 |
Newsletter Signup
Subscribe to our Newsletter to be informed of our new products and promotions!
|
|
|
»
|
|
|
Emergency Information
Q3 2008
Good emergency tips for your Apartment or Condo.
These comments are focused on building specific requirements and not on the individual resident’s needs. There are plenty of good web sites where the residents could prepare themselves for emergencies. Both the governments web site www.getprepared.ca and www.emergencyproductswarehouse.com are two great resources that the residents can explore.
When preparing for any emergency, it must be assumed that the typical infrastructure that we take for granted is no longer available or is available but on a very limited basis. We can focus on three key infrastructure elements that every condominium relies upon: electricity, telecommunications and contractor service.
The typical Condominium building utilizes a diesel generator located on site to power their key building systems; Fire, lighting, Heating pumps and elevators. The generators are typically sized (capable of) maintaining these systems for a period of time based on their diesel storage capacity.
KEY TIP #1: Maintain your generators operate at optimum performance. Always, test them on full load, at peak capacity every year. Every penny that you spend in this area will pay huge dividends for you when you need the equipment the most.
KEY TIP #2: Refresh your diesel inventory on a regular basis. Diesel cannot sit unused for longer than a year
KEY TIP #3: Maintain appropriate diesel fuel levels. Do not expect to your inventory of diesel fuel replenished in an urban emergency. Critical operations such as hospitals, policing, fire, water treatment etc will take priority.
KEY TIP #4: Wire your domestic water pump to emergency power. The domestic water pump will push water from the ground floors up to the higher floors. These water systems are primarily used to replenish flush toilets. Very quickly living conditions could deteriorate if this water flow is not maintained.
This additional power requirement may overburden your emergency generators, so it becomes important to re-size your generator to meet the changing needs of your building.
Key Tip #5: Size your emergency generators to reflect possible urban challenges.
Key Tip #6: Pursue energy efficiency through out your building. BOMA Toronto in partnership with the Ontario Power Authority launched a $60 million electricity conservation incentive program. Your building could qualify. To learn more visit www.bomatoronto.org and look for details about the Conservation and Demand Management Program.
Key Tip #7: Sustain communications with the outside world. Most of our phone systems have gone digital. Install a ‘POTS’ phone near the fire enunciator. Alternatively, consider purchasing CB radios which can operate during an extended emergency.
Key Tip #8: Empower you building manger to create Mutual aid agreements with other condominium buildings in the area. Resource management and buying power are two very important benefits of these agreements. Certainly if one building has trades working, they might be willing to share their resources with another building if the parameters are defined in advance.
Key Tip #9: Ensure your critical contractor contact lists are both current and accessible. In the event that a primary contact is unavailable, it is always recommended to have a secondary source established
Finally, I draw your attention to the other urban centers that were told life would resume to normal within 3 days and they didn’t. Normalcy does not mean living in emergency centers waiting in line-ups for food, washrooms, and fresh linen.
We sincerely hope you will never experience any of the recent challenges we have seen around the world. But, if you do, you must be prepared. Keep your first aid equipment up to-date. Hold regular meetings to discuss possible threats and most importantly, create strategies to address those challenges.
About the author:
Douglas Macy is a graduate of Carleton University and a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), a designation he earned from the American Society For Industrial Security (ASIS) in 1990. The author of numerous articles on security and emergency management, he is currently volunteers as chair of the Emergency Management Committee of The Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Toronto. Douglas works for North American Security Services (www.security.ca) as Vice President as well as President and founder of EPW, www.emergencyproductswarehouse.com.
Q2 2008
Where to start - Good Emergency kits for your Office, Home and Car!
Turn on the radio or television or open a newspaper on any given day and you will read about how our lives and wellbeing are jeopardized in this ever-changing world. Wild weather creates terrible floods, tornadoes and snow storms, all of which may leave you stranded at a road side stand, in your office or stuck at home for days on end.
While it is important to understand the possible risks that threaten us, it is even more important to be prepared to face those risks.
The typical basic emergency kit will contain: a first aid kit, a small flashlight, a pair of batteries that have never been used, a single-use rain poncho and a wind up or battery powered radio. While these items meet the minimum recommended government standards, they are inadequate to meet your needs during a prolonged state of emergency.
The government has suggested that “the people” (that means you!) need to equip and sustain themselves for a period of 72 hours. After three days, conditions should return to some form of order and you may be able to acquire additional items as needed.
Although I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, the government has demonstrated that they require weeks if not months to turn the tide of calamity towards stability. Waiting in food lines and shelters and depending on the generousity of others by no means reflects our expectations of normality! If you want to be prepared, you must take matters into your own hands. Plan to secure your safety and that of your loved ones for one week – that’s 7 days, just 168 hours!
Your minimum requirements are as follows:
- Composure. In the event of an emergency, your primary strategy is to remain calm. Keeping your wits about you is the first step in any dire situation.
- Shelter. Make sure you have a safe, dry place where you can retreat. Staying out of bad weather is usually the best startegy for protecting your life.
- Water. The human body needs 2 litres (yes, I’m Canadian) of water per person per day – that’s a little over half a gallon per person. Seven days’ worth of water is 14 litres or 3.5 gallons per person. If you cannot store that amount of water and rotate an inventory of water through your home or office, you should be prepared to boil water to purify to drinking standards. Heating water means that you will require a pot, a heat supply (portable stove and propane tanks) or fire wood (do not burn your desk – you will need it when the disaster is over). The concern over lack of water to drink should also extend to cleaning and Hygiene. We would also recommend you store an anti-bacterial hand soap or wash to help fight against illness.
- Warmth. Thermal blankets and wind resistant clothing can be light weight and provide sufficient heat to keep you warm and comfortable. Always have a warm touque or winter hat, in your car. (Did I mention I was a Canadian?), as 70% of heat loss occurs through your head.
- Medications. Maintain a small inventory of pain relievers and other basic medicines, such as antacids, muscle pain relievers, and digestive remedies. Check this supply regularly, replacing expired drugs with fresh ones.
- Non-perishables. Sustenance is crucial. Keep a sufficient variety of non-perishable foods (don’t forget the non-electric, mechanical can opener) that do not require water to eat. Because cans can be heavy and quickly eat up space, we highly recommend energy bars, which can sustain you for an extended period of time. Dry foods, soups and cereals also provide nourishment and are an acceptable choice when water supply is not an issue.
- Light. It is important to secure a light source for one half of the 24-hour day or 84 hours of the 7 day period. You will find that the basic flashlight will not be able to sustain that kind of performance. If you cannot safely light a fire and burn wood, light sticks (neon glow-in-the-dark sticks) can provide sufficient light during dark hours and are highly visible from far away. Good lights sticks can last as much as 24 hours, are light in weight and can have an extensive shelf life.
- Communications. The absence of information will be your greatest challenge. A basic, battery-dependent radio will have limited reach and last far less time than you need it to last. Also, having a digital phone system in your home or office means that in a power outage, that digital phone system will eventually run out of power. We recommend that you have at hand a plain, analog telephone that requires no power supply. These phones can be installed directly into the main telephone jack in your home or the building demarcation point of the commercial office building and will connect to the original copper telephone network.
Second, please purchase a high quality portable am/fm radio that can tune into the CB Radio or HAM radio network. This will provide you with an extensive network of other users who may not have any more information than you do, but may comfort you with the knowledge that you were not the only person who read this article! You will all be part of a prudent, proactive group who took to heart the real value of your life, your family’s lives and those of your co-workers.
Being prepared does not need to be expensive, please visit www.emergencyproductswarehouse.com to learn more.
Douglas Macy is a graduate of Carleton University and a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), a designation he earned from the American Society For Industrial Security (ASIS). The author of numerous articles on security and emergency management, he is currently Chair of the Emergency Management Committee of The Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Toronto, Vice President of North American Security Services (www.security.ca) as well as President and founder of EPW, www.emergencyproductswarehouse.com.
--------------------------------------------------------
Q1 2008
The enormity and complexity of crises to which we as individuals and as a society are vulnerable can seem overwhelming. Compounding that reality with the complexities of today’s organizations, and risk assessment and management becomes a daunting undertaking for any company. Nevertheless, it is a necessary endeavour that can ultimately ensure a higher degree of productivity and competitive edge in trying times.
In order to thoroughly and systematically address your organization’s ability to weather an emergency it is necessary to create a framework within which to assess your exposure. Although the ”Eight Disciplines” were originally designed to assess risk, response and recovery in building management , they can effectively compartmentalize the workings of any industry in order to help bring it under the emergency management microscope. The Eight Disciplines are: 1.Communications; 2.Staff; 3.Operating Systems; 4.Legal issues; 5.Processes and Procedures; 6.The Public; 7.Ongoing Projects; and 8. Budgeting and Accounting.
Each of these separate areas of business should be weighed against each of the “Five Pillars of Emergency Management.” This tried and true methodology allows you to address potential emergencies in your people, property and procedures. The Five Pillars are: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA – what could happen); Mitigation (how to reduce or eliminate risk exposure); Preparedness (actions to take to “get ready”): Response (how to respond during or after a disruption); and, Recovery (how to get back to “normal”).
When the Eight Disciplines are propped up on these Five Pillars, the result is a clear and proactive plan. For example, if a large section of your workforce is road-bound, you need to address the dangers and risks to which they are exposed. If they themselves are in an accident, or stuck at the end of a multi-car pile-up in inclement weather, will they be prepared? Do they have in their cars everything they need to ensure their safety during an accident or emergency? They ought to be equipped with light sticks or flashlights, blankets and first aid kits. They need to be prepared and educated. Finally, they need to find the necessary support to return to their regular practices following any work disruptions.
Aside from safeguarding employees, supplying your workforce with the necessary equipment to confront exceptional conditions demonstrates a company’s commitment to its human assets and to a positive operational philosophy. It is also financially prudent and has a direct impact on your bottom-line. Sound emergency management reduces turn-over, prevents lost workdays and reduces or eliminates interruptions in productivity.
After more than 15 years of working with organizations to define their risk, it became apparent that companies demanded simple and efficient avenues through which they might mitigate that risk. With the establishment of EmergencyProductsWarehouse.com, these needs can be addressed and fulfilled. if you have any questions or safety product requirements to help you follow through on your commitment to your employees, I hope you will pay us a visit.
Q4 2007
North American urban planners generally follow a “mixed-use” land management strategy. This means that you will find near a commercial office building, a residential subdivision near a hospital, close to shopping malls, hospitals, train tracks and highways. Very near to them is industrial complexes manufacturing and distributing all sorts of products including chemical, energy, and other toxic and combustive materials.
Based on these North American land management strategies, Governments have identified the following as possible Emergencies that could occur.
We invite you to review this information, check what frequency these events occur in your region and review our product list to ensure that you, your government, your company and your family are prepared.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Natural Hazards
Agriculture and Food Emergencies (Plant Disease & Pest Infestations, Food Emergencies, Animal Disease)
Atmospheric Hazards (Severe Weather)
Extreme Heat/Cold, Fog, Hailstorms, Hurricanes/Tropical Storms,
Ice/Sleet Storms, Lightning Storms, Snowstorms and Blizzards,
Tornadoes, Windstorms, Forest Fires (Wildfire)
Geological Hazards
Earthquakes, Landslides, Land Subsidence,
Human Health Emergencies and Epidemics
Hydrologic Hazards
Drought/Low Water, Erosion, Flooding (Storm Surges, River Flooding, Great Lakes Flooding), Water Quality Emergencies
Human-Caused Hazards
Civil Disorders, Sabotage, Special Events, Terrorism
War and International Emergencies
Technological Hazards
Building/Structural Collapse, Critical Infrastructure Failures, Dam Failures
Energy Emergencies (Supply), Explosions/Fires, Hazardous Materials – Fixed Site Incident, Hazardous Materials – Transportation Incident (road, rail, air, marine), Mine Emergencies (Operating/Abandoned), Nuclear Facility Emergencies, Oil, Natural Gas Emergencies – Pipeline, Oil/Natural Gas Wells, Storage/Distribution Systems, Radiological Emergencies, Space Object Crash
Transportation Emergencies (Air, Marine, Rail, Road)
Property Specific HAZARDS
Technological / Infrastructure Hazards
Electrical Power Supply failure, HVAC failure, Security System failure
Fire Control System failure, Communications failure: Telephone, Computer system, Voice Communication system, Hazardous Material failure
Human-Caused Hazards
Fire, Mechanical failures to support systems, Labour & Public Disruptions: Picketing, Unlawful Assembly, Civil Disorder, Epidemics, Domestic Disturbances.
|
|
|
|
