NPEF Conference in Austin a Huge Success!

For those of you who were lucky enough to attend the National Public Educator Forum Conference in Austin, Texas this past week, you know how beneficial it was for public educators across the country to take part in this conference. Not only did educators get the opportunity to network and share a plethora of ideas, but they were also able to see numerous sessions from keynote speakers that helped to encourage, invigorate and motivate them to go back home and make their public education programs great!

One of the best parts of the conference was when educators broke into groups and had to come up with a skit regarding issues 9-1-1 public educators have to address with the public. There were nine different groups who worked together over the conference to polish their skits and then presented them in front of everyone on the second to last day. The skits not only had everyone laughing, but all attendees were thoroughly impressed with the ideas conveyed on 9-1-1 issues such as pocket-dialing and knowing your location.

Another part of the conference that had everyone in stitches was when the conference attendees created their very own Harlem Shake video! We had some of the educators dress up as Cell Phone Sally, Kid Friendly Keith and Josh. We had others dressed in the cost-effective Cell Phone Sally sandwich costumes and we even brought out our very first 9-1-1 mascot called Super Telly! We incorporated all the costumes into the video and it turned out great. Check out the video below to see the public educators in action!

The NPEF conference was quite the success and many are already looking forward to next year’s conference near Chicago, Illinois! Below you can find a link to the flyer with more information.  Windy city bound, the only blues you will find is if you are unable to attend!

Remember, the NPEF group is here to help public educators work together to make their programs impactful and successful. For more information on NPEF or if you would like to become a member (it is free!), please visit their website at www.911npef.org.

Information on the NPEF 2014 Conference: http://www.911npef.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/NPEF_Conference_Flyer_2014.pdf

NPEF Conference Harlem Shake!

NPEF Conference in Action!

Cell Phone Sally Sandwich Costumes! "We do what we want!"

The Conference Share and Freebie Table

The NPEF Skit Winners! (Their skit addressed pocket-dials)

NPEF Conference Starts Sunday in Austin!

The National Public Educator Forum Conference, dedicated to public safety professionals, is coming to Austin, Texas this Sunday through Wednesday (July 21st-24^th). Over a 100 educators will join together from all over the United States and Mexico to share public education ideas, cost-effective measures and foster relationships within the public safety community.

This will be the third annual conference for NPEF, a group that has over 400 members and is FREE to join! (For more information on becoming a part of NPEF, please visit their website at www.911npef.org) Throughout the conference, attendees will learn invaluable information regarding the ever-evolving 9-1-1 industry as well as learn practical training with innovative ideas on making public education more successful and more efficient than ever.

One of the great things about this conference is that every attendee has the opportunity to attend every session, which means you don’t miss out on anything! With 15 sessions over a four-day period, educators learn hands-on training while meeting and working with other educators throughout the U.S. One thing you can distinguish in the public education industry is that educators learn more and make the best of their programs when they work together and share ideas.

Educators, administrators and others involved in the public safety industry will leave this conference feeling energized, motivated and reignited about their public education program. NPEF conference coordinators cannot wait to show attendees what they have in store for them this year! For more information on the conference sessions, please visit http://www.911npef.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Session_Schedule_2013.pdf. NPEF is on Facebook too so check them out here: https://www.facebook.com/911NPEF.

 

July Marks Herbal/Prescription Awareness Month

The popularity of herbal and dietary medications taken in the United States has increased in recent years due to consumers looking for way to maintain their health through other means than regular pharmaceutical products. The problem with these herbal medications also known as dietary supplements is that they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Not only are they not regulated before they are marketed to consumers, but they also have no consistencies on the dosage amounts. While pharmaceutical companies are held to standards where they are required to perform studies on effectiveness, dosage and safety, those who produce herbal supplements do not have these same requirements.

Popular supplements that consumers take regularly include vitamins, fish oil, ginseng, flaxseed and glucosamine, to name a few. While these supplements are generally safe, other supplements can be potentially harmful and can cause adverse reactions when mixed with other medications. Consumers can be thrown off by the idea of the product being natural, that they assume it is safe. But since these supplements are not regulated, the dosages can vary from batch to batch and differing brands. There could also be exposure to dangerous pesticides.

So remember, before taking any type of herbal or natural supplement; make sure to do your research! Locate dependable, well-known brands that have a reputation for providing healthy products. You can also discuss with your doctor any supplement you plan on taking especially if you are looking to add it to help treat a health condition or improve your wellness.

Do not hesitate to discuss any supplement use with your health care provider if you are:

·         Planning on replacing regular medication taken with a supplement

·         Taking any medication and plan on adding a supplement (you want to make sure they do not have bad interactions)

·         Planning on having surgery. Some supplements can increase bleeding or affect anesthesia

·         Pregnant or nursing a baby. Most supplements have not been tested on pregnant women and therefore it is not know whether these supplements are safe.

If you take a supplement and are having any unusual reactions or are not sure about a medication taken, please contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If you are having life threatening reactions to a supplement taken, please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1.