Tag Archives: drills

General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

TORNADO SAFETY WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW (GUEST POST)

By Brandon Allred 

Everyone should know about tornado safety, even those who do not live in areas that are highly prone to these devastating acts of nature. Tornados are serious storms that can ruin everything in their path. This is why knowing what to do before, during and after a tornado is of great importance. It can mean the difference between life and death.

Before the Tornado

If the weather conditions are ripe for a tornado to develop than your area will come under a tornado watch. At this point all you really have to do is keep an eye on the weather in case the watch turns into a warning. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been spotted in or near your area. This is when it becomes important to begin the steps of safety and protection. Before a tornado hits you should be ready to take cover. This is when a family tornado safety program comes in handy. Practice your plans with tornado drills so everyone understands what to do and think in advance about the place you will be the safest in your home. Make sure that you have a tornado kit filled with flashlights, water, food (non-perishable), band aids and other first aid supplies. It is also a good idea to have a weather radio that relies on batteries for power.

Where to Take Cover

Tip 1:

If you are in a place where there is a basement you should go there and get under something sturdy. This will help protect you from anything that falls. Basements or any other part of a home that is underground is the best place to be during a tornado.

Tip 2:

If no basement is available then stay on the first floor of the building in a room that has no outside walls. This is usually a bathroom or closet. Stay clear of windows and outside walls as these parts of buildings are the most vulnerable during a tornado.

Tip 3:

If there is no basement or rooms with no outside walls (such as in a mobile home) it is best to seek shelter elsewhere. Go to a designated tornado shelter or the home of a friend or family member that is considered safe (or at least safer) than a mobile home.

Tip 4:

Never take shelter in a vehicle. If you are already driving when the warning occurs or you see a tornado, pull over and get out. Vehicles are easily picked up and tossed during tornados. Instead you should get into a ditch or a drainage pipe. While it is not a good idea to try to out drive a tornado, if you can do so from right angles away from the storm you may be okay to do so.

Tip 5:

If you have no other choice because you are caught off guard, lie in a bathtub and pull a mattress over the top of you for protection. Some people have also survived by tying themselves to the sink pipes in their homes to stop them from being pulled into the tornado. However, this does not protect you from falling debris.

After a Tornado

Always stay in your safe place until after you are sure that the storm has passed. Listen to your radio for the latest weather information. When it is safe to emerge check to see if there are any electrical or gas damaged areas. When you go outside be on the lookout for fallen power lines and report any to the proper authorities. Also report any injuries immediately. Steer clear from any rubble and wait for help to arrive if it is needed. Knowing all of this puts you in a better position to survive a tornado.

There was a time when tornado season was typically in the spring.  One never knows when the conditions are just right for one to strike, so pay attention to these tips just in case. Pat

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

NATIONAL WINDOW SAFETY WEEK, APRIL 4 – 10

The Window Safety Task Force, under the National Safety Council’s Community Safety Division, works with the American Architectural Manufacturing Association, Window and Door Manufacturing Association, Screen Manufacturers Association, National Association of Home Builders and other organizations to educate North Americans on the importance of window safety.  This group has been presenting materials on this subject since 1997.  They know that the leading causes of injury and death in young children are fires and falls. 

Besides doors, windows are a secondary escape route in a fire or other emergency. They are designed as points of escape.  It is critical that the windows are placed in locations in both homes and businesses where they can provide a safe exit.  Families should have a fire escape plan.  Children should be taught to get out of a house that is on fire.  Hold a family fire drill often, and plan landscaping that can possibly prevent injury if anyone does have to jump or fall from a window. 

If you have bars, grills, or other types of security on your windows, they are useless in an emergency, unless they have a functioning release mechanism.  You might think you are keeping someone out, but you may be causing yourself to become trapped, and you can’t escape!  Never paint or nail windows shut. 

When there are young children living or visiting in your home, be sure the windows they may be playing around are locked.  If you need ventilation, open taller windows, and never have furniture close to an open window, where they might climb up and fall out.  Be sure to watch when they are playing on a patio or around sliding glass doors.  A fall through glass could cause serious injuries. 

Don’t count on insect screens to catch anything except the bugs!  Shortly after we moved into the home where we currently live, we left our sliding glass door open one evening, when our birddog, Lucy, heard something outside and ran through the screen!  That was the end of leaving that door open. 

We all must understand the importance of safety in the home, and be prepared to escape in the event of fire.  Years ago, a home on our block was totally destroyed by fire, resulting in the deaths of three persons.  A mother of a four-year old, broke a window in her bedroom to run for help – she couldn’t find her child.  Later, the body of the little girl was found under a bed, where she had crawled.  If we take the time to be prepared, hopefully, tragedies such as this, can be prevented. 

There is more excellent information on this subject at the National Safety Council website.  We are all asked to share this information with friends, family, co-workers, and communities, not only through the first week of April, and all of April, but all year long.