Tag: emergency

How to Be Safe in the Dorm During a Hurricane
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A hurricane is a storm with winds of more than 72 mph accompanied by heavy rain. Hurricanes are life threatening especially if they get you unprepared. Just like any other disasters, hurricanes can get you at any time no matter where you are.

College students are more affected when hurricanes hit their schools. When the meteorologists forecast a hurricane is about to hit, the school students are forced to evacuate. Sometimes forecasts are inaccurate, and the hurricane may hit when everyone is unprepared.

Hurricanes can occur when students are in college dorms. This can be the terrifying moment as you may not know what to do to rescue yourself. Knowing what to do and what not to can help save your life. Learn how to be safe in the dorm during a Hurricane,

The school must set up school emergency plans to save a student’s life during disasters. For hurricanes, the school can ask the students to go home.

Other emergency plans include:
1. Installing hurricane shutters in the windows
2. Emergency alerts
3. Make sure the drainage system is working
4. Set a safe location where students are safer
5. The school should also talk about the hurricanes in details to help calm the students fear.
6. The school should communicate with parents and let them know how safe their students are.
Below is a list of tips will help a student before, during and after hurricanes

Preparation before hurricane strikes

Forecasts from meteorologists can show hurricanes are about to strike. There are these simple things you can do in preparation for the hurricane to have you safe.

Evacuate and go home.

Hurricanes only affect a given region. When your school has been confirmed that it is most likely to be struck by a hurricane your home isn‘t likely to be affected unless you’re based near the school. The school administration is likely to evacuate the school. Going home keeps you will be far to feel the effects of the hurricane. Remember taking all your valuables with you as leaving them behind is risking.

Unplug all power cords and cover electronic equipment with plastic bags to lower damages as a result of water.

If you are not to evacuate the school, there are some things you will need to do.
1. Move all furniture away from windows. All loose objects on the floor like books should be removed and kept on drawers. Take away any outdoor furniture, decor, garbage and lawn supplies that can blow away during heavy winds.
2. Clean and fill water buckets with clean water. When there is a strong hurricane water supply is likely to be damaged. You will need clean water even after the hurricane as you wait for the water supply system to be repaired.
3. Close all windows in the dormitory. Few days before the hurricane you can ask the school administration to install hurricane shutters.
4. Look for a flashlight as the power may be affected leading to blackouts. You can also look for backup options such as power banks to charge your phone.
5. If you own a car make sure to park it in the assigned area with all windows closed and doors locked.
During the hurricane
1. Stay indoors. When in a dormitory during the hurricanes advisable to stay indoor until when the hurricane calms. Make sure all the doors and windows are closed. Stay away from danger areas like skylights, glass windows, and doors. Tree branches and flying debris can catapult through the window or door, breaking the glass and hitting you. Don’t open the window or door to look at what is happening outside.
2. Avoid using elevators. Hurricanes are accompanied with destructions of infrastructures. The power supply is affected, expect power failure at any time. Elevators only work in the presence of power when power fails they lock themselves.
3. When floods threaten to enter into the dorm power off the electricity at the breaker. Cover all electrical equipment with plastic bags and make sure to unplug all power cords.
4. Don’t take a bath, make phone calls or use electrical devices as they may attract lightning during a storm.
5. Avoid hurricane parties. They are only in movies. During hurricanes taking alcohol is risking your life. You need to think clearly as anything can happen at any time.
After the hurricane
1. Stay away from standing water. Due to the destruction of the power supply, there may be some power lines in the water. The water may be electrically charged. Do not touch trees or any other object that is in contact with power lines.
2. Do not drink tap water until the water supply has been repaired. This water if the pipe was broken at some point will be contaminated and harmful to your body.
3. Report to the administration the areas that need to be repaired to avoid further damages and injuries.
*I did not write this post, as I never lived in a dorm during a hurricane. I have lived in a Barracks during a hurricane. However, my hurricane steps were to get a bunch of alcohol and to tie a bunch of ponchos together and make a sled out of the hood of an old truck and try parasailing down the main road to the French Creek Barracks Area of Camp Lejuene.
September 21, 2018
15 Steps to Follow When Experiencing Emergency Situation at a Concert
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Attending a concert of your favorite band is one of the most thrilling experiences, but it could also turn into a nightmare in case of emergency. It doesn’t happen so often, but still we are all familiar with the notorious cases of Manchester Arena bombing or Rhode Island nightclub fire.

Security analysts at the coursework assignments agency say that concerts, along with similar highly-attended events, are extremely risky gatherings: “They attract thousands of people, thus creating the basic precondition for possible outbursts or incidents.”

In this post, we will show you 15 steps to follow when experiencing an emergency situation at a concert.
1. Arrive early
If you want to avoid the crowd, you need to arrive at the venue a little earlier. At the same time, the entrance is one of the concert’s pain points, so it will save you from possible incidents.
1. Familiarize with the venue
Arriving early, you also get the opportunity to familiarize with the venue. This is essential because it helps you to remember each exit and stairway, while you can detect members of the security guard as well. Knowing the venue can turn out to be a big help in case of emergency.
1. Make a plan
A concert may seem like an event too simple to make a plan for, but you don’t want the incident to catch you off guard. Talk to your companions and discuss what to do and where to meet if something goes wrong.
1. Wear the right clothes
This point could deem irrelevant, but the clothes you wear could make all the difference when the time comes to run away. You should avoid wearing loose clothes or closed-toe shoes. Such wardrobe will slow you down, preventing faster reactions when you need them the most.
1. Charge a mobile phone battery
First of all, you don’t want to go to the concert without a mobile phone because you can easily get lost in the crowd. Secondly, you should charge the battery to the fullest to ensure communication over the longer period of time. That way, you can always call your friends, family members, or anyone else for that matter.
1. Pay attention to people around you
Now that the concert has started, you should relax and enjoy the music. However, it won’t hurt you to pay attention to the people around you – sometimes you could notice a strange behavior before the incident occurs.
1. Leave the venue if you notice the problem
If you notice the incident before the crowd, make sure to leave the venue as quickly as possible. The most important thing is to ensure a safe return home for you and your friends, so go out smoothly if you see something strange is about to happen.
1. Don’t panic
Whatever happens at a concert, you don’t want to panic. Panic is a sudden strong feeling of fear that prevents reasonable thought and action, which means it can only slow you down as you are trying to escape.
1. Call 911
As soon as you get a chance, call 911 to report a problem. It may save a lot of people or prevent further damage.
1. Learn first aid
Emergency situations require quick reactions. On some occasions, there is no time to wait for an ambulance, and you’ll need to help yourself or people around you. Learning first aid will provide you with the medical “know how.”
1. Don’t move with the crowd
Concert incidents usually form a crowd that runs away furiously. You can’t go against it, but you shouldn’t follow it either. Instead, try to go diagonally and find the nearest exit.
1. Look for security officers
Since you already know the venue, you should be able to detect security officers. These people are professionals who can protect you from whatever is causing the emergency, so try to reach them as soon as possible.
1. Run away
Concert emergencies are often so chaotic that you just can’t make it to the safeguards. In this case, the best option is to follow your initial escape plan and run away quickly. Try to reach the exit and meet your friends outside to make sure everyone is doing well.
1. Help someone if possible
If you successfully avoided the danger, you should try to help other people find their way out, too. Keep calm, explain to them what is going on, and take them outside. If they need medical attention, don’t forget to use your first aid skills.
1. Leave early or wait
Some incidents happen at the end of the concert when everybody is leaving the venue. We recommend you go out a little earlier to avoid the crowd. But if you really want to stay until the end, then you should wait for a while. It’s much safer to exchange concert impressions with your friends for a few minutes than to push your way through the crowded corridor.

Conclusion

People love attending concerts and enjoying good music, but this sort of event can sometimes turn into a disaster. This post showed you 15 steps to follow when experiencing an emergency situation at a concert. Don’t hesitate to read our suggestions once again as they might even save your life one day.
August 4, 2018
2 Emergency Procedures Your Child Should Know
Most kids are smarter than they look even at a tender age. They can take simple instructions, detect and respond positively to emergency situations.

You need to teach them the right emergency steps to take.

They should know when and how to respond if someone is in danger or when they find themselves in trouble.

Here are some emergency procedures your child should know.

Calling 911

Kids learn faster and have a good memory. If you teach them to make 911 calls during an emergency with practical demonstrations, they might save someone’s life or yours when the need arises.

Tips:

Don’t just talk without demonstration. Teach your kids of 4 years everything to need to know about making 911 calls such as;

What nine-one-one (911) means.

Make your child understand that 911 is the most important number to call in an emergency situation especially when an adult isn’t around. Also, explain to him or her that calling 911 without any cogent reason is punishable by the law.

Why should you call 911?

Explain to your child that calling 911 can save their life or that of the person in danger. Use different illustrations to show an example. You could pretend as if you are in danger and ask them to initiate such calls with a toy phone. Then, an adult can come in and pretend to rescue you after the child has provided all necessary information.

When is the right time to call 911?

Make your child understand that he or she can only call 911 when an adult isn’t around to help or when the neighbours are not around. An adult can also ask him or her to do so.

What happens when you call 911?

Explain to your child that when he or she calls the number, an emergency operator will send help to the scene to rescue the person in danger.

What to be their response when someone picks the call?

Teach your child how to respond by providing the location of the incident (house address) name, the condition of the person, and other vital information. Tell them never to end the call unless the operator asks them to.

Under what situation should they call 911?

Tell your child to use 911 under any of the following conditions; if daddy or mommy requests them to; if they discover that someone passes out. They should first attempt to wake the person up before making the call.

You need practical demonstrations to help your kids to understand better. Use a toy phone, not a real one. And explain to them that the real phone is only meant for real-life situations. Create a scene of someone in danger, and ask them to respond if as they are the only one around. Repeat this from time to time.

Additional tips for parents
- Don’t make the mistake of referring to the number as nine-eleven. Your child may not be able to dial the number correctly in an emergency situation. Refer to it as nine-one-one.
- Be sure that your child knows the house number and floor you are living. If there is a popular place around that can help the police to locate your house, always remind the child of it.
- Your house number bold and clear, so that the police can easily locate it.
- If you have elderly parents or people living with conditions like heart disease, diabetes or epilepsy, remind the child of what to do in an emergency situation and how to spot one.
Water safety skills

Teaching your child water skills is important, especially if you have a pool in your backyard. A child that is already of school age can learn how to save someone that is drowning without putting his or herself in danger.

Tips:

To demonstrate this practically, make sure you are a good swimmer. If you have a pool in your backyard, you can act like you are drowning and instruct your child on what to do.

The child’s response should be one among the following;
- Get a flotation device and toss it into the pool close to the person.
- Reach out to the person with a towel or kickboard
- Know how to open a person’s airway
Warning tips:
- Remind them of the dangers of jumping into the pool or river in such condition when they can’t swim.
- Tell them to call for help immediately. Adults who are around can help.
Conclusion

Two things happen when you teach your child the right emergency steps. They can save someone’s life or theirs. Ensure you always use practical tips to help your child to understand better. Demonstrate the situation and watch them respond. Children are fast learners. And they learn better when they are taught verbally and practically. So, follow the tips above to train your child on how to respond to emergency situations, and you will be glad you did.
February 16, 2018
Ditch Medicine

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Anyone can go online and order sutures, quick clot, and fish antibiotics, and a quick trip to the co-op can net you all sorts of neat medical trinkets. If your willing to spend the money you can buy all sorts of high adventure medical kits, or military medic kits, but knowing how to use them is another thing altogether. That is where Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures For Emergencies fits in.

Ditch Medicine’s author, Hugh Coffee as been in emergency medicine since 1985 – and has been a swat medic for the last 10 years. He spends a lot of time training medics to deal with trauma in austere situations.

If you are prepping for some catastrophic disaster – either general or specific, and you are storing beans, and bullets, you know you cannot neglect the bandages.

This book gives a great selection of techniques and procedures for dealing with wounds. It is also a lot easier to read, and infinitely better illustrated than such classics as Emergency War Surgery this book needs a spot on your prepper bookshelf, but that spot needs to be worn out by you consistently studying this book. While things like suturing are very clearly shown in this book, I believe I would punch any person that tried to stitch me up with a needle in one hand a book in the other.

Buy this book, study it, practice skills like suturing on oranges to grasp them BEFORE they are needed, and then keep this as a refresher/reference for those times when you do not have the luxury of 911 or a emergency room.

February 13, 2018
Most Common Plumbing Emergencies and Disasters

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Plumbing emergencies are among the most expensive sources of headaches that homeowners have to deal with. Too many homeowners have discovered, first hand, what it’s like to fork out thousands of dollars to repair the damages caused by these disasters. And in many cases, prevention could have played a huge role. Here are a few helpful tips to avoid and address the most common plumbing issues.

1. Sewer System Backup

A backed-up sewer system is one of the most regular plumbing issues to deal with and is never pleasant to be around. Sewage backups are almost always related to the ejector pump or sump pump, thus making the correct diagnosis for ejector pumps is key.

Some are lucky enough to learn of a malfunctioning pump early on when alarms are sounded for a variety of issues. This is the most desired method of finding out, as issues are easier to fix when you catch them in their early stages. Not to mention the fact that you don’t have to deal with the intrusive scent of sewage lingering in your home.

The Fix

• Test for a bad “float” switch. Switches can easily be replaced for about $20.
• If an alarm stops after halting water usage, you may be using more water than your pump can manage. Try cutting back on the amount of water you use.
• Sewage odors in the bathroom may be a result of a clogged dry trap in the shower drain. Try pouring a few gallons of water down the drain to easily resolve the issue.

2. Burst Pipes

Issues with burst pipes can range from tiny pinhole leaks to completely broken pipes that cause severe water damage and flooding. The latter will have to be addressed by a plumber, but if you have a minor issue you may be able to resolve or temporarily fix the issue yourself.

The Fix

• For a temporary fix to a small leak, use duct tape.
• Another temporary fix for minor leaks is to use a C-Clamp.
• Use a sleeve clamp for a longer lasting fix that can be used for larger leaks.

3. Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes can easily turn into costly burst pipes if you don’t catch them early enough and handle them appropriately. However, this is an emergency that can be avoided by following the proper steps to ensure that those frozen pipes don’t burst.

Better yet, there are a few recommendations on what you can do to cut back on the likelihood that you will ever have to deal with your pipes freezing over in the first place.

Preventing Frozen Pipes
• Insulate any pipes that are easily accessible.
• Keep cold winter air out by filling any cracks or holes with either caulk and/or insulation.
• Place insulating covers over all of the hose bibs. Be sure to disconnect the hose bibs first.
• Leave all faucets dripping during the time your area experiences freezing temperatures.
• If you will be traveling out of town, turn off the water supply.

The Fix

To check for frozen pipes, you should turn on the cold water, then hot water, at each water source. You want to ensure that the water flow has not been reduced. If the water flow is minimal, or absent altogether, here’s how you can remedy the situation:

• Leave the faucet turned on.
• Find out where the blockage is coming from. This is typically found in the area of most exposure.
• Heat the supply line with a blow dryer until the flow of water has returned to normal.

4. Washing Machine Failures

Washing machine issues are a common reason for extensive water damage and flooding. In fact, this type of an issue regularly results in damages exceeding $5,000. Most of these disastrous situations can be linked back to supply hose failure.

Preventing Washer Mishaps

• Be sure to avoid pinching the supply hose during moves or installation.
• Replace the hose after five years of use.
• Ensure that the drainage pipe is lined up right and free of clogs.
• Avoid overloading the washing machine as it causes shaking that can make parts come loose.
• If you do notice trouble, shut off the intake valve immediately.

Another protective measure that can be taken is to be choosy when purchasing a new washing machine. It is recommended investing in brand new, top-load washers in order to prevent any such unfortunate incidents from happening.

5. Water Heater Issues

Water heater leaks and issues frequently cause thousands of dollars in damage because they go unnoticed for too long. In July of 2015 the Union County, Pa., Government Center experienced over $100,000 in damage due to a slow leak in their water heater. Avoid falling victim to this type of disaster by following these tips:

The Fix

• Know the life expectancy of your water heater. Don’t wait long after reaching this point to invest in a new water heater.
• Have the water heater inspected every one to two years.
• Attach a garden hose to the base valve to flush the tank out every six months.

Conclusion

Remember that when facing plumbing issues such as the ones caused by cold temperatures and unexpected technical failures, it’s best to take a step back and determine whether you can deal with these on your own or not. Sometimes it’s an absolute necessity to request professional assistance if the job that needs to be done involves more than a few resources that maybe you don’t have at that time (such as tools, for example).

Fixing these problems as soon as they appear might save you hundreds of dollars in the long run, along with the headache of having to replace your possessions

January 30, 2018