Articles tagged: Disaster Preparedness
<< previous page 1 next page>> written by Craig Elliott Elliott Worker safety is one of the top concerns in any industry. OSHA requires that all businesses and industrial sites meet minimum standards of worker safety training to prevent injuries and manage emergencies. written by Craig Elliott Elliott These days, homeland security and terrorism response are subjects much on the minds of emergency response personnel. The World Trade Center attack in 2001 shook the entire nation out of its sense of complacency and made Americans realize that they were woefully unprepared to deal with disaster. written by Craig Elliott Elliott Firefighter and rescue training does not end with certification and examinations. Weekly drills and simulations and ongoing training is vital to keeping your rescue team fully informed on the latest rescue techniques. written by Craig Elliott Elliott Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Americans have come to realize how vulnerable they are to attack. For years before these attacks, we witnessed attacks on other countries and, while sympathetic, many Americans felt that such a thing could never happen in the United States. written by Craig Elliott Elliott Emergencies can range from severe weather to a terrorist attack. Interestingly enough, most emergencies require the same basic steps to get you and your family through them safely. written by Craig Elliott Elliott Firefighters are considered by many to be modern day cowboys, universally loved and respected. While this level of admiration can be flattering, it may not be enough to make fire fighting the right job for you. written by Craig Elliott Elliott The emergency radio has been used for many years to communicate. It is a radio device that is designed to remain functional, even without any power flowing to it. It is a radio that can be used when the power has gone out, or when a person has no other contact with civilization. written by Craig Elliott Elliott Emergency planning is something that no one really wants to think about. However, the reality is that today it is important to make plans that will work in the face of any emergency. The bottom line is that many times we just do not know what is going to happen, so it is always best to have a plan. written by Stephanie Larkin A terrorist attack is intended first of all to cause panic and fear in the minds and behavior of its victims. If the victims are incapacitated by fear, the terrorists have accomplished their aim. Terror can be caused by the initial physical attack which may result in deaths and injuries. written by Stephanie Larkin Many people who have gone through an emergency situation find that they will react in one of two ways. Either they will be frozen in time and not able to take any action because of fear or hysteria or they will know precisely what they need to do because they've planned, prepared and conditioned themselves mentally to handle the situation. written by Stephanie Larkin An emergency response system or sometimes Personal Emergency Response system is a simple electronic gadget that is intended to make it possible to get help in an emergency situation. It is particularly intended to provide protection and quick response to a senior citizen living alone or to a disabled person. The Personal Emergency Response system is also called a Medical Emergency Response System. written by Stephanie Larkin A chemical emergency occurs when a hazardous chemical has been released and the release has the potential for harming people's health. Chemical releases can be unintentional, as in the case of an industrial accident, or intentional, as in the case of a terrorist attack. Some chemicals that are hazardous have been developed by military organizations for use in warfare. Examples are nerve agents such as sarin and VX, mustards such as sulfur mustards and nitrogen mustards, and choking agents such as phosgene. written by Stephanie Larkin Whether at home or work, there is a chance you could be impacted by a hazardous materials incident (such as a chemical spill, train derailment, or industrial explosion). It is important that you think ahead and know what to do to ensure safety. If you are at work, chances are your employer will have a detailed emergency action plan and information for you to follow. written by Stephanie Larkin Materials that are extremely hazardous to property, health or the environment (highly toxic gas, explosive, highly water reactive, and pyrophoric materials for example) must not be procured until the necessary permits, administrative, engineering and environmental controls are in place. written by Craig Elliott Elliott The first course of action in mentally preparing yourself for a disaster is not to become panic-stricken at the prospect that a disaster could strike at any time. written by Craig Elliott Elliott A disaster is chaos, by definition. Disasters result in confusion and misdirection. Many people want to help, but unfortunately, often add to the turmoil. written by Craig Elliott Elliott Disasters that occur in freezing temperatures present their own set of dangers that differ from other disasters. written by Craig Elliott Elliott Most companies have hazardous materials lurking around (and no, I'm not referring to the day old coffee in the break room.) According to the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management, hazardous material is, "any item or agent (biological, chemical, physical) which has the potential to cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment, either by itself or through interaction with other factors." This broad definition covers many materials used in any workplace. written by Craig Elliott Elliott Disasters can strike anytime, anywhere. Recovering from disasters can be a major task, especially if not handled properly. Chaos and confusion generally rule the day. The need for organization is critical and everyone wants to return to some semblance of "normal" life. It doesn’t matter whether it is a small, local disaster or a major, national scale event. The goal is the same; get back to some form of normalcy as quickly as possible. written by Craig Elliott Elliott Emergencies of some kind occur on a daily basis, sometimes several times in the same day. It should come as no surprise that the key to surviving an emergency is being prepared. Chaos and confusion can quickly turn a bad situation into a devastating one. This is true for both the home and the workplace as well. Emergencies are high stress situations, and can be made significantly worse by having not being prepared. written by Eric R Holm When a disaster happens, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Those that are prepared in advance with the correct supplies and action plan will inevitably be in a better position than those that do not. You should develop a unique action plan for each place that you and members of your family visit; this includes work, school, the gym and the homes of other members of your family. << previous page 1 next page>> |