Blog
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. While it has become one of the major holidays in the North America, giving us a chance to honor the individuals in our lives who care for us, why give her the same old gift. Some women will have the luxury of being pampered at home with entertainment and meals prepared for them by family members. Flowers, chocolates, jewelry are among the most popular gifts for Mothers. Flashy gifts are nice, but all that Mom wants is to feel appreciated, loved and safe.
Why not think about safety this time? Here are a few suggestions:
- She likes biking – get her high-visibility clothes.
- Your Mom has a green thumb – she will be thankful for a gardening kit with knee pads, a cooling hat, and protective gloves.
- If she likes to attend live sports events, she will need hearing protection. Buy her fancy ear plugs or noise cancelling ear muffs.
- Is she a DIYer? Wearing a dust mask or a respirator is a must when engaged in home improvement activities – get her one, and she will be well-protected during her favorite DIY project. A safety ladder is another good option for active home improvement enthusiasts.
- Help her take care of the ones she loves most – give her a first aid and/or a 72hr emergency preparedness kit
As you can see, the choices are limitless. Think about what she really needs, you still have time to make the right decision. Celebrate everything that your Mother represents in your life with a gift of safety.
Visit www.sostech.ca for more ideas!
Blog
Some of my friends call me a pessimist…. I think I am a realistic, well-prepared person. Should there ever be a major disaster, or a minor one for that matter, I know my family and I might be on our own for days – maybe even weeks. I want to BE PREPARED. But then again, I am the mom who always has the extra sunscreen, water, and snacks! Most people say, ‘I’ll get my emergency kits tomorrow,’ and tomorrow never comes. But I think: What if it happens tonight? What if you put it off and you’re sitting with your family? You don’t want to sit there wishing you had listened to that inner voice do you? You can put emergency preparedness kits in your home, car, office and more. But why run around trying to collect everything? Afterall, you are busy person. For as little as $150 CAD a family of four can have a starter home kit:
- backpack (you need those hands free)
- 4 x 3600 calorie food bars (shelf life 5 years)
- 24 x sterile water packets (shelf life 5 years)
- 1 x pkg of 20 water purification tablets
- 1 x hand crank flashlight, radio & USB cell phone charger
- 4 x 12hr light sticks
- 4 x whistles
- 4 x ponchos
- 4 x rolls of toilet tissue
- 4 x dust masks
- 4 x solar blanket
- 1 x signal mirror
- 1 x pr safety glasses
- 1 x pr work gloves
- 1 x “Call Police” sign
4 person 72hr emergency preparedness grab n’ go backpack
Blog
Our office recently received a phone call from a low-risk office client. As this call came from an office client, in the workplace they rarely deal with first aid calls. However, a few weeks ago an employee experienced a scenario, was white-faced, light-headed and fainted. Then things went sideways. The co-workers who witnessed the episode panicked, did not remember company first aid protocol and in error left the patient alone. Neither co-worker picked up the phone to call the company first aid attendant. Instead, each went looking for the attendant, and as a result, the patient was alone for up to 5 minutes. When the attendant arrived on site with the SOS oxygen unit and first aid kit, he/she directed a staff member to call 911. However, additional time was lost as the first aid room (where the oxygen unit and kit were kept) were in the opposite direction of the first aid scenario. The staff member that was asked to call 911 froze – this occurred two more times. Several more response minutes were lost. Finally, a co-worker responded and left the area to call 911. However, the caller now had “no eyes” on the scenario and was unable to answer questions that the 911 operator was asking. In addition, the employee on the phone with 911 did not know or couldn’t remember the address of the building.
After de-briefing the client, I reassured them that the response from staff was not uncommon and there were a three simple things that could be put in place in the workplace to improve the response to future first aid scenarios.
- Once a month practice first aid scenarios with staff. Ex. simply have a co-worker lie on the floor and have other staff members practicing calling the first aid attendant and 911. Walk through the steps on a regular basis so the responses become second nature
- In addition to having a SOS oxygen unit in the first aid room, it is beneficial for the first aid attendant to have one and a first aid kit as his/her desk, so that they have the required equipment to respond quickly
- Label each phone in the workplace with at minimum the address and phone number of the workplace; if there is more room list the workplace first aid protocol
Blog
Although we originally posted this blog in 2014, we thought it was prudent to re-post in light of the earthquake near Christmas 2015.
Each year it seems we all rotate the same resolutions in order to achieve a longer life: eat healthier, exercise more or quit a bad habit. All of these changes are controllable throughout the whole year, but what about unexpected events that can threaten your life? Unfortunately many people don’t think about emergency preparedness until they hear about a disaster that has happened somewhere else.
What if the disaster hits closer to home? Are you and your family prepared? Do you have an emergency plan?
Instead of recycling those usual and tired resolutions, this year make a resolution for you and your family to be safe. To help you out we at SOS Emergency Response Technologies have come up with 3 quick and easy steps to achieve this goal, so you can sit back and boast to your friends that you accomplished your resolutions for the year.
Step one – Check the batteries in your smoke detector.
Step two – Check your first aid kits. Take a look and see if any products are expired and need to be replaced. If you don’t have a first aid kit we recommend our General Purpose First Aid Kit FK1021 $14.95.
Step three – Check your emergency preparedness kit and update your emergency plan/contacts if needed. If you use bottles of water they have to be replaced yearly. Emergency Food Ration Bars and Emergency Sterile Water Packets last longer (5 years). Double check your contact lists to make sure it is up to date with current information and remind your family about the emergency plan you put in place. If you don’t have an emergency plan there are many sources on the internet. These days we find ourselves working and running errands at all hours of the day so the chances of your family being split up when a disaster hits are larger. Make sure you set a meeting point.
If you don’t have an emergency preparedness kit SOS Emergency Response Technologies has a variety of options to choose from. We have kits for 1, 2 and 4 person families and have economical versions as well.
That’s all there is to it! Although, there are a few extra steps you could take to make sure those around you are safe as well. Ask the human resources team if your workplace has an emergency plan as well as emergency kits. If you are on the safety committee make a point to bring it up at the next meeting and set up an emergency plan for your work place. SOS Emergency Response Technologies can also provide emergency preparedness kits and products for your workplace.
Blog
Would you know what to expect? Would you know what to do? According to the Vancouver Sun, if a catastrophic earthquake (7.3 or higher) hit
- 10,000 dead across Metro Vancouver,
- 128,000 serious injuries
- 30% of Vancouver buildings would be extensively damaged
With Shakeout BC www.shakeoutbc.ca 10 days away this is a good time to review your family emergency plans & check emergency supplies on hand. Don’t be caught in an emergency situation unprepared. The power failure that hit Vancouver in the summer is a perfect example of how preparation and planning can save you and your family from unnecessary stress and difficulties. For as little as $140 – a family of 4 can be full prepared for any emergency for 72 hours. We even have kits for the car.
1 person 72 hour economy kit
Blog
Same-level slips, trips, and falls are occupational hazards that can be found in almost every type of work setting. When considering workplace falls, most people immediately think of falls from a height, yet, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the majority of fall-related injuries occur as a result of falls from same-level walking surfaces.
Safety professionals today believe that human factors play a key role in these incidents.
Falls to same level:
-
Floors, platforms and stairways may be slippery from water, blood, or poultry fat and grease.
-
Employees may trip over boxes, electrical cords, equipment, or other items that are left in aisles and walkways.
-
Floors may be uneven or have depressions or shallow holes or uncovered floor drains that cause employees to trip.
