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July 2013

Monthly Archives: July 2013

National Preparedness Month is Coming - Let's start planning NOW
National Preparedness Month Series - The Prequel

FirstAidStore™ takes preparedness very seriously... you'll read us stating over and over (ad nauseum) that "Prepare" begins with "Pre" meaning before.

While we've been there supplying goods after Katrina, donating protective masks and gear during the San Diego Wildfires, shipping hundreds of thousands of First Aid Kits to the American Red Cross for Sandy Relief, and more - that is all Disaster Response & Relief.

What is more important to us is preparedness. We want you, your workplace, and your community to be ready for the next disaster - not to depend upon outside relief efforts if and when they arrive.

Since its inception in 2004, National Preparedness Month is observed each September in the United States of America. Sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security, National Preparedness Month encourages Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. FEMA's Ready Campaign, the correlating public education outreach campaign, disseminates information to help the general public prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

We have been promoting awareness, preparation, and readiness for decades, and since preparedness means before, we are going to "practice what we preach" and offer you a series of National Preparedness Tips every day leading up to National Preparedness Month in September 2013. It is our hope that by setting aside our normal mixture of first aid information, health, and safety topics, and focusing purely on preparedness and survival issues each day throughout August, and continuing though the entire National Preparedness Month in September, we can help each of you prepare and get that much closer to the National Preparedness Goal.

National Preparedness Goal

The National Preparedness Goal, released in September 2011, defines what it means for the whole community to be prepared for all types of disasters and emergencies. The goal itself is succinct:

“A secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.”

These risks include events such as natural disasters, disease pandemics, chemical spills and other man-made hazards, terrorist attacks and cyber attacks.

FIRST THINGS FIRST! We'll be offering you a host of helpful information and resources, and encouraging you o join groups like CERT, the National Preparedness Coalition, American Red Cross Red Rating, and others in the upcoming Preparedness Days beginning Tomorrow - but let's start with this... Download National Preparedness Month 2013 Tool Kit - FREE:

National_Preparedness_Month_Toolkit_2013
The National Preparedness Month (NPM) 2013 Toolkit includes suggestions for activities and events that state, local, tribal and territorial governments, business, non-governmental organizations, and community organizations could sponsor to promote NPM. This toolkit also includes templates and drafts of newsletter articles, blogs, posters, and other collateral material that you are able to use in various outreach efforts.

Check Back Daily or Subscribe to our Feed for Survival Tips, Preparedness information and our Daily National Preparedness Month Series of Blog posts.

Stock up NOW

Survival Gear! Wouldn't you like to be a Prepper too?
Think about preparedness; at home, at work, at school, even in your car.
Are you Ready?
Check your Emergency Plan and Evacuation Routes everywhere you normally spend time.
Check your Emergency Supplies:
- Check your expiration dates (food, water, batteries)
- Count your stock... is it enough?
- Don't let your gas tank get below half-full
- Keep cash on hand - ATMs may not be available, and you cannot count on credit cards in an emergency.
- Think Ahead-Plan Wisely-Prepare Yourself to Survive!
Survival Gear Including: Survival Kits, C.E.R.T. Products and gear, Pet Emergency Kits/Supplies, Outdoor Supplies, Triage Units, Trauma Kits, Search & Rescue Equipment & Disaster and Survival Videos, Emergency Shelters, Lighting, Food & Heating.

FirstAidStore.com™ ...Guess What We Sell?™ ...a lot more than First Aid.
Shop Online, or Please Call Toll Free @ 877-5-First-Aid (877-534-7782)
This entry was posted in CPR, Fire Safety, Healthy Living Tips, Info News, Safety Videos & Information, Basic First Aid Information, Disaster & Survival Preparedness, National Preparedness Month and tagged national preparedness month on July 31, 2013 by Safety Officer.
First Aid Kit Buying Guide - What to look for in a First Aid Kit

First aid kits are our business. Since 1993 we've been focused on providing "quality, comprehensive first aid kits at a fair price"

As experts we thought we'd pass along a few tips we've learned along the way on what you should look for when buying a first aid kit regardless of brand.

Look for variety of components
Many first aid kits attempt to sell a kit comprised of a box of adhesive bandages and a few tablets. How many different type of injuries will this kit treat? Not very many! Don't be fooled by quantity of components, look for variety of components! The idea is to include components for real life emergencies, not what might let the kit sell for a few dollars less.

Make sure all basic categories are covered
Any first aid kit should contain at least something from the following groups: Antiseptics (something to kill germs to prevent infection), Injury treatment (items to deal with injuries such as butterlfy closures and cold compresses), Bandages (a variety of bandages to dress and cover a variety of wounds), Instruments (tweezers, barrier gloves), and Medicines (analgesics at a minimum).

Kit organization
First aid kits are only used in a time of need. If you, or someone you are near, are injured and need assistance a first aid kit won't do any good if you can't find what you need. Look for a kit that has its contents nicely organized so you can locate supplies readily.

Quality components
Adhesive bandages that don't stick, poorly shaped bandages, component packaging that falls apart, a case that doesn't stand up... a poor quality kit is the last thing you need in dealing with an emergency.

Information
A first aid kit does no good if you don't know what to do with it. Frankly, most first aid kits include some kind of guide, but their usefulness can vary widely. Make sure the first aid guide in your kit is from a credible source, contains the latest medical advice, and make sure it its laid out in a way that can be understood when under stress.

We encourage you to make sure that your family is fully prepared for emergencies. Evaluate your household, keep a first aid kit everywhere there is likely to be an emergency... around the house, in each car, in backpacks, and in your RV or boat. FirstAidStore.com has the broadest array of kits available to help you be prepared — something for every application or use, and all developed for real life emergencies.

First Aid Kits & Supplies come in many shapes and sizes - Get the First Aid Products that are right for your needs

This entry was posted in Basic First Aid Information and tagged buy first aid kit, first aid, first aid bags, first aid kit contents, first aid store, first aid supplies, first aidkits, what belongs in a first aid kit on July 30, 2013 by Safety Officer.
What's the Difference Between a Tropical Storm and a Hurricane?

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

How are Tropical Storms different from Hurricanes?

Mainly - Wind speed. Both are storms of tropical origin, fueled by warm sea surface temperatures. Tropical storms are hurricanes that have not yet matured. Storms with wind speeds of 39 to 73 mph are called a tropical storm; those with wind speeds of 74 mph or greater are called hurricanes.

Really, they are both tropical cyclones. A tropical cyclone with wind speeds less than 39 mph is a tropical depression. A tropical depression lacks the familiar shape and eye of the more severe tropical cyclones

Survival Gear for Businesses and Preparedness Products for Home & Auto

A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone has wind speeds between 39 mph and 73 mph. While it has the familiar spiral shape it does not have the well defined eye of a hurricane.
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone with wind speeds in excess of 74 mph and has a defined eye.

Glossary of National Hurricane Center Terms Continue reading →

This entry was posted in Info News, Safety Videos & Information, Disaster & Survival Preparedness and tagged hurricane, Tropical Storm on July 29, 2013 by Safety Officer.
Backwoods First Aid Kit

While we aren't all outdoor adventurers, nor Militia trained for rugged outdoor survival, it still makes sense to follow the guidelines learned and shared by those that have served in our Military . Here are some suggestions from a Responder offered in the Military Times:

Get your own Professional Quality Medical First Aid Kit!

I’m heading out for a couple of days of backpacking with my son and had to throw together a suitable first aid kit. Considering the activity and the scope of my training as an emergency medical responder (EMR), I chose a bit more than a handful of gear that I could use to treat just about any traumatic injury we might encounter on the trail. I’ve centered on slip and fall injuries: scratches, lacerations, sprains, strains, fractures and head injuries. All the things that would result from taking a tumble down a slope.

It’s unlikely we’ll encounter a gunshot wound since it’s far from hunting season, but I’ve got some clotting agent, packing gauze and an Israeli bandage in there that I can use for other things while still being prepared for the unexpected.

I could probably use my Leatherman in place of the trauma shears, but I’d rather keep all the first aid gear together. Plus, I can just toss the $5 shears if they get covered in blood instead of having to deal with toting back and sterilizing a bloody Leatherman.

Neither my son nor I is diabetic, but you never know who you’ll find on the trail, ergo the glucose.

I tried shoving everything into a MOLLE first aid pouch and nearly got everything in before I noticed I forgot the SAM splint. I ended up digging out a Mayflower Research and Consulting small GP Utility Bag, and everything fit perfectly. With all the gear packed in there comfortably, the bag is a little slimmer, but a little longer than a Nerf football.

I found the bag’s longish webbing handles a great way to keep the first aid bag accessible. My pack is a front loader, so I shoved the first aid bag in and to one side and zipped the pack so that one of the first aid bag handles stuck out. I clipped a plastic ITW ‘biner on it to keep it from slipping back inside. This setup makes it easy to locate, grab and pull out the first aid kit.

Here’s a list of what’s in my kit. Keep in mind, this is not a general-purpose kit. It’s filled with equipment that I’m comfortable using, and it’s tailored to treat injuries and illnesses I’m likely to encounter according to my standard of training. Your mileage may vary.

Full size CPR/O2 mask, 3? roll gauze, glucose, cravats, SWAT-T tourniquet, gloves, compact aid kit (includes band-aids, safety pins, aspirin, antibiotic ointment, tick puller, signal mirror and whistle), compressed gauze, nasopharyngeal airway and lubricant, SAM splint, QuikClot sport, trauma shears, Israeli bandage.

This entry was posted in Info News, Basic First Aid Information and tagged #emergency, #responder, Backwoods, Backwoods first aid kit, emergency medical responder, EMR, first aid kit, medical, Military on July 28, 2013 by Safety Officer.
HPV (human papillomavirus)

HPV vaccine: Safe, effective, and grossly underutilized

In a press conference held today, top officials from CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that HPV vaccination rates in girls aged 13-17 years failed to increase between 2011 and 2012, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Three-dose coverage actually declined slightly from 2011 to 2012.

WHAT IS HPV?

HPV (short for human papillomavirus) is a virus you may not know too much about but you should.

Nothing is more important than the safety of children and protecting them from illness or injury. Make sure your child has a healthy diet. Get the right gear to protect them from sports injuries. Take children to the doctor for regular checkups. But what about helping to protect children from certain diseases caused by HPV?

There are about 30 to 40 types of HPV that can affect the genital area. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are about 6 million new cases of genital HPV infections* in the United States each year. It is estimated 74% of them occur in 15 to 24 year olds.

For most, HPV clears on its own. But, for others who don't clear certain types, HPV could cause significant consequences: cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in females. Other types could cause genital warts in both males and females. And there's no way to predict who will or won't clear the virus.

*Number represents 30 to 40 genital HPV types, not just HPV Types 6, 11, 16, and 18.

Continue reading →

This entry was posted in Healthy Living Tips, Info News, Virus & Pandemic, Children's First Aid and tagged cervical cancer, genital warts, HPV, human papillomavirus, vaginalcancer, vulvar cancer on July 27, 2013 by Safety Officer.
Basic First Aid Kits go "Turbo" in Texas!

Get your own Professional Quality Medical First Aid Kit!

The basic first aid kit is getting a much-needed makeover across law enforcement agencies in North Texas.

Fort Worth is one of the departments leading the change.

"If I had a bullet shot here in my lower arm, all I have to do is take this tourniquet and tie it off tight to stop the bleeding," Officer Brandi Kamper explained.

The kits include tourniquets, clotting sponges and chest seals [bandages] for gunshot wounds.

"You center the bandage over the bullet hole and press down on all sides," Kamper said. "It stops the bleeding."

Kamper is one of five officers who decided to revamp the first aid class two years ago because the class was failing officers.

"The fact is, that the training we were getting was not up to the level that we were receiving in the military," she said.

Kamper was a combat medic in the Army before becoming a police officer. She believes the dangers of the job here at home demanded better training and upgraded first aid kits.

"So many officers are being killed or injured in the line of duty, it can no longer be ignored," Kamper said.

Fort Worth police Officer John Bell survived a shooting on the job back in January. He was wounded in the left eye and in the groin by a suspect in Haltom City, where officers are also equipped with trauma kits.

"Lt. Terry Stayer from the Haltom City Police Department had the kit with her," said Officer Bell. "She had just gotten it that day."

Stayer pulled out a mesh clotting sponge from the kit and applied it to one of Bell's wounds.

"I'm a hero to a lot of people," Bell said. "I don't know why, but she's my hero, because she immediately came and knew what to do."

In the last six months, the kits have proven their worth in Fort Worth, too. Nine people have been saved, including an officer, two suspects, and six victims.

The kits can be more expensive than traditional first aid supplies, costing between $40 and $100.

Grant money has paid for the kits being used by Fort Worth police, but only half of the the department — around 800 officers — has them.

The department hopes the rest of the force will be supplied by the end of the year.

For Officer Bell, every agency in Texas and in the nation needs to make this investment a priority.

"It's a small cost if it saves a life," he said.

Other departments are also interested in the kits. Arlington police told News 8 it is exploring ways to upgrade.

This entry was posted in Healthy Living Tips, Basic First Aid Information, Disaster & Survival Preparedness and tagged gun shot, medical first aid, police, preparedness on July 26, 2013 by Safety Officer.
Beat the Heat
Are we having another Heat Wave? Are you ready to Beat the Heat? Prepare now and avoid any heat-related illness issues this Summer. Summer is here and so are extreme temperatures. Get the facts on how to beat the heat with CDC’s new infographic. Click to get a free download!
- Electrolytes (Hydrate!)
- Cold Packs (Cool down fast!)
Click for your free "Beat the Heat" Infographic from the CDC!
This entry was posted in Healthy Living Tips, Info News, Basic First Aid Information, Children's First Aid and tagged heat, heat illness, heat injury, heat stress, heat wave on July 25, 2013 by Safety Officer.
FDA Consumer Recalls
How do you know when a product you are using has been recalled?

FDA Webinar on Getting Recall Information to Consumers...

FDA plays an important role in product recalls and its Direct Recall Classification (DRC) program helps get recall information to consumers in a timely manner.

Conducting a recall is an effective way for a firm to remove from the market a product that violates FDA regulations and is possibly dangerous, FDA advises firms on their recall strategies and monitors their recall to determine whether it is effective.

FDA also publicizes recalls so consumers and health professionals can find out what types of products are being recalled. Learn more by joining this FDA webinar.
- Date: Thursday, July 25, 2013
- Time: 2 p.m. ET
- Length: 30 minutes
- Topic: The importance of timely recall information for consumers and the impact the DRC program has had on speeding up the information flow between industry and FDA.
- Speaker: Laura Hieronymus, senior recall coordinator with the Office of Compliance and Biologics Quality in FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER).
- To join the meeting: Click on https://collaboration.fda.gov/r92694857/ (or cut and paste it into your internet browser). Click the "Enter as a Guest" button, fill in your name, then click "Enter Room." You will need computer speakers to listen to the webinar. Closed captioning will be available. There are a limited number of spots available for the webinar. Materials from the webinar will also be available on the FDA web site.
This entry was posted in Healthy Living Tips, Info News, Safety Videos & Information and tagged fda consumer, recall, webinar on July 24, 2013 by Safety Officer.
Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones During a Wildfire
Health Threat From Wildfire Smoke

Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. Be prepared for wildfire with appropriate Personal Protective Gear

How to tell if smoke is affecting you

Smoke can cause—
- Coughing
- A scratchy throat
- Irritated sinuses
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Headaches
- Stinging eyes
- A runny nose
- Asthma exacerbations
If you have heart or lung disease, smoke might make your symptoms worse.

People who have heart disease might experience—
- Chest pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
Know CPR

Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in the following ways:
- Inability to breathe normally
- Cough with or without mucus
- Chest discomfort
- Wheezing and shortness of breath
When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms.

Know whether you are at risk

If you have heart or lung disease, such as congestive heart failure, angina, COPD, emphysema, or asthma, you are at higher risk of having health problems than healthy people.

Older adults are more likely to be affected by smoke, possibly because they are more likely to have heart or lung diseases than younger people.

Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke because their airways are still developing and because they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Children also are more likely to be active outdoors.

Protect yourself

Limit your exposure to smoke. Following are ways to protect your health:

Pay attention to local air quality reports. Listen and watch for news or health warnings about smoke. Find out if your community provides reports about the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index (AQI). Also pay attention to public health messages about taking additional safety measures.

Refer to visibility guides if they are available. Not every community has a monitor that measures the amount of particles that are in the air. In the western part of the United States, some communities have guidelines to help people estimate AQI based on how far they can see.

If you are advised to stay indoors, keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.

Do not add to indoor pollution. When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns, such as candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves. Do not vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Do not smoke, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.

Follow your doctor's advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease, Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper "comfort" or "dust" masks commonly found at hardware stores are designed to trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your lungs from smoke. An “N95” mask, properly worn, will offer some protection. For more information about effective masks, see the Respirator Fact Sheet provided by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

See N95 Masks & Respiratory Protection

Safe evacuation

As you evacuate and then return home, be cautious and take the same safety measures you would when there is no emergency: buckle up and do not drink and drive. See CDC’s Impaired Driving and Seat Belts fact sheets for more information on these hazards.

Also, make sure that children are properly buckled up and in the rear seat. See CDC’s Child Passenger Safety fact sheet for more information.

Power outages

Power outages can be more than an inconvenience. See What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out for more information about carbon monoxide poisoning, food safety, safe drinking water, power line hazards and more. See Blackout Emergency Kits

See "Be Ready for Wildfires!"
This entry was posted in Fire Safety, Info News, Disaster & Survival Preparedness and tagged dust mask, fire, fire safety, firefighter, fireman, N95, N95 mask, respirator, wild fire, wildfire on July 24, 2013 by Safety Officer.
Be ready for Wildfires!

Are you ready for Wildfire and Evacuation?

Windows/Vents - Close all windows, doors, vents, blinds before evacuating.

Flame/Smoke - Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.

Listen and watch for air quality reports and health warnings about smoke. You can suffer from smoke even if you are not in the direct path of the wildfire.

Radio - Stay tuned to local radio or television station for information and instructions from local officials.

IF ADVISED TO EVACUATE DO SO IMMEDIATELY

Escape Route - Have several planned escape routes away from your home--by car or foot.

Smoke Detector - Install a dual-sensor smoke alarm on each level of your home. Test

monthly and change the batteries at least once each year

Go-Kit - Have a disaster supply kit ready to take with you.

Be Ready for Wildfires! Click to download full size .pdf file

This entry was posted in Fire Safety, Info News, Safety Videos & Information and tagged evacuation, fire safety, go kit, wild fire, wildfire on July 23, 2013 by Safety Officer.