How confident are you that you’d be able to escape a multi-story building completely engulfed in flames? Would you be able to make it out of a second- or third-story window if all other exits for blocked? An man in Oregon did just that thanks in large part to access to a fire escape ladder. According to news reports released this morning, the man used an escape ladder like the one in the video below to make his way out of the …continue reading the rest of Oregon Man Escapes Blaze in a Mutli-Story Building
Posts Tagged ‘Emergencies’
[Review] Red Cross First-Aid Smartphone App
June 14th, 2012
The American Red Cross just released a new smartphone app that promises to prepare you for dangerous or life-threatening situations. The app covers a huge array of topics ranging from bee stings to hypothermia. I decided to take the app for a test drive so I could share my thoughts with all of you.
In short, the Red Cross executed this huge undertaking perfectly. I can’t think of a single …continue reading the rest of [Review] Red Cross First-Aid Smartphone App
Emergency Warnings to Catch Up with Technology
May 15th, 2012
“This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.”
Who hasn’t heard that warning rattle through their radio? Or their TV?
We’ve all heard it at some point. But for people like me who almost never listen to the radio and prefer to skip through commercials by watching digitally recorded TV, you might struggle trying to remember the last time you heard or saw a legitimate storm warning or other notable …continue reading the rest of Emergency Warnings to Catch Up with Technology
Why Being Really Good at Emergency Response is a Bad Thing
February 15th, 2012
Who is better at their job — a lifeguard that successfully rescues two swimmers every week, or a lifeguard that has never left their stand?
Or, to put it another way, who would you rather have watching your kids — a childcare provider that saved four kids last year by successfully performing the Heimlich maneuver, or a childcare provider that didn’t …continue reading the rest of Why Being Really Good at Emergency Response is a Bad Thing
When Not to Quit: Man Revived After 96 Minutes
August 22nd, 2011
Performing CPR in a life-or-death situation is mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. I hope this incredible story about a man who was successfully revived – with no resulting brain damage – after 96 minutes provides the extra burst of strength and motivation you may need the next time someone’s life is in your hands. While the article primarily focuses on …continue reading the rest of When Not to Quit: Man Revived After 96 Minutes
Who Knows Best: Doctor or Lifeguard?
April 15th, 2011
A drowning tragedy that took place in the Bahamas earlier this week is raising questions about the response of the waterpark’s lifeguards. We encourage you to read more about the circumstances leading up to the drowning, but in short, an unresponsive five-year-old girl was pulled from the water by a waterpark guest. Another guest, who happened to be a registered nurse, immediately began providing rescue breathing. Shortly thereafter, an emergency room doctor …continue reading the rest of Who Knows Best: Doctor or Lifeguard?
Lessons Learned From a Burst Water Pipe
March 8th, 2011
Ten months ago I bought my first home. In that time I’ve been busy painting, landscaping, and even replacing the home’s original windows. Until last week, I had been feeling pretty good about my first go at this whole home ownership thing.
That is, until I came home from dinner on a Saturday evening and forgot to close the garage door. Temperatures dropped well below freezing that night. Predictably, I woke up to frozen pipes. After about 20 minutes of …continue reading the rest of Lessons Learned From a Burst Water Pipe
3 Tips for Better Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
January 18th, 2011
The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) shared a report on their blog identifying some of the mistakes made by government agencies during the catastrophic flooding in Nashville in May 2010. The report, which was completed by the National Weather Service (NWS), identified several shortcomings and opportunities for improvement in future disaster situations.
As I was reading through the key findings, I couldn’t help but think about the hundreds of …continue reading the rest of 3 Tips for Better Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
5 Lessons Learned From an Explosive Car Accident
November 22nd, 2010
It has been a treacherous month for West Bend employees on Wisconsin roadways. Less than three weeks ago, Jenn Siedler witnessed a vehicle rollover involving a mother and two small children. She wrote about her experience on the West Bend child care center safety website.
This past Thursday, I witnessed a high-speed collision between an SUV and …continue reading the rest of 5 Lessons Learned From an Explosive Car Accident
Emergency Action Plans: From Paper to Performance
August 4th, 2010
This post was a feature article in our Fall 2009 newsletter. NOTE: We also have information on Developing an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for emergencies other than aquatics.
Picture this – a possible spinal victim is floating lifelessly in the shallow water of the pool. Lifeguards respond immediately by activating the Emergency Action Plan (EAP). The victim is backboarded and an ambulance can be heard in the distance. As the victim is transported from the pool deck to the ambulance, EMS workers hit a snag. The backboard won’t fit through the building’s entrance! After several minutes searching for keys to a back gate, staffers were able to get the victim in to the ambulance. Luckily, this entire scenario was …continue reading the rest of Emergency Action Plans: From Paper to Performance
