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Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in North America. The good news? It is also one of the most preventable. Making heart-healthy choices, knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart disease, having regular check-ups and working with your physician to manage your health are all integral aspects of saving lives from this often silent killer. FEBRUARY IS HEART HEALTH MONTH. Make a difference in your community by spreading the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and encouraging those around you to have their hearts check and commit to heart-healthy lives. Make a difference in your workplace by taking a CPR course and putting an AED in place as well. SOS Emergency Response Technologies carries the Philips and the ZOLL AED lines.
Call us today at 604.277.5855 to see which AED fits your needs and budget.
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I woke up this morning and turned on my phone like it was any other morning. Boy did my phone light up with alerts from social media sites I follow and the emails were coming in for orders for 72 hour grab and go kits. While I (we) were sleeping, a major earthquake had happened off the coast of Alaska triggering a tsunami. As a result, a tsunami warning was issue for coastal BC and Alaska and a tsunami watch for the entire pacific coast of North America.
Thankfully, a few hours later the warning was lifted. However, an event such as this, so close to home is a reminder that every household (and business) in British Columbia should have not only the supplies, but have an emergency preparedness plan as well.
The question I have for you is…if you had to evacuate in the middle of the night would you be prepared?
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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?
December 2016 the earthquake in BC had people reacting and our phone lines lit up. People jumped to action and purchased kits for their homes, car and workplaces responded by wanting to ensure that they had supplies on hand to support staff. But then the event passes. Everyone gets complacent and doesn’t think about what if.
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. If you don’t have a smoke detector time to install one.
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 have several options to get you organized starting from $14.95 for our General Purpose First Aid Kit FK1021. This is a great starter kit for the home, car or truck.
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. A family of four can be prepared for 72 hours for as little as $145.00.
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. Call our office 604.277.5855 to speak with a consultant about the best option for your workplace.
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In the true spirit of the season, and to help keep family and friends out of harm’s way, here are some tips and helpful hints for The 12 Days of Holiday Safety:
On the First Day … prepare your home for the holidays – and safety. Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. If you live in an apartment or are staying in a hotel, know where the fire alarms and emergency exits are located.
On the Second Day … make a plan. Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations. Watch this video for helpful tips.
On the Third day … think about special needs. Establish a personal support network of friends, relatives, health-care providers, and neighbours who understand your personal needs. Write down details about accommodation needs, allergies, family medical history, medical conditions, etc. For more information, check out this Guide.
On the Fourth Day … decorate with safety in mind. Never leave burning candles unattended and keep them away from children and pets, decorations and wrapping paper. Cut candle wicks short to prevent a high flame, and if candles are used in a centrepiece, make sure they don’t burn low enough to ignite the decoration.
On the Fifth Day … make your tree safe. When buying a real tree, check that it is fresh (needles are hard to pull off). Water the tree daily – trees can consume up to four litres of water a day. Place the tree away from high traffic areas, doorways, heating vents, radiators, stoves, fireplaces and burning candles. If young children are around, use safe decorations. Health Canada has some great holiday safety tips.
On the Sixth Day … keep lights bright. Only use lights that have been certified by a recognized organization such as CSA, ULC or C-UL. Make sure you use indoor lights inside your home and outdoor lights outside. Check the light strings and extension cords, throwing out any that are frayed or have exposed wires, loose connections or broken sockets. Never run electrical cords through doorways or under carpets. Turn off all holiday lights before you go to bed or leave your home.
On the Seventh Day … choose appropriate toys. Always follow age recommendations when choosing toys for children. Pay attention to Health Canada’s recalls and safety alerts.
On the Eighth Day … get ready for severe winter weather. Blizzards, ice storms, and high winds can develop quickly. Listen to local radio or television stations for severe weather warnings and advice.
On the Ninth Day … prepare your car for an emergency. Install winter tires and make sure windshield washer fluid is always topped up. Prepare a kit to keep in your vehicle in case of an emergency, with items such as a blanket, a candle in a deep can and matches, and first aid kit with a seat belt cutter. Use this list to help you.
On the 10th Day … prevent illness. Protect yourself and others from getting the flu. A flu shot is the safest and most effective way to prevent infection, to reduce the severity of your symptoms if you do get sick, and to keep from spreading the virus to others.
On the 11th Day … learn first aid. Knowing first aid could save a life. Contact your local Canadian Red Cross or St. John Ambulance office to find out about first aid courses in your area.
On the 12th Day … know the risks. Across Canada, we face a number of hazards, such as earthquakes in BC, blizzards in Nunavut and ice storms in Ontario. Knowing the risks where you are can help you better prepare and eliminate stress… especially during the holiday season.
Credit – Get Prepared – Government of Canada, 2015-01-15
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Earthquake. Natural Disaster. Hurricane. Our newspaper headlines have been talking non-stop about these events, while the kids were getting settled back into school. Now your PAC needs to do some fundraising. But your tired of selling the same old thing to your family, neighbors and friends. Does anyone really need more chocolates, flowers and wrapping paper? Okay, we all need more chocolate! Launch a fundraiser that provides your community an opportunity to get prepared while raising those important dollars at the same time. By selling 72 hour Emergency Preparedness Kits, you provide the tools necessary for families to survive ANY emergency and/or earthquake and your PAC can earn up 10% per kit sold for your PAC.
On October 19th at 10:19am, over 500,000 will join with ShakeOutBC and practice DROP, COVER & HOLD. Register your school and join in to practice being safe during an earthquake https://www.shakeoutbc.ca/
PROTECT your loved ones. RAISE money for your school.
Call 604.277.5855 to get started now
SOS-Fundraiser-Poster-2017
