Halloween: Tips for a Spooky Safe Time!

Halloween falls on a Friday this year which is great for parents and kids alike! No school the next day means a night of trick or treating plus sleeping in the next day. While this time of year brings spooky fun and dressing up as your favorite characters, it is also a time when safety becomes an important topic.

Check out some tips from Cell Phone Sally on how to have a happy Halloween as well as a safe and smart holiday:

• Always buddy up when trick or treating. Walk in groups with a trusted adult.
• Avoid costumes that are too dark. Light and reflective clothing is best. Fasten reflective tape onto costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
• Make sure to examine all the candy when you get home. Check for any choking hazards or candy that has been tampered with. And don’t eat too much candy when you get home- it could make you sick to your stomach.
• Take a flashlight with you to help guide your way in the dark.
• Always look both ways before crossing the street. Cars move fast so be aware of your surroundings.
• Enter homes ONLY if you are with a trusted adult. And never under any circumstances accept a ride from a stranger.
• Carry a cell phone with you to make sure you can contact help in case of an emergency.
• If you are ever in an emergency situation, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1.

 Looking for more safety tips? Check out some information from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/121343/100.pdf.  We hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween!

 

It’s Fire Prevention Week!

October 5^th through the 11^th marks Fire Prevention Week. During this time, it is important to promote fire safety and prevention. Many times, fire hazards can go undetected. But if you follow these important tips in this blog, you will be well on your way to fireproofing your home!

What are some examples of fires that happen at home? Many times fires in the home are caused by candles left burning, cigarettes left burning, stoves left on and children playing with matches or lighters. But all of these incidences can be avoided with a little common sense and an effort to protect your home and family.

Fire Safety Checklist:

ü  Keep flammable items like bedding and curtains (including clothing too!) far from portable heaters or lit candles

ü  Install and check twice a year working smoke alarms throughout your home. Also make sure you change the battery at least once a year.

ü  Create an emergency escape plan in case of a fire. Designate escape routes and practice them with your family. It could save your life!

ü  Make sure each of your family members know how to Stop, Drop and Roll in the event that their clothing would catch fire.

ü  Don’t store old mattresses in the home or the garage.

ü  Don’t let children play with matches or lighters and let them know these are not toys. Matches and lighters, like medications and chemicals, should be stored high up and out of reach of curious children. J

 

In case of a fire, remember to always call 9-1-1 for help and know your location. It could save your life!

Want to test your knowledge and see if you are fire prevention ready? Click here: http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/fire-prevention-week/fire-prevention-week-quiz.

Here are some facts about fires in the home: http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/fire-prevention-week/fast-facts-about-fire

NFPA Launches free App for Fire Prevention Week: http://sparkyschoolhouse.org/  

 

National Child Passenger Safety Week is September 14-20th

Did you know that car crashes are the leading cause of death in children ages one to 14 years old? Sadly, many of these deaths could be prevented by simply installing or utilizing car seats, booster seats and seat belts properly.
September 14^th through the 20^th is a week dedicated to reminding and teaching the public about the proper use of car seats and boosters. Roughly three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly which is a huge safety risk. Here’s the great part: if and when a car seat, booster and seatbelt are used properly, it can reduce the risk of significant injury in infants by 71% and toddlers by 54%!

Please take the time to make sure your children’s car seats are properly installed. In most towns and cities, you can find a trained technician that can ensure your seats are properly installed at no charge to you. Additional information and an inspection station locator are available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at http://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm. Promotional materials (in English and Spanish) are also available at http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/cps.

It’s September: Time to Get Prepared!

It’s that time of year again when we prepare, discuss and plan for a possible natural disaster that could occur in your area. September marks National Preparedness Month and, as you all know, you can never be too prepared for an emergency.

Now is the time to get together with your communities, your workplace and your family to put an emergency plan in place. Encourage your loved ones to practice their emergency plans so that if a disaster does strike, they will be more prepared to handle it.

This year’s theme is Resolve to be Ready and by following these basic steps in planning, you and your family can be prepared:

Know Who to Call
 Know Where to Meet
 Know What to Pack

Ready.gov provides a family emergency plan at this link: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/34330. This is a great tool for preparing for any disaster. They have several other tools that show you how to build a kit as well as information on how to get involved in the community preparedness process.

Don’t let your family face an emergency without being prepared. It could save your life!

Children with Special Healthcare Needs Class

On Tuesday, September 23^rd the Emergency Medical Services for Children, Texas Parent to Parent and Dell Children’s Medical Center of Texas will be holding a class regarding children with special needs. The class, called Assessment and Management of Children with Special Healthcare Needs, will take place at Dell Children’s Medical Center Auditorium in Austin, Texas from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

This class will aim to bridge gaps between families and emergency care professionals as well as provide important professional education and training. Children with special needs and their parents have the opportunity to work with nursing and EMS educators and pediatric specialists to discuss hands-on training, family-centered care, communication barriers and more.

If you are interested in attending this FREE event, please contact Sam Vance at Samuel.Vance@bcm.edu or 832-824-3672 to register or to obtain more information.

CSEC Holding MLTS Workshop to Address 9-1-1 Concerns

Due to the considerable attention given to MLTS (Multi-Line Telephone Systems) following a tragic incident that occurred in a Texas hotel in December 2013 ( See Kari Hunt story), the staff of the Commission on State Emergency Communications (“CSEC”) will conduct a workshop regarding Accessing 9-1-1 Service Via a Multi-line Telephone System (“MLTS”) on Wednesday, August 27, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., in the William P. Hobby Building, 333 Guadalupe Street, Room 100, Austin, Texas 78701.

In the emergency communications industry, CSEC works with various government and municipal entities throughout the state to ensure that 9-1-1 access is available. The issue being addressed in this workshop consists of phone systems found in businesses that have multiple phone lines commonly called MLTS. With an MLTS in place, the ability to dial out may require an additional digit such as the number “9” to reach a 9-1-1 operator. Many people are not aware that you have to dial “9” first when trying to reach 9-1-1 which can cost lives.

“The faster the caller can reach an operator for help the better,” Connie Chavarria of the City of Laredo said. “The public has become familiarized with simply dialing 9-1-1 for help.”

Because this issue has come to the table, all 9‑1-1 entities, businesses (including hotels, hospitals, and schools), MLTS vendors, communications service providers, third‑party provider community, and interested persons are invited to attend this public workshop.

“I feel it is crucial to start a nationwide campaign, and a message regarding MLTS should be added to our 9-1-1 education program,” Leticia Truex of Potter Randall 9-1-1 said. “Everyone has a responsibility. The 9-1-1 entities should require that phone vendors allow direct access. Public Educators and all others involved with 9-1-1 need to educate the public, companies with MLTS need to know what their phone systems are and aren’t capable of and post such information for their customers.”

This workshop will address all and any issues regarding MLTS lines. It is important that all 9-1-1 entities participate in this discussion including directors, educators, businesses and schools. Change comes when we all work together, which is why CSEC is holding this workshop.

“Like any kind of public education message, first there should be awareness, starting with the independent phone vendors, and the building managers to the principals, teachers, front desk clerks and security guards,” Pam Frisk of Panhandle Regional Planning Commission said. “People, including children, are told to dial 9-1-1, not 9-9-1-1.  Especially in an emergency, they will rely on what they have been told to do and not necessarily think, ‘Hey I need to get an outside line first and then dial 9-1-1’.”

Please join us for this important workshop. To register for the audio portion of the workshop, please visit here: http://bit.ly/911MLTS. For more information on the MLTS workshop please visit www.csec.texas.gov.

2014 NPEF Conference Wildly Successful

If you were one of the public educators from across the country who had a chance to participate in the 2014 National Public Educator Forum (NPEF) Conference right outside Chicago, then you know how much valuable insights and ideas were shared. This three day conference was packed with amazing speakers, insightful workshops and innovative ideas!

Over 130 emergency services educators came together in Naperville, Illinois for this educational conference. Educators heard from keynote Mel Robbins who shared her Five Second Rule as well as other ways to successfully manage your time and resources. They also saw the Lewisville Fire Clowns put on their fire safety course which was hysterical and educational at the same time.

Other noteworthy speakers included Marsha Geisler who shared her fantastic teaching strategies as well as the closing keynote speaker, Kelly Rasmussen, who taught attendees how to spread your public education message effectively. Some additional important topics covered included Text to 9-1-1, Tag Team Tactics and Legal Issues within Social Media.

At this year's conference the attendees also participated in an NPEF PSA. Check out the video below!
    

We can't wait for next year's conference- it is sure to have more innovative ideas for educators to take back home and implement in their 9-1-1 programs! See you all next year!  

Naperville Mayor with Cell Phone Sally

The Lewisville Fire Clowns

Creating 9-1-1 PSAs

Making Chicago Memories!

Creating a NPEF PSA!

Keynote Speaker Mel Robbins

NPEF Conference Committee