Emergency
& First Aid articles - page index
Preparing
For Extreme Heat
Doing too much
on a hot day, spending too much time in the sun or staying too long in
an overheated place can cause heat-related illnesses. Know the symptoms
of heat disorders and overexposure to the sun, and be ready to give first
aid treatment.
Before
-
Contact your local
emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for information
on extreme heat.
-
Install window
air conditioners snugly.
-
Close any floor
heat registers nearby.
-
Insulate spaces
around air conditioners for a tighter fit.
-
Use a circulating
or box fan to spread the cool air.
Keep heat outside
and cool air inside.
-
Install temporary
reflectors, such as aluminum foil covered cardboard, to reflect any heat
back outside. Keep the cool air inside by weather-stripping doors and windowsills.
-
Consider keeping
storm windows up all year. Storm windows can keep the heat of a house in
the summer the same way they keep the cold out in the winter.
-
Check air-conditioning
ducts for proper insulation.
During
-
Protect windows.
Hang shades, draperies, awnings, or louvers on windows that receive morning
or afternoon sun. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat entering
the house by as much as 80 percent. Conserve electricity.
-
During periods
of extreme heat, people tend to use a lot more power for air conditioning
which can lead to a power shortage or outage.Stay indoors as much as possible.
If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the
sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool, they just blow hot air
around.
-
Eat well-balanced,
light meals.
-
Drink plenty of
water regularly. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease;
are on fluid-restrictive diets; or have a problem with fluid retention
should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
-
Limit intake of
alcoholic beverages. Although beer and alcohol beverages appear to satisfy
thirst, they actually cause further body dehydration.
-
Dress in loose-fitting
clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Lightweight, light-colored
clothing that reflects heat and sunlight and helps maintain normal body
temperature.
-
Protect face and
head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
-
Allow your body
to get acclimated to hot temperatures for the first 2 or 3 days of a heat
wave.
-
Avoid too much
sunshine. Sunburn slows the skin's ability to cool itself. Use a sunscreen
lotion with a high SPF (sun protection factor) rating.
-
Avoid extreme temperature
changes. A cool shower immediately after coming in from hot temperatures
can result in hypothermia, particularly for elderly and very young people.
-
Slow down. Reduce,
eliminate, or reschedule strenuous activities. High-risk individuals should
stay in cool places. Get plenty of rest to allow your natural "cooling
system" to work.
-
Take salt tablets
only if specified by your physician. Persons on salt-restrictive diets
should check with a physician before increasing salt intake.
-
Vacuum air conditioner
filters weekly during periods of high use.
-
Learn the symptoms
of heat disorders and know how to give first aid.
During a Drought
-
Lower water use.
Watering the lawn and washing the car waste water. Whenever possible, re-use
water.
-
Place a brick or
other large, solid object in the flush tank of the toilet to reduce the
water used to flush.
-
Farmers should
contact the county Farm Service Agency for disaster assistance information.
Heat Disorders
-
Sunburn
-
Symptoms: Skin
redness and pain, possible swelling, blisters, fever, headaches.
-
First Aid: Take
a shower, using soap, to remove oils that may block pores preventing the
body from cooling naturally. If blisters occur, apply dry, sterile dressings
and get medical attention.
-
Heat Cramps
-
Symptoms: Painful
spasms usually in leg and abdominal muscles. Heavy sweating.
-
First Aid: Firm
pressure on cramping muscles or gentle massage to relieve spasm. Give sips
of water. If nausea occurs, discontinue.
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Heat Exhaustion
-
Symptoms: Heavy
sweating, weakness, skin cold, pale and clammy. Weak pulse. Normal temperature
possible. Fainting, vomiting.
-
First Aid: Get
victim to lie down in a cool place. Loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths.
Fan or move victim to air-conditioned place. Give sips of water. If nausea
occurs, discontinue. If vomiting occurs, seek immediate medical attention.
-
Heat Stroke
(Sun Stroke)
-
Symptoms: High
body temperature (106+). Hot, dry skin. Rapid, strong pulse. Possible unconsciousness.
Victim will likely not sweat.
First Aid:
Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 or emergency medical
services or get the victim to a hospital immediately. Delay can be fatal.
Move victim to a cooler environment. Try a cool bath or sponging to reduce
body temperature. Use extreme caution. Remove clothing. Use fans and/or
air conditioners. DO NOT GIVE FLUIDS
First
Aid Only Outdoor First Aid Kit, Softpack, 98 Piece - 1 ea
Holiday
Fire Prevention
Residential fires
are 14 percent more likely to happen during the holiday season and nearly
30 percent more likely to cause death. Everyone should know how tragic
and needless this is, how simple precautions and common sense can prevent
a family tragedy during what otherwise should be a happy time of year.
Among household
safety tips to help combat holiday fire hazards, these points are offered:
Decorate Christmas
trees with consumer-inspected lights and double-check for frayed wires.
Don't overload electric outlets. Check the power capacity of your house
and stay within wattage limits.
Keep presents
away from the tree lights. Keep the tree well watered, as dry trees burn
explosively. Do not place the tree near a fireplace or an exit.
Do not burn
gift wrappings in the fireplace, as this can cause a chimney fire.
If you use candles,
place them in a safe place away from any flammable material. Be sure all
children know the dangers of candles, chafing dishes, potpourri scent pots,
the fireplace and space heaters.
Keep clutter
away from the stove while cooking., If grease catches fire, do not throw
water on it. Cover the pan with a lid. In order to avoid injury, turn pot
handles in over the stove and never wear loose clothing while cooking.
Don't leave cooking food unattended for extended periods of time, since
this is the most common cause of cooking-related fires.
Buy and install
a smoke detector. If you already have one, clean and test it. A working
smoke detector can double your chances of survival.
Practice home
fire drills. Designate two exits from every room, make sure all family
members are aware of an outside meeting place, and get out quickly.
Know your community's
emergency telephone numbers and how to call for help.
Infant
& Small Child CPR
Shout and Tap
Shout and gently
tap the child on the shoulder. If there is no response, position the infant
on his or her back
Open The Airway
Open the airway
using a head tilt lifting of chin. Do not tilt the head too far back.
Give 2 Breaths
If the baby is
NOT breathing give 2 small gentle breaths. Cover the baby's mouth and nose
with your mouth. Each breath should be 1.5 to 2 seconds long. You should
see the baby's chest rise with each breath.
Determine Pulselessness
Try to feel for
a pulse in the inside of upper arm.
Give 5 Compression's
Give five gentle
chest compression's at the rate of 100 per minute. Position your 3rd and
4th fingers in the center of the chest half an inch below the nipples.
Press down only 1/2 to 1 inches.
Repeat
Repeat with 1 breath
and 5 compression's. After one minute of repeated cycles call 911. If you
feel a pulse return give one breath every 3 seconds and discontinue chest
compression's.
Preparing
For Landslides and Mudflows
Landslide and mudflows
usually strike without warning. The force of rocks, soil, or other debris
moving down a slope can devastate anything in its path. Take the following
steps to be ready.
BEFORE
Get a ground
assessment of your property.
Your county
geologist or county planning department may have specific information on
areas vulnerable to landsliding. Consult a professional geotechnical expert
for opinions and advice on landslide problems and on corrective measures
you can take.
Minimize home
hazards.
-
Plant ground cover
on slopes and build retaining walls.
-
In mudflow areas,
build channels or deflection walls to direct the flow around buildings.
-
Remember: If you
build walls to divert debris flow and the flow lands on a neighbor's property,
you may be liable for damages.
Learn to recognize
the landslide warning signs.
-
Doors or windows
stick or jam for the first time.
-
New cracks appear
in plaster, tile, brick, or foundations.
-
Outside walls,
walks, or stairs begin pulling away from the building.
-
Slowly developing,
widening cracks appear on the ground or on paved areas such as streets
or driveways.
-
Underground utility
lines break.
-
Bulging ground
appears at the base of a slope.
-
Water breaks through
the ground surface in new locations.
-
Fences, retaining
walls, utility poles, or trees tilt or move.
-
You hear a faint
rumbling sound that increases in volume as the landslide nears.The ground
slopes downward in one specific direction and may begin shifting in that
direction under your feet.
Make evacuation
plans.
Plan at least
two evacuation routes since roads may become blocked or closed.
Develop an emergency
communication plan.
In case family
members are separated from one another during a landslide or mudflow this
is (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children
are at school), have a plan for getting back together.
Ask an out-of-state
relative or friend to serve as the "family contact". After a disaster,
it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone knows the name,
address, and phone number of the contact person.
Insurance
Mudflow is covered
by flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program.
Flood insurance can be purchased through a local insurance agency.
DURING
If inside a
building:
-
Stay inside.
-
Take cover under
a desk, table, or other piece of sturdy furniture.
If outdoors:
-
Try and get out
of the path of the landslide or mudflow.
-
Run to the nearest
high ground in a direction away from the path.
-
If rocks and other
debris are approaching, run for the nearest shelter such as a group of
trees or a building.
-
If escape is not
possible, curl into a tight ball and protect your head.
Sinkholes
A sinkhole occurs
when groundwater dissolves a vulnerable land surface such as limestone,
causing the land surface to collapse from a lack of support. In June 1993,
a 100-foot wide, 25-foot deep sinkhole formed under a hotel parking lot
in Atlanta, killing two people and engulfing numerous cars.
AFTER
Stay away from
the slide area.
There may be
danger of additional slides.
Check for injured
and trapped persons near the slide area.
Give first
aid if trained.
Remember to
help your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants, elderly
people, and people with disabilities.
Listen to a
battery-operated radio or television for the latest emergency information.
Remember that
flooding may occur after a mudflow or a landslide.
Check for damaged
utility lines.
Report any
damage to the utility company.
Check the building
foundation, chimney, and surrounding land for damage.
Replant damaged
ground as soon as possible since erosion caused by loss of ground cover
can lead to flash flooding.
Seek the advice
of geotechnical expert for evaluating landslide hazards or designing corrective
techniques to reduce landslide risk.
If you have
any questions or need assistance please send e-mail to support@insurancesurf.com.
Visit:
http://www.fema.gov/
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