Monday, December 19, 2016

The American Red Cross is Helping Solve America's Biggest Disaster Threat, Home Fires

Please Help Solve America's Biggest Disaster Threat Home Fires

  • On average
    7
    people
    die every day from a home fire.
  •  
  • On average
    36
    people
    suffer injuries as a result of home fires every day.
  •  
  • Over
    $7 billion
    in property damage
    occurs every year.


We installed 10 Red Cross smoke alarms and conducted education on fire safety in Dolan Springs last Saturday. We already have sixteen more smoke alarms to install in Meadview and White Hills.

We'll be making appointments with those who already contacted the Red Cross, and be doing the installations and fire safety education in Meadview and White Hills right after Christmas.

The Red Cross smoke alarms have a guaranteed 10 year battery, so there's no need to change batteries every year, 

WARNING If your smoke alarm is 10 years old, the battery may test fine, but the sensor may have failed and may not work when needed. Replace smoke alarms at least every 10 years. 


If your smoke alarms are over 10 years old or if you have no smoke alarms in your home, please call the Red Cross office in Kingman at (928) 753-1402.



PLEASE LEARN FIRE SAFETY DEVELOP AND PRACTICE A PLAN OF ESCAPE 

Install and maintain Fire extinguishers on every level of the home and in the kitchen, basement and garage. Know how to use a fire extinguisher prior to an emergency. 

Make a floor plan indicating all doors and windows and at least two (2) escape routes from each room. Second story windows may need a rope or chain ladder.

Have a family meeting and discuss your escape plan, showing everyone what to do in case of fire.

Determine a place outside your home where you all can meet if a fire occurs.


 Familiarize everyone with the sound of the smoke alarm and train them to leave your home when they hear it. DO NOT GO BACK INTO THE HOME

Practice a fire drill at least every six months, including fire drills at night. Ensure that small children hear the alarm and wake when it sounds. They must wake up in order to execute the escape plan. Practice allows all occupants to test your plan before an emergency. You may not be able to reach your children. It is important they know what to do.

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE ALARM SOUNDS
 Alert small children in the home. • Leave immediately by your escape plan. Every second counts, so don’t waste time getting dressed or picking up valuables.

In leaving, don’t open any inside door without first feeling its surface. If hot, or if you see smoke seeping through cracks, don’t open that door! Instead, use your alternate exit. If the inside of the door is cool, place your shoulder against it, open it slightly and be ready to slam it shut if heat and smoke rush in.

Stay close to the floor if the air is smoky. Breathe shallowly through a cloth, wet if possible.
Once outside, go to your selected meeting place and make sure everyone is there.

Call the fire department from your neighbor’s home - not from yours!
Don’t return to your home until the fire officials say that it is all right to do so




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Saturday, December 17, 2016

Past the 10,000 View Mark

My little EMS blog past the 10,000 view mark today. I'm surprised by how many people have an interest in our little community....

Thursday, December 15, 2016

The Cost to Patients in EMS Response Time

Today we have miracle drugs and surgeries that can make the difference between going home, going to a nursing home or death, if the patient gets there in a timely manner. Most EMS systems have an average response time of 8 minutes on 90% of calls. In our area it's very important to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. 

In a stroke each minute cost the patient 2,000,000 brain cells. If you think you’re having a stroke, please call EMS. Every minute that passes can make the difference in how well your  brain, arms, legs, speech or thinking ability will recover.

These time frames are very important; please learn them, and the symptoms of a stroke.

4.5 hours  – the maximum number of hours that can pass between the start of stroke symptoms and the start of clot-dissolving treatment (called tPA).  Many patients delay seeking care, losing precious minutes.
2 million  – The approximate number of brain cells (neurons) lost for each minute delay in restoring blood flow after a stroke. Earlier treatment is better.

60 – the number of minutes between the moment a typical stroke victim reaches a hospital, and the moment they get treatment to break up a blood clot in their brain. This “door to needle time” includes the time it takes to use brain scanners to tell whether a clot or bleeding is causing the stroke.
Learn this acronym, FAST

Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?

Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb?

Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred, are you unable to speak, or are you hard to understand?

Time to call 9-1-1: If you have any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get to the hospital immediately.