Be Ready, Nat´l Preparedness Month is Here! Series - Part 4 - Understand Quarantine and Isolation

September 2014 marks the eleventh annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.   Visit our Blog all this week to learn valuable tips for preparing for unexpected events.

#4 - Understand Quarantine and Isolation

People can be infected with dangerous diseases in a number of ways. Some germs, like those causing malaria, are passed to humans by animals. Other germs, like those that cause botulism, are carried to people by contaminated food or water. Still others, like the ones causing measles, are passed directly from person to person. These diseases are called "contagious".

Contagious diseases that pose a health risk to people have always existed. While the spread of many of these diseases has been controlled through vaccination and other public health efforts, avian influenza ("bird flu") and terrorist acts worldwide have raised concerns about the possibility of a disease risk. That makes it important for people to understand what can and would be done to protect the public from the spread of dangerous contagious diseases.

The CDC applies the term "quarantine" to more than just people. It also refers to any situation in which a building, conveyance, cargo, or animal might be thought to have been exposed to a dangerous contagious disease agent and is closed off or kept apart from others to prevent disease spread.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the U.S. government agency responsible for identifying, tracking, and controlling the spread of disease. With the help of the CDC, state and local health departments have created emergency preparedness and response plans. In addition to early detection, rapid diagnosis, and treatment with antibiotics or antivirals, these plans use two main traditional strategies —quarantine and isolation— to contain the spread of illness. These are common health care practices to control the spread of a contagious disease by limiting people's exposure to it.

The difference between quarantine and isolation can be summed up like this:

·         Isolation applies to persons who are known to be ill with a contagious disease.

·         Quarantine applies to those who have been exposed to a contagious disease but who may or may not become ill.

Definitions

Infectious disease: a disease caused by a microorganism and therefore potentially infinitely transferable to new individuals. May or may not be communicable. Example of non-communicable is disease caused by toxins from food poisoning or infection caused by toxins in the environment, such as tetanus.

Communicable disease: an infectious disease that is contagious and which can be transmitted from one source to another by infectious bacteria or viral organisms.

Contagious disease: a very communicable disease capable of spreading rapidly from one person to another by contact or close proximity.
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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.

  

Be Ready, Nat´l Preparedness Month is Here! - Series - Part 3 - Learn How to Shelter in Place

September 2014 marks the eleventh annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.   Visit our Blog all this week to learn valuable tips for preparing for unexpected events.

#3 - Learn How to Shelter in Place

"Shelter-in-place" means to take immediate shelter where you are—at home, work, school, or in between. It may also mean "seal the room;" in other words, take steps to prevent outside air from coming in. This is because local authorities may instruct you to "shelter-in-place" if chemical or radiological contaminants are released into the environment. It is important to listen to TV or radio to understand whether the authorities wish you to merely remain indoors or to take additional steps to protect yourself and your family.

At home

·         Choose a room in advance for your shelter. The best room is one with as few windows and doors as possible. A large room, preferably with a water supply, is desirable—something like a master bedroom that is connected to a bathroom.

·         Contact your workplaces, your children's schools, nursing homes where you may have family and your local town or city officials to find out what their plans are for "shelter-in-place."

·         Find out when warning systems will be tested. When tested in your area, determine whether you can hear or see sirens and/or warning lights from your home.

·         Develop your own family emergency plan so that every family member knows what to do. Practice it regularly.

·         Assemble a disaster supplies kit that includes emergency water and food supplies.

At work

·         Help ensure that the emergency plan and checklist involves all employees. Volunteers or recruits should be assigned specific duties during an emergency. Alternates should be assigned to each duty.

·         The shelter kit should be checked on a regular basis. Duct tape and first aid supplies can sometimes disappear when all employees know where the shelter kit is stored. Batteries for the radio and flashlight should be replaced regularly.

In general

·         Learn CPR, first aid and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). (Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for more information.)

How will I know when I need to "shelter-in-place"?

Fire or police department warning procedures could include:

·         "All-Call" telephoning - an automated system for sending recorded messages, sometimes called "reverse 9-1-1".

·         Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts on the radio or television.

·         Outdoor warning sirens or horns.

·         News media sources - radio, television and cable.

·         NOAA Weather Radio alerts.

·         Residential route alerting - messages announced to neighborhoods from vehicles equipped with public address systems.

Facilities that handle potentially dangerous materials, like nuclear power plants, are required to install sirens and other warning systems (flash warning lights) to cover a 10-mile area around the plant.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.

 

  

Be Ready, Nat´l Preparedness Month is Here! Series - Part 2 - Gather Emergency Supplies

September 2014 marks the eleventh annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.   Visit our Blog all this week to learn valuable tips for preparing for unexpected events.

#2 Gather Emergency Supplies

If a disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, or electricity for some time. Take steps now to put together an emergency supply kit so that you will be prepared in case something happens. You should have emergency kits for your home, office, school, and vehicle. You never know where you will be during an emergency.

Emergency Supply Kit

·         Consider storing two weeks-worth of food supplies. You may be able to use many of the canned goods and dry mixes already in your cupboard.

·         Store at least a 3-day supply of water for each member of your family – that means 1 gallon per person per day.

·         Don’t forget about pets; they’ll need food and water too.

·         Learn where your gas, electric, and water shut-off locations are and how to turn them off.

An emergency supply kit is a collection of basic items that you might need during an emergency. It's good to involve whoever is going to use the kit, including children, in assembling it.

Assemble the following items to create kits to use at your home, office, school and/or in a vehicle:

·         Water—one gallon per person, per day

·         Food—nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items

·         Flashlight

·         Battery powered or hand crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

·         Extra batteries

·         First aid kit

·         Medications (7-day supply), other medical supplies, and medical paperwork (e.g., medication list and pertinent medical information)

·         Multipurpose tool (e.g., Swiss army knife)

·         Sanitation and personal hygiene items

·         Copies of personal documents (e.g., proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, and insurance policies)

·         Cell phone with chargers

·         Family and emergency contact information

·         Extra cash

·         Emergency blanket

·         Map(s) of the area

·         Extra set of car keys and house keys

·         Manual can opener

Special Needs

You may need some additional supplies to meet the needs of all family members, such as children, pets, and those with special medical requirements. Suggested items to help meet additional needs are:

·         Medical supplies (e.g., hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, or a cane)

·         Baby supplies (e.g., bottles, formula, baby food, and diapers)

·         Games and activities for children

·         Pet supplies (see expanded list below)

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, pack the items in easy-to-carry containers, clearly label the containers, and store them where they are easily accessible. In a disaster situation, you may need access to your emergency supply kit quickly - whether you are sheltering at home or evacuating. Make sure to check expiration dates on food, water, and batteries throughout the year.

Involving Children

Involving children is the first step in helping them know what to do in an emergency. There are many ways children can help.

·         Ask them to think of items that they would like to include in an emergency supply kit, such as books or games or nonperishable food items. Ask them to help you remember to keep the kits updated.

·         Children can help mark the dates on a calendar for checking emergency supplies. Remember to rotate or replace emergency food and water every six months and replace batteries as necessary.

·         Children can also help prepare plans and disaster kits for family pets.

Disaster Supply Checklist for Pets

·         Food and water for at least 3 days for each pet; bowls, and a manual can opener.

·         Depending on the pet you may need a litter box, paper towels, plastic trash bags, grooming items, and/or household bleach.

·         Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container.

·         First aid kit with a pet first aid book.

·         Sturdy leash, harness, and carrier to transport pet safely. A carrier should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie down. Your pet may have to stay in the carrier for several hours.

·         Pet toys and the pet's bed, if you can easily take it, to reduce stress.

·         Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated, and to prove that they are yours.

·         Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and telephone number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.

 

Be Ready, Nat´l Preparedness Month is Here! Series - Part 1 - Developing a Family Disaster Plan

Would you be ready if there were an emergency? Throughout September there will be activities across the country to promote emergency preparedness. More than 3,000 organizations – national, regional, and local public and private organizations – are supporting emergency preparedness efforts and encouraging all Americans to take action.

September 2014 marks the eleventh annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.   Visit our Blog all this week to learn valuable tips for preparing for unexpected events.

Developing a Family Disaster Plan

Families can cope with disasters by preparing in advance and working together as a team. If something were to happen, how would you contact one another, how would you get to a safe place, and what would you do in different emergency situations? Planning what to do before a disaster strikes provides the best protection for you and your family.

Create a Family Communication Plan

Because you and your family may not be together when a disaster hits, it’s important to create a communication plan to help you and your loved ones connect and get help. Complete a contact card for each family member. Have them keep these cards handy in a wallet, purse, or backpack.

More Tips:

·         Identify an out-of-town contact, such as a friend or relative, who family members can call to let them know they are safe. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, because phone lines can be jammed. An out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

·         Teach your family members how to text. It may seem like second nature to some of us, but not everyone texts. During an emergency it’s often easier to get a text message delivered rather than a phone call.

·         Subscribe to an Emergency Alert System. Check with your local health department or Emergency Management Agency to see if there is one offered for your area. Post emergency telephone numbers by home phones or save them in your cell phone (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).

·         Teach children how and when to call 911 for help.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.