So far so good….it’s almost Christmas and no snow, no storms for our area!

BET YOU CAN’T WAIT…and you SHOULDN’T      PUT YOUR SURVIVAL KIT IN YOUR CAR NOW

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE, AND YOU ARE STUCK OUT IN  A STORM

Storm on the way?  Update-refresh your winter driving survival kit and place it in your car. A handy item to put in is called an emergency survival blanket. They are made of thermal material that was developed for use in space. This material reflects back 90% of body heat, it’s small when packaged and opens to 84 inches long by 52 inches wide. The packet I have in front of me cost under $3.00, and was purchased in the camping section of the store.

Winter Survival Kit components below;

Survival kit for winter driving:
■ Coffee can or other empty and clean food can
■ 60-inch length string (cut into 3 equal pieces – used to suspend can)
■ 3 large safety pins (tie string to safety pins and pin to car roof interior to suspend can
over candle)
■ 1 candle 2″ diameter (place on lid under suspended can for melting snow). Canned
Sterno will also work to heat water. 2 books of matches.
■ 1 pocket knife, reasonably sharp (or substitute with scissors)
■ 3 pieces of bright cloth 2″ wide x 36″ long (tie to antenna or door handle)
■ Several packets of soup, hot chocolate, tea, bouillon cubes, etc. (mixed into melted
snow to provide warmth and nutrition)
■ Plastic spoons
■ Packages of easy to eat, high energy foods like peanuts and candy or canned, ready-to eat
soups or fruit
■ 1 pair of socks and 1 pair of gloves or glove liners; cotton is not recommended because
it provides no insulation when wet).
■ Extra clothing and a blanket or sleeping bag Or a few of the above mentioned blankets!

■ 1 flash light and batteries (keep separate)
■ First aid kit
■ Toilet paper and sealable container for bathroom purposes
■ Fire extinguisher
■ Small tool kit
■ Ice scraper/snow brush
■ Shovel
■ Sand or other traction aid
■ Tow rope or chain
■ Jumper cables
■ Road flares or warning lights
■ Gas line antifreeze
■ Large plastic garbage bag
■ Pencil stub and paper
■ Plastic whistle
■ Cellular phone with a charger
You may want to keep the survival kit in the passenger compartment in case you go into a
ditch and can’t get to or open the trunk.
Put all items in a plastic storage container and place in vehicle when traveling starting in mid
October.

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/RoadSafety/

Keep you and your loved ones safe, see tips from the Center for Disease Control at the above link

WE AT CAVALIER COUNTY, WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERY ONE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

Cavalier County Emergency Management and 911

http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/winter.html

The Ready site link above has so much great winter preparedness information. It is proven that those that have a plan have a much better chance of surviving severe winter weather. So go ahead, click the link, make a plan!

Make it your New Year’s resolution for 2011

It’s important to know how cold weather can affect your heart, especially if you have cardiovascular disease.

Many people don’t realize how much they exert themselves when they are not conditioned for it simply by walking through snow, not to mention trying to get rid of the amounts that have come this year. Even those that are accustomed to being outdoors in winter can accidentally suffer hypothermia if certain precautions are not taken.

Hypothermia means the body temperature has fallen below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It occurs when your body can’t produce enough energy to keep the internal body temperature warm enough. It can kill you. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. Symptoms include lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering and sleepiness.

Children, our elderly and those with heart disease are at higher risk. As we age we seem to become almost immune to feeling moderately cold conditions, we can suffer hypothermia without realizing the danger.

People with heart disease often suffer chest pain or discomfort when they’re in cold weather. Some studies suggest that harsh winter weather may increase a person’s risk of heart attack due to overexertion.

It’s not just cold temperatures, high winds, snow and dampness can also cause the body to lose warmth. Wind is especially dangerous, because it removes the layer of heated air from around your body. Similarly, dampness causes the body to lose heat faster than it would at the same temperature in drier conditions.

To keep warm, wear layers of clothing. This traps air between layers, forming a protective insulation. Also, cover your head. Heat is lost through your head, ears are especially prone to frostbite. Keep your hands and feet warm, too, as they  lose heat quickly.

Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before going outdoors or when outside. Alcohol gives an initial feeling of warmth, because blood vessels in the skin expand. Heat is then drawn away from the body’s vital organs.



Please take a look at the link below to some winter survival kit and good advice

if you are stuck in your vehicle during the upcoming cold winter months!

http://www.21stcenturyadventures.com/advice/lists/winterSurvivalChecklist.html

An emergency supply kit should include a three-day supply of food and water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and extra flashlights and batteries. Thoroughly check and update your family’s emergency supply kit and add the following supplies in preparation for winter weather:

• Rock salt to melt ice on walkways;
• Sand to improve traction;
• Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment;
• And adequate clothing and blankets to help keep you warm.
• Ensure your family preparedness plan and contacts are up to date and exercise your plan. Learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government, and ensure your home and car are prepared for the winter weather.

Finally, everyone should get familiar with the terms that are used to identify a winter storm hazard and discuss with your family what to do if a winter storm watch or warning is issued. Terms used to describe a winter storm hazard include the following:

• Freezing Rain creates a coating of ice on roads and walkways.
• Sleet is rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes roads to freeze and become slippery.
• Winter Weather Advisory means cold, ice and snow are expected.
• Winter Storm Watch means severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two.
• Winter Storm Warning means severe winter conditions have begun or will begin very soon.

Some precautions:  Wash your hands often for 20 seconds. (sing the Birthday song through twice). Cover your cough, use hand sanitizer,  use disinfecting wipes for surfaces such as counters, tables, telephones, remotes etc.

For your centerpiece please consider a box of tissues, a bottle of hand sanitizer and a container of disinfecting wipes surrounded perhaps by some decorations.

In a recent survey performed by the Red Cross, over 50% of the respondents replied that they would send a text message to a response agency to request help. The survey also found 35 percent would post a request to an agency’s facebook page, and 28 percent would try to Twitter an agency for help.

The survey found that 69 percent believe that response agencies should monitor their Web and social media sites to promptly respond to requests for help. Here is a link to the entire article. http://bit.ly/crvkrR

With all that you hear about Next Generation 911, (NG911) you would think that this technology may be available today, it is not.

Best guess by industry experts are, that the technology to accept text messages at a Public Safety Answering Point/Dispatch Center is 5 years away. Rest assured that the problems are plenty and that the IP network to achieve this NG911 capability, is being looked at by federal, state, and local government and response organizations, along with industry experts. Work is ongoing to plan for and to build the reliable network and technology for the ability to text 911. It is not here yet though.

In the meantime we will continue to use our landlines and cell phones  (out a window or outside, please) to contact 911 by voice, or for the hearing impaired by TTY.

Expectations are out pacing technology!

Who will Emergency Workers contact if you are not able to respond to them?

PLEASE Program this contact name into your cell phone

Contact name:  ICE    and then the number of the person you want contacted in an emergency

This will assure you, that your loved ones will be contacted if you can not respond!

In Case of Emergency

Hazardous Material Transportation Safety

Most hazardous materials are required to be shipped in containers that meet specifications established by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). A DOT label is found on individual packages, drums, or other small containers and is in the shape of a 4-inch diamond. A DOT placard is also diamond-shaped, but is larger and found on the outside of the transport vehicle. Placards are used only if there are 1,000 pounds or more of various materials on board.

Diamond-shaped symbols are used in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for indicating the various hazards of the material in a fixed location such as a storage warehouse.

Should you come upon an accident involving a container or truck marked with a label, or placard, do not approach. Do not come in contact with any released materials. Remember, hazardous materials may occur in liquid, solid, or gaseous state. Do not smoke or allow any combustion source in the area.

Advise bystanders that the material may be very dangerous and ask them to leave the area immediately. If the material is on fire, or several substances are mixing together, there is a risk of explosion or other violent reaction. Instruct everyone to evacuate from the area to a distance of at least one mile.

Report the incident to local authorities immediately. Communicating the following information will greatly speed up the response:

1. The exact location of the incident.

2. Type of vehicle (container) involved.

3. If there is a fire.

4. The color of the placard or label and any numbers or names printed on them.

5. Whether the material is leaking.

6. If anyone is injured.

7. Weather conditions in the area.

GATHER THIS INFORMATION ONLY IF IT IS SAFE, DO NOT ENDANGER YOURSELF SIMPLY CALL 911