The Need to Know

Let’s face it.  While we may protest to some degree or another, we are news junkies.  We may think that this is a new phenomenon – with news feeds, Facebook, Twitter, texts and emails literally with us in every waking moment – it is perhaps what we have always done.  From gatherings at hangings to checking out car wrecks, we just want to know what is happening when things go wrong.

I like to think that sometimes I watch because something is so sad or so horrible that I think I must watch to remind myself of how lucky I am.  It is also a time to connect with others, feel their pain and send them our sympathy and passion.  Perhaps it is a little of the voyeur in us, but then again it is our curiosity that has pushed us to the top of the food chain and able to manipulate much of the world around us.

It is for this reason that it is important to get information out as quickly, as accurately and as often as possible.  Maybe it is the mom in me, but my empathy genes shift into high expression when crises hit and my mind conjures up all types of images of how others must be feeling.  It is that, therefore, that makes me want to tell others what I know that might ease their anxiety, if only a little.

Being prepared for disasters is not only a good idea, but a potentially life saving one.  It is not, though, like going through the “real thing.”  That is the point, though, of the whole being prepared part is accepting that things will happen that are beyond your expectations.

That, I believe, is where information comes in.  Say there has been a fire, earthquake or shooting – while the shock of reality will certainly be there, the whats-where-how-whys of it will help us understand, figure out ways to cope then find a way to deal with it all.

For now, I think I better figure out that Twitter thing.  I think I am missing out on something important!  Now about that “hash tag” thing…

Thinking the Unthinkable

It is often the terrible, unthinkable events that stay with us.  Those large, devastating events are reduced to numbers, such as 9/11 or just the names such as the Titanic, Oklahoma City and now, sadly, Sandy Hook.  They are tragedies so horrible, so unbelievable that you can’t help but wonder and haunt yourself with WHY?  Then, What could we do differently?

Some people find some answers in believing these are acts of terrorism by some anti-American group.  While the attack on the World Trade Center was certainly of this type, the bombing in Oklahoma City building was done by an American citizen, not a foreign entity.  Now Sandy Hook, along with Virginia Tech, Columbine and a growing list of other schools, are places where the most senseless acts seemed to have happened – the targeted killing of children.

Fortunately, if you can see it this way, is that these acts are relatively uncommon.  To put it in perspective, in 2011, just over 32,000 people died in car-related accidents.(1,2)  In that same year, of the 16,259 reported homicides in the United States, 11,078 were from firearms.(3)  And, from those deaths, only 7 people died in 2011 in school-related shootings (4).   So, while the percentage of those deaths is a small part of our over 312 million U.S. residents (5), each death from violence or accident is heartbreaking and tragic.

Can we prepare for such events and perhaps reduce these numbers? It’s not easy, but I say yes. 
 

Preparedness for driving and car travel is pretty straight forward:  Keep your car in good running condition.  Make sure all brakes, lights and engine systems are regularly maintained.  Take defensive driver classes and insist that all family members follow the law.  Always wear your seat belt and never text or use your cell phone when driving.  Drinking or any other impairment while driving is always forbidden for you and anyone with you.  Additionally, you should have your emergency preparedness kit in your car, then update and check it regularly.

Preparedness for dangerous situations is a more difficult thing for which to prepare, but it can and should be done.  Take classes in self-defense.  If you work in a school environment, learn how to recognize anti-social or detrimental behaviors and find avenues to act on those.  “See something, say something” is a mantra that public safety officials want to get out to empower citizens to intercept bad situations before they occur.  Seek safety training for all of your family, including what to do in dangerous situations.  Some parents do not want to frighten their children, especially young ones, with scenes of people with guns, but given the right way, even small children understand that, when nothing else, they can run away from harm to places of safety.

To those who have lost their loved ones, my deepest sympathy.  My hope is that we can do better and learn from these tragedies to reduce or eliminate their occurrences in the future and make a safer place for all of us to live, work and learn.

Resources:

 (1) http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation/motor_vehicle_accidents_and_fatalities.html

(2) http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/08/us-autos-deaths-idUSBRE84618920120508

(3) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm

(4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States

(5) http://geography.about.com/od/obtainpopulationdata/a/uspopulation.htm

Start Your Engines!

Starting the New Year should feel more like the beginning of a big race.  We should get all pumped up and excited to get going.  Typically, people are still giddy from a great holiday break and not really willing to get that jump start, but maybe if we change how we view that leap off the starting line, we would be more motivated.

Things to consider for the new year:

1. Think local.  Shop local markets for some unique or novel food to put in your emergency preparedness kits.  Better yet, buy two – one to try now and one to put in your kit if it is a winner.  Compete with someone you know to find the best, new thing!

2.  Think color.  Color code your emergency supplies – red-labeled bags for first aid supplies, green for water products, blue for food, etc.  It would make it easier to see what you have and easier to retrieve when needed.

3.  Think metal.  I recently found that rodents are extremely persistent in getting to food sources, so instead of that (cheap) plastic trash can, you may want to consider metal trash cans with good-fitting lids.

4.  Designer buckets.  Each person in your household should have their own sealable 5-gallon bucket with a change of clothes, shoes, coat, etc.  To make it really “theirs” have them put their own design on their bucket.  Permanent markers or stickers can really jazz them up!

5.  Plastic, zip-type bags are really great for lists of insurance policy numbers and other important things that you rarely see or remember.

6.  One big item – Consider a solar charger of some sort.  Even fairly small ones would do wonders in charging your cell phone, which may provide a great deal of useful information in emergencies, as well as your communication link.

Whatever you do, try to put some color or even humor in it.  It makes it more fun and, when the time comes, you will be so thankful that you put in that extra effort BEFORE you needed it.

Gas - A Cautionary Tale

Gas piped into homes, offices, hospitals and schools is practically as common as bringing in electricity.  While an ill-placed live wire can hurt or even kill you under the right circumstances, or a short in a wire can cause a spark and potential fire, the potential harm from gas has a much greater reach – it can explode with tremendous power and violence.

Several incidents have happened recently this year that has heightened the public’s concern over gas safety:

On October 12, a home that had experienced “a gas smell for days” exploded, injuring five and destroying four homes.  On November 10^th, nearly 100 homes were damaged (33 completely destroyed) and two people were killed with gas caused an extremely violent explosion in an Indianapolis suburb.  On November 23^rd, a gas-caused explosion damaged 42 buildings, injured 20 people and surprisingly killed no one.  Tragedy struck again on November 27 when a fire and explosion from a gas heater killed 14 and injured 9 in a workshop in Berlin, Germany.

The incident that heightened the awareness of gas violent nature was the gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California, on September 9, 2010.  The explosion in this Bay-area residential neighborhood killed 8 people and injured 58, some hospitalized for months with severe burns.  Thirty-eight homes were completely destroyed and dozens of others sustained damage.

The San Bruno explosion was certainly a wake-up call, especially for cities, universities and utility companies.  The location of gas pipelines were mapped and distributed to the community.  Emergency plans had to contain elements of awareness and mitigation of any gas pipeline hazards.  Pressure was placed on utility companies to examine gas pipeline infrastructure for signs of decay or weakening, as was suspected in the San Bruno explosion.

Many of us welcomed the new emphasis on gas safety.  Natural gas, though ubiquitous in the United States for heating and cooking, can be quite dangerous so spreading the word on how to prevent gas accidents is great and potentially life-saving.

By following a few basic tips*, you can prepare yourself and those you love to hopefully avoid any run-ins with gas’s explosive side…

DO!

·        Use your nose. If you ever detect even a small amount of the odor of natural gas in the air, don’t stay—get away. Then, contact your natural gas provider. If you don’t know that number, dial emergency services, 9-1-1.

·        Have all gas appliances, furnaces, vents, flues, chimneys and gas lines in your home or business inspected every year or two by qualified industry professionals.

·        Keep the areas around all appliances and equipment clean and unblocked to allow for proper air flow.

·        Follow manufacturer instructions for the care and use of gas appliances and equipment.

·        Make sure there is at least one multipurpose fire extinguisher in your home or place of business.

·        Review these natural gas safety tips regularly with ALL family members and coworkers.

DON’T!

·        Don’t ever let small children play with or near natural gas appliances or pipes, even the knobs on the oven or cooktop.

·        Don’t use your stove or oven for anything other than cooking (for instance, to heat your home, under any circumstances.

·        Don’t move or install a gas appliance or change the connector in any way without professional assistance.

·        Don’t use a space heater UNTIL you are sure it has been vented properly. If using a vent-free heater, make sure the automatic cut-off switch is operational.

·        Don’t install a gas appliance yourself, unless you are a qualified contractor. Instead, you should always seek professional assistance.

·        Don’t ever store household chemicals or combustible materials near gas appliances.

·        Above all, don’t forget to learn what to do if you ever smell natural gas in the air: SMELL GAS? ACT FAST!

IT’S BEST TO BE SAFE: If you smell gas RIGHT NOW—don't touch or turn off your computer—leave the area! After you go someplace away from the odor, call your natural gas provider. If you don't know that number, dial emergency services, 9-1-1.

*Resource:  http://www.safegas.org/tips/tips.html

November 27, 2012