What to do When Suffering with the Flu

It is incredibly important that everyone get their flu shot this year. Flu season is at an all time high and the flu shot might be your only hope at not contracting the debilitating virus. Hundreds of thousands of people have been suffering from the flu across the United States. If you happen to be one of the unlucky ones to come down with the flu, here are a few tips to help ease suffering while overcoming this sickness.

Signs you Might have the Flu

If you have started coughing or sneezing or felt a tickle in your throat, you might be on your way to developing the flu. Other symptoms that are linked directly to the flu include: achy muscles, respiratory problems and a fever.

Thing you can do to Ease Symptoms:

Antiviral: Right now there are two different prescription drugs that can be taken to fight the flu. The first is called Tamiflu and is an oral medication. The second is called Relenza and is an inhaled powder. Both will help keep you out of bed one to two days less than you usually would be in bed with the flu. They also help keep you from getting incredibly ill, but the kicker is that they must be taken within two days of the start of your symptoms in order to be effective.

Analgesics: Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Ibuprofen can help greatly reduce aches and pains as well as a fever. Please keep in mind that patients who have a history of asthma or high blood pressure should consult their physician before taking this medication.

Fluids: The doctor always tells you to drink lots of clear fluids AKA lots and lots of WATER! When anyone is ill with a fever, dehydration can occur as well. If you are having trouble keeping water down, try sucking on ice cubes or ice pops. This can also help with a sore throat.

Medications Available Over-the-Counter: Medications such as decongestants and antihistamines can help relieve symptoms such as a runny or congested nose or a cough. Antihistamines are also great for helping with sleep. Another thing you can do to relieve symptoms include cough drops for a scratchy throat.

Rest: The most important thing you can do when you are sick is to stay home and get lots of rest. When you have the flu, your body feels so run down that being at work or school is no good for you and will only make you feel worse. Take time off to get better and keep your germs to yourself.

Protect Yourself: January is National Self Defense Month

Self Defense is an important tool to have, especially when you find yourself in a dangerous situation. It is important that citizens know how to protect themselves as well as maintain their safety. With the help of some trusted and well-used strategies, you can help protect yourself and others in the event that you might be attacked.

Self Defense Strategies:

-       The number one most important thing is to always trust your instincts. When you have the feeling that something is not right, then it probably is not. If you get a gut reaction that something does not feel right, immediately head to a public area and contact authorities by dialing 9-1-1.

-       Never put trust in your assailant. Criminals are dangerous individuals who will tell you anything in order to persuade you to trust them. They might approach you in a friendly manner and try to catch you off guard. Just remember, a stranger can always equal danger, so no matter how convincing they are, never trust them.

-       Never leave the area with the attacker. They will try their best to get you alone and in a secluded area. Do your best to put distance between you and your attacker as quickly as possible.

-       When leaving work, home or a store, have your keys in hand. Always remember where you parked your car and don’t overload yourself with bags. This will only make you more vulnerable to an attack. It is also a good idea to look under your car and take in your surroundings. An attacker is less likely to target you if he or she sees how aware you are of the area.

-       Carry pepper spray or a personal alarm on you. This can help distract a perpetrator and help you get away to safety quicker.

-       Don’t be afraid to share your schedule with family and friends. This way, if something does happen to you, someone will always know where you were last. Many people refer to this as the buddy system.

-       Lastly, report any suspicious activity you might see going on in or around your neighborhood. The police cannot be everywhere and it is up to us, as a community, to help protect each other.

Remember: if you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation please do not hesitate to dial 9-1-1.

CARJACKING PREVENTION
http://youtu.be/Iqs98ohPlkw

POW RIGHT IN THE EYE
http://youtu.be/k47MpoFIVk8

January is National Get Organized Month!

January is a great time to get organized in all aspects of your life. Cell Phone Sally is here to help you get organized at home, school and work! While the thought of getting organized can sometimes be overwhelming, once you tackle the task you will find yourself more relaxed as well as more prepared to conquer the new year. Here are some great things to focus on when organizing important items:

-       Organize important contacts and numbers: Make sure your family is well prepared by having all important contact numbers either memorized or saved in your phone. Kids should know when to call 9-1-1. They should also know their parent’s phone numbers as well as any other important numbers. For adults, it is a good idea to have doctor’s offices and emergency contact numbers readily available in your phone too.

-       Organize an emergency preparedness kit: Every home should have an emergency preparedness kit and all household members should know where it is located. This kit should have basic items for survival in case an emergency strikes. Some items to include would be: a flashlight with extra batteries, at least one gallon of water, a first aid kit, moist towelettes for sanitation, garbage bags, a manual can opener, a map, a whistle to signal for help, and a cell phone with a solar charger.

-       Tackle Clutter around the Home: Clutter has a tendency to add to stress. Start relieving this stress by getting rid of the clutter. Check out these great tips on how to de-clutter your home: http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/ways-to-reduce-clutter/#page=1

-       Organize Your Office Space: Being organized at work is not only beneficial for you, but also for the people around you! No one wants to work in a messy environment. Check out these great tips on how to get organized at the office: http://www.examiner.com/article/clear-conquer-your-desk. Try and make a day at the office where everyone participates in tidying up and organizing their areas!

By tackling these tasks, you are bound to feel better about the year ahead. Remember, being organized helps save time and money. It also increases productivity and enhances your quality of life. So what are you waiting for? It is time to get organized!

Use Cell Phone Sally to Boost Your Public Education Efforts

Cell Phone Sally was created to help aid public education efforts within the 9-1-1 industry. Although the mascot program was launched in Texas, Cell Phone Sally is used throughout the United States and abroad. Her mission is to educate the public about how to call and when to call 9-1-1.

Social media efforts are full of opportunities to add videos of information relevant to 9-1-1 public education. Have you considered adding links to the various resources from our website or YouTube channel?

Whether it be embedding Cell Phone Sally YouTube videos on your site or providing links to our blog, website or social media channels from Facebook and Twiter, these items are ready and available to you.

All of the videos and songs can be easily embedded into your website. If you need help just contact your IT folks. The payoff is that it will add more value to your site by making it more engaging. If you follow the link below, you can find the Cell Phone Sally video as well as the song versions in both English and Spanish.

  http://www.csec.texas.gov/educational-resources/kids-resources/911-public-education

There are many agencies and public education entities that have already done this and found great success in sharing it with their community. Below are links to these sites. Feel free to browse and see how they incorporated Cell Phone Sally.

http://www.911.org/KidsCellPhoneSally.asp

http://www.plano.gov/index.aspx?NID=671

http://www.elpasoteller911.org/?page_id=637

http://www.yorkcountygov.com/departments/PublicSafetyCommunications/9-1-1Education

http://www.cityofvanalstyne.us/default.aspx?name=comm.911forkids

We strive to provide resourceful ways to enhance your public education efforts. Our top priority is making sure public educators have the tools to help ensure the public knows how and when to call 9-1-1.

A New Year- A New You! Health and Safety Tips to Kick Start the New Year

As we embark upon a New Year, many people will be thinking of New Year’s Resolutions as well as reflecting on their past and what they can do better in their future. As avid educators for health and safety, we would like to share with you some great health and safety tips to guarantee you more awareness in the New Year.

·         Make sure your kids as well as you are knowledgeable on how 9-1-1 works as well as when and when not to call 9-1-1. You can check out one of our previous blogs here that provides this information: http://cellphonesally.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-9-1-1-works.html

·         Strive to be healthy! Keep doctor check-ups and vaccinations up-to-date. Your health is very important so make sure to get flu shots and yearly exams. You can ask your health care provider for any suggestions on tests or exams you should get to guarantee you’re living a strong, healthy life.

·         Manage Stress Better! It is important to keep a healthy balance in life. Try not to over-commit. This can easily lead to getting sick. Remember to manage your time well and most importantly, stay positive and take time for you when you need to relax.

·         Prevent injuries and put Safety first! Being alert and aware of your surroundings is always important to your well being. Make sure to look both ways before crossing the street, know your location and be prepared for anything. Parents should also discuss fire safety and with children during the cold months of the year. Never leave fireplaces, candles or stoves unattended.

·         Stay Active! Keeping our bodies moving is important to our health. This can be as simple as walking for 30 minutes three times a week. Whatever your workout of choice, incorporate it into your daily life and better yet, get the whole family involved in fun activities that keep everyone active.

Cell Phone Sally would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Safety Tips for the Holidays

The holidays are a time of year when people get together and enjoy extra time with family and friends. While this can be one of the most joyous times of the year, we must also put safety first. Follow these tips to keep you and your family safe this holiday season.

Christmas Trees

Many families will participate in buying a natural Christmas tree for their home this year. Some things to keep in mind include always keeping the tree watered. When a tree does not get watered, it dies and dries out. If it were to catch on fire, it would be extremely dangerous.

Check out this link and view the short video on Christmas trees and how quickly a dry tree catches fire opposed to a watered tree: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/holiday-seasonal/holiday.shtm

Other tips for trees include placing a tree in areas that are not close to heat, a fireplace or candles. After the holidays are over, the best way to dispose of your tree is to take it to a recycling center or have it picked up by a community service.

Holiday Lights and Decorations

Decorating can be jolly and fun, but safety is still a must when putting out your holiday décor. Make sure to inspect your holiday lights for possible frayed wires or broken lights. Replace broken lights and throw out lights that are not working properly. Make sure to not overload your electrical outlets either. Too many plugs into one outlet can be a serious safety hazard. Instead, buy extension cords and multi-outlet plugs.

Candle Care

Candles can be nice but they can also be dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions when using them. Candles should be in stable holders and somewhere that they cannot be easily knocked over. Never leave a candle burning in the house when no one is home- an unattended candle can lead to a burning home so always blow your candles out. Better yet, just buy the battery-operated flameless candle. They look and feel the same but are much safer for your home.

The Center for Disease Control went above and beyond to help the community stay safe this holiday season. They created a nifty song called “12 Ways to Health Holiday” song. You can check it out here: http://www.cdc.gov/family/holiday/12ways.htm

How 9-1-1 Works

Many people know to call 9-1-1 in an emergency, but do they know the ins and outs of how 9-1-1 works? By knowing how 9-1-1 operates, it can help the public understand what goes into emergency services. Without 9-1-1 services, lives would not be saved and dangerous situations would not be resolved. 9-1-1 plays a huge role in our lives whether we are aware of it or not. Below we share with you how 9-1-1 works.

99% of the United States currently has access to 9-1-1 services. Throughout the U.S., 9-1-1 receives over 200 million calls a year. 9-1-1 call-takers deal with all types of calls ranging from domestic disputes and break-ins to health emergencies and accidents of all kinds.

People should be aware that there is not a central 9-1-1 call center for everyone.  9-1-1 centers are located all over the U.S. and are usually referred to as a PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point). According to the current FCC registry, there are 8,334 PSAPs throughout the U.S. When you dial 9-1-1, you are connected to the closest PSAP in your area.

Here is a breakdown of what happens when you call 9-1-1 for help:

·         9-1-1 Calls are routed to the closest PSAP
·         An operator retrieves information from the caller regarding the emergency and then alerts the proper service (police, fire fighters, and EMS) then alerts the proper service (police, fire fighters, and EMS)
·         Remember to always know your location and let the 9-1-1 operator know immediately
·         Emergency services are dispatched and help is on its way!

YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o00L9fgOX7s

More Specific Information on 9-1-1: http://people.howstuffworks.com/9-1-1.htm