Public Service Announcement Contest

Social media is alive and well, and as public educators, we need to utilize that through our  9-1-1 education efforts both locally and nationally. So how can we do that in a positive and engaging way?

It seems what we are missing the most, is content. By content, we mean information that you can add to your website that will help engage your community. By having the public visit your site, you gain the ability to provide them with answers to questions and input that is desperately wanted and needed.

Content can be developed in many ways, which is why we decided to create an online public service announcement contest. We are looking for participation from any public safety entity (Fire, Police, and 9-1-1) interested in creating a 9-1-1 public education message! The 911safety.org website is sponsoring the online PSA contest to help boost public education efforts.

Here is how the contest will work: Any 9-1-1 entity can participate! All you need to do is produce a 30-second Public Service Announcement dealing with 9-1-1 education. The PSA will be used to help communities better understand the important topics we have on 9-1-1 public education. Whether it be providing the tips on when to call or what to say, or perhaps highlighting the consequences of crank calls, or creating a video teaching kids on how to call 9-1-1 depending on different types of emergencies. The possibilities are endless! It is up to you to be creative and show us your stuff! We accept all video files (.mov, avi, quick time, etc.). Please submit entries to robert.gonzalez@csec.texas.gov. We will showcase the great work we receive on our Facebook and YouTube pages! For the entries we find most creative and inspiring, they will get a percentage off to use toward items available on the 911safety.org websites as well as a Cell Phone Sally Plaque recognizing their public education efforts. Deadline to submit your PSAs is March 27, 2013. Honorees will be selected in April! Honorees must use their 911safety.org discount no later than April 30, 2013.

No budget, no worries, just grab your Smartphone and shoot some creative video. Here are some excellent examples of some PSAs on YouTube that were done in a cost effective manner and they WORK!. Check them out at: http://bit.ly/911contest

What is keeping you from creating your own public service announcement? Why not get started today and see how creative you can be! For more information or if you have any questions or need ideas, please contact Robert Gonzalez at robert.gonzalez@csec.texas.gov. We look forward to seeing everyone’s unique creativity!

 

Remember to Wash Your Hands and Save Your Health and Lives!

One of the most important things we can do to keep healthy is to simply wash your hands. By washing hands, you can avoid getting sick as well as spreading germs to others. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, many diseases and illnesses are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean running water. Remember that if you don’t have access to water and soap, you can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands.

When You Should Wash Hands

·         Before, during and after preparing food.

·         Before eating food.

·         After using the restroom.

·         After blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing.

·         After handling pets, pet food, or pet waste.

·         After touching garbage.

·         Before treating a cut or wound.

The Right Way to Wash Your Hands

·         Wet your hands with clean running water first and then apply soap.

·         Rub your hands together to create a foamy lather and make sure to scrub them well. This means scrubbing in between your fingers and on your nails.

·         Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds.

·         Rinse your hands under running water.

Remember, washing your hands is very important to your health and others! Make sure to follow these guidelines to ensure you stay as healthy as possible.

Hand Washing Game: http://globalhandwashing.org/ghw/

Hand washing YouTube Video: http://youtu.be/tmMGwO4N0Vc

Join Us at the Next National Public Educator Forum Conference!

Calling all public educators!!! It is that time of year again to register for the third annual NPEF Conference and this year it will be held in the gorgeous city of Austin, Texas, July 21-24, 2013!

The conference, aimed at 9-1-1 educators, will have four days of action packed sessions including industry-focused and technical education sessions. The NPEF conference is the nation’s only conference designed to assist 9-1-1 educators with public outreach, budget issues and educational tools. Individuals who work for a PSAP or other 9-1-1/public safety agency and play a role in public education within their community should make every effort to check this conference out. You will not be disappointed!

Check out these conference highlights:

·        Keynote Speaker, Kevin Willett, Public Safety Training Consultants  

·        Check out the world’s largest urban bat population! See over a million Mexican Free-tailed bats leave the Congress Street Bridge at sunset.

·        Share Time – Participate in sharing with other educators and learn what they have implemented in their programs.

·        Experience Austin’s lively night life including famous 6^th Street and the distinct Warehouse District. Check out live music, fabulous varieties of food, history of the Texas Capitol, and more!

·        Learn about techniques and innovative campaigns that help educate your elected officials and board members.

·        Show time! See examples of top of the line PowerPoint and other presentations that help boost education efforts and are easy to implement!

Don’t take our word for it- see what other attendees have said about past conferences:

·         “The NPEF was extremely well organized with information to use for all ages. I was extremely impressed with the conference. Keep up the outstanding work!”

·        “The NPEF and volunteers were outstanding. I plan to refer more people. The sharing that occurred at the conference and continues by email is incredible. Simply dynamic!”

·        “What I liked best about this conference were all the speakers and the length of the presentations. I also liked the opportunity to meet and speak with others from around the country and listen to how folks get things done with very little money.”

·        “I enjoyed this conference more than any other national conference, because you get the opportunity to meet everyone and there is only one session going on at a time instead of the typical conference where you are running from room to room.”

For more information on the NPEF conferences and how you can get registered today, please visit www.911npef.org. Don’t let this fantastic opportunity pass you by!

February Marks American Heart Month

Like many people, we all know someone who has suffered from a heart attack or stroke. Unfortunately, cardiovascular disease is still one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with one in three people dying from heart disease or a stroke. But, luckily, we have the power to change that by working together to stay healthy and active and keep our hearts strong.

One thing the Center for Disease Control and other government entities are doing, is teaming up together for Million Hearts, which aims to prevent the nation’s leading killers and empower all to make heart-healthy decisions. Million Hearts was launched in 2011 by the Department of Health and Human Services. Its goal is to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. over the next five years.

Goal of a Million Hearts

There are two main goals that the Million Hearts campaign hopes to achieve through preventing heart attacks and strokes. Those goals are:

·         Empowering Americans to Make Healthy Choices: Sounds simple, right? This goal can easily be achieved by avoiding tobacco use and reducing the amount of trans fat and sodium intake into our bodies. By doing these simple things, we can eliminate the amount of times we go to the doctor for high blood pressure or high cholesterol, thus preventing heart attacks and strokes.

·         Improving Care for People Who Need Treatment: This goal will happen by encouraging focus on the “ABCS” which means Aspirin for people at risk, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation. All these items address the major risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Don’t hesitate to sign up for the Million Hearts pledge! Make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle by clicking here: www.millionhearts.hhs.gov. One other way you can contribute to a healthier lifestyle is by exercising for at least 30 minutes a day most of the week. Take care of your health now! In the event of a heart attack or other emergency, please dial 9-1-1.