Shop for Christmas Gifts and Holiday Gifts for the 2010 Holiday Season at Safety Kits Plus. Give the gift of safey this holiday season! Tell your employees, customers, family members, friends and loved ones that you value their safety and that they are important to you. Browse our most popular safety preparedness items and make your holiday gift purchases today!

Christmas Gifts and Holiday Gift Ideas

Good Luck!

MOTORISTS

PARENTS

COSTUME DESIGN

FACE DESIGN

ACCESSORIES

TREATS

Resources:

National Safety Council – Resources – Fact Sheets [online]

Safety Kits Plus – Car Emergency Kits, Auto Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Kits, First Aid Kits, Vehicle Safety Plus

Below are safety tips to help homeowners create the safest home possible:

• Make an effort to learn about your home electrical system so that you can safely navigate and maintain it.
• Make sure smoke alarms are installed on every floor outside sleeping areas and in every bedroom, and are in good working order.
• Look for telltale signs of electrical problems such as dimming of lights, frequent circuit breaker trips or blown fuses.
• Ask a qualified electrician if your home would benefit from AFCI protection, especially during inspections of older homes or upgrades to electrical systems.
• Limit the use of extension cords, particularly cords used to power room air conditioners.
• Use light bulbs that are the proper wattage for the fixture – higher wattage bulbs can degrade the wires in and around the fixture.
• Never attempt a project that is beyond your skill level. Knowing when to call a professional may help prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities.
• Always turn off the power to the circuit that you plan to work on by switching off the circuit breaker in the main service panel.
• Be sure to unplug any lamp or appliance before working on it.

References:

Electrical Safety Foundation – http://www.esfi.org

Safety Kits Plus – http://www.safetykitsplus.com

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is sponsored by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps. NPM is held each September and is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. 

September 2010 is the seventh annual NPM. This year will focus on encouraging Americans to work together to take concrete actions toward emergency preparedness.

The Campaign’s Web sites www.ready.gov and www.listo.gov and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide Americans with free emergency preparedness information.

In 2008, the Ready Campaign partnered with more than 3,200 organizations to highlight the importance of public emergency preparedness throughout September.

The campaign is very simple. Get a kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed and Get Involved.

GET A KIT

When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it’s best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth. Below is a list of recommended items to include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers

MAKE A PLAN

Make sure you have a family emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.

Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call or emergency workers may go door-to-door.

You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance. Businesses must also plan in advance to manage any emergency situation.

BE INFORMED, GET INVOLVED

Being informed about the different types of emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate ways to respond to them will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take.

In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.

After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies by getting a kit, making a plan and being informed, take the next step and get involved in preparing your community. Learn more about Citizen Corps, which actively involves citizens in making our communities and our nation safer, stronger and better prepared.

We all have a role to play in keeping our hometowns secure from emergencies of all kinds. Citizen Corps works hard to help people prepare, train and volunteer in their communities. For more information, go to www.citizencorps.gov to get involved.

Resources:

Ready America – Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed. [online] – www.ready.gov

National Safety Council [online] – www.nsc.org/preparedness

Safety Kits Plus – Car Emergency Kits, Disaster Kits, First Aid Kits, Vehicle Safety Plus

There are close to 50,000 fatalities in motor vehicle crashes each year and over 2.4 million more suffer disabling injuries. Every driver remains at risk no matter how careful you are or how skilled a driver you think you are. Good defensive driving starts with following the rules of the road and adding a keen awareness of other drivers and vehicles. Follow the useful defensive driving safety tips to help reduce your risks on the road.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING SAFETY TIPS

• Safety belts save thousands of lives each year. Don’t start the engine until every passenger is secure; including children and pets. Lock all doors.
• Maintain proper speed; driving too fast or too slow can cause collisions.
• Don’t drink and drive! If you plan to drink, designate a driver who won’t drink.
• Don’t be a distracted driver! No cell phones period, no reading or responding to e-mails or text messages, no adjusting GPS’s or accessing the internet.
• Be alert! Always be assessing the vehicles within your site. Notice unusual driving behaviors.
• Avoid potential crashes or impaired drivers by turning right at the nearest corner or exiting at the nearest exit. If it appears that an oncoming car is crossing into your lane, pull over to the roadside, sound the horn and flash your lights.
• Notify authorities ASAP after seeing a motorist who is driving suspiciously.
• Follow the rules of the road. Don’t contest the “right of way” of another car during merges. Be respectful of other motorists.
• Don’t follow too closely. Use a “three-second plus following distance.”
• While driving, be cautious, aware and responsible.

Resources:

National Safety Council  [Online -Resources - Fact Sheets - Defensive Driving]

Safety Kits Plus  - Car Emergency Kits, Auto Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Kits, First Aid Kits, Vehicle Safety Plus

SCHOOL BUS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY PLANNING TIPS:

• All school bus fleet administrators should establish procedures in their respective fleets for handling emergencies such as collisions, riots, strikes, sabotage, natural phenomena, and clinical contamination of a school or the need to evacuate a school or community building for any reason.
• Cooperation and coordination of emergency response efforts among local agencies (police, fire, civil defense) and other community resources should be established.
• School districts should identify which disasters are most likely to occur in their communities and plan ahead to appropriately respond.
• Phone trees with the appropriate lines of cooperating authority and current contact info should be established and shared among the respective agencies.
• Procedures should be defined for the event that land telephone lines are inoperable.
• Reasonable and accurate estimates should be made of available personnel resources and equipment and the time required responding to a variety of critical events.
• Procedures should be established to provide for the transportation needs of mentally and physically challenged in emergency situations.
• Communication and training of emergency preparedness and safety procedures and policies is critical. Everyone involved must buy in to the need to be prepared.
• Review policies regularly! Community wide weekend emergency response practice drills are a great way to get everyone involved.

Resources:

National Safety Council [Resources - Fact Sheets]

Safety Kits Plus – Car Emergency Kits, Auto Emergency Preparedness, First Aid Kits, Disaster Kits, Vehicle Safety Plus

SET APPOINTMENTS

• Vaccinations
• Dentist
• Eye Doctor
• Haircuts

A LITTLE JUMPSTART

• Summer reading lists
• Tutoring a couple weeks before
• Begin implementing school year routines a few weeks early

GET ORGANIZED (out with the old)

• Clean out and organize closets and drawers, favorite hiding spots and work areas.
• Ensure reading materials and toys are age appropriate. Pass along or giveaway those that are not.
• Pass along clothes that no longer fit. Shop smartly and early for sports gear, new clothes, school and dorm supplies.

EVERYTHING ELSE

• Be informed early about registration dates and schedules for any after school acivities including sports, music or dance.
• Work out transportation issues, car pools, buses…..
• Discuss family emergency planning details including meeting places and emergency contact information

References:

Safety Kits Plus - Car Emergency Kits, Disaster Kits, First Aid Kits, Plus Vehicle Safety

• Create a safety and health plan for your business and employees as well as your home and your family. Include plans for all types of hazards,  communication plans for employees and family members, fire protection plans, safety related rules and regulations, emergency disaster plans, and even a plan for when a serious injury or death occurs. All plans should be committed to writing and reviewed annually. Safety procedures alone do no good; it is critical to maintain proper safety supply inventories, practice safety procedures and review safety materials on a regular schedule.
• Educate your employees, review written plans and rules, discuss the locations of all emergency supplies and safety materials, enforce safety rules and encourage safe behavior.
• Regularly inspect safety equipment and all facilities and record and make necessary repairs.
• When appropriate maintain restricted areas within facilities and enforce these areas strictly.
• Make physical health a priority. Take action to reduce stress. Help reduce fatigue by sleeping well and taking breaks.
• Stay informed and current regarding  safety, health and environmental issues. Attend safety related conferences and events and provide the resources that allow all top managers to do the same.

References:

National Safety Council – Resources – Fact Sheets [online]

Safety Kits Plus – Car Emergency Kits Auto Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Kits, First Aid Kits, Vehicle Safety Plus

Fatal emergencies such as attack, drowning, choking or electric shock happen every day. The steps taken in the following seconds can mean the difference between life and death. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the best training to have to try to help someone in an extreme situation when that person has stopped breathing. Learning this basic first-aid technique can help you give a friend, a loved one or a stranger a second chance for life. CPR is administered when someone’s breathing or pulse (or both) stops.

The heart and lungs work together to circulate oxygen throughout your body. If your brain is deprived of oxygen more than four minutes, you are at chance of suffering brain damage. After 10 minutes, your chances of surviving drop to one in 100.

The standard CPR method taught is a three-step process which is as simple as ABC. Knowing these steps is not enough, it is critical to be trained and to practice. Once trained and certified, refresher courses are highly recommended every few years to maintain certification. Courses are offered nationwide by the Red Cross and other local organizations.

CPR BASICS - AS SIMPLE AS ABC

If you find an adult who has collapsed, check responsiveness by gently shaking a shoulder and shouting, “Are you all right?” If the person doesn’t respond, shout for help.If a helper is available, send that person to call 911.If no help is available, make the call yourself.

AIRWAY

• Place victim flat on his/her back on a hard surface.
• Shake victim at the shoulders and shout “are you okay?”
• If no response, call emergency medical system -911 then,
• Head-tilt/chin-lift – open victims’ airway by tilting their head back with one hand while lifting up their chin with your other hand.

BREATHING

• Position your cheek close to victims’ nose and mouth, look toward victims’ chest, and
• Look, listen, and feel for breathing (5-10 seconds)
• If not breathing, pinch victim’s nose closed and give 2 full breaths into victim’s mouth (use microshield).
• If breaths won’t go in, reposition head and try again to give breaths. If still blocked, perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)

CIRCULATION

• Check for carotid pulse by feeling for 5-10 seconds at side of victims’ neck.
• If there is a pulse but victim is not breathing, give Rescue breathing at rate of 1 breath every 5 seconds Or 12 breaths per minute
• If there is no pulse, begin chest compressions as follows:
• Place heel of one hand on lower part of victim’s sternum. With your other hand directly on top of first hand, Depress sternum 1.5 to 2 inches.
• Perform 15 compressions to every 2 breaths. (rate: 80-100 per minute)
• check for return of pulse every minute.

CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED UNTIL ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE.

NECK INJURY
If you suspect that the victim may have a neck injury (such as might occur in a diving or automobile accident, for example), you must open the airway differently.
Open the airway using a chin-lift without tilting the head. If the airway stays blocked, tilt the head slowly and gently until the airway is open.

Resources:

National Safety Council - Rescources – Fact Sheets [online}

American Red Cross - Preparing and Getting Trained - CPR [online]

Safety Kits Plus – Car Emergency Kits, Auto Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Kits, First Aid Kits, Vehicle Safety Plus