lesson from every disaster we witness around the world is that the time to prepare to be secure in an emergency or disaster is BEFORE one strikes.  No measures taken after the fact will fully compensate for lack of preparation before the event.

What are you doing to be prepared for an earthquake or other disaster?  If you are already prepared, how can you encourage and help others to be prepared at home, at work, at school, or on-the-go? 

Comment or email me to let me know what you are doing to help make "Every Life Secure" (even your own).

Every Life Secure - over 190,000 Lives Secured and counting...

Emergency Kit - Does Your Emergency Kit Pass the "CLAD" Test? Is it Compact...?

When evaluating your existing emergency kit or considering the components for a new one, you may want to make sure that your kit passes the "CLAD" Test.  

A dictionary.com definition of "CLAD" is "To cover with a protective or insulating layer of... material."  So, with your emergency kit, "Are you properly 'CLAD' to survive an emergency or disaster?" 

Or as we might say, "Does your emergency kit have you covered?"

At LifeSecure we use the "CLAD" Test to evaluate our emergency kit designs (like the Grab-and-Go 1-Person 3-Day Emergency Kit pictured above) to make sure that we are providing an emergency kit and supplies that balance and optimize four key attributes of a good emergency kit:

C - Compact - small enough to reasonably store and transport

L - Lightweight -light enough to be practically transported in difficult conditions by the person who plans to use it

A- All-Hazards equipped - comprehensive and versatile for use in any emergency; with each supply item being as multi-functional as possible

D- Durable - able to perform in the tough conditions that often accompany an emergency

If your emergency kit has the proper balance of these four attributes, you stand a better chance of more successfully and comfortably surviving an emergency or disaster.  These attributes become especially important in any emergency that might require an evacuation from your home or office.

In this first part of a four part series, I'll discuss the importance of making sure your supplies and your emergency kit are compact. 

I was helping a woman on the phone one day as she selected emergency supplies for her family.  After listening to her give me a long list of what she wanted, I asked her a simple question, "How do you intend to carry all of these supplies if you should end up on foot?"  When we discussed the bulk of the total supplies she wanted, she realized that there was not a practical way for her and her husband to carry all these supplies and bring along their two young children.  We pared down her list and ended up with a 72 hour emergency kit solution that was more compact and that better met the practical needs of her family.

The key to keeping an emergency kit compact and manageable, while still making sure that all essential survival needs are met, is making sure that the supplies in the kits are compact.  Two emergency supply items come to mind as excellent examples of this principle. 

The first is a new emergency supply that has just been introduced to the market: the compacted Emergency EZ Towel. 

These compacted emergency towels are activated with a few drops of water, turning the small towel tablet into a 9" x 12" towel for use in emergency sanitation, hygiene, and First Aid (wound cleaning).  These Emergency EZ Towels take the place of a large towel or multiple washcloths.  They are disposable and bio-degradable.

The towels comes in a waterproof tube of 10 towel tablets.  The compact tube is not much bigger than a roll of quarters. 

This video clearly illustrates the compact nature of this product.  A small roll of compacted towels can save a lot of space when compared with the room that a full towel or multiple washcloths might take in a backpack or duffel bag.

The second example of a compact supply is a traditional emergency basic found in most emergency supply kits: the emergency thermal blanket.  This metalized foil blanket measures just 5" x 2.5" x 1" (that's about the size of a man's wallet) when folded but expands to cover 84" x 52" in use.  This compact blanket provides warmth (retains and reflects up to 90 of body heat), a waterproof and windproof shelter barrier, and a covering to help reduce shock when someone is injured.

Emergency thermal blankets have several qualities that, in an emergency, are actually superior to those of regular blankets, and they take up a fraction of the space.  Many traditional blankets would fill almost an entire backpack, leaving room for little else.  So for emergency use, this supply gets high marks for being compact and versatile.

  In addition to choosing compact supplies like those detailed above, it is important to properly size your emergency kits to fit the storage space that you can practically devote to it.  For example, many people may find it difficult to fit a whole backpack in their office or workstation at work.  This doesn't mean that you can't store the essential personal basic supplies to last up to 72 hours. 

Compact kits like the Personal 3-Day Emergency Response Kit or the Personal Grab-and-Go 3-Day Emergency Kit can easily be stored in a desk drawer, on a shelf, or in a cabinet.  While these kits may not be as extensive as a full 72 hour emergency kit in a backpack, they will give you the basics for survival in a very compact storage and transport solution.

When considering supplies for your emergency kits, make sure that you consider products that are compact.  In doing so you'll be able to include emergency supplies that meet all your essential emergency needs without needing a bag or other container that is so big that it is difficult to store or impractical to transport.

What are some of your favorite compact supplies for including in an emergency kit?  Is there something bulky for which you have found a more compact substitute?

Every Life Secure

What Do You Do During a Tornado? How Can You Be Safe Wherever You Are?

LifeSecure.com

I awoke this morning to the news of another deadly tornado.  This one was in Oklahoma and claimed 8 lives and destroyed numerous buildings.  I wondered,"How many tornadoes hit in the U.S. every year?"  Answer: Over 1,200.

Then I wondered, "Which states get hit the most by tornadoes?" Answer: The Tornado Alley states of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and South Dakota.

How about, "Where have the most deadly tornadoes hit?" Answer: Mississippi, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Maryland.

The deadliest tornado of all time killed 689 people along a 219 mile long track in 1925.

So, "Is there any state in the U.S. that is completely safe from tornadoes?" Answer:  No.  Sorry, every US state including Hawaii has experienced tornadoes.  So, no matter which state you live in, its important to know what to do during a tornado.

As I further researched Tornadoes, I saw a video clip of two storm chasers in Iowa taking a direct hit from a tornado while in their car last year (this same tornado killed 4 in a boy scout camp).  These guys stayed in their car and filmed the whole event. I thought, "Aren't you suppose to get out of the car and lie flat in a ditch?"

It's been a while since I last read about what to do in a tornado, so I decided it was time for review.  Hopefully you will find my tornado response review helpful.

Here is what the US Government (FEMA) tells us to do:

If you are in "a structure (e.g. residence, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building) - Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows."

OK, so forget the old advice to open windows "so your house doesn't explode."

If you are in "a vehicle, trailer, or mobile home - Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

No mention of getting out to "lie down in a ditch."  The guys on the video I saw were out of luck because there were no nearby buildings.

If you are "outside with no shelter - Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.

Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.

Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries."

OK, so there is my "lie in a ditch" advice.  But I'm still not clear on if you are out in the open with no chance to get to a building, do you stay inside the car or jump out and lie in a ditch?  ...Ah, here we go.  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has the answer:

"On the Road

The least desirable place to be during a tornado is in a motor vehicle. Cars, buses, and trucks are easily tossed by tornado winds.

DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO IN YOUR CAR. If you see a tornado, stop your vehicle and get out. Do not get under your vehicle. Follow the directions for seeking shelter outdoors (see next section).

Outdoors

If you are caught outside during a tornado and there is no adequate shelter immediately available--

• Avoid areas with many trees.
• Avoid vehicles.
• Lie down flat in a gully, ditch, or low spot on the ground.
• Protect your head with an object or with your arms."

Got it!  Bottom line is don't stay in the car.  Get to a sturdy building (never go under an overpass for protection) or if this is not possible, do the "lie in a ditch" thing.

It's hard to remember exactly what to do in every disaster situation, but reading official recommendations periodically, talking with your family about them, and practicing things like where you would go and what you would do at home to protect yourself in case of a tornado are steps that take little effort but could help you and your family survive.

Here are some good links for further information and preparation.

Selected Information from Tornadoes - Are You Ready?: FEMA
During a Tornado - CDC (this had some good detailed information I did not find elsewhere)
Tornado Terms
Before a Tornado
During a Tornado
After a Tornado

If you have survived a tornado (it's one disaster not on my personal list) please email me your secure survivor story so we can share it with our readers: dscott@lifesecure.com.  If you have read some other good tornado advice, please comment below.

EveryLifeSecure.com
An Emergency Preparedness Blog helping to make "Every Life Secure" in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school, or on-the-go.

LifeSecure.com
An Emergency Preparedness website offering emergency kits and emergency supplies to help keep people secure in any emergency or disaster... at home, work, school or on-the-go.  Over 170,000 Lives Secured!

Emergency Preparedness at Work is Prudent Risk Management

Being prepared in the workplace for a major emergency or disaster is simply a matter of prudent risk management.  Every year American businesses spend large sums of money on insurance coverage in order to mitigate potential economic damage from an unforeseen or accidental event.  These businesses spend thousands or even millions of dollars annually to insure their various assets like buildings, vehicles and equipment yet often fail to spend just a few dollars a year to ensure the safety of their most valuable asset, the people who work for them.

In the event of a major disaster, the health and safety of a business’ employees is critical to the continuity of the business.  If employees and their families aren’t safe and provided with the basics to sustain life after a disaster, they won’t be back to work to sustain the life of the business.  An employer significantly increases the chances of quickly resuming operations after a disaster by ensuring that every employee (1) safely survives the initial disaster, (2) has adequate survival supplies to get home or shelter -in- place at work until help arrives, and (3) has adequate disaster supplies at home to be ensured that his or her family will have its emergency needs met.

An employer-supplied emergency kit that provides for basic emergency needs like water, food, breathing protection, first aid, shelter, warmth, communication, light, tools and sanitation will cost a business approximately $5 to $6 per employee per year.  Such an emergency kit can provide useful supplies to help employees safely evacuate a facility or shelter-in-place if evacuation is not the most appropriate response to a given disaster or emergency.  Depending on a business’ geography and the likely emergencies it may face, a small, portable evacuation kit with enough supplies for one day, may be adequate to help the employee evacuate and return home safely.  In other situations, the business may need to equip each employee to survive in place or in transit for up to three days (maybe more).  In this case bulks supplies, group kits or individual 72 hour kits may be most appropriate.

I've found that an increasing number of employers not only provide emergency preparedness kits for their employees at work, but also purchase emergency kits for their employees’ families.  Other businesses are partnering with emergency preparedness providers to encourage employees to purchase their own family emergency kits by providing a purchase discount at no cost to the business.  Many businesses actually provide employees with these kits as a Holiday or safety program gift.  Because each commercially produced emergency kit is designed for long life, its costs only a few dollars per year per person to ensure secure survival with a basic emergency kit for the home or vehicle.

Protecting one’s employees and their families in case of disaster makes good business sense and requires a very small investment.  The best way for a business to secure its own future after a disaster is to ensure that each of its employees and his or her family is secure.  The best way to secure the people that make a business work is to ensure that they have basic survival supplies ready for any emergency.

Learn more about How to Be Secure at Work.

Need personal help from an expert in meeting your workplace emergency preparedness needs?  Just contact us at LifeSecure.

Every Life Secure