Top 10 Commuting Tips

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Caitlin Fenerty

Most of us know the basic tenets of safe driving and the common sense precautions that we should take on the road. However, in the wake of this week’s devastating car crashes that occurred in North Florida on I-75, leaving nine dead and many more injured, it’s worth revisiting. Here are the top 10 tips to keep you safe when traveling to and from work.

1. Watch the weather

Avoid driving in treacherous weather conditions, especially if the road is not suitable to driving conditions (including fog, heavy rain, snow and ice). Remember that four wheel drive does NOT mean four wheel stop. Make sure to pull over if the weather conditions obstruct visibility and adjust your speed to the driving conditions. The Florida interstate crashes occurred because heavy smoke from nearby fires reduced visibility, and cars were traveling too fast to react to traffic ahead in time.

2. Put down your cell phone

In the US, talking and driving is prohibited in 9 states and texting and driving is prohibited in 35 states. It is proven that this is a distraction to the driver, and cause more accidents. If you need to use your cell phone, pull over (if it’s safe to do so) or use a hands-free device.

3. Pay attention

Many incidents happen because of distracted drivers. A cell phone is not the only culprit – loud music, trying to eat and drive, and children as passengers can all increase the likelihood of being a distracted driver. Look out for others who may not be paying attention too – children in the road near school zones or pedestrians with headphones in their ears for example.

4. Wear a seatbelt

Seatbelts have been proven to save lives in a collision. Ensure that the seat belt covers the lap and shoulder and fits snugly.

5. Leave plenty of room between you and the car in front

Not only is tailgating illegal in many states, it is also very dangerous. Keep your distance between your car and the car in front of you in case you need to make an instant stop.

6. Consider investing in a roadside assistance program

There are many roadside assistance programs, some which cost as little as $10/month. These may give you peace of mind that you will have help in any eventuality.

7. Obey speed limits

Always obey the speed limit. Remember that speed limits are set as the maximum speed in perfect weather conditions – if driving conditions are poor, adjust your speed accordingly.

8. Stay alert

If you are feeling drowsy, which happens most frequently in the morning or evening, try to pull over in a safe place and take a nap or break, open the window, or try sharing the drive with someone else.

9. Keep your vehicle maintained and safe

Make sure that the vehicle you drive is equipped with airbags and is up to date on state-regulated safety standards.

10. Always assume the worst

You may follow the law and comply with safety precautions, but other drivers may not. Assume the worst of everyone else on the road, and stay aware.

Following these tips will help to keep you out of harm’s way on the road. Also, consider carpooling. Sharing a drive with someone will not only keep you alert in the car but also cut down on pollution. If you are close enough to work, biking or walking will also save money in gas and improve your health!

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6 Ways to Outsmart an Office Creeper

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Caitlin Fenerty

We often hear about strangers with ill intentions creeping around where they shouldn’t.  With increasing occurrences of white collar crimes in recent years, thieves are looking more and more to target the workplace.  Typically, the “office creeper” will be dressed in business attire or whatever clothes will help them blend into that particular place of work.  There is usually no reason to be concerned for personal safety, as these crimes tend to be non-violent burglaries. Belongings office creepers are interested in stealing include, but are not limited to: purses or wallets, smart phones, personal electronic devices, laptops and even keys.

Follow these simple tips to avoid an office creeper in your building:

1. Secure personal space, including computers and valuables

It is important for all employees to keep personal items (especially valuables) locked away and avoid leaving them unattended.  Consider using security cables to attach laptops to sturdy, immovable objects.  Keep coat racks and hangers away from hallways and highly trafficked areas.

2. Get to know people

Knowing the employees who work in your building will help you to identify who should and should not be there.

3. Know where visitors are allowed to be

Visitors are typically only allowed in certain areas of the office.  If you see someone you do not know who does not have proper identification in a non-visitor area, such as someone’s cube, and they are unaccompanied, confront them or alert security.

4. Use ID badges

Personal identification badges with a logo of the company and a name and picture of the employee help to decrease office creeper thefts.  These IDs make it easier for employees to recognize if someone does not belong in their work area.  This may be especially helpful in a large office building occupied by many companies. At the very least, enforce a strict visitor registration and identification policy.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask why someone is there!

Usually an officer creeper will not know their way around, and may be looking around in an area that is not normally accessed by a visitor.  They will also be by themselves.  If something does not seem right, make sure to ask them what or who they are looking for.

Ask them open-ended questions such as, “Who may I help you locate?” The creeper will most likely come up with an excuses and quickly leave. If they do not leave after confronting them, make sure to contact security after the creeper has left your vicinity.

6. Know what you have and what could go missing

Keeping a log of office materials, electronics and valuables is very beneficial in the event something is taken.

Do not ever be afraid to contact building security if you see anything suspicious.  It is always better to err on the side of caution.  If something has been stolen, contact police authorities immediately.  It is also important to inform employees of the situation and provide them with up to the minute details. Following these tips will help to minimize the occurrence of office thefts, so put them into practice!

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Public Health(y) Cough Etiquette

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Caitlin Fenerty

As the cold winter months roll in and we find ourselves inside for most of these frigid, blustery days, we tend to be in closer contact with people. Being in closer contact with your colleagues inevitably leads to quicker transmission of disease. It is reported that annually in the US, there are 62 million cases of the common cold and 22 million days of work lost. Rhinovirus, as the common cold is better known in the scientific community, will show symptoms 2 to 3 days after infection: sore throat, sneezing, headache, cough, tiredness, mucus buildup in the nose and swelling of sinuses.

Prevention of the transmission of the common cold can help to minimize the number of employees getting sick in your workplace this winter. There are many things you can do to help prevent yourself from getting the common cold virus (such as washing your hands well and often, avoid being in close proximity to those with colds), though it is even more important that you contain this virus to yourself if you have it. Knowing the proper etiquette on coughing can prevent a widespread outbreak in your office community, thus keeping employees healthy and at work. These are lessons we have all learned in kindergarten, but with how frequently the common cold spreads, I am sure we could all use a refresher.

Step 1:


Option 1: Cover your sneeze. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Immediately throw the tissue in the garbage.

Healthy cough etiquette

Option 2: Cough into your elbow or upper sleve of your shirt. This will prevent you from getting the virus on your hands and creating an easier mechanism for transmission.

healthy sneeze etiquette

Step 2:

Wash your hands with soap and water! Continue washing for the time it takes you to sing the “ABC’s”

Handwashing etiquette

Please follow these etiquette rules to continue to keep your workspace healthy and productive. And don’t forget to pass this blog along to your coworkers so that they help to keep you healthy as well!

Read further up to date information about colds and flu this season.

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Disasters? There’s an app for that!

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Bryan Hill

The Apple App Store has over 500,000 apps ranging from practical (the Flashlight app); to fun (Angry Birds); to down-right pointless (iBeer).  Some developers and disaster and emergency management professionals are even realizing the potential for the use of mobile apps to help during disasters. There are several mobile apps designed for the iPhone which could be useful during a disaster. Here is a review of 4 of the most frequently recommended free apps.

FEMA

 

The FEMA App provides an easy to use environment for users to prepare and respond to different aspects of a disaster. The main menu is divided into 7 boxes containing different types of applications. The “Are you prepared?” box provides procedures for preparing and responding to specific disasters, a checklist for building a home emergency kit, and a location for the user to input meeting locations for their family.  The “Are you a disaster survivor?” box provides links to contacting FEMA for recovery assistance. The links integrate with the phone to send an email to the correct person or call the correct number. The recovery section also includes tips for disaster recovery financially, emotionally, and physically. The app includes interactive maps for locating shelters and recovery centers, blog postings, and ways to volunteer to help during a disaster.

Overall 4.5/5

Usability 4/5

Content 5/5

Organization 4/5

Real World Scenario Benefits 5/5

WISER


WISER is a database app that provides information on biological, chemical, and radiological threats. It provides information for first responders, HAZMAT specialists, and EMS personnel. The design is a bit difficult to navigate and, for those not familiar with hazardous materials, it may be more information than they can handle.  The quality of the information for each threat is excellent, providing everything you would need to know in a HAZMAT scenario from treatments, to distancing and evacuation. However, this amount of detail makes the app quite cumbersome for an everyday user.

Overall 3/5

Usability 3/5

Content 5/5

Organization 1/5

Real World Scenario Benefits 3/5

Red Cross: Shelter View

This is a simple app that provides the locations for all open Red Cross Shelters. The app opens right up to the map, and simply clicking on a pin brings up the name and location of the shelter. Clicking once more will bring up more detailed information about the shelter including how many people are there, what the event was that necessitated a shelter, and when the location was last updated. The locations can also be viewed in a list format. There is a link to news which is just a hyperlink to the American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom, which provides updates and news on disasters worldwide. There is a link to a donation page as well, but it is hidden behind the information button at the bottom of the main page. The map portion is noticeably lacking in the option to get directions to the shelter from an address or by using current location.

Overall 4/5

Usability 5/5

Content 3/5

Organization 4/5

Real World Scenario Benefits 4/5

Accuweather

Accuweather is like a beefed up version of the standard Weather app. You can select current location or search for any city, and the app will display pertinent weather information including temperature, wind chill, wind direction, humidity, and several other weather statistics. A simple swipe across the screen shows the hourly for cast for 24 hours. The app has social integration for easy sharing. The forecast section of the screen shows a weekly forecast while the maps section shows current weather maps of the selected area. Videos provide local and national weather news. Under the “more…” tab there is a wonderful section that gives how the weather affects lifestyle activities including health factors, outdoor activities, and sports. This app provides detailed but practical weather related information and allows you to configure it to show the information you find most important.

Overall   4.75/5

Usability 5/5

Content 5/5

Organization 5/5

Real World Scenario Benefits 4/5

Preparis also provides a free app for all clients.  Users can utilize response tools, investigate threat protocols, and securely access their company’s emergency portal all from within the app. Click Here for more information on the Preparis mobile app.

 

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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Is Carbon Monoxide Haunting your House this Winter?

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Caitlin Fenerty

Every year in the United States, more than 400 people die, and 20,000 visit the emergency department from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. The most unintentional CO poisoning events happen in the month of January. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating gas, making it virtually impossible for a human to recognize, even at its highest levels. These characteristics cause this poisonous gas at high levels to be rapidly lethal. It is extremely important that you learn how your house may be haunted by this “ghost” of a chemical and how you may be at danger from it. Carbon monoxide (CO) can be easily prevented if we are educated on how to take proper precautionary measures.

In the winter months, carbon monoxide poisoning is something to be especially cautious of, because most exposures to this chemical come from heating sources. There are very simple ways to prevent and detect carbon monoxide in your living environment.

Follow these key points to ensure your home and workplace are CO-free:

  • Ensure all carbon monoxide detectors are properly installed near all heating sources. There should be at least one detector on each floor of an office building (in every HVAC zone), and on every level in the home, including the basement.
  • Test whether your CO detectors are functioning properly every spring and fall.
  • Have your heating system, water heater, gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced annually by a qualified technician.
  • Do not use a generator, portable flameless chemical heaters, charcoal grill, or camp stove indoors, in a basement or garage.
  • Never run a motor vehicle in the garage, even if the door is open

Symptoms of acute mild poisoning include nausea, confusion, headaches and weakness. Exposure to higher concentrations of carbon monoxide may produce the effects of vomiting, convulsions, respiratory arrest, unconsciousness, and may lead to death. Seek immediate medical attention if there is known CO exposure and you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Carbon monoxide is a chemical agent which deprives the human body of oxygen, so the higher the concentration, the greater the ill effect will be.

Elevated carbon monoxide levels may even explain some reports of paranormal activity! These high levels of CO produce symptoms, such as confusion, convulsions, and delirium, leading people to believe their houses are in fact haunted. Be sure to equip your living space with the proper monitoring devices and avoid certain in-home heating practices to prevent CO haunting your house this winter!

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Emergency Notification: 5 Best Practices

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Cassie Harman

Yesterday’s shooting on the Virginia Tech campus immediately garnered a lot of comparisons to the university’s previous active shooter incident in 2007. Even more telling, though,  are the contrasts – primarily in the university’s level of preparedness for crisis events. While the 2007 shootings may have served as a cautionary tale about the importance of timely and effective emergency notification, yesterday’s events showed that Virginia Tech has made huge improvements in its emergency preparedness; reports praised the swiftness with which the university alerted students.

Effectively using an emergency notification system in a very stressful situation relies on one thing more than any other: preparation. Here are five best practices to help your company get the most out of your emergency messaging system.

  1. Use multiple methods of communication
    To reach as many people as quickly as possible, you need to use more than one method of communication. Networks may get overloaded, internet connections may go down – the more ways you use to reach people, the better. Virginia Tech yesterday used SMS messages, email, Twitter, its website and its public address system. Social media is gaining traction in emergency notification and response – don’t overlook it in your emergency plans.
  2. Make sure all stakeholders are aware of the system and when it will be used
    This may sound obvious, but your employees should know that the system exists, what kind of situations would warrant the use of an alert and who to expect it to come from (is there a particular number or display name to show that it’s an emergency alert?).
  3. Keep contact details up to date
    Your response is only as good as your data. Keep it up to date either via an integration with your HR system or a frequent, more manual method. Again, make sure wherever possible you have multiple numbers and email addresses to contact people – redundancy here is no bad thing.
  4. Practice, practice, practice
    This involves so much more than just testing the technology. Test your emergency notification system every quarter at each of your office locations and every six months company-wide, but do it as part of a tabletop exercise or full-scale drill that tests your organization’s response to a particular scenario. Ensure anyone who is authorized to use the emergency notification system becomes familiar with how to send a message – it needs to be second nature or when you’re under pressure you may struggle to use it. Require responses to the test message and follow up with anyone who didn’t respond to check whether they didn’t receive it and why.
  5. Use emergency notification within a crisis team structure
    Protecting employees from a potential threat requires more than having the right technology. To respond effectively, you need to know who’s in charge of making decisions about how to respond and have a trained crisis team at each office location that knows what to do in a variety of emergencies and can instruct your employees to take the correct action.
What other best practices would you add to this list?
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10 People Worth Following on Emergency Preparedness

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Kevin

Twitter can be a good source of information… if you follow the right people. I think the best thing you can do in Twitter is follow other people that have the same passion as you. That way you can always stay up-to-date in emergency preparedness. We also have a Twitter account that’s worth following, which you can find here.

Why do I think you should follow these people in Twitter?

  1. All have experience in emergency preparedness => you can learn from them.
  2. They tweet mainly about emergency preparedness topics => you will not have to read too many off-topic tweets

Emergency preparedness people worth following:

  1. Keith Robertory – @krobertory
  2. Christopher Neuwirth – @ChrisNeuwirth
  3. Sara Estes Cohen – @saraestescohen
  4. Ana-Marie Jones – @MsDuctTape
  5. Scott Reuter – @sct_r
  6. Katie Freeman – @kgfreeman
  7. Jim Garrow – @jgarrow
  8. Megan Quickle – @Tellab77
  9. Kim Stephens – @kim26stephens
  10. James Hamilton – @Disaster_Guy

Are you worth following? Follow us on Twitter and get added to this list!

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First Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Bryan Hill

Emergency Alert System

On Tuesday, November 9th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) partnered to conduct the first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

The EAS originated as a result of the nuclear era in the 1950’s as a means to instruct the population to take cover in the event of a nuclear war. After the 1963 the system was renamed the Emergency Broadcast System, and eventually it developed into its current form.

You probably would recognize the familiar test tone that interrupted your favorite television programs followed by “This is a test. This is only a test. Had this been an actual emergency…” These regional tests of the system have occurred fairly regularly over the past few decades. Several regions have used the system during local disasters like severe weather or earthquakes.

Since its inception, there had not been a nationwide test of the system. That was rectified on Tuesday afternoon. Experts were not sure what to expect, since it was the first time the system was tested on a national level, there were concerns that the message would not reach all regions. Some were concerned that the system would not work at all.

 The Results

The results of the test confirmed that the system is not perfect. Several areas did not receive a message while other regions experienced strange occurrences like a Lady Gaga song playing over the test. Other regions heard only static after the beeping. The FCC released a statement that “the nationwide EAS test served the purpose for which it was intended (…) to identify gaps and generate a comprehensive set of data to help strengthen our ability to communicate during real emergencies.”

 Future Improvements

The test has shown some obvious glitches which have now been identified. Further analysis will show exactly what went wrong and how to fix. Other considerations that will be taken into account for further developing the EAS is the rise of new forms of communication. With more and more people accessing the internet and using mobile phones, it could be beneficial for the EAS to have means to send a message through these routes. Improving and expanding the EAS will help prepare and warn a greater portion of the population and bring the EAS into the modern era.

 Feedback

At Preparis headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia we tuned in to listen to the test. We heard the station report that a test was about to occur followed by the alert tone. The rest of the message was muffled static.

Did you tune in to listen or watch the alert? What did you see and hear?

Let us know in the comment section below!

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Profile of an ideal crisis manager

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Mike

Crisis ManagerThe ideal crisis manager exhibits three distinct traits, according to Justin Menkes’ book Better Under Pressure. These traits allow the manager to be aware of the circumstances of a crisis and to remain calm under pressure, bringing people together and improving things quickly.

Based on five years of research and evaluations of 150 CEOs, Menkes identified three key consistent characteristics that the best crisis managers display:

1. Realistic optimism. The best leaders demonstrated an ability to understand the actual circumstances of a crisis and envision a chance to transcend.

 2. Finding order in chaos. This trait combines calmness, clarity of thought and a drive to fix the situation. It takes great practice to keep your mind clear and remain courageous during a crisis.

3. Subservience to purpose or corporate goals.  This commitment to the “greater good” can make a significant difference. Effective leaders channel staffers’ “intense reactions to recurring setbacks in a way that constructively keeps the organization moving forward,” Menkes writes in his book.

What other traits do you think make an ideal crisis manager? Let us know in the comments below.

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Keeping Contagion a Work of Fiction: 5 Ways to Prevent Spreading Illness in Your Office

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Bryan Hill

The number one movie at the box office last weekend was Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion.  The film portrays a dramatized account of a fictional lethal virus that originates in China and quickly becomes a pandemic. The fictional virus is spread, like many others, through indirect transmission (e.g. contaminated door knobs, handrails, non-porous surfaces, or other objects).  Viruses and bacteria that cause illness can be spread in many ways including indirect transmission, direct contact, floating water droplets, and airborne transmission. Minimizing such transmission in your office will not only help to limit the spread of an apocalyptic superbug, but will also help to protect you from spreading more common infectious diseases like seasonal flu.

Here are 5 tips to prevent your office from becoming an exchange for disease:

1: Practice social distancing. If you feel ill, avoid going to work if possible. Going to work while ill increases the odds of infecting coworkers and creating even more company downtime. If your company’s sick day policy allows, work from home instead. If you must go to work, avoid being in closed rooms and contact with others.

2: Cover your coughs and sneezes. This simple practice can keep a person from contaminating an entire office. Make sure to practice proper covering technique.  You should cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow. This keeps you from contaminating your hands every time you cough or sneeze.

3: Wash your hands often. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water every time you use the restroom, before and after handling food, and any time your hands have become soiled or contaminated. Make sure to dry them thoroughly to get rid of lingering microorganisms.

4: Place alcohol-based hand-sanitizers in common areas.  Use the sanitizer as you enter and leave a room. Make sure the hand sanitizer is at least 60% alcohol for it to be effective in killing microorganisms. Do NOT use or purchase antibacterial hand sanitizers, as these can lead to antibiotic resistance.

5: Get vaccinated. Make sure all of your vaccinations are up to date and you’re not due for any booster shots. The seasonal flu vaccine is released prior to flu season every year. In addition to the individual benefit of preventing you from contracting disease, vaccines can also lead to “herd immunity”, a phenomenon in which high percentages of vaccination decrease the odds of infection in the unvaccinated.

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