CPRMom

Keeping warm when running in the cold

2012-01-04T18:34:00.002-05:00

I wear a lot of hats. If you read my bio (on the right side of this blog next to my pic) you'll notice I have a family, small business and I mentioned that I volunteer. In addition to Girl Scouts I'm also active with our local School Supporters and that includes helping organize our largest fundraiser of the year, a 5 mile road race.


This is the hat my mom made me.

My favorite hat is the one I wear this time of year when it's really cold. Its a real hat, not a figurative one, its the one my mom made for me. I think if your mom makes you a hat your should wear it. But while I really like my hat, it's not actually what this post is about.

I'm writing about my running hat,... sort of. I'll state up front I'm not a runner. I help organize a race, but I don't run. Someday .... yeah right. I'm shooting for competitive walker. Anyway when the temps get really cold outside and I wake up to single digits on the outdoor thermometer I start thinking about cold weather tips. This morning I saw some friends posting about running in single digit temps (in the dark!) and it got me thinking, and researching a bit, what runners should wear when running in cold weather. So compliments of Active.com I'm posting some tips for cold weather running.

Don't overdress. This would be the mistake I would make. If you pile on too many layers of clothing you'll get really hot, and then try to strip down, and then get cold. Hat & gloves are great, breathable layers are best on your torso, warm clothes on your legs. Running in a heavy coat is probably not advisable.

You still need a hat and gloves. Your hands and the top of your head still need to be kept warm. A head band or something to cover your ears can also be worn. Warm socks are also good, but not the kind that make your feet sweat. A scarf or gaiter that you can loosen around your neck can also be nice.

You still need to drink water or an electrolyte enriched drink. You can still get dehydrated running in the cold, that does not change with temperature. Active suggests snow but I'm not sure how comfortable I am grabbing a fistful of snow from the side of the road to quench my thirst.

Be visible. The sun rises later and sets earlier. If you're running when it's dark where reflective clothing and/or carry a light so cars can see you.

Wear or carry ID. You should have ID on you in case of an emergency. I'm a fan of my Road ID since I can just put it on my wrist and forget about it.

If the weather is really inclement or the wind chills are really bitter, take a moment to decide if it is really worth going out for the run. If you have someplace indoors you can run switch up your routine and try the treadmill or indoor track.

Keep warm!

How long do you keep your tree up after Christmas?

2011-12-27T08:22:00.001-05:00

I was reading a post on one of my fav blogs, Masshole Mommy this morning and she wrote that she had a friend who once kept a tree up until April. April is a very nice name of some of my friends and my brother's really nice girlfriend. But April is not a good month to still have up a Christmas Tree. It got me thinking about my last post, Please water your tree, that had the cool video of 2 flaming Christmas trees. I'm obviously a sucker for videos of things on fire, because I have another video of a flaming tree plus a room and contents fire at the end of this post. But the last video I posted show the differences between how quickly a dry tree went up in flames versus one that had been watered. The thought of someone leaving their tree up until practically Spring really got me thinking about the fire hazards and the potential for danger. Even a freshly cut tree will dry out at some point. And at some point it will not drink as much water out of the stand and will just keep getting drier and drier and drier. No one wants a house fire (well, maybe some people do), but most of us want to keep our dwellings and the really nice gifts we got for each other safe. Epiphany is January 6, 2012. That seems like a good time to think about taking down your once live but now dead tree if you haven't already done so.

Oh, and Masshole Mommy is where I got that AMAZING Pink Lemonade Margarita recipe for my neighbors party this past summer.

As promised ... Another flaming tree from the NFPA YouTube Channel

Please water your Christmas Tree

2011-12-20T08:21:00.000-05:00

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a video worth?

Please water your Christmas Tree, make sure you are using safe UL approved lights and don't anything flammable near the tree.

From the National Fire Protection Association:
This NFPA / UL video demonstrates the flammability of a dry Christmas tree vs. a tree that has been watered regularly.

Facts & figures

Between 2005-2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 240 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 13 deaths, 27 injuries, and $16.7 million in direct property damage annually.
Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be serious. On average, one of every 18 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death.
A heat source too close to the Christmas tree started one of every five (20%) of these fires.
Eighteen percent of home Christmas tree structure fires were intentionally set. Half of the intentional Christmas tree fires occurred in January and may have been related to disposal.

To realize the value, an email chain letter.

2011-12-14T07:55:00.000-05:00

We all get a lot of chain letters in our email. And despite their dire warnings of what will happen or not happen if I don't forward them ... I delete them. But yesterday I received this one. I'm not forwarding it via email to fill someone else's inbox, but I liked the message decided this was a good place to share it.

To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown,
But it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.

Remember....

Hold on tight to the ones you love!

Do not keep this letter.

Send it to friends & family to whom you wish good
fortune. And don't forget the one who sent it to you!

Venting or what goes into planning and holding a CPR class

2011-11-23T10:35:00.001-05:00

I don't vent that often, or at least I try not to. But I thought this would be an educational way to explain my need to vent today.

What is missing from this picture? I'll give you the answer at the end of the post.

When I teach a CPR class there are a lot of things that go into it. I don't just show up and have it all magically work. Well, if I do it right that is all that you see. But let me explain what happens underneath all the magic.

First I have to coordinate a date and location. This means matching my calendar to my husband's calendar and then to the locations calendar to make sure the room or building is available and there is someone to watch my children. Once that is organized I have to post the class on my website and either advertise the course or fill out an online form or a combination of both. For the class in the picture I had to fill out an online form and the organization took care of registrations.

I then double check my supplies and order (and pay) for more books, mannequin lungs, one-way valves, barrier sheets, wallet cards, CPR cards and any other needed supplies.

For most classes I then receive course registrations via email or phone or online. I send each person an email course confirmation.

All of my equipment is stored in my basement on some nice shelves my husband made for me. The day of the class I check my equipment, make sure I have enough supplies in my bags and then I have to carry it all upstairs. It takes 3-4 trips depending upon the class and what is needed. It is then another 3-4 trips to load it into my van.

I then drive to the location of the class. In the picture above the class was at a camp. Which means I didn't have the luxury of using my dolly or the wheels on one of my equipment bags. I had to carry it all to the building, get the key out of the lock box in the dark, and then carry it all in. Once inside I then set it all up so it looks nice like the picture. Not seen in the picture is the table with all the infant mannequins set up on it.

So have you noticed what is missing from the picture? What is missing is ... the students. Yup, NO ONE showed up for the class. Since I am addicted to Kindle books on my droid I read for a while, then packed it all into the bags. I then carried it all back to my van. Drove it all home. Carried it all into the house and then carried it all downstairs and then put it all back on the nice shelves that my husband had made for me.

So this is my vent. If you sign up for a class and can't attend please do the instructor the courtesy of calling or emailing to let them know you can't attend. Even short notice "I'm sick!" calls are very much appreciated to save me or another instructor a lot of work and heavy lifting to make the class magically run smoothly. Thanks! :)

Ingredients I can pronounce

2011-11-11T16:01:00.001-05:00

I always prided myself on being able to spell and pronounce difficult looking words.

But have you ever looked at the ingredients list on the packages, boxes and cans in your kitchen cupboard? There are words I am just lost to try to pronounce correctly.

So a while back I decided to try cooking more things from scratch. This has been a challenge. While I really like to cook, I don't always have oodles of time to do it.

Over the past few months I've been trying new ways to make pancakes rather than using the popular mix that you can cook hundreds of other recipes with. You know the one - it's in a yellow box. Believe me, I LOVE the stuff. But I wanted to try to see what I could recreate without it. Anyway, the kids were not too thrilled with the pancakes I was making.

Until.....

Last night my husband wanted a meat pie. I make the one from the yellow box. Hmmmm.... no yellow box in the house. But I thought I saw a recipe for 'homemade biscuit mix'. Other than struggling for 20 minutes calculating how to reduce the size of the mix (I didn't need almost 13 cups of the stuff), I made the pie.

It was awesome! Everyone liked it, NO leftovers. :)

I had enough of the homemade mix to make pancakes this morning. Better than the stuff from the box.

So while it is a challenge, this has renewed my goal to cook more from scratch with ingredients I can pronounce.

How to NOT keep your house warm when you have no power

2011-11-03T15:12:00.001-04:00

Last weekend's #snowtober storm really wreaked havoc with power lines. The wet heavy snow on trees that still had leaves made for some really heavy branches that took down a lot of utility lines. For my family this was the first big storm that we didn't lose power. But I have a lot of friends who, days later, are still in the dark with no electricity and no heat.

I debated posting suggestions for what to do in the aftermath of a storm a few days ago. But then realized that if you don't have power, I don't think you'd be reading my blog. I think checking out the electric company's website on your smartphone would be what most folks would be doing.

In the aftermath of the storm there have been several Carbon Monoxide emergencies. Last winter I wrote Have you had your heating system inspected lately? Today I thought I'd give you a list of ways to NOT heat your home when you do not have power. Keep in mind this list is not all-inclusive nor do I claim to have any personal experience with any of these.

Heating your house with a generator running in a closed space (like a garage) is NOT a good idea.
Heating your house with your gas oven that you use to cook with is NOT a good idea.
Heating your house with a fire in a fireplace that you haven't used in perhaps a decade or two is NOT a good idea. Get it professionally cleaned & inspected and then you can use it.
Heating your house with gas appliances that are not vented to the outside is NOT a good idea.

I'm sure there are more interesting ways to keep warm that are not the safest ideas. Feel free to comment and add to my list of ways to NOT keep warm.

Even Supermoms need to take care of themselves

2011-09-28T08:05:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I posted one of the newer videos on the Go Red for Women website. "Just a little heart attack". Coincidentally I had recently finished an article on self-care for supermoms which will appear in the Fall 2011 issue of Applaud for Women.

Parents are especially guilty of putting the needs of their families before their own. But statistically Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Even if we have annual exams and all the tests that go with it, are you leading a heart healthy lifestyle so that you will be there for your family? It is not selfish, but rather self-preservation. Taking care of yourself and your health means you can participate fully in family and community activities. Start small, take a few minutes each day for some exercise, watch what you eat, and do an activity that you enjoy. Your mental and physical health depends on it. Even Supermoms and Superdads need to take care of themselves.

Just a little heart attack

2011-09-14T19:53:00.000-04:00

Hurricanes, Earthquakes and Zombies.

2011-08-24T20:56:00.000-04:00

This past Monday morning I watched the news on TV. This is not something I usually have time for or will try to compete with the kids to watch the only TV in the house. But I did and I learned that the Northeast is the path of a hurricane. This is news. Usually here in NH we just get the aftermath after the hurricane is downgraded to a tropical storm or even less severe. A few hours later I found out there was an earthquake a few hundred miles south of us.

So as I'm thinking about Hurricanes and Earthquakes I began to think about Zombies. Yup, Zombies.

What do Zombies have to do with Earthquakes and Hurricanes?

The folks at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention put together a really neat guide on how to survive a zombie apocalypse. Remember a while back the world was supposed to end or we were going to be overrun by zombies? Well the folks at the CDC wanted to make sure we were prepared and created a really good guide on how we could do that. Coincidentally their zombie apocalypse emergency preparedness guide is also a great good guide for how to prepare for a hurricane or earthquake.

Rather than paraphrase the CDC website here are the links to specific emergency preparedness information now that we're in hurricane season and could potentially feel some earthquake aftershocks.

Hurricane Preparedness
Earthquakes
Natural Disasters & Severe Weather
Zombie Apocalypse

DNR orders

2011-08-18T09:10:00.000-04:00

I had several good questions about DNR aka Do Not Resuscitate orders in some classes a few months ago, and recently there has been a very interesting legal discussion on them in one of the Instructors Forums I belong to.

A DNR order is a legal document signed by a patient's physician that states that in the event of a life-ending situation, life-saving measures should not be initiated. This means that CPR is not started. However if someone is choking, and is conscious, you can provide an abdominal or chest thrust to relieve choking. You should not start CPR if the foreign body airway obstruction cannot be removed. You can read the NH Definition of DNR here.

How do you know if a person has a DNR? In a medical care facility this will be in the patients chart and paperwork. The nursing and care staff should be familiar with does and does not have a DNR order. In an out-of-hospital setting check to see the patient is wearing a state-issued DNR bracelet or if the family has a copy of the order.

It varies from state to state, but here in NH where I am located a patient with a terminal condition can receive a DNR bracelet through their physician. It is a state issued bracelet that looks like a hospital bracelet. The NH law on DNR bracelets can be found on the State of NH Website

If you are a Good Samaritan who sees someone collapse and they have a DNR bracelet you do not need to start CPR. HOWEVER - if you're not sure and/or you don't see one. START CPR. These bracelets are more easily recognized by EMS providers.

If you have a loved one at home who has a DNR and you call 911. Please make sure you have a copy of the order to share with EMS providers when they arrive. Tell 911 there is a DNR order as they will relay that to the responding ambulance. That helps them to be prepared and have a treatment plan in place when they arrive.

If you're not in NH take a look at your state's laws and rules on DNR orders and how they may apply to you.

Does it matter whose name is on my card?

2011-08-07T19:40:00.000-04:00

I've been following an interesting discussion on an instructors forum I am on. It is one of those conversations that started out as one thing, and is slowly morphing into several different topics.

But one of the conversations that came out of it was the staff at one agency somewhat bashing the credentials of another ... and that's not cool.

There are many really good CPR and First Aid programs out there. While I teach for the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI); there is also the American Red Cross (ARC), Emergency Care & Safety Institute (ECSI), American CPR and probably a few I'm not familiar with.

There are also a lot of not so good programs out there, I'm not even going to try to look them up to list them here.

How do you tell a good program from a not-so-good program?
A good program has a hands-on skills component to the class. A good program can have traditional classroom courses as well as blended programs that encompass both online learning and skills sessions with an instructor. A good indication a program is in the not-so-good category is when the website promises the course is short and you can print off your card from their website once you pay them.

What's the difference between the different good programs?
We all teach roughly the same skills. Good CPR programs follow ILCOR 2010 Guidelines. Good First Aid programs follow the 2010 consensus for First Aid co-written by the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. The training materials, length of class and how the class is taught will vary between the different organizations. However if your class includes hands-on skills practice you can be comfortable know that you are taking a good course.

If you need certification for work or as a licensing requirement check what is required. Some employers or licensing agencies may require you to hold a card from a specific organization. You should check into that before registering for a course so that you make sure you are taking the correct course for your workplace of license.

Help send the Newington Odyssey of the Mind Team to the Nationals

2011-04-18T14:46:00.001-04:00

So yes, I haven't posted in a while. A really, really, really long while. But I've been working on setting up some new courses and offerings which will be announced shortly. But in the interim I've become very involved in fundraising for our little school and our Odyssey of the Mind team.

From their website:
Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.

What makes our Odyssey of the Mind team unique? This is their first year participating in the Odyssey of the Mind program. We have not only a very talented group of six 5th graders on the team, the team is the ENTIRE 5th grade. Yes, that's correct. We only have six 5th grade students in our small K-6 school.

Newington Odyssey of the Mind Team (Seacoastonline picture)

Because this is something new we never expected to travel to a National competition, let alone win first place in the state level competition.

The challenge now is for the students and parents to raise the money for the team and chaperones to attend. We're fortunate that we can drive, but with gasoline prices hovering just below $4/gal in NH it's anyone's guess what the price will be by the end of May when we make the drive to the University of Maryland. Fundraising in a very small school in a small town is challenging, as there is only a small number of families you can ask for support.

This is why I'm posting today. We can use your help.

One of the fundraising efforts is a raffle. If you would like to purchase a raffle ticket they are $1/ea or 6/$5. Prizes you can choose from include:

$50 Texas Roadhouse Gift Card
Percy Jackson: boxed set of books - $25 value
Lia Sophia jewelry - $200 Value
Emergency First Aid Kit - $25 Value
G. Willkers! Gift Basket - $75 Value
Mr. Bubbles Gold carwash certificates - $50 value
American Express Gift Card - $25. Value
Portrait sitting and 8x10 photo - $100 value
American Girl Books - $42 value
$50 coupon towards Spanish or French immersion camp (1 week day camp)
Certificate for 2 rounds golf: Breakfast Hill course - $100 value

Leave a comment below if you'd like to purchase a raffle ticket or email me at info (at) coastalcpr (dot) com.

Or you can just make a donation. Any amount will help! Just use the handy donate button at the bottom of this post.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Have you had your heating system checked lately?

2010-11-15T17:16:00.000-05:00

I don't get a chance to watch the news on TV every day, but I caught a bit this morning which I thought would be a good story to share. There have been 2 fires in 2 days here in New Hampshire, both possibly caused by woodstoves. (see 2 fires in 2 days brings woodstove warnings.)

Have you had your heating system inspected or cleaned? It doesn't matter if you heat with wood, oil, propane or natural gas. You should have your heating system cleaned, serviced or inspected annually. Have your chimney checked around the same time. It's not just the furnace or stove that need to be checked; when heating with wood products you can have a buildup of creosote in your chimney flue.

Hazards you want to be careful of include:

A buildup of creosote can get too hot or be ignited by embers causing a chimney fire.
Improper installation of a stovepipe can cause a fire to walls and ceilings
Make sure your heating appliance is properly vented to the outside so no fumes, smoke or gases enter your home.

Many fire departments will inspect your woodstove or heating appliance. Give them a call. If they don't offer that service they may be able to refer you to someone who does. A call only takes a few minutes out of your day. A house fire will take away much more than that.

Stay safe!

Halloween Safety Tips

2010-10-29T16:49:00.000-04:00

I recently wrote a quick guest post for Multiples and More on Halloween Safety. And then today realized I should have posted these on my own blog!

Halloween 2010 Safety Tips

Before Halloween

Plan out your costumes. Make sure everything fits and if you're in a colder climate make sure it will fit over a warm coat.
Make sure part of their costume is reflective. Streetlights aren't always bright and not every place has them. If you're in a town without sidewalks reflective striping is a must.
Incorporate glow sticks, glow necklaces or glow bracelets as part of their costumes.
Pick up some fun Halloween themed flashlights. Not only does it help the kids find their way, it helps you spot them if they get a little too far ahead of you.
Plan out where you are trick or treating. Stick to your neighborhood or neighborhoods you know well. This is not about where the candy is, but where it is safe. If your state has an online sex offender registry check it. In NH you can find it at http://www4.egov.nh.gov/nsor/search.aspx. Check where sidewalks and cross walks are. Plan your trip in a loop or several small loops so you can end up back where you started.
Check the trick or treat times for your town. If you have younger children plan to go out at the start when it might not be as dark.
If you would be alone with several young children recruit a friend, family member or mother's helper to come with you. Or partner up with a neighbor who has children and trick or treat as a group.
Make sure you have buckets or bags to hold candy and a flashlight for each child.
If you will be alone with several children think of what types of costumes might allow them to be connected together. If you have a small group of cowboys or cowgirls have a section of rope for everyone to hold. If you have princes and princesses then a magic ribbon or sash that everyone needs to hold might help keep the group together.

Halloween Day

Have an early filling meal shortly before going out. This way the kids won't want to eat their candy right away.
Have good footwear. Both for you and your children. They might be running across grass or dirt. If one falls and the rest don't your group can get separated.
Keep it reasonable. If the kids seem distracted or too excited cut it short. This is exciting for them, which can make it hard for them to remember what is expected of them. Short and fun is better than drawn out and stressful.
Review safety rules with the kids. Everyone needs to stay together as a group. Have a safety meeting spot if anyone thinks they have been separated from the group. Do not visit houses that do not have the outside light on.
Photograph the kids together when you leave the house. It will help you remember what everyone is wearing.
Before and after each house you visit do a head count.
Walk up to the door at each house with the kids, don't stand at the curb.
Sort candy when you get home. Remove anything that is open or that you don't want the kids to have.

Some towns have alternative Halloween celebrations that you can use to replace trick or treating. One year when my older girls were little I took them to a Trick or Treat at college dorm. They had activities for the kids and trick or treating on marked floors. Some towns have a structured Halloween activity. Check with your local Recreation Department or School to see what is happening in your town.

Have a safe & happy Halloween!

2010 CPR Guidelines video

2010-10-24T21:39:00.000-04:00

2010 Guidelines have been released!

2010-10-18T06:41:00.002-04:00

The new 2010 CPR Guidelines have been released! I'm still sorting through them but here's the quick list of the changes for layperson rescuers:

Adults

Determine unresponsiveness and check breathing quickly
Send someone to call for help
Start compressions. No breathing first! Push at least 2 inches on the chest at a rate of 100 compressions per minute.
Ratio is 30 compressions and then 2 breaths
Use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) as soon as one is available.

Change is the removal of look, listen & feel and the 2 rescue breaths before cycles of compressions begin.

Children

Determine unresponsiveness and check breathing quickly
Send someone to call for help
Start compressions. No breathing first! Push at least 1/3 the depth of the chest or 2 inches at a rate of 100 compressions per minute.
Ratio is 30 compressions and then 2 breaths
Use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) as soon as one is available.

Changes:
Removal of look, listen & feel and the 2 rescue breaths before cycles of compressions begin.
Pushing more deeply on the chest.
Using an AED as soon as it is available (still checking if I'm reading that correctly)

Infant

Determine unresponsiveness and check breathing quickly
Send someone to call for help
Start compressions. No breathing first! Push at least 1/3 the depth of the chest or 1 1/2 inches at a rate of 100 compressions per minute.
Ratio is 30 compressions and then 2 breaths
Use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) as soon as one is available.

Changes:
Removal of look, listen & feel and the 2 rescue breaths before cycles of compressions begin.
Pushing more deeply on the chest.
Using an AED for an infant is new. Pediatric pads should be used, but if they are not available adult pads can be used.

The new emphasis is on Chest Compressions First. The idea is to start chest compressions as quickly as possible. In situations where the rescuer is not sure they can provide breaths Hands Only or Continuous Chest Compression can be used.

There will be a lot more information forthcoming, this is just a quick update on the guidelines that were released this morning. Good news for anyone who recently purchased an AED - you do not need to reprogram it! But there is some additional information on AED's that I will be posting once I've had a chance to digest it all.

Want to read the full summary? Link here.

Home Escape Plan

2010-10-05T09:28:00.000-04:00

When your smoke alarm sounds do you know what to do? Do your children know what to do?

For Fire Prevention Week 2010 the National Fire Protection Association has created 2 really nice placements or posters for young children to learn and practice escape plans. There is a poster for boys and a poster for girls.

The steps are easy to learn and great to practice with your kids!

The smoke detector sounds. Even if you don't see smoke go outside
Go to your meeting place. This is a safe location you can choose outside. Have your children help you pick your meeting place.
Wait at your meeting place for your family to join you.

That's it! Easy Peasy. But Fire Prevention Week isn't the only time of year for practicing Home Escape Plans. Practice them several times a year with your children so that they know what to do in an emergency.

Happy Fire Prevention Week 2010!

2010-10-04T09:04:00.000-04:00

This year's Fire Prevention Week Theme is "Smoke Alarms: a sound you can live with". This is an important reminder on what we need to do, and teach our children to do, when the smoke alarm goes off.

Does your home have working smoke detectors? Have you checked them regularly?

Do your children know what to do if the alarm goes off?

Do you have a Fire Drill or Fire Safety plan at your workplace?

These are all important things to do and practice. To help you out with these the National Fire Protection Association has a very good website with tips, tools and information you can download to help you with your Fire Safety plan.

Today I'm going to provide you with this link to a fun Smoke Detector Inspection Checklist you can use at your home. As you test your smoke detectors, involve your children.

<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=c01d6-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0013OW9RE&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="padding-top: 5px; width: 131px; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" align="left" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=c01d6-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001957QDO&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="padding-top: 5px; width: 131px; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" align="left" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=c01d6-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00141HRH8&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="padding-top: 5px; width: 131px; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" align="left" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=c01d6-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001957QDO&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="padding-top: 5px; width: 131px; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" align="left" frameborder="0" scrolling="no">

The countdown begins....

2010-09-30T10:14:00.000-04:00

Guidelines 2010 will be released in just a few weeks!

What are Guidelines 2010? They are changes in how we will perform and teach CPR.

Twice a year the International Liason Committee on Resuscitation or ILCOR meets regularly to review scientific studies done on CPR. When there is enough information that suggest that changes should be made they release new guidelines on how we should perform CPR.

October 18th is the date the new Guidelines will be released this year.

What does this mean if you just took a CPR class?

You are still certified in CPR If you have recently taken a class or are planning on taking one before October 18th. Despite releasing the new guidelines on that day, CPR instructors will not have the new training materials until next winter or spring at the earliest. However most of us will be incorporating the new guidelines into our classes until the training materials are available.

How do you find out what the changes will be? You can visit this blog for updates or the American Heart Association website.

Video (or computer) based training versus learning it the old fashioned way

2010-09-20T15:56:00.000-04:00

I'll admit it. I'm a geek. Seriously.

I belong to ~~several~~ multiple online groups, where I learn and interact with some great people on topics from work-life balance, work-home balance, business network and yes... CPR and First Aid. Indeed, I have online conversations with people about how we teach CPR. Sounds geeky, but I do learn a lot from these groups!

There has been a discussion topic that we keep coming back to; online training. Are DVD's and websites replacing the instructor as the best way to learn CPR?

Recently a member of one group posted a link to an article in Resuscitation
Volume 81, Issue 8, August 2010, Pages 1004-1009 titled Comparison of instructor-led automated external defibrillation training and three alternative DVD-based training methods.

On the edge of your seat wondering the final result of the comparison?

Their initial premise was:
Self-directed BLS-training, using a personal training manikin with video has been shown to be as effective as instructor-led training. This has not previously been investigated for AED-training.

Their conclusion was:
DVD-based AED-training without scenario is not recommended. Scenario training is a useful addition, but instructor-facilitated training remains the best method.

Yes, instructor facilitated training remains the best way to learn how to use an AED in CPR. There are many websites offering CPR programs with no hands-on component that will allow you to print your card at the end of the online test. But the best way to learn a practical skill is to do it the old-fashioned way, hands-on practice with an instructor.

The bracelet that speaks for you when you can't

2010-09-04T21:25:00.000-04:00

Last spring I wrote a post Do you work out with ID? based on an accident that occurred earlier that month. A bicyclist was found unresponsive on the side of the road. CPR was successfully performed, but he remained unresponsive at the hospital. He had no ID on him and fortunately an article in the paper led to someone identifying him before he tragically passed away.

This local story started me on a quest that I had been meaning to do for a while. I will state unequivocally that I am not an athlete. But I walk around town quite a bit - usually pushing at least one child in a stroller. I never take my wallet with me, usually just my cell phone, house keys, water, sippy cup(s) (that's for the kids) and a small diaper bag. That's enough stuff to be pushing around town without adding my wallet or purse. I never carry ID. And in a town with no sidewalks and no level shoulder on most roads that means cars have to move around me or I have to jump in a ditch with a stroller. Obviously I should be carrying some sort of emergency ID.

I had heard of one brand, but when I looked them up online I found it was a tag. Something I'd have to clip or wear on a chain or something. Good idea, but not something I would probably remember to do. I'm the kind of person who wears no jewelry save for my wedding band - I don't even wear a watch. I'm looking for simple and easy. I was also looking for something that could double as a medical alert. I don't have any medical concerns, but as a First Aid instructor I do cover medical jewelry and ways to let emergency responders know important information about you.

So I was really excited when I found Road ID. Road ID is a bracelet with a custom made metal plate on it. You can have almost anything reasonable printed on it. It comes in 2 different materials, a variety of colors and sizes AND they offer additional bands for a reasonable price. You can just move the tag from bracelet to bracelet. They also have an interactive version with a website, 800# and pin for additional information that you might not want printed on the plate. In addition to the bracelet they have an anklet, shoe ID, shoe pouch, reflective shoe laces and a bunch of other safety gear. At first glance you'd think these were all for athletes, but really this is designed for anyone who is out and about and doesn't always carry an ID with them.

So I ordered one and I love it! The picture is of one of the roads I walk on and you can see my purple Road ID on my wrist, and the very top of my daughter's head in front of the stroller bonnet.

In fact, I was so impressed with the information on their website that I've become an affiliate with Road ID and I'm now offering their products through my website.

What do I like about my Road ID? I had mine engraved with my name, town, home phone number, my husband's name and his cell phone number. I could have added other relatives or medical information. The webbing band of the Road ID Sport is water safe. I can swim in it, get splashed in it and do my normal household routines while wearing it. It is comfortable, seriously, I don't realize I have it on most of the time. It doesn't look clunky or like what you think an ID or Medical ID would look like. Looks nice enough my kids want one of their own.

So while I try to keep business promotion out of my blog, here's a deal I want to share. The first 20 people who order from Road ID before September 22nd can use code ThanksGail827165 and receive $1 off their order. Or if you're local shoot me an email, I have some coupons as well. All the Road ID links in this post go to my site. If you use the link on my website I will receive credit for any purchases you make. They also have reflective shoe laces, bracelets, ankles and clip on flashing lights which are giving me some creative ideas for Halloween.

So if you're looking for a comfortable medical ID or you are normally out and about with any ID on you this is a comfortable and easy way to let others know who you are if you are injured or unable to speak for yourself.

Disclaimer: I purchased my Road ID on my own. I paid the full $19.99 price (what a deal!) and I was not asked to provide any public feedback on my purchase. I'm really happy with it and think it's a great product.

Hurricane Preparedness 2010

2010-09-01T21:56:00.000-04:00

I am always amazed at science and how technology improves how we live and react to things around us. Meteorology is one of them. 100 years ago our ancestors knew a storm was coming when the weather began to turn. Today we know the forecast 10 days ahead of time. Hurricane Season is typically considered early June to late November, with a peak in the Atlantic between August and October.

Hurricane Earl is working its way towards the Eastern coastline. Here in NH it looks like we’ll just get the outer fringes of the storm. Despite really good science and technology, it is still a guess and the prediction of the storm’s path is just that, a prediction. Which is a fancier word than educated guess.

But what it does give us is time to adequately prepare for the storm. Advanced warnings mean that we can shop, stock up and avoid last minute craziness at the market or home improvement store. It is recommended that you have a 3 day store of supplies on hand when preparing for a hurricane. While we each had different definitions of ‘staples’, here is a quick list of items to have at home:

Food. Preferably non-perishable. Which means things that don’t necessarily need refrigeration in case you lose power. If you rely on electricity to cook then stock up on food that you don’t need to heat or prepare to eat. This can include ready-to-eat canned or packaged fruits, veggies & meat and granola bars or snacks. If you use infant formula make sure you have plenty on hand.
Water. You should have at least 1 gallon of water per person per day in your home. Half of this is for drinking, the other half is for cleaning food & washing.
First Aid kit. You never know when you’ll need a bandage or more.
Medication. If you or someone in your family needs daily or weekly medication make sure you pack that. Emergency medications such as an Asthma inhaler or Epi-Pen should be easy to locate if needed.
Paper products. Disposable plates, silverware, cups to eat with – if you don’t have running water (If you have a well and lose power your lose your water) you can’t wash dishes.
Emergency supplies. Flashlight, battery operated radio, extra batteries, hand-operated can opener, utility knife, tape, plastic sheeting, small tool kit, fire extinguisher, toilet paper, personal hygiene items, trash bags.
Clothes & bedding. Rain clothes, dry clothes, sleeping bags.
Documents. Put important documents like insurance policies and medical cards in a sealable plastic bag so they won’t be damaged if they get wet.
Supplies for infants and young children. Formula, diapers and things to keep young children entertained.
Supplies for pets. Pet food, leash, travel crate. Call around… does your city or town have a shelter that accepts pets?

If you need to evacuate to an emergency shelter what would you want to bring with you? Take 10 minutes, make a list and pack it so you’re ready to go if you need to.

If the authorities or safety department in your community recommends evacuation please do so. An evacuation recommendation is made for your safety.

This is not an exhaustive list, but rather some quick guidelines. Many of these items you may already have in your home. Take a minute to do a quick inventory to see how many you can locate, plan to do so before Earl arrives so that you’re not unprepared.

For more information you can visit the National Hurricane Survival Initiative.

Back to School 2010

2010-08-27T22:25:00.000-04:00

School is starting this week for my children, 3 kids at 2 different schools and only 1 still at home. September will be an interesting month as we adjust to the new routines.

We've had a crazy, lazy, day-tripping, long list of things-not-done kinda summer. On the last list was my desire to keep up to date with the blog. But we made some fun summer memories and I'll post about some of our interesting road trips around the Seacoast soon.

Today's post is a really belated back to school list. When we think of back to school we think of school supplies and school clothes. Sports gear and hopefully sports physicals. Last summer I posted a really good safety back to school checklist. I'm not going repost it, but here is a brief list of some back to school safety tips:

If your child uses an inhaler or epi pen - do you have one to give to the school nurse that won't expire in the next few months? Make sure you have one that has a VALID expiration date to carry you through the school year.

Have you discussed with your child what to do if the bus drops them off and you're not home? Do you have a neighbor or friend that you can call if you're stuck in traffic somewhere?

Have you had sports physicals for your children if they will play sports this year? Do you have all the info you need to fill out the myriad health history forms that will be coming your way soon?

Have you checked sizes on last years sports equipment? If it doesn't fit right it won't protect them correctly. Make sure you check for good size and fit and purchase/obtain/borrow the correct sized gear for your kids.

I'm sure there are dozens or more things that my brief list will get you thinking about. What would you add to my list?

Success

2010-07-08T20:17:00.000-04:00

I couldn't wait for success, so I just went right ahead without it - Jonathan Winters

This morning I had what was probably the most productive business planning and introspection ever. And I was at the beach.

Seriously.

My oldest wanted a beach day with a friend (well friends, but scheduling didn't work out) without her younger siblings tagging along. So off we went this morning. While the girls used their boogie boards in the surf and had fun I was reading and listing to podcasts on my ipod. Having time to read and listen is RARE for me. So RARE I'm capitalizing it because, well,.... it just never seems to happen. I finally finished Corporate Mom Dropouts by Lucinda Cross and listened to some Mom Biz Coach audio blogs by Lara Galloway. And it just seemed that every section of the book, or the 3 or 4 audio blogs that I listened to just affirmed or got me thinking about what I am currently working on or where I am at with my business right now. What really made all this stand out was that I wasn't picking what section to read or which blog to listen to, I was just picking up where I had left off last and reading/listening in order.

The quote at the top of the post was mentioned in one of the interviews in Corporate Mom Dropouts and really illustrated the day for me. I'm not perfect and neither is my business. I do the best that I can and strive to improve as I go along. I've learned a lot and made quite a few mistakes along the way. I don't expect perfection or success to happen over night. So tonight I'm writing down all the great ideas that moved through my head while I nurse the killer sunburn I got while focusing on my business instead of my sunscreen. I might not be successful at 100% sunscreen coverage, but I think I'm on the right track for being successful with my business.

Celebrate Independence Day Safely

2010-07-04T09:14:00.000-04:00

Many of us celebrate July 4th the same way ... BBQ's with family, watching the fireworks and going to parades. Depending upon your plans, a little planning ahead can keep it safe for everyone.

If you're using the BBQ make sure little kids and pets don't run around the grill.
Headed to a parade or ceremony? Take a picture of everyone in a group on your digital camera or phone when you first arrive. If anyone, especially a child, gets separated from the group you will have a picture to share and will remember what they were wearing.
Choose a spot to watch the fireworks that you're not too close so young children will not be as frightened by the noise.
Using fireworks or planning an outdoor fire? Make sure to have a garden hose or bucket of water handy for emergencies.

You can read a more detailed article I wrote on Fireworks Safety at Examiner.com.

Have a safe Independence Day!Search Amazon.com for forth of july

Review: Down Broadway

2010-06-23T10:59:00.000-04:00

Over a month ago I was given the opportunity to review a DVD on baseball and softball tips for players. The timing seemed great at the time since my oldest had just started to play softball. But, like most parents new to some sports, I had no idea how much time I was about to spend driving to and from practices and games! So this review is a little late getting written up and posted.

Disclaimer: I was asked to review this product by a company I had done a previous review for. I was not compensated for this review and received 2 DVD's in the mail to watch and write about.

The DVD is Down Broadway: Pitching and Catching Techniques for the Modern Player. It is made by Bobby Woods Productions, Bobby Woods is a former professional baseball player who provides baseball and softball instructional programs. This DVD is the second in a series for parents and coaches.

I had my daughter watch it first. I probably should have watched it with her because her reviews included comments like 'it was okay', and not a lot of other detail. This disc is primarily for baseball players and after reviewing it a few times I can see her perspective. It is more geared for the coaches or the parent who is helping their child. This DVD covered how to do basic throws, pitching, and catching. The catching portion is not general catching; it is for the person catching at home plate, not for outfielders or base players.

What I liked:

Each position and action was broken down in each of its individual components. Like how to stand, move your feet and balance when throwing a pitch. Or where your non-glove hand should be positioned when catching.

Each position and action was demonstrated multiple times and included separate instruction for both right-handed and left-handed players.

Several different types of pitches were shown and really explained in detail. As a new parent to the sport this really helped me to understand why specific hand holds create the different types of pitches.

The DVD uses different aged players so kids and parents are seeing the positions played by their peers or players the same age as their kids.

What I wasn't as thrilled with:

I was hoping softball was included on this disc and it wasn't. I did receive a second DVD on hitting which I haven't watched yet, but I'm hoping includes softball players. (Stay tuned, that review will be later this week!)

This video is part 2 in a Series. Part 1 is Mom, can you teach me how to hit? and according to the Bobby Woods Productions website, Part 3 The Glove is currently in production. The picture on the website shows a softball player so I'm hoping the next DVD covers softball a little bit more.

Interested in the DVD's? Each DVD has a preview clip on the Bobby Woods Productions website. You can rent the DVD for 5 days on the website or purchase it online. I'm guessing the rental is a link to watch it online. A neat feature I noticed is that if you want to buy the DVD after renting it your rental fee is discounted from the $19.99 purchase price.

Selecting the right sunscreen

2010-06-10T22:07:00.000-04:00

Summer is finally here and you’re planning a great day outside enjoying it. It doesn’t matter if it is an afternoon lunch on the deck with friends, a family day at the beach or just chilling in your back yard. You need to protect your skin from the sun.

Why do we need to use sunscreen? Prolonged exposure to the sun exposes our skin to UltraViolet (UV) rays or radiation. These can cause sunburn, premature skin aging, skin spots, melanoma and skin cancer. Sunscreen creates a barrier to prevent the UV rays from reaching and damaging our skin.

But not all sunscreens are created equal, nor does the price or marvelous packaging equate to the quality of the product. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a sunscreen:

* SPF – this is the Sun Protection Factor. The higher the number the longer the amount of time you can theoretically spend in the sun. However this length of time is approximate. So a sunscreen with an SPF of 20 means you could stay out in the sun 20 times longer without incurring sun damage (sunburn) than you could if you were outside without a sunscreen. However keep in mind that everyone’s skin is different. If you have fair skin that time frame may be shorter than someone who does not sunburn as quickly.
* You must apply sunscreen at least 15-30 minutes BEFORE going out in the sun for it to work effectively
* You need to reapply sunscreen frequently, every few hours. If you’re really active or in the water you’ll need to reapply more frequently.
* How safe is the sunscreen for your skin? If you have allergies or sensitive skin you need to be more careful in your selection of the products you use.

A good site to check for safe sunscreen products is the Environmental Working Group’s Sunscreen Guide. This site lists product ingredients you should look for and those to avoid.

And if you do get a sunburn? Cool the burn with cool or cold, but not ice cold water for up to 30 minutes. Avoid putting lotions, salves, ointments or creams on the burn for at least a day to allow your skin to breathe and heal.

Family Fun at Fisher Cat Stadium

2010-05-31T13:31:00.000-04:00

Through a fundraiser my husband participated in we received tickets to a Fisher Cats game Memorial Day weekend. In addition to the game we also received a tour of the stadium before the game. The picture above was taken from one of the decks next to the box seats.

All the kids had a great time! We received a full tour, including the press box and behind the dugouts. The kids were able to go on the field during the singing of the National Anthem and they had activities between each inning. One staff member was dressed as the Tooth Fairy and had a little 'helper' who helped her clean the bases before the game. The small playground we had seen at a game last year was replaced by a play area behind the bleacher sets that had 3 different inflated activities for the kids - a slide, bouncy house and batting cage. Each inflatable activity had a staff member monitoring it and access to the area was limited. We went later in the game and had to wait our turn to enter since the area was full. The safety part of me would gladly wait rather than have the kids jumping all over each other in an overcrowded area.

The staff and employees at the stadium were pleasant and really are an asset to the game! Despite long lines at some of the food vendors everyone was nice and not rushed. Clean up crews were in constant motion keeping the stadium clean. For each activity that involved kids on the field the staff stayed with them and made sure no child left the field without a parent to pick them up at the gate.

The only constructive criticism - the new bouncy house play area was located on the deck behind the right outfield bleacher seats. This was the only smoking area in the stadium and occasionally I could smell smoke while waiting for two of my children who were in the bouncy house. I'm not sure what happened to the traditional playground that used to be behind the center of the stadium.

When I was looking up the directions before we left I discovered that I could reserve a parking spot right next to the stadium for only $10! That's how much the private lot next door charges and half the cost of what we paid to another private lot when we went last summer. You can reserve your spot on a first come/first served basis the day of the game until 3pm. Very much worth it to not have to walk little kids down the street after an evening game.

Taking four kids ranging from 3 to almost 12 is always a bit of a challenge, but there was enough going on to keep everyone occupied and interested. I had no problem walking my 3 year old up and down the stadium when she really didn't want to sit in her seat. The fireworks show afterward was a perfect ending to a great evening at the ballpark. I am already looking forward to taking the family to another game.

Guilt

2010-05-24T19:05:00.000-04:00

Tonight I did something I said I would never do. I dropped my daughter off at her softball game and didn't stay to watch. I feel horrible. I don't always hang out during practice, but throughout soccer, basketball and softball my husband or I have always stayed and watched the game. Tonight he is working and I don't have anyone to watch the little kids. So I dropped her off and told her I'd be back before it was over. I know a lot of other parents do this, but I've tried so hard to be there for all of their games and activities.

With a large age range of kids it can be hard. Taking 3 non-softball playing kids to their oldest siblings game just isn't their idea of fun. At one game my 3 year old starting yelling she wanted to go home barely into the second inning. At the last game I brought the whole gang thinking we would tailgate in the minivan along the outfield fence. That didn't turn out as bucolic as I had hoped. Tonight it's an away game and the parking is not next to the field. It's really hot and the mosquitos are out in full force. It's not like the fall when we just wear long layers to keep the bugs at bay, it is hot and a little muggy out. I weighed the options of bring unhappy younger siblings soaked in insect repellent - meaning showers and a much later bedtime vs. dropping her off and going back to pick her up. And dropping her off seemed the better option for my sanity level. How do parents of preschoolers attend sports with older kids? Have you ever done the drop and bolt at your child's sports games?

What do you want in a First Aid kit?

2010-05-15T20:32:00.000-04:00

I recently did a survey on First Aid kits. I've begun selling CPR and First Aid supplies on my website. My goal is to offer products that are reasonably priced and user friendly. So far I've found a lot of really, really expensive (embarrassingly expensive) first aid kits; and some that don't have sticker shock. Since my background is EMS I know what I need in my kit, but not everyone does. To get a better sense of what potential customers might want in a first aid kit I did a simple 1 question survey .... What would you look for/at when buying a first aid kit?

I made a list of different reasons for purchasing one kit over another and added a comment box to get any additional info that someone might want to share. The results didn't completely surprise me and will help me to offer products people are looking for at the price they want to pay.

25 people took the survey, the results are:
72% contents
52% price
48% size of the kit
48% easy to understand (packaged in pouches labeled for situation - cuts, burns, etc.)
44% ease of refilling contents
28% durability (i.e.... can it survive soccer season outdoors)
28% a small first aid book
16% location to purchase: online vs. local store (note to self: I should have made this 2 questions since I don't know what someone would prefer)
8% non-traditional contents (flashlight, emergency radio)
0% more gizmos than you'd ever need
0% electronics that tell you what to do
8% all of the above

What am I going to do with this info? I'm continuing my research into different brands and suppliers of First Aid kits. Currently I am offering First Aid kits from Genuine First Aid. So far they have the most reasonable prices that I've seen. I'll be posting a review of the kits I just ordered soon.

False CPR certification

2010-05-07T13:14:00.000-04:00

I saw a link to a news story today .... Firefighter accused of giving false CPR certifications. While it makes me sad in a way I'm not surprised. Occasionally I am asked to do group BLS CPR recert 'session' during employee's lunch hours (so maybe a 30-45 min 'class'). I use the quotes because it really isn't a class, or a session and during an employee's lunch break it just can't easily be done.

When you take a CPR or First Aid class it should include hands-on practical skills. In my courses you have to practice and perform all the skills; and for Healthcare Providers you must take and pass the AHA written exam. My goal is to make sure each person in my class can perform the skills as if it was myself or a member of my family you could be saving.

How long or how quickly can you learn or recertify in CPR? For Healthcare Providers who are experienced in CPR a renewal session can move very quickly. But you need enough time for each person to demonstrate all of the skills and take the required written test. One person could do it in 30-45 minutes - if they are fully prepared to test; but in a group setting it can take longer.

Be wary of instructors who can promise certification in just mere minutes or with minimal practice time. The American Heart Association, along with other certification agencies such as the American Red Cross and the American Safety & Health Institute, all use repetitive skills practice in their courses. This is because through studies they've determined that hands on skills practice is the best way to learn or renew a skill.

Registering that AED ...

2010-05-02T20:39:00.000-04:00

NH Revised Statutes Annotated
Section 153-A:32
153-A:32 Automated External Defibrillator Registry. – There shall be established in the department of safety a registry for all automated external defibrillators in the state. The department is authorized to release information from the registry to first responders in an emergency through the enhanced 911 system. Registration shall include the address and precise location of the automated external defibrillator.
Source. 2002, 156:2, eff. July 14, 2002.

Section 153-A:33
153-A:33 Registration Required. –
I. The owner of an automated external defibrillator shall register with the department of safety under RSA 153-A:32 within 30 days of acquisition.
II. Manufacturers or distributors shall provide written notice to purchasers of the requirement to register automated external defibrillators with the department.
III. The provisions of paragraphs I and II shall not apply to owners who purchase an automated external defibrillator for use in a private residence.
Source. 2002, 156:2, eff. July 14, 2002.

If you own or purchase an AED in New Hampshire you are required to register your AED. Whomever sells you the AED should inform you of this. The State of New Hampshire has a form to make registration quick and easy.

Guest blog post for Living My MoMent

2010-04-17T16:16:00.000-04:00

So this week I'm excited that not only am I participating in the Living My MoMent Blogoversary by offering a First Aid kit in her huge giveaway; I'm also guest blogging! You can read my post on Baby's 1st First Aid Kit.

There are a lot of really good blogs and web platforms for mom business to promote themselves on. Since I only teach locally I typically don't participate in many of these blog parties and giveaways. But I am happy to be supporting Abbey in her Blogoversary.... I listed my business and blog with her site just mere weeks after it first launched. She has a supportive blog and is really looking to help Moms and Dads get the word out on their work from home businesses.

So take a minute and go visit Living My MoMent, check out my guest post, peruse all the great MoM and Dad business listed there and check out the awesome blogoversary prizes! Who knows.... you might just win something! (hint, hint.... I'm donating a First Aid Kit!)

Back to the Legalese of the AED

2010-04-14T17:42:00.000-04:00

Continuing in my series on the legal aspects of selling, purchasing or owning an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) today I'm citing two RSA's:

Automated External Defibrillator

Section 153-A:28
153-A:28 Intent. –
I. The use of automated external defibrillators addresses an important public health problem in New Hampshire. It is the intent of the legislature to encourage the use and availability of automated external defibrillators, along with training in the use of automated external defibrillators, for the purpose of saving the lives of people in cardiac arrest.
II. Further, the legislature strongly encourages dissemination of educational information regarding automated external defibrillators and encourages that access to these lifesaving devices be made widely available to businesses, schools, fire and police departments, and other public and private organizations throughout the state.
Source. 2000, 302:4, eff. June 21, 2000. 2002, 156:5, eff. July 14, 2002.

Pretty clear common sense. The State of New Hampshire encourages the use and availability of AED's. They also encourage training and information on them.

Section 153-A:29
153-A:29 Definitions. – For purposes of this subdivision, "automated external defibrillator" means a medical device which combines a heart monitor and defibrillator and:
I. Has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration;
II. Is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation;
III. Is capable of determining whether defibrillation should be performed; and
IV. Automatically charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual's heart, upon determination that defibrillation should be performed.
Source. 2000, 302:4, eff. June 21, 2000. 2002, 156:5, eff. July 14, 2002.

RSA 153-A:29 basically defines what an AED is. It monitors the hearts electrical rhythm, analyzes and determines the hearts rhythm, and determines if the patient as a heart rhythm that would benefit from a shock.

A question that has come up in classes lately is how exactly the AED works. I think I've blogged about this before, but basically the AED analyzes the heart's electrical rhythm. During Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) the heart's electrical system is misfiring and the heart just quivers. The AED shocks the heart, not to start it, but to stop it. That allows the heart to begin beating with a normal electrical rhythm. Kind of like hard rebooting your computer.

Reprioritizing

2010-04-12T20:32:00.002-04:00

So I admit, my blogging has been hit or miss lately. With the final arrival of Spring in New Hampshire (and of course mud....) I haven't wanted to be sitting in front of a computer as much. Which led to some soul-searching and re-evaluating of priorities. It took a week to come to the BIG DECISION which was I am scaling back from my other blog. Yes... if you didn't know it I had a second blog all about shopping and saving on the Seacoast. But it was really time-consuming. I loved doing it, but it was based on my hobby of comparing prices between local stores. As much as I enjoyed it, the time involved was taking my away from my primary business... which is teaching CPR & First Aid, which began cutting into family and home time. I work from home, like a lot of other moms do, so that I'm available when my kids need me. On a beautiful sunny day I don't want to be telling the kids we can't go out to play because mommy is too busy working on her blog.

So I did some soul searching and decided that while I'm not completely shutting down the other blog, I'm scaling back on a big scale. My priorities are family, home and business. Anything else is just for fun, especially when it's not meeting my top 3 priorities. So over the next week you can hopefully expect a lot more on CPR & First Aid blogging as well as my intermittent odd things that come up when working from home with kids.

And if you notice the colorful fun button on my right sidebar - it's the official 5 Minutes for Mom Ultimate Blog Party button. I wasn't fast enough to get in on offering a prize, but check it out. There are hundreds... yes I do mean hundreds! of prizes to be won. Thousands of blogs are participating of which I am just a humble one. Check it out, visit some of the awesome participating blogs and who knows... maybe you'll just win something cool and fabulous!

The legalities of AED's in NH part 2

2010-03-22T22:10:00.005-04:00

Today's post is Part 2 in a series on the Legalese of owning or acquiring an AED in New Hampshire. Today's post is on:

CHAPTER 153-A
EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND TRAUMA SERVICES
Automated External Defibrillator

Section 153-A:30
153-A:30 Training. – Every person, association, corporation or other organization that acquires an automated external defibrillator shall require anticipated responders expected to use the automated external defibrillator to receive training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use. This section shall not limit the use of the automated external defibrillator to the anticipated responder nor shall this section limit the provisions of RSA 153-A:31.

Source. 2000, 302:4, eff. June 21, 2000. 2002, 156:5, eff. July 14, 2002. 2008, 207:2, eff. Aug. 15, 2008.

So simply put, if your organization purchases an AED they must provide CPR and AED training. However use of the AED is not limited to only those who have taken the training.

the Legalese on the AED in New Hampshire

2010-03-19T22:30:00.003-04:00

So this weekend I've embarked on a research project. During classes there are always questions about liability and Good Samaritan Laws. So after a little digging in the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated I thought I'd share a new AED law every few days. So today's post is on (drum roll please) .....

CHAPTER 153-A
EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND TRAUMA SERVICES
Automated External Defibrillator
Section 153-A:31
153-A:31 Liability Limited. – Any person who, in good faith and without compensation, renders emergency care by the use of an automated external defibrillator shall not be liable for civil damages for any acts or omissions unless the acts or omissions were grossly negligent or willful and wanton. Any person, association, corporation or other organization that acquires and maintains an automated external defibrillator for emergency care shall not be liable for civil damages other than for gross negligence or willful and wanton acts or omissions. This section shall not limit civil liability protection provided by any other law.

Source. 2000, 302:4, eff. June 21, 2000. 2002, 156:5, eff. July 14, 2002.

So what does this mean? It means you can't be held liable for using an AED as long as you follow the directions and/or voice prompts on the machine. You cannot be held liable if your business or organization has AED's on location.

However you ARE liable if you have an AED and you don't use it when someone is in Cardiac Arrest. Or if you bought an AED for your business, but never had it checked regularly and when it was needed the batteries were dead, or the pads were expired.

There are a lot more laws on AED's. The gist on this one is please don't be afraid to use an AED when someone collapses and is not breathing. There is more legal risk to you if you don't use an AED when one is available.

Do you work out with ID?

2010-03-11T21:21:00.003-05:00

Earlier this month an injured bicyclist was found on the side of the road. He was critically injured. Bystanders called 911, CPR was performed, he was resuscitated and transported to the local hospital. For over a day he was in the hospital and no one knew who he was. It took an article in the local paper to have someone come and identify who he was. Unfortunately his injuries proved to be fatal and he passed away a few days later.

Now that the weather is getting warmer many of us are outside enjoying it and getting some great exercise. This week alone I know I've been out with the kids walking around town. While I usually remember to bring my cell phone with me, one thing I never think to take with me is identification. It doesn't matter if you're a runner, bicyclist or walker; most of us don't think to take identification when we go out to exercise.

There are several companies who make medical and identification bands, jewelry or tags for runners and cyclists. There are bracelets that you can fill in, you can subscribe to or that have USB to detail all your contact and emergency information.

Please carry, wear or attach some form of ID when you exercise. It's a small thing that can make a big difference in an emergency.

Wordless Wednesday 3/3/10

2010-03-02T22:38:00.002-05:00

2 very large sailboats were knocked off their supports during last Thursday's wind storm.

How long is a CPR class?

2010-03-02T07:58:00.005-05:00

I am often asked how long a CPR class is. Typically they can run anywhere from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. It depends on the size of the class and the material covered. My classes due to run the full length of time because I like to provide a lot of hands on time and I want to make sure everyone's questions are answered. Some instructors or training sites may list their classes as only 2 hours. My guess is that they have much smaller classes or a lot more CPR equipment than I have.

No matter what the length of the course. A good CPR class should have the following components:

Hands on practice. Just watching a demonstration of a skill is not the same as learning it. Each participant in the class should have hands on practice time.

Questions and answers. If you have a question the instructor should answer it. Keep in mind that while instructors do go through training to teach CPR, we aren't perfect and we don't know the answer to every question that could possibly be asked. Personally I like a good question that stumps me. It gives me something to research after the class and helps me to be a good instructor.

Time. This might sound odd, but I'm referring to is hands on practice time. The instructor should not rush you through the skills, the idea is that you practice and LEARN, not feel rushed to practice once or twice and then you're done.

Equipment in good working order. You can't learn how to do chest compressions or how to breathe into the mannequin if it doesn't work.

Enough equipment for the group. The courses are set up to have equipment shared. Usually up to 3 people can share 1 mannequin. However each participant should have their own barrier device - those are not meant to be shared. If the instructor wants 4 or more participants per mannequin then there will not be enough hands on practice time to learn the skills.

Evaluation. Most CPR programs have a course evaluation at the end. Don't worry about anyone's feelings here, be honest. This helps the instructor to improve if improvements are needed and gives them feedback if they're doing a good job.

No matter what the length of the course you should leave the class feeling confident that you can perform the skills of CPR if the need arose. If you don't then make sure you put that on the evaluation form or contact the training center or agency that offered the course.

How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

2010-03-01T12:55:00.002-05:00

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless cause that is a byproduct of burning fuel. That fuel can be propane, gas, gasoline, wood or kerosene. Many of us have appliances or heat sources that burn this fuel, but because they are installed they are properly vented to the outside so as to not fill our homes with this deadly gas. Sadly every so often I see a story of someone who died from carbon monoxide. It is a tragedy that could have been avoided. There were two stories in the news this past week, 2 people lost their lives in a fire caused by using a propane heater indoors and 1 family was saved because one family member recognized their symptoms as possible carbon monoxide poisoning and contacted their fire department.

During power outages DO NOT use an outdoor appliance in your home to generate power or heat. Generators, grills (gas and charcoal) and propane heaters are not meant to be used indoors.

After storms or heavy snowfall make sure the area around your appliance vents is clear of obstruction.

Make sure all appliances that use fuel are properly installed and properly vented.

You can read more on my Examiner article or visit the EPA website.

Vacation snacking

2010-02-25T10:38:00.003-05:00

One of my goals has been to slowly improve what we eat. It's a combination of not wanting to eat a lot of overly processed (or sugary) foods and trying to be more sustainable at home. The kids (and I, of course!) love to snack. So I was excited to try some new recipes that I received in my WAHM-Articles newsletter. The favorite so far has been Cheerios Bars.

4 (okay 5, but I skipped one) simple ingredients; 1/2C honey, 1/2C sugar, 1/2C peanut butter and 3.5-4C Cheerios. The recipe called for peanuts, but I don't often have them at home so I upped the amount of Cheerios, it called for 3C. Heat honey & sugar until mixed and bubbling. Remove from heat & mix in peanut butter. Add cheerios & press into a greased 13x9 pan & let cool before cutting.

Clean up is WAY easier than when making Rice Krispie treats!

The kids love them and I do because: 1. I made them myself. 2. the ingredients are (mostly) natural and on hand. 3. I can pronounce all the ingredients. 4. I made them myself.

Posting a recipe is not something I have normally ~~have ever~~ done, but February is National Heart Month and March is National Nutrition Month. So after making and snacking on these fun bars this morning I thought I'd post my heart healthy snack for all to share.

Market Mommy Blog Party

2010-02-15T12:29:00.004-05:00

This is a departure from my normal, laid back, ~~whine about something~~ blog when I feel like it, kind of blog post. Today starts another week long Market Mommy Blog Party!

I've never blogged about someone else's blog (or maybe my shallow mind can't remember), but Market Mommy Blog Parties ROCK! Why do the rock? Because I always seem to win something! :D.

So click on the Market Mommy Blog Party links I have peppered this post with (say that 5 times fast!) check out all the cool prizes that can be found through member's Etsy shops and read the rules to enter. The rules changed a bit for this party, so read them carefully! This time around we're not commenting on the main Market Mommy Blog Party Post, instead add your comments on the posts for the prizes you would like to be entered to win. Each day new prizes are posted so check back each day this week.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-12T09:25:00.003-05:00

Last night my 9 year old made these wonderful Valentine's brownies to take to her school party today. She saw the picture in the Betty Crocker calendar and immediately wanted to make them. It was lot of fun and she did all the decorating all by herself.

When we think of Valentine's Day we think of all sorts of chocolates and treats, some can be heart-healthy, a lot aren't. What are some of the things you might do to make a recipe more heart-healthy?

We often substitute applesauce for eggs or oil in a recipe. You can substitute low fat milk (plus a little healthy oil) for whole milk, etc. There is a wonderful list of heart healthy substitutions on the American Heart Association's website.

There are some good tips and plans for leading a more heart healthy life at Go Red For Women, Better U and My Life Check. These sites also have tools that you can use to see what your heart health risks are.

So think of your heart this Valentine's Day and treat it with a yummy heart healthy treat!

Sunshine Blog Award

2010-02-10T20:49:00.002-05:00

Wow! I feel so honored to receive a Sunshine Award from Heather Price of Free Skin Care Help! I've never received a blog award before.

It's actually making me feel rather guilty. I've been so ~~busy~~ preoccupied ~~scattered~~ lately that I've really been neglecting this blog as well as my regular Examiner column.

I guess that is the challenge sometimes when trying to do a lot of things from home with the kids helping out, sometimes it just doesn't all get done.

But I can safely write that many of the ~~disasters~~ distractions of January have been resolved and this award is a good reminder to help me get back on track!

So thank you so much Heather! I am honored that you I am one of your 12 chosen recipients that you feel have mentored or assisted you in some way.

I'm posting the Award rules. I will admit up front that I won't be able to do my 12 nominees right away, but will get to it soon!

Sunshine Blog Award

Here are the rules:
• Put the Logo on your sidebar, or within a post.
•Pass the award onto 12 Bloggers
•Link the nominees within your post.
•Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
•Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award

Wordless Wednesday 2/3/10

2010-02-04T10:42:00.004-05:00

Okay, I'm a day late. But this was too cute to wait until next week. This is of a service dog being taught how to perform CPR.

The new cookie on the block....

2010-01-28T13:58:00.005-05:00

One of the many mom hats that I wear is that of Girl Scout Leader. So it should be of no surprise that my daughters' and their troop are selling Girl Scout Cookies! Each year the Girl Scouts adjust the cookie lineup and this year the Girl Scout Councils that offer cookies from the Little Brownie Bakers are offering a new cookie.....

Thank You Berry Munch

This is a cranberry cookie which contains dried cranberries. The cookie had a slightly nutty or oatmeal like hint to it, but the ingredient list does not contain nuts or oatmeal. While I'm located in the Girl Scouts of the Green & White Mountains Council, I had the opportunity to receive a complimentary box from the Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

Since I think reviews of food items are really very subjective, I brought the cookies to my troop meeting in early January. I figured just because I liked the cookie, it did not mean that everyone else would. So how did everyone like them?

The grownups liked the cookie. We agreed it tasted good and was not too sweet. It wasn't our favorite, like Thin Mints or Samoas, which meant that chances are good that one person won't eat the entire box in one sitting. But we did like the cookie. I personally think that they taste very good with tea or cocoa.

The girls didn't like the cookie so much. They thought it didn't have enough flavor like a Tagalong, Lemon Chalet Creme or a Samoa. Out of the six girls who came to the meeting only one had more than one cookie. So this definitely was not one of the girls favorites.

As far as the rest of the cookie line up there is one other change... The Dulce de Leche cookie has been updated. It is a little smaller and does not have the carmel icing on top. I really like the new version as I thought last year's cookie was way too sugary-sweet for my taste. This update has more flavor and is not as sweet.

Girl Scouts throughout NH and VT are taking orders for Girl Scout cookies. Mid-February the cookies will arrive and our famous Cookie Booth Sales will take place until mid-March.

Girl Scouting allows girls of all ages to learn and try new activities in a supportive environment. Activities are girl-planned and girl-led. The annual Cookie Sale allows Girl Scout Councils and Troops to provide programming and activities for the girls. For my troop it has afforded us the opportunity for camping, field trips and to purchase supplies for our different troop activities.

I'd like to thank the Girl Scouts of Nassau County for the opportunity to review the cookie for them. You can find the Nassau County Girl Scouts on Twitter and of course can follow my odd tweets there as well.

Not the brightest bulb in the prank call business

2010-01-23T11:24:00.003-05:00

Last night I got a prank phone call. I haven't had one in years. This was on my business phone from some man who wanted to talk about scheduling a CPR class. At first I thought it was a legitimate call, but when he talked about his own mannequin and then made a few poorly worded racial comments I politely hung up on him.

I am by nature a really sarcastic person who finds humor in things that other people don't. I've worked as a part-time dispatcher in law enforcement for over 20 years, it takes more than this to upset me. I don't find his call funny, but what I'm laughing at is that this wasn't made by some teenage clueless kid. This was from someone whose driver's license states that he is a grown up in the year 2010 - the age of caller ID. Yup, my highly intelligent prank caller tried to prank me with some borderline adult themed call from his cell phone which promptly displayed on my phone. Any other recipient of this call would probably call and report him to the police.

But since I have a warped sense of humor, I'm blogging about it. Yes Mr. Clueless at 603-XXX-7246 in Dover, NH - I'm blogging about your pathetic attempt to give yourself a thrill at someone else's expense. Again THIS IS 2010, I have caller ID on my TV for goodness sake! Grow up.

A really nice email

2010-01-21T20:36:00.003-05:00

Today I was going to write about my kids, but then I received this email which I thought was much more important to share:

Hi, Gail,

Just thought you'd find this interesting...

I took your CPR and FA classes in Sept....and in October my husband's life was saved by a bystander who knew CPR (I, of course, wasn't thinking straight, and it never occurred to me that it was a CPR-type situation). The bystander did CPR for about 7 minutes until the ambulance arrived. The EMTs shocked him twice before getting him on the ambulance. It was his heart. He's now fine!

You who are and train lifesaving techniques are truly appreciated!!

MS

This is why I teach CPR and I love to hear that it is used successfully! I am so thankful that her husband is fine and feel honored that several months later she sent this wonderful email.

Take care,

Gail

Help for Haiti

2010-01-15T10:11:00.003-05:00

There are many organizations raising money and supplies to help the victims of earthquake in Haiti. But keep in mind that while the work of many to help is good, the coordination and shipment of all these supplies can be difficult or overwhelming. I watched a brief interview with former President Clinton on TV the other night and he said something that made a lot of sense. He said if you want to help out, please donate to the Red Cross. They can purchase & ship supplies, they can mobilize aid. By focusing donations on one organization that is one large group that can make a large impact rather than having many smaller groups all trying to ship smaller supplies that will have a smaller impact.

Please don't interpret this to not support other very worthwhile organizations. But the quickest and largest impact can be made by pooling resources to one large group that has the skills and training in disaster services.

I know times are tight for many of us, believe me... I do know. But any donation helps. Consider donating your time or talents to an organization that supports the work of the Red Cross. It is the collection of many small donations that makes for a strong support network that can fund needed supplies and aid.

Skiing

2010-01-09T21:23:00.002-05:00

This may sound odd, but we live in NH and we don't ski. There are many beautiful places to go skiing, but yet we don't ski. So today I thought I'd try to change that.

On my other blog I posted that January is Learn a Snow Sport Month. As part of this many ski locations are offering fabulous deals. Today, 1/9/10, was Winter Trails Day. So I thought I'd take advantage of the free rentals and free skiing to take the kids. Oh, did I mention I was taking 4 kids, ages 2 to 11, by myself?

It actually went somewhat well. It could have been worse. I rented a Pulk - a special cross-country sled - for my youngest to ride in. The rest of us had skis. I got a lot of exercise trying to get 3 kids into the skis and froze my hands in the process. In hindsight I should have bundled my 2 year old into the sled last, not first. By the time we were all set she had been in sled for a while and just lost patience with it ... especially when we had to wait our turn for our ski lesson. When I had a chance to really get skiing she was upset and kept pulling her hat off. It was too cold for her to go hatless so at that point she & I were done. My son was having fun, but couldn't go very fast or he'd fall over and his older sisters were a bit ahead of him, so I rounded him up and the little kids and I got to camp out in the car.

The girls loved it though. They were out on the trails for a lot longer than I thought they would be. My biggest regret about the whole outing was I never got a picture of the kids on the skis.

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time!

2009-12-31T22:25:00.003-05:00

The Official Girl Scout Cookie Sale for Girl Scouts of the Green & White Mountains begins on January 1, 2010. Girls and Troops in New Hampshire and Vermont will be selling cookies to raise money for their troops.

Girls will be going door to door selling cookies in January and early February. Mid-February through mid-March Troops will be hold Cookie Booth Sales.

You can check out all the varieties of Girl Scout Cookies offered by our GS Council here.

Girl Scouting has specific safety rules for the girls to follow when doing door to door sales. Thus many girls are only able to take orders on the weekends and may not be able to visit every home in their neighborhood. If you are in NH or VT and would like to place an order you can contact the Girl Scouts of the Green & White Mountains Council office and they will take your information and have a local troop get in touch with you to take your order.

Trying new recipes

2009-12-27T20:49:00.003-05:00

Lately I feel that I've been in a cooking rut. I'm always cooking the same things. So today when I finally checked my email I found this yummy looking recipe in my inbox:

This is "Ham and Cheese Foldover Sandwiches" from the Bisquick website. Of course when I make it, it looks nothing like the picture. Mine looks like:

And of course I omitted the Dijon mustard (which I don't have and no one in my house really likes anyway), and I substituted Cheddar cheese for the Swiss, which again is an ingredient I didn't have. And the recipe called for thin deli slices of ham and used dices leftovers from my Christmas ham.

Anyway, it came out good! The kids liked it which is all that mattered.

Wordless Wednesday 12/23/09

2009-12-23T14:09:00.003-05:00

I drive by this several times a week and have been wondering what it was. I was thinking funky wind turbine, some sort of antenna.... A friend today confirmed it was a wind turbine. If anyone knows where in Southeastern NH or Southern Maine you can find these please post! I'm rather interested in this as it would take a much smaller footprint than a traditional wind mill.
Apologies for the crooked pic, took the shot w/ my phone leaning over the passenger seat to catch it through the open passenger window of my car while waiting at the traffic light.

Support your local toy drive

2009-12-21T21:32:00.006-05:00

I saw an article in the paper today, the demand for donations to local charities has gone up, but so have the donations. There was a great picture of a local food pantry that I've the fortune to visit with my Girl Scout Troop.

Many non-profit and charity groups provide a wealth of services to our communities. One we don't often think about are toy banks. Christmas is just days away, and local toy banks are still struggling to meet the need of families who are just not financially able to provide Christmas gifts to their children. We see the trees with gift request tags at banks, credit union, churches and other businesses; as well as donation boxes at shops and in our workplaces. But have you taken a moment to pick a tag or purchase a gift to donate? Many of these requests are not selfish requests for electronic toys, but rather "A warm coat that fits me", "personal care items for a teenage girl" or "size 3 diapers". These aren't necessarily gifts as we think of them underneath our Christmas Trees, but gifts of necessities.

There are but a few days and hours left until Christmas. When you're out shopping please take a moment to pick up that tag, purchase one extra item and help make this Christmas a magical one.

Local Seacoast Toy Banks:

Seacoast Area Firefighters Toy Bank

The Salvation Army

Toys for Tots

Have a magical and safe Holiday Season!

Beer keg to heart anatomy and physiology lesson

2009-12-17T15:22:00.002-05:00

Borrowed from a CPR instructors group on Google Groups that I belong to:

If I want a beer and I pump the keg 5 times and pour 1 lousy beer, the pressure drops back down (G1992)

If you and I team up and pump the keg 15 times and pour 2 OK beers, pressure still drops (G2000)

If we team up and pump the keg 30 times we get 2 really good beers (G2005)

If we pump the keg 50 or 100 times it kills us before we get a beer (50:1 & 100:1 studies)

This ends our beer keg to heart anatomy and physiology lesson for today.

Interesting analogy on the progression of compressions to ventilation ratios.

Wordless Wednesday 12/16/09

2009-12-16T09:12:00.001-05:00

EMS Dinner!

What is Congestive Heart Failure?

2009-12-15T15:45:00.001-05:00

When the heart cannot pump blood efficiently or effectively to the body it is called Congestive Heart Failure. This can be caused by narrowed arteries leading into the heart, damage to the heart muscle, scarring on the heart and infection. Over a half a million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure each year and it is estimated that almost 5 million people lead normal lives with this diagnosis.

Signs and symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure can include:
* Early fatigue with exercise or activity
* Difficulty breathing with activity or when lying down
* Swelling of the ankles and lower legs
These symptoms are caused by a build up of fluid as blood returning to the heart cannot be pumped efficiently through the heart.

Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure can only be made by a physician. Treatment option can include rest, modification of activity, proper diet and medication. Many people are able to live normal lives with mild to moderate Congestive Heart Failure. Follow your physicians recommendations for treatment.

For more information please visit the American Heart Association's website or WebMD. You can also view this animated tool from the American Heart Association that provides information on the warning signs and symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure.

Safely decorating with lights this Holiday Season

2009-12-09T22:22:00.003-05:00

Bright shining decorations make the Holiday season colorful and festive. These same decorations can also be dangerous if they are damaged or used incorrectly.

Before putting up electrical strings of lights check them for exposed and frayed wires or cracked light sockets. Replace any damaged wires with new UL approved light strings.

Don't put up electrical light strings with nails or staples. Use clips or hooks that are designed for holiday decorations.

Don't use indoor holiday light strings outdoors. Indoor light strings are not designed for outdoor use and may not hold up to the outdoor weather.

Check the packaging or directions on light displays to see how many strings you can safely connect together. Some brands may have a limit on how many strings you can safely connect.

Lastly if you are using outdoor electrical decorations make sure they are plugged into a properly installed outdoor outlet and any extension cords you are using are approved for outdoor use.

For more information you can visit the National Fire Protection Association holiday website and the Underwriters Laboratory Holiday Safety website.

NFPA's Lorraine Carli has a few safety tips to consider before you decorate your home for the holidays

Shopping safely with children during the holiday season

2009-11-26T20:04:00.002-05:00

Like most parents I fear losing my children in a crowded store when we're out shopping. That coupled with my less than stellar patience with crowded environments means that you won't find me in any stores on Black Friday! But with a little advanced planning your shopping trip can go smoothly.

Don’t take younger children shopping when it is close to nap times or during a time of day that they usually have a lot of energy. Those times of day can mean cranky, energetic or less-than-politely behaved children. If your child typically likes to run or hide from you, realize that they are going to do that in a crowded store as well and look around at areas that you think they’re like to hide in.

Do you need to shop at a busy time of day? Do you need to take your children to the early morning Black Friday price-slashing sale? Can you shop at a different time?

Talk to your child beforehand. Explain to them that the store may be crowded, there may be a lot of fun things to look at, but that they must stay with you so that they don’t get lost. Many young children don’t want to lose their parent in the store and will understand.

If your child is young enough to use a stroller, use it. Make sure the safety strap is securely buckled. For preschoolers and younger elementary aged children hold hands. For older children designate a meeting place in each store or mall where everyone is to meet if you get separated.

Place a card with your name and cell phone number in your child’s pocket. If you are separated store employees or security guards will be able to contact you. There is also a mom-owned business, www.safetytat.com, that makes standard & write on temporary tattoos that can have your contact information on them.

If you do lose your child:

* Start looking immediately. Call your child’s name loudly. Hopefully they will hear you and come running, hopefully it will also alert the store staff that your child is missing.

* Make contact with the store or mall staff. Many locations have a ‘code Adam’ system that has staff monitoring all exits so no one can leave with your child. If more than a few minutes go by contact your local police department.

For many of us hiring a sitter so that we can shop is not always an option. None of us want to think that we could lose our child in a crowded store. But planning ahead and knowing what to do can help prevent a lost child or make finding your child a lot easier.

Help out your local Food Pantry this winter

2009-11-17T09:48:00.003-05:00

A few years ago my daughter's Girl Scout Troop was working on a food and nutrition badge. As we discussed some of the badge requirements in the Troop meeting we got to discussing who does not have access to good, healthy foods. Not surprisingly the girls first started listing off several impoverished nations. So they were surprised to find out that many people locally do not have access to fresh healthy food because it is usually more expensive. This led to a great service project that year with a local food pantry.

This year our Troop is again doing a Food Drive. Our last collection day is Wednesday 11/18 as we're delivering our donations the following day. If you're in Newington, NH feel free to drop any non-expired food or household item (detergent, soap, personal care items) off at the Newington Town Hall. We will be visiting the Seacoast Family Food Pantry with our donations.

The need for food is greater this year than ever. So many families are struggling to make ends meet. Sometimes the only area of flexibility in frugal budgets is to reduce how much is spent at the grocery store. Using coupons and watching sale flyers are great ways to reduce how much we spend, but we can't always provide a healthy diet with vegetables and fruits by relying on coupons and sales alone. This year there are more and more families relying on Food Pantries, some may even be your neighbors. These are not families just looking for a handout, they're regular folks who are struggling and want to make sure they're taking care of their families.

Many food pantries also collect more than just food. Household items, cleaners, personal care items, and laundry detergent are all welcome donations. The big thing to watch for is to make sure none of the donated items have expired. Several food pantries have refrigerators and freezers and can accept perishable and frozen foods, although you should check before dropping these items off.

The need is year round, but the holidays are a busy time that you can help out with. So many businesses and organizations are holding food drives. If you're able to help out pick up one or two extra things when you shop this week and drop it off at a food drive.

A new way to teach relief of choking

2009-11-15T21:58:00.004-05:00

In most of my CPR courses I'm asked how effective the Heimlich maneuver is. We can practice where to place our hands, but this is not a skill that can be practiced on someone who is not choking and is not easy to practice on a CPR mannequin.

But today I found this really neat product and video.

This would be an easy and effective way to teach proper hand positioning and technique. Unfortunately for me it is a bit cost prohibitive. But I wanted to share the video as it is a good training aid just to see how effective proper hand placement and technique are to successfully relieve choking.

You can read more about this product at www.actfastmed.com.

Germs, germs go away....

2009-11-05T14:10:00.003-05:00

After my last post on hand washing vs. hand sanitizer I received a great question about other ways to prevent the spread of germs in public places.

It would be impossible to prevent all germs from being spread around. But there are a few precautions we can take to limit germ sharing.

When my two school aged daughters were younger their classroom teachers did a fun project with them every year. The kids got to grow germs. They went around the school like little scientists and swabbed different things and parts of the building. Where do you think they grew the most germs from? Not the restroom.... from door handles, light switches, telephone handsets and computer keyboards. Places we don't often thinking of cleaning.

Most commercially available disinfectant sprays and wipes can take care of limiting germs on these surfaces. A quick spray or wipe can help kill germs and bacteria and prevent their further spread. If you work in a public place or large office and/or share workstations think about having disinfectant spray or wipes on hand. It only takes a moment or two to quickly wipe or spray a computer mouse or fax machine to reduce germ sharing. The person you might be protecting from those extra germs might just be yourself.

Hand soap vs. hand sanitizer

2009-11-03T10:49:00.005-05:00

Last week in two of my classes we had a big discussion on hand washing vs. using hand sanitizer. There was a story on Good Morning America about this which I went searching for this weekend. Both classes the participants insisted hand sanitizer was the best way to go, but some parents are concerned about accidental (or otherwise) ingestion of hand sanitizer by their kids. So what method is the best way to prevent the spread of germs? The study recommended good hand washing.

Good hand washing techniques wash germs away. It doesn't kill germs, just washes them down the drain. It really doesn't matter if you use regular soap or antibacterial soap. The study done at the University of Maryland demonstrated that use of antibacterial soap did not do a significantly better job than just hand soap. What made the difference with hand washing was the technique used. Wash for at least 20 seconds or more. Statistically they found that most people just do a quick rinse. It is the good rinsing with hot water that help wash the germs away.

There are also concerns that too many antibacterial products will lead to germs becoming more resistant or that we'll rely to heavily on antibacterial products instead of using good hand washing techniques.

Hand Sanitizers do the job of killing germs when you are unable to get to soap and water to wash your hands. To have any real effect the sanitizer must contain at least 60% alcohol. The 2 bottles I check at home this weekend at 63% & 64% alcohol. One area from the study I do disagree with it one of the last statements. GMA wrote that experts commented that most kids won't eat or lick hand sanitizers because they don't taste good. We had a large discussion on this in one of my classes last week because of all of the lovely fruit scented hand sanitizers that can be found in stores. One of the parents had a pomegranate scented hand sanitizer and actually took a lick of her finger after using it. She confirmed that indeed, it tasted like pomegranate. So for parents I'd recommend NOT purchasing scented hand sanitizer.

You can read the full GMA Article here.

So what's the best option? If you don't think you'll do a good job with hand washing (or don't think your kids will) hand sanitizer is probably a good alternative. At home and school good hand washing techniques with soap and water are the best way to wash grime and germs off your hands.

Change your clocks, change your batteries

2009-10-31T17:15:00.003-04:00

Daylight savings time ends early tomorrow morning. On November 1st at 2am Daylight Savings Time it will become 1am Standard Time. One great benefit is that we all gain an extra hours sleep tonight!

But before you decide whether to set your clocks back Saturday night or Sunday morning, take a few minutes to pick up some new batteries for your battery operated smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

Battery operated detectors need to have good working batteries in order to operate correctly. A good way to remember this is to change the batteries every time we change our clocks. So tonight when you're thinking about when to change your clocks take a minute or two to figure out what type of batteries your detectors take and pick some up. And then either tonight before you go to bed, or tomorrow morning when you get up, as you reset your clocks replace your detector batteries. In less than 5 minutes you can ensure that your detectors will be able to alert you in the event of a fire or carbon monoxide emergency.

Halloween Safety

2009-10-28T18:22:00.004-04:00

Halloween is only a few days away. Different towns have Trick or Treat on different nights. Irregardless if you have children out that night or not, we all need to exercise extra caution during Trick or Treat.

If you're driving at dusk or later watch carefully for kids darting out between parked cars or crossing the road. While many costumes can be bright and colorful, some are dark and may not be reflective. It can be easy to get distracted looking at bright Halloween displays, but keep your eyes open for costumed kids near the roadway.

Like most parents I’m finishing up my kids' costumes. When you look at your child's costume think about how it will look at night. If it is a dark color does it have any reflective striping on it to help them appear more visible at night? You can make your child's costume more visible by adding reflectivity - reflective tape is sold at most fabric, craft and pet supply stores. They can also wear glow sticks and carry a flashlight.

Does your child’s costume cover their face? Does it need to? Sometimes a little make up can be more comfortable than a full face mask. It would be easier for your child to see when they are walking at night and if you think they might be running it might be easier for them to breathe if they aren't wearing a mask. Also how long is their costume? Will they trip over it? If it is a bit long you can use fabric tac, a glue stick, masking tape or duct tape to quickly shorten the length of the costume.

Are your children trick or treating with you or another adult? Are they going alone with other kids? Do you know where they will be? Plan out where you are going or make sure you know which roads your children will be on.

Remind your children to never visit homes that do not have lights on or not to visit homes of anyone they really don’t know. Double check their loot when they return home to make sure all treats are in unopened and sealed wrappers.

Halloween is a really fun holiday. A little caution can help keep it a safe one as well.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-28T18:18:00.001-04:00

I'm trying out ping.fm

Routines

2009-10-26T22:55:00.003-04:00

I used to have an "unofficial" routine. It worked well and I was getting things accomplished so I didn't really think about it. However over the summer the routine slowly disappeared. I think I never really noticed it until recently when some days I've found it has been a struggle to get several things accomplished in a single day. Sometimes we don't understand the importance of routines until we realize we've lost them.

Monday I tried to return to a routine. I blocked out times for different projects and activities. It worked really well until my youngest decided not to take a nap. I was counting on her nap time to get caught up on some computer work. Since the kids had watched some TV earlier in the day while I did some quality housework I really didn't want to rely on the 'electronic babysitter' for a second time. So the really ambitious routine fell apart.

So today on Day 2 of the new routine we're tweaking it a bit. Yes I still have a lot I want to accomplish, but I am not planning on nap time for focused work time.

Do you have a routine for working at home with kids? How do you organize your day to accomplish everything?

Have you changed your Smoke Detector batteries?

2009-10-11T09:44:00.006-04:00

One of the taglines I miss this time of year is "Change your clocks, change your batteries". Now that the change from daylight savings time has moved it doesn't coincide with Fire Prevention Week. This year we will return to Standard Time on November 1st.

Fire Prevention week has just ended, but have you checked your smoke detector batteries? Have you tested your smoke detector? This is a good time to do so. In many parts of the U.S. and Canada the weather is really getting colder, we are turning on our heat or using our fireplace or wood fired stoves. A working smoke detector and working carbon monoxide detector are important to have. Unfortunately I know this first hand, we almost had a fire last winter. Fortunately I smelled the smoke, but discovered that we had malfunctioning smoke detectors in our basement.

In my brief smoke detector research this morning I found this neat website will all sorts of Fire Facts, in fact it is www.firefacts.org. The site has great activities for kids, parents and teachers, including coloring pages, design your emergency escape plan, smoke detector basics and even some parent homework! The website is sponsored by First Alert, who is offering a 10% discount on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for visitors of this site. To find out about the discount visit First Alert's website at http://firstalertstore.com/firefacts-org-offer.htm.

Wordless Wednesday 10/7/09

2009-10-07T16:34:00.003-04:00

A friend posted this on their facebook page the other day. When municipalities cut budgets and cut municipal positions our safety is what is put at risk when there are fewer and fewer firefighters and police officers on duty.

You can create your own neat posters at http://diy.despair.com/motivator.php.

Fire Prevention Week 2009

2009-10-03T21:37:00.004-04:00

October 4-10, 2009 is Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme is “Stay Fire Smart, Don’t Get Burned”. The focus is on fire safety and burn prevention. Burns are painful and easily avoided if we all follow some basic safety guidelines.

Burn prevention is simple, but yet we all probably don’t think of these simple safety guidelines:

Keep hot things away from the edge of the table or counter. It is tempting for young children to try to grab things just on the edge of their reach. It is also easier for us grown ups to bump or knock over things that are too close to the edge.

Keep young children away from hot appliances; this includes stoves and ovens, but also curling irons, hair dryers, irons and heaters. Don’t use or leave hot heating pads in a child’s reach.

Keep your hot water heater thermostat set no higher than 120 degrees. Extremely hot water can scald young children and older adults very easily.

Don’t rely on thermometers to check water temperature when bathing young children or assisting older adults. Check the temperature yourself. And never leave young children unattended near water.

Be carefully wearing loose clothing when cooking.

Don’t leave cooking food unattended in the kitchen, especially when frying or broiling.

If you have young children try to cook using only the back burners of your stove.

Be careful opening containers from the microwave. Hot steam can burn just as quickly as boiling water. Be mindful of the steam from tea kettles as well.

Keep paper, clothing, toys and other items away from fireplaces, heaters and gas appliances.

Have your heating equipment and chimney inspected yearly.

Keep smoking materials away from children, soft furniture, bedding or things that can burn easily. If you must smoke indoors make sure you don’t smoke when tired or on medication that might prevent you from properly extinguishing your smoking materials.

Don’t place scarves or other fabrics over lamps or lampshades.

Replace cracked or damaged electrical cords. Don’t rely on extension cords to regularly power appliances. If you need the extension cord all the time then it’s probably time to have an outlet installed.

If you have young children use outlet covers.

Contact an electrician if you have electric circuits that frequently trip or fuses that need frequent replacement.

Call 911 if you smell an electrical or burning odor from a wall outlet or appliance.

Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and test them frequently. Do not ‘borrow’ the battery from your smoke detector for another use.

If you do get burned:

Immediately cool the burned area with cold, but not ice cold water.

Rinse in cool water for several minutes.

Cover the burn with a clean, dry cloth.

If the burn is larger than your fist; is burned completely around a finger, arm, foot, leg; or immediately starts to peel or blister you should seek medical attention. If you suspect an electrical burn or have a burn caused by a fire CALL 911. You can not see on the outside the injuries caused on the inside by an electrical burn. Do not place burn creams or ointments on any burn. Rinsing with cool water and a dry bandage are your best first aid treatments.

We’ve all heard the term, “An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and that can be applied very aptly to Fire Prevention Week as well as a host of other projects. The preventative measures we take now can prevent much larger repairs or injuries later.

Many of these tips and more can be found at the National Fire Prevention Association’s website at www.firepreventionweek.org or
www.nfpa.org.

Starbucks Via

2009-10-02T13:42:00.005-04:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I love coffee. I truly do. It's pretty rare to see me teaching or at work without coffee in my nearby vicinity. So it is probably no shock to anyone that I was at my local Starbucks this morning to taste test the new Starbucks Via, their instant coffee.

Well I was able to tell which coffee was the instant and which was the fresh brewed, which is probably not a surprise either. However this was no ordinary instant coffee. Now don't get me wrong here - I do enjoy a mug of instant coffee from time to time. Usually later at night when I'm wanting another cup and don't feel like brewing it. Starbucks Via is very much Starbucks. Strong, rich flavor - and it did take me about half of the cup sipping back and forth with the regular blend to figure out which cup was the Via and which was the regular brew.

So if you love Starbucks coffee, but want the convenience of instant; you'll love it! If you're not a fan of Starbucks and/or don't like strong coffee (yes, I know who some of you are!) then this probably isn't the instant for you. But you can always pick some up and have it on hand for those of us loving a strong cup of coffee.

Wordless Wednesday 9/30/09

2009-09-30T12:58:00.003-04:00

Today we visited the Pink Fire Truck. These guys and gals drive these pink Fire Trucks all over the U.S. to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer. You can see and read more about them on their website at www.pinkribbontour.com and their blog at pinkribbonnews.blogspot.com

Ouch! I sprained my …

2009-09-24T09:28:00.001-04:00

Previously I posted about sprains and breaks. Sprains are more common, so I thought I’d write a bit more about them.

In general terms a sprain is when you stretch a ligament beyond its normal reach. This occurs most commonly when you roll your ankle, or fall and bend your wrist back further than it would normally go.

Sprains hurt. They can hurt a lot. Your basic treatment is to apply ice, immobilize the injured area and seek medical attention. The ice will help numb the pain and will reduce any swelling. Immobilization will help the injured area to rest and will make your trip to the doctor’s office or emergency room a lot easier or at least a bit more pain-free.

With minor sprains you can probably just use ice, immobilization or rest, and keep the injured area elevated. With more severe strains you will need medical treatment. How do you know the difference? You may not know on your own, hence the suggestion to seek medical attention. A mild sprain can be treated easily; a more serious sprain may involve actual tearing of the ligament or surrounding muscle tissue and may require surgery. A good general rule of thumb is that if you are not sure how badly you’re injured – err on the side of caution and seek medical attention. Some sprains can take longer to recover from than if you had actually broken a bone.

Now an important medical disclaimer: If you think you have a severe sprain and it is excruciatingly painful, you can’t bear weight on a knee, ankle, foot or cannot use your arm due to the pain; you’ve been involved in a traumatic situation or a fall from a height; please call 911 or your local emergency number. That is when you need the help of your local fire department or ambulance crew.

Wordless Wednesday 9/23/09 #2

2009-09-23T11:46:00.002-04:00

This is AFTER the first scrubbing. No, this is not paint - it is ~~(was)~~ hot pink nail polish. You can purchase nail polish remover by the gallon at Sally Beauty Supply www.sallybeauty.com.

Wordless Wednesday 9/23/09

2009-09-23T07:45:00.002-04:00

Thanks to www.failblog.org for this classic picture. I am thinking that this First Aid Kit has not been restocked in a while....

Is it a sprain or a break?

2009-09-18T09:28:00.003-04:00

You fall and go boom and something hurts ...

Is it is sprain or did you break something? Clinically the only method to truly know is with an X-ray, but basic treatment right after an injury is the same: Ice, elevation (if possible) and immobilization until you can seek medical attention.

Broken bones or fractures are often not as dramatic looking as we may see on TV or in the movies. When we (or our kids, significant others, friends, etc.) break a bone, our arm (leg, hand, wrist, ankle, foot, toes, fingers... you get the idea) does not bend out at funky angles or have bony pieces sticking out of it. Yes, occasionally that may happen to someone, but most likely it will look normal. Except that it hurts if we try to move it or put weight on it. That pain is good for a reason, it will keep us from moving it. Our first step is to put ice on it. Ice numbs the pain and also helps reduce any swelling. Our second step is to seek medical help to determine if it is a break or sprain. That is where immobilization comes in. The trick is to immobilize the thing above and below where we are hurt. So if I think I may have broken my lower arm I need to immobilize my elbow and my wrist, so that nothing above and below my lower arm can move. The final step is to seek medical attention. This can be from your local doctor or the emergency room.

Now an important medical disclaimer: If you do break something, and it is really bent funny, excruciatingly painful, you can see bone, have excessive bleeding, been involved in a traumatic situation or a fall from a height; please call 911 or your local emergency number. That is when you need the help of your local fire department or ambulance crew.

Wordless Wednesday 9/16/09

2009-09-16T15:24:00.003-04:00

Like many of you I receive a lot of emails of funny poems, pictures, 'please forward to 200 of your closest friends to receive luck' types of emails on a somewhat regular basis. Most I just delete. Today I received an email with some of the funniest pictures I've seen in a while. This was just the perfect thing for me today. The message I'm receiving here is "Just Think on Your Own, don't rely on someone or something to do it for you".

Happy Wednesday!

Remembering 9/11

2009-09-11T08:11:00.002-04:00

Today is September 11, 2009. Eight years ago our country was shockingly and tragically attacked. There are so many political and social ramifications that day has had on our country, our politics and our minds ever since.

I don't know the exact numbers, but over 5,000 people died that day. What numbers I do know is that 343 New York City Firefighters and 23 New York City & Port Authority Police Officers also made the ultimate sacrifice on that morning.

All of these folks woke up on a beautiful morning, went to work or the airport, and like us right now were probably thinking ahead on what they were doing that day, the next day and the upcoming weekend. That is over 5,000 immediate families who will wake up today missing that member of their family. For over a million they are missing a member of their extended family.

There will be a lot of talk and references to that fateful morning today, this post is probably just one of thousands (or more). My message is to cherish each day we have with each other. No politics, no stark images or reminders. Just enjoy and be thankful for each moment and day we can spend with our families and friends.

Take care.

Shopping, with kids: Our unhappy soccer cleat shopping tale.

2009-09-10T17:09:00.005-04:00

We're just finishing up the second week of school and we've already had to go shopping several times for various things. My husband took the easy job of taking the girls for their back to school supplies. I get the fun jobs like taking the kids for sneakers and soccer cleats. Oh, yeah - don't let me forget to mention that he has had a lot of overtime the past few weeks so the whole gang was able to go shopping in force.

So this post is a ~~major~~ slight rant. I'll apologize for it in advance.

The rant is not about shopping with 4 kids to buy 2 pairs of soccer cleats. It is about the lack of customer service we were able to experience at a very large sports box store. It was the week before soccer practices start for most public schools. We're new to soccer, the girls have never played before. We found (on our own) the soccer section. No signs pointed us the right way, we just happened upon it wandering around the store (with 4 kids). My oldest is tall for her age and has large feet and we found that none of the cleats on display were her size. So off we head to the shoe department. There was no one there. They have a running track painted on the floor so while I'm pushing the cart with my youngest in it looking for a salesperson to help us my son is running wild on the track. Eventually someone comes out, I ask for cleats in what I'm hoping is my daughters size, the clerk returns with the cleats and then completely disappears again. They don't fit - so now I'm searching for ANYONE who can help us while my son is wailing because I won't let him run wild on the track. (Can I add that 2 other families shopping are all glaring at my less than perfectly behaved children?) This happens not once, but TWICE before we find the right size (no offer of measurement - I had to wander around and find the foot measuring thingie myself). As we are attempting to leave my son announces he needs to use the restroom. We find it and I take him in. Unfortunately the restroom is located next to the GUN display. So I leave 3 children next to the restroom entrance while I take my son inside. While we're in the restroom the employees of the gun dept (apparently that dept is well staffed) hassle my children about standing next gun safes, even though my oldest explained that they were waiting for us to come out of the restroom. I'm not even going to describe the checkout experience, that also did not go well.

So why the rant? Well, just typing it all out does make me feel better. :-) But also brings up a good point for anyone in the retail business. Here I am a mom with 4 kids buying cleats for my oldest children. Odds are good that in a few years I'll be buying cleats or other sports gear for my younger children. While I'm a frugal and budget conscious shopper, customer service is really important to me when I shop. You may have the cheapest prices, but if I leave there stressed out over my shopping experience you can be confident that your store will not be my first choice the next time I need to make a sports purchase. For most parents it is worth paying a little bit more to have a knowledgeable clerk and a quick pleasant shopping trip. And while I'm not going to post where I went shopping, you can also be confident that if anyone asks me I'll be happy to share that I had a less than pleasant experience at your store. Okay, rant over!

One last quick note: I am now officially a soccer mom! I'm not sure if I should be thrilled, saddened or ambivalent to the title. What are your thoughts? Are you a soccer mom?

Hurricane surf

2009-08-24T21:20:00.004-04:00

I think it is natural human curiosity to want to see our natural world when it is altered by weather. I base this assumption on the number of weather documentaries and large crowds of people who flock to the beach during storms. However majestic those large crashing waves look, we all need to remember that storm charged surf can be very, very dangerous.

When a storm or hurricane passes off short it creates storm surge. This is an increased tide caused by the pressure of the winds around the storm. The
National Weather Service has a really good webpage that illustrates this.

Waves are very powerful and heavy. According to the National Weather Service water weighs approximately 1,700 pounds per cubic yard. This is strong enough to damage buildings, and can more than certainly knock you off your feet into the surf. You can be pulled away from shore or pushed back on to it.

Despite the draw of going to look at the rough surf - please refrain from doing so. During storm surge it is best to stay away from the beach. Rescue personnel are very busy rescuing people who do not heed warnings and can only reasonably put their lives in so much jeopardy before they have to call off a potential rescue.

Sometimes our desire to see things in action overshadows our need for caution. Hurricane season is upon us. During the next storm when you think how cool it would be to see, swim in, or surf the waves think of the power of storm surge and skip the trip to the beach.

Back to school shopping - the medical checklist

2009-08-15T21:03:00.004-04:00

In some parts of the U.S. kids are back to school already. My older children return to school in just a few weeks. The stores are busy with all their back to school sales and we're all getting ready for the first day of school.

When you're getting your kids ready to return to school there may be some additional school supplies you'll need to shop for - updated prescriptions.

If your child has a prescribed medication that you provide to the school nurse this is a good time to review if your prescription is current and won't expire during the school year. If you provide epi-pens, asthma inhalers, nebulizers or other medications, read the packaging for expiration dates. If it will expire before the end of the school year take the extra time BEFORE school starts to refill the prescription. Three months from now when everyone is busy with school, sports and other extra curricular activities you may not remember to replace the expired epi-pen that you gave to the school nurse. Many schools will check expiration dates, but some may not. As the parent of the child needing this important medication it is your responsibility to provide a valid and non-expiring medication to the school.

In addition in some smaller communities your school may not have the services of a full-time school nurse. If child may need immediate medical intervention by the use of an epi-pen, fast acting inhaler or other device, make sure you speak with your child's classroom teacher. If they do not know how to assist your child offer to teach them or assist them in locating a First Aid Class to learn how. In addition you should make sure there is at least one other staff person in the school who can assist in case there is a day when both the school nurse and classroom teacher are absent.

Lastly when you deliver your child's medication to the school nurse make a point to sit down and speak with him/her about your child's medical history and how much information is shared. Typically schools leave the dissemination of medical information up to the discretion of the school nurse. Most health care professionals are very cautious about sharing too much information. However if your child has a fragile or emergent medical condition it is important for the school staff who interact with your child frequently to be aware of his or her condition so they can recognize when they need to provide assistance.

The back to school season can be busy, occasionally stressful and full of excitement. Plan ahead, check your medications, and conference with the school staff to make sure everyone is more than prepared for the first day of school.

So what's in your first aid kit?

2009-08-09T13:36:00.002-04:00

Okay, the title is a bit of a play on those credit card commercials: ".. so what's in your wallet?..." the character on the screen asks. My question is "So what's in your first aid kit?". What is the one thing in your kit that you use the most? For me that would be adhesive bandages, aka 'bandaids'. Like most households with kids, we have a lot of skinned knees, toes, elbows, shins, hmmmm... almost any part of the human body! So I stock up on all different sizes of adhesive bandages to keep with my kids cuts and scrapes. A long time ago B.C. (before children) my most used first aid supply was probably the insect repellent I kept in my kit.

So what do you use the most of out of your first aid kit?

What is an AED?

2009-08-02T19:13:00.004-04:00

I frequently am asked what an AED is. An AED is abbreviation for an Automated External Defibrillator. An AED is used in conjunction with CPR to try to restart the heart during Cardiac Arrest.

Using an AED is very simple. Different models and manufacturers of AED's can look different but they all operate the same way. AED's have voice prompts that will guide you through how to use it, in addition there are step by step directions inside the front cover. The are actually very few steps to operate an AED, but to make it even easier I've broken it down into several steps:

Step 1 Turn the AED on. On models with a hard cover the button to open the cover is the on/off switch. On models with a soft cover there will be a green on/off button.

Step 2 Take out the package with the AED pads. Open the package and place the pads on the person following the pictures on the back of each pad. Each pad will have a picture of where it should be placed. Please note that the pad must be adhered fully to the persons skin, not on clothing. If the pads are not already plugged into the AED, plug the cables into the AED.

Step 3 Some AED's will begin to analyze the heart rhythm. For some models you may need to push an ANALYZE button. While the AED is analyzing no one should touch the person. You'll feel like you're kneeling there doing nothing; and you are doing nothing - because the AED is performing an important step right now.

Step 4 When the AED is done analyzing it will either state "Shock Advised" or "No Shock Advised". If the AED says "No Shock Advised" resume CPR beginning with chest compressions. If the AED says "Shock Advised" it will charge up to deliver a shock.

Step 5 All AED's have a red shock button. The button will light up, have a light on it, or have lights around it that will light up and/or flash so that you know that the red button is the button to push. HOWEVER (this is important, hence big letters) before you press the red button to deliver the shock YOU MUST MAKE SURE NO ONE IS TOUCHING THE PERSON. We do that by looking over the person and by saying "I'm clear, you're clear (if there is anyone else helping or close by), we're all clear" and then if no one is touching the person you can push the red shock button. The person is going to move or jump when you push the shock button. This is normal.

Step 6 After you deliver the shock resume CPR starting with chest compressions. After approximately 2 minutes or 5 cycles of CPR the AED will want to analyze the heart rhythm again. Just follow the AED's prompts.

Now this post is not intended to be an AED course, rather it is solely to explain what an AED is and the steps to use one. To learn more about AED's you can contact your local fire department, ambulance corps or hospital for an AED course near you.

Life is short

2009-07-31T20:57:00.005-04:00

I'd love to say with no hesitation that CPR saves lives every single time. But the reality is that it doesn't. For some people when it is their time to pass away, it is just that. It is their time - and we have to accept that.

This is not meant to be a morbid post, but rather a reflection upon how short life can be. Tonight I attended a wake for a former co-worker who is not that much older than I am. He leaves behind a beautiful family and a community that he was heavily involved with.

As I drove home I started to think about how short life can be and sometimes how much time we waste on things that perhaps are not as important in the bigger picture. I have had a very stressful week full of car problems, extra bills (thanks to my car) and some hurt feelings at home. But tonight I realized that all those things that I stressed and obsessed about all week really shouldn't define or direct how I live my life from day to day. Many others have said that we define and set the path of our own happiness and yes they are true. Sometimes it takes a sad or tragic event to pull us out of our daily grind and provide us with the reminder to take a look at the big picture. The challenge is not to make this a short single event reflection, but to look at what we should and could be doing to make the time we do have as happy, enriching, and yes as productive as it can be.

For me I have realized that I am spending too much time obsessing on things and on social media; and not enough time with my family and business. I know I reasonably cannot completely change my habits overnight, but I am committing to making my daily interactions with my family and friends matter. My family is why I mostly work from home and I need to re-prioritize that in my daily routine. Even though I am with my children 160-164 hours a week, just being within proximity is not the same as being with them. My attention is not with them if I am checking email, websites, etc. I have so many people who have reached out to me in friendship and networking that I have not fully reciprocated with, and that is to my detriment.

So perhaps I am standing on soapbox that I will promptly fall off of tomorrow. Hopefully not. But while I am sad of the events that have brought me to this self reflection I am hoping that I am able to learn from this. Life is short. We don't know how long we have to make an impact on others, nor do I think any of us want to really know how long we're going to be around. The question for each of us is how do we want others to remember us and how do we really want to spend our lives. What is our bigger picture, and who and how do we want to fit into that frame.

Do your kids know their address?

2009-07-12T14:11:00.001-04:00

I’ve mentioned in a previous post that I work part time as an emergency dispatcher. I had a call recently from 2 children ages 8 and 10. Fortunately they were not in any danger but our response to them was difficult because they could not tell us their home address and were calling from a cell phone that was only enabled for 911 so we had no actual return number to locate an address from. This was challenged by a bad cell phone connection and their vague description of where they were.

As your children become old enough to play outside without a parent in attendance make sure that they know their street address and home phone number. This information is important if there is an emergency so that we can find them and locate their parents.

Reorganizing Priorities

2009-07-08T09:24:00.001-04:00

Lately I’ve been neglecting my blog, my social networking and my business. This is hard because I enjoy all of these things. But I’ve been working and reading a bit more lately. One of the books I’ve been reading has a great quote that sums it all up, Life gets in the way.

I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed by the myriad responsibilities that have come my way lately. I know I volunteer way too much and I also am not good at saying NO when asked to help out. This is also a slow period for my business so I have been working more at my part time job. So when I have a free moment (hah!) there is so much that needs to be done that I can’t figure out which to do first so most of it does not get done. And I know that this is not unique to me and that this probably happens to a lot of us.

A good friend at work recently lent me two books. Both are inspiration and thought provoking. I’m taking my time to slowly read and reflect on them. I need to reprioritize my life, add more fun family time and yet still accomplish what needs to be done each day. This is a very fine balancing act that will require me to think of new daily strategies to meet these goals. It will not be an overnight process but will take some time and some help from my family. I’ve come to realize that I can be a better parent, person and friend if I take the time to step back, refocus and reprioritize, and then move forward in whatever direction I discover I need to take.

Is phone courtesy dead?

2009-07-07T20:14:00.001-04:00

I have a part time job at a dispatch center. As a part-time dispatcher with 4 kids, a husband with an odd work schedule and my own small business, I don’t work all that frequently. So when I answer the phone not everyone knows who I am and vice versa, I can’t recognize everyone’s voice. And since we dispatch for over 20 towns there is no way I could know everyone anyway.

So I have this interesting non-emergency phone call the other day, it goes like this:

Me: I say the name of the agency and my last name
Caller: “Who is this?”
Me: I say the name of the agency again, and then “how can I help you?”
Caller: says the name of their ambulance service and asks for some info
Me: “Hold on while I look that up”
Caller: then begins talking to someone else in the room, WHILE HOLDING THE PHONE IN FRONT OF HER MOUTH, “I don’t know who this is, I don’t recognize her name”
Me: “Hi, Are you talking to me? I’m still here”
Caller: “I’m not talking to you”

So I ignore her, but quite frankly if you’re going to talk about someone you’re on the phone with to someone else in the room common courtesy would be to not speak about them to them. Move the phone away from your mouth. Another important point about phone courtesy is if you don’t know the person you’re speaking with at least identify yourself before asking who they are. If someone called my home and immediately asked who I was I would either ask them to identify themselves first or hand up on them.

What has happened to phone courtesy these days? Is it dead?

One little thing that makes it all worthwhile

2009-06-27T22:13:00.003-04:00

Tonight I had the most wonderful experience. My mom was up visiting and my husband and I decided to go out by ourselves. This alone was a wonderful thing, but the best part of our evening was when we stopped at the supermarket on our way home. We were in the cereal aisle when a woman with a older infant came up the aisle as well. We struck up one of those 'supermarket' conversations about the price of Cheerios when she said that I looked familiar. At first she thought I worked for the local hospital, which I don't, but I mentioned that I taught CPR. Turns out she was in one of my classes almost a year ago. Then she tells me "You saved my daughter's life". Her daughter began to choke on food a few months ago and she successfully performed infant back slaps and chest thrusts to remove the object. Her daughter is almost 13 months old and was happily sitting in the shopping cart smiling at us. We hugged in the aisle. It probably looked odd to anyone else shopping in the evening, but seeing that little girl smile is what makes what I do and teach all worthwhile.

Ticks & Lyme Disease

2009-06-23T15:15:00.002-04:00

With summer now here I thought I'd share some info on Lyme Disease & ticks. Sometimes you don't need to be in the woods to pick up a tick, they can be almost anywhere other animals travel through. Lyme Disease is primarily carried by Deer Ticks, but those ticks can attach themselves to other host animals. I've had the kids pick up ticks just a few feet from our house and not in the woods out back. Ticks like warm dark places, so they will attach along your ankle, under your sock; behind the ears or along the hairline; and around the edges of your clothing. Since most of us tend to use sunscreen and insect repellent during the day it is a good idea to check for ticks each night when you shower off. Especially check your kids and pets. Household pets can easily carry ticks into the house. If you have a tick the best way to remove it is to use a pair of tweezers or a tick removing device (a fancy pair of tweezers). Grasp the tick as close to the head as you can and gently pull it out. There are a lot of 'old wives tales' methods of removal that may or may not work, but this is the easiest and less likely to scare a child. Then just flush the tick down the toilet or flick it into the woods. If you check daily they are easy to remove. If they are in for a few days they can be harder to remove and you may need to go to your doctors office to have it removed. Signs of tick bite infection are similar to any other open wound infection. Redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a bullseye pattern. The best way to treat a tick bite is to prevent it. If you're going to be near a wooded area wear light long sleeved and long panted clothing and check for ticks frequently. Use insect repellent and reapply as needed. Checking yourself and your kids frequently is the easiest way to prevent Lyme Disease.

Does it take the strength of 10 men?.....

2009-06-04T13:21:00.004-04:00

I did a CPR review class recently for the local chapter of Mothers of Multiples. What a fun group! I visited them during one of their meetings to give them the chance to practice their CPR skills and to answer any questions they might have. It wasn't really a class and they had some great questions - some of which I had to really think about! I think it's good to get stumped by questions when I teach, it keeps me on my toes and reminds me why I should be reading all those updates and studies.

One of the moms in the group asked me a really interesting question though. She had been told that she was "too small" to do CPR on an adult male. She was rather petite and slender, but I had never heard of anyone being too small to do effective CPR. My immediate reply to her, as a mother of TRIPLETS she probably has more upper body strength than I do! I don't think I could pick up more than 2 kids at a time!

But looking at the physics & body chemistry involved in CPR I can't really see how anyone could be too small. When we perform chest compressions on an adult we use 2 hands and we lean over their body with our arms underneath our shoulders. We use the muscles of our back, abdominals, shoulders, and to a lesser extent arms, to perform chest compressions. We use the weight of our upper body to provide most of the force in the downward cycle of the compression. We don't use just our arms to perform the compressions - otherwise we'd get way too tired way too quickly! It is not meant to be a cardiovascular exercise - we compress evenly at 100 pushes per minute (try singing "Old MacDonald had a Farm") letting the weight of our upper body do most of the work. Secondly when we get excited or stressed our body releases a natural chemical called adrenaline. We've all heard the term of the adrenaline rush and possibly heard the stories of the frantic mom who has picked up a car (or other heavy object) to save their child. Well for most of us, the first time you see someone collapse and you need to start CPR you are going to have a serious adrenaline rush! I know I did the first time my son choked (yes we've done this twice!). Thinking back I still can't believe how quickly I had him up & out of that seat and on my arm doing infant back slaps.

Pretty much anyone can do chest compressions on anyone of any size. You do not need the strength of 10 men to perform adequate compressions. So the next time someone tells you that you are too small or too light or too weak to help someone who needs CPR just smile and don't listen to them. Because you can do it and you can make a difference for someone who needs your help.

June 1-7, 2009 is National CPR & AED week. Have you taken a CPR course recently?

The value of CPR & First Aid

2009-06-02T12:53:00.002-04:00

Cost of CPR Barrier Sheet: $9.50
Cost of Pocket Mask: $12.25
Cost of CPR course: $40.00
Cost of First Aid Kit: $10.00
Cost of First Aid Course: $40
Knowledge that you can make a difference for someone in an emergency: Priceless

In our current economy a lot of us are watching our budgets and trying to get the best value for our money. Taking courses is no exception to that. Prices for CPR and First Aid courses vary depending upon location, who is offering the course, etc. Sometimes I hear that courses are too expensive or I'm asked if discounts are available. So what exactly does the course charge cover and what is the value of knowing CPR and First Aid?

First let's take a look at what goes into the cost of a course.

I can only speak from my experiences as an American Heart Association Instructor, but the AHA does not set the prices for the courses, it is up to individual instructors to set their own prices. For my business I set up a formula. It is based on a minimum class size of 4 students so some expenses are divided by 4 to spread out the cost. So per person my costs are based on:
• Cost of book for the course
• Replacement lungs for 1 Adult & 1 Infant mannequin (divided by 4)
• Barrier sheet (I think it's important to know how to use one)
• One-way valve for face mask (if we cover this in the course)
• Cost to have Course Completion cards issued by my Training Center
• Cost to rent the space to hold the course (divided by 4)
• My time to teach the course, prepare before course and clean up after course

How much time do I put in for each course? I have to arrange the location, order the supplies, pack the materials, set up for the course, teach the course, clean up after the course, sanitize all the equipment after the course, submit the roster, request the cards and then mail out all the cards. Not factored in is all the other things that go into running a business, advertising, marketing, insurance, returning phone calls, email, etc. For private groups my charges vary as there are usually fewer expenses and I can pass that savings on to the group.

What is the value of knowing CPR or First Aid?

First and foremost you have the peace of mind to know that you know what to do in the first few minutes of an emergency. For parents and grandparents this is most likely foremost in your mind.

For care providers you may be required to have certification for your state license. For babysitters, advertising that you know CPR or First Aid makes you more attractive to parents looking to hire you. Some parents may pay a babysitter more if they are certified in CPR or First Aid.

Some employers may offer incentives for trained employees or may require certification as part of their job description. Some professions require certification for state licensing or for insurance coverage.

I could cite statistics and quote a lot of reasons why everyone should know CPR or First Aid, but today's post is on the value and what you're getting for the cost of the course. You are getting an instructor who has been trained and mentored to teach the skills and to answer your questions. You are getting the certification you may need. You are getting supervised practice time to learn the physical skills involved. If you're a believer in Murphy's Law you know that the more you are prepared the less likely you may need to use what you've learned. But most importantly you are learning a very important life saving skill. For $40 (or whatever the charge is where you are) you are learning how to possibly save another person's life.

How would you find a CPR course?

2009-05-27T22:34:00.003-04:00

My last posts on online CPR courses hit a few nerves and there are a few good comments and a lot of interesting Twitter posts about Online CPR courses. When most people think of taking a course the first programs that come to mind are those offered by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Both organizations offer good programs, but they are not the only programs out there. If you searched for CPR courses on the web you'd get thousands of hits back, some from companies you've never heard off. So how do you find a course?

There are basically three types of CPR courses: Classroom, online and self-directed.

Self-directed courses are programs you can purchase with equipment to learn and practice on your own. The American Heart Association's CPR Anytime and Infant CPR Anytime at www.shopcpranytime.org are good examples of this. You purchase a kit which contains a DVD and a small inflatable mannequin. The program does not lead to certification or a CPR card, but is a good way to learn and practice the skills in the comfort of your own home.

Classroom courses are just that, in a classroom - or living room, workplace, etc. This is the traditional course with an instructor and equipment. The courses are usually video based and you watch and practice the skills along with the video and the instructors guidance. Most layperson courses no longer have a written test and the programs are more based on ability to practice the physical skills.

Online courses are taken from a website. Here is where it can get confusing. Any valid and legitimate online course will have a practical skills component. For the American Heart Association the online portion of a course is called "Part 1", you have to meet with an instructor for "Part 2" (and Part 3 in some cases) for the practical skills portion of the course. The instructor cannot issue you a card until you have completed the practical skills component.

Now I can only speak for American Heart Association courses as that is the organization that I am affiliated with. However you may want to question the legitimacy of an online CPR, BLS or ACLS course that does not require a practical skills component. I like to use the analogy that it's like driving a car. You can read the book and take the test, but does that mean you know how to drive the car? Would you want an ambulance crew or ED nurses working on you who had never practiced the skills, but were certified by taking just an online test? Probably not.

Also keep in mind that some of the 'bargain' prices you may see online may not necessarily be a bargain. Speaking only from my experience, the AHA does not set guidelines on what instructors may or may not charge for courses. Some instructors or sites teach entirely for free, others charge just to cover their basic expenses. While there are some out to make a profit, most of us look to charge what is usual & customary and to cover our out of pocket expenses to offer the course. There are many organizations that sponsor courses to keep the charges reasonable, so check around.

Where can you look locally? Start by calling your local hospital and ask if they offer classes. Many Fire Departments offer classes as well as many individual instructors like myself. Most of us are aligned with a local Training Center which may be the local hospital as well. Take a look on the web. If you come across a site that you don't recognize the name look at the course requirements. If it doesn't contain or require a practical skills portion with a local instructor then skip to the next hit on the list. Also make sure the organization has a local instructor in your area who can provide the necessary practical skills component. Not all Training Centers allow their instructors to perform these. You want to make sure that there is someone who is available to offer the practical skills portion before your register and pay for the online course. Also keep in mind that you most likely will have to pay the instructor for the practical skills portion separately from the online course.

If you're boggled by how to determine the legitimacy of an online course then look for a traditional classroom course which you know will contain the practical skills practice required for certification.

My goal is not to confuse anyone away from online courses, or to highlight one national organization. I am very pro-active in Health Education and want more people to learn CPR. But to learn in the correct environment for them from an organization that requires practical skills practice and testing to make sure the skills are taught correctly.

Be wary of some online BLS courses

2009-05-24T22:33:00.003-04:00

Previously I've written about Online CPR courses. They're easy to take, convenient and affordable. My earlier post was about the Online American Heart Association Courses. There has been confusion about them in the past and some clinical providers didn't realize that the online portion was only Part 1 of the course. There is also a Part 2 (or Part 3) which involves a practical skills component. Overall if you follow the guidelines, complete all the required parts, and successfully pass any online or practical tests you will receive your certification.

However you have to be rather careful about which online courses you take. Recently I had a nursing educator unfortunately get scammed by an online site promising her a card, which she was able to print her own card at the end of the online course. However the large Red Flag for me was when she called me to schedule a practical exam and then told me she was able to print her own card, AHA programs do not allow participants to print their own cards from a website.

This particular site mimicked itself after both the AHA and ARC, promising "ILCOR Recommended" and "meets all ECC 2009 Guidelines". The name of the course was a mix of the AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers and the ARC CPR for the Professional Rescuer. For the reduced price of $19.95 she took an online course and was able to print a rather official looking card at the end. There was no practical skills component required. Having taken the AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers Online before she called me to schedule the skills test, not realizing she had been scammed. It was such an awkward phone situation to have to explain to her what had happened and that I could not just give her a practical test, she had to take the AHA written exam and then the practical in order for me to be able to have an AHA card issued to her. I felt crummy about it and wanted to emphasize that if only she had called me first.... but at this point the damage was done and we have since met, tested appropriately and she will soon receive her AHA card. In conversing about this situation with my Training Center Coordinator I also found that this has also happened with advanced level cardiac courses and other hospital staff being scammed by some online sites.

My caution to everyone is, if you need CPR certification - whether you are a Healthcare Provider or other care provider, and you are looking at online courses, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, make sure you are taking a course through a valid source and that THE ONLINE COURSE REQUIRES A PRACTICAL SKILLS COMPONENT WITH A LOCAL INSTRUCTOR. Yes, I meant to type that in all caps because I feel it's important and I'd be happy to shout it from the top of really tall hill. I can only speak on very familiar terms with American Heart Association Courses, but the BLS for Healthcare Providers Online and the Heartsaver AED Online programs both require a second session with an instructor to provide a practical skills session and testing. I have seen another online program not sponsored by the AHA and ARC that required meeting with that organizations instructor for the practical skills component.

If something seems like a bargain online there is a good chance that it isn't. In this recent situation the 'bargain' price of $19.95 was still more than the $17.50 the AHA charges for the BLS Online course. Other advanced level course may try to charge you more for a card that is basically worthless. Most clinical locations will not accept a card from a program that does not contain a practical skills component.

So when looking to take a class, or when you need a renewal look at online courses with a slightly cynical view. If it is not a nationally recognized organization like the American Heart Association or American Red Cross, check their credentials, check to see if your employer will accept the course and check to see if there is a practical skills component. If the answer to any of these queries is no, then don't sign up for the course and look for one that meets the certification requirements you and your employer need.

NH Heartwalk fun!

2009-05-19T07:42:00.004-04:00

This past Sunday the kids and I walked in the NH Heartwalk. This was our second year doing it and we had such a great time! All of the event organizers and volunteers were so positive, upbeat and genuinely friendly to all the participants. This was our first year walking the Heartwalk in Manchester, NH as this year the Seacoast Heartwalk merged with the Central NH Heartwalk.

My older daughters initially didn't want to walk this year, but became really excited when we they found out the walk would start and end at the Fisher Cats Stadium. We're not that familiar with Manchester so we looked the directions up on the web and headed off. For such a large city the stadium was very easy to find and we had no problem finding nearby parking.

It was slightly overcast and lightly raining, but registration and vendor tables were all set up in the grandstand out of the weather. We (I) took the Healthy Heart Pledge and visited the Go Red for Women table. The kids had their faces painted and played some kids games they had set up in a kid's activity area. There was even someone handing out small blow up beach balls with hearts on them.

The light mist cleared as the walk began and we had fun walking through the mill area. I did see the sign for the SEE Center which is a fun kids museum I've always wanted to take the kids to, so now I know how to find it!

The plan was to walk the 5 mile loop. However as we approached the 2nd water stop my oldest (the one who wanted us to speed walk at the start!) saw the large hill and pretty much announced she was ready to walk back. My second daughter who I expected to want to turn around pretty quickly wanted to keep going! But by this point the 2 little kids were really starting to fight with each other in the stroller so we did turn back. So we ended up walking roughly 2 miles.

Back at Heartwalk Central the kids enjoyed the Climbing Wall compliments of Vertical Ascent of Manchester and some great BBQ from The Meat House. We took some fun pictures of the stadium and the little kids got a chance to run around the much more vacant grandstand.

We had a lot of fun! The Fisher Cats Stadium was a great location to host the event! Easy to find, ample nearby parking, plenty of restrooms with baby changing stations (hey, with 4 kids this is a plus for me!) and there was an elevator to get us up and down the grandstand. The only suggestion I could make for next years Heartwalk is to place the grills in the larger open grandstand area and not next to the elevator as we couldn't navigate the narrower walkway to the elevator due to the food line and had to go bump, bump, bump down all the stairs. However lots of people offered to help! My son had fun walking down the stairs and my youngest got to enjoy the bumpy ride.

We're still taking donations if you'd like to help us wrap up our Heartwalk fundraising! We didn't meet our goal, but you can help us get a little closer! https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=281714&supid=252727728.

Heat emergencies Part 2

2009-05-03T19:45:00.003-04:00

In Part 1 I wrote about Heat Exhaustion. This post is about Heat Stroke, the more serious and potentially life threatening heat emergency.

Heat Stroke occurs when the body becomes so overheated that it begins to shut down. Your skin becomes hot, red and you lose the ability to sweat. As your body temperature rises you become confused, disorientated and can have a seizure. Eventually you will become unresponsive and permanent brain and tissue damage can result.

Heat Stroke can be fatal. This is a life threatening situation. If you suspect someone is suffering from Heat Stroke call 911. Begin cooling the person with cool water and move them to a cool environment or shade.

The best way to treat Heat Stroke or Heat Exhaustion is to prevent it. When we're outside in warm weather it is easy to get preoccupied with what we are doing and forget to take breaks or drink water. Keep an eye on the weather forecast. When the forecast is for hot weather or if the heat stress index is very high plan for frequent breaks in the shade or in air conditioning. Drink plenty of water and try to break large outdoor projects into smaller ones or see what can be rescheduled for a cooler day.

We've all heard the expression that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. This is very true in hot weather. Keeping an eye on yourself, your family and your co-workers and watching for the warning signs of overheating during the hot weather is one of the best ways to prevent a heat emergency.

Heat emergencies Part 1

2009-04-30T13:32:00.004-04:00

Summer is quickly coming and while our prequel to summer temps in NH is over this is a good time to get ready for the heat of summer and keeping ourselves and our kids safe in higher temps.

Heat emergencies are when our bodies get overheated. This probably happens to a lot of us quite frequently in the warmer months. The trick is to recognize the symptoms and take action before a true emergency develops. There are two types of heat emergencies; heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Heat exhaustion is when we move beyond just feeling overheated. We begin to feel flushed, hot and very sweaty. Kids will begin to look very hot with reddish and sweaty skin. We begin to feel very weak, lethargic and sometimes irritable. Our kids may seem sleepy or develop upset stomachs. To treat this we need quick but gentle cooling. Move to a shady and cool area. Fan yourself or your child. Placing a towel or scarf soaked in cool water on your neck, shoulders or head can also cool you down. The trick is to cool off with cool water, not ice cold water.

To avoid heat exhaustion drink plenty of water when you'll be outside for long periods of time. Take frequent breaks in the shade when possible. Caffeinated sodas, coffee and teas are natural diuretics and can leave you dehydrated and possibly more prone to heat exhaustion.

Recognizing the signs and taking preventative measures to avoid overheating and heat exhaustion are your first steps for a healthy hot weather summer! Ignoring the signs can lead to a more serious condition, Heat Stroke, which I'll cover in my next post. Please note any heat emergency where you or your child lose consciousness, lose the ability to sweat or do not respond/act appropriately is a true heat emergency and you should contact 911

Gearing up for the NH Start! Heartwalk

2009-04-26T23:01:00.002-04:00

Okay, so we're all getting excited at home for the NH Start! Heartwalk in Manchester on May 17th. Unfortunately we seem to be running into some snags on the fundraising aspect of the walk. I know times are tight, so I thought I'd throw out a few things that the American Heart Association does with your fundraising dollars.

Research on the effectiveness of CPR and how we teach it.
Has it been a few years since you've taken a CPR course? Did you know we know do 30 compressions rather than 15? Have you heard of the new guidelines on "Hands Only CPR"?

Public Awareness of Heart Health
Do you know your risks for Heart Attack or Stroke? You can find out at Go Red for Women or the American Heart Association website.

Research on Heart Health and Risks

So it doesn't need to be much, every little bit helps!
http://heartwalk.kintera.org/newhampshire/gailklanchesser

A Safer Table Saw

2009-04-24T09:08:00.003-04:00

This morning my husband was showing me a brochure and a video of a new table saw. He's a Firefighter and has been slowly renovating our house. So when he saw a video of a safer table saw at our local woodworking store yesterday he was really excited about it.

We've all heard the sad and horrible stories of accidents involving power tools, especially saws. However this company has patented a new technology that stops and retracts the blade when it senses skin. I have no idea how this works, but I understand the general principal and I think it is amazing.

Disclaimer - I do not have this saw and I have not personally seen this saw. I am expressing my opinion solely on the brochure and video on their website. However if the folks at SawStop, www.sawstop.com, want to lend us one to review my husband would be thrilled and I'd be excited to see some movement on our home improvement projects.

The website states:

SawStop saws detect contact with skin.
The blade carries a small electrical signal, which the safety system continually monitors. When skin contacts the blade, the signal changes because the human body is conductive. The change to the signal activates the safety system.

The safety system immediately shuts down the saw and drops the blade into the table bed preventing any further injury.

Since I'm by nature pretty cynical I was not completely believing the brochure. However the videos and pictures on the website are really convincing. For the faint of heart please note - the video I watched showed them running a hot dog over the blade - I did not see anyone attempting to amputate their fingers. There is also a small picture gallery of customer testimonials of contractors who actually triggered the safety features and suffered only a minor nick instead of losing a finger or worse.

I think it is great to see more companies looking at innovating ways to make their tools safer. This is a great use of technology - sensing the body's natural conductivity - to make a staple tool of the construction and woodworking industry safer.