I want to share this story with you courtesy of Amanda Allain with ADP. I think it is fitting coming into the winter months where we might see similar situations ourselves.

"My story happened when we were on vacation. We were traveling on the Mass Pike in torrential rain when we saw a car that spun off the road and was on its side. Many people were helping them stay dry with umbrellas; you could tell this accident did not just happen. About 10 miles up the road where there is a shortcut for the police to cut from one side of the pike to the other, we saw 2 police cars with lights blaring come in and fly past us...Then a few minutes later we saw them on the other side going back...I believe they were trying to respond to the car accident but could not find where they were. This just goes to show how important it is to know exactly where you are and give as much info as possible to save valuable time! "

This is a great example of how important is to know where you are at all times. If you do not know where you are, Emergency Medical Services probably will not know either. Currently in the State of Massachusetts, we do not track your cell signal to locate your position. Therefore, when you call 911 for assistance and they ask where you are, keep these things in mind;

What is the last mile marker you passed?

Are you traveling East,West, North or South on the road?

What exit or over-pass?

What is the name of the street signs around you?

What are the major landmarks around you?

Whether you are traveling this Holiday Season to visit family, friends or even just to work, know where you are going, where you came from and describe what is around you. 

This is a story from Wayne Burgess, a self-employed Electrician.

"A maintenance man was working on a 480 volt roof top air conditioning unit at an industrial complex. The maintenance man decided that this job was more than he could handle. So, he called the company that I worked for and requested a technician. We sent an electrician with over 15 years of experience to the job site. The electrician after reaching the roof, realized he had left his tester in the truck.  Rather than go back to the truck to get the tester, he yelled to the maintenance man to ask if the breaker for the unit had been shut off. He replied "yea it's off, you're all set." The electrician put his hand behind the electrical attachment point to check connections, the 480 volts from the unit that was still on burnt his hand severely. He was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery to try to repair his hand. The Electrical Company had a very strict safety policy in place, the electrician not only was injured that day, but he also lost his job!

 Remember this story the next time you don't want to take 20 minutes to walk down and get your tester.

Here is a classic example of why people need to use Lockout/ Tagout. This situation could have been avoided a few different ways. First, test it for power...wait, it was downstairs.  Second, check the breaker yourself. Then you would know for sure that the correct breaker had been turned off. Third, use the OSHA Lockout/ Tagout procedures. Create a safer working environment.

Thanks to Wayne for sharing this story with us. I think everyone can apply these same practices to many different situations. Remember, it's your life. Safety Matters. Take the time. It could save your life. 

This next story comes to us from Linda Turgeon from Inspiring Solutions Staging & Redesign.

"A few winters ago my daughter Raelyn and I were very excited to get our tubing gear out after many, many inches of snow. We packed everything up and headed for a hill that everyone loved to sled on. On the ride there we talked about our lunch plans and what we would do for the rest of the day. When arriving at the hill it looked perfect for tubing. There were several families there that were just as thrilled about all the snow we had gotten. We bundled up and got our gear out of the car and heading for the top. I don't remember how many runs we got in going side by side, but the last one we decided to hold on to each other tube. It started out fast and continued to pick up speed. This certainly was the fastest run yet! There was no stopping us when we hit a plowed snow banking and went up and over. We were both airborne, my daughter hit the icy pavement first and I landed across her. A scream came from her that sent chills running up my spine. I got up and told her not to move until I could understand what she was screaming about. Calmly, I spoke to her and repeated that she look directly at me and tell me where she was hurt. It was her leg, one look at it; I knew by the way it was off to one side, it was broken. I took off my jacket to cover her and sweater to put under her head. I calmly told her that I was going to run to the car to get my phone. She began crying and asking me not to leave her. At this point a woman had come over to see if we were alright. I ask her to stay with Raelyn so I could run to get my phone. As it turned out she had her phone close by. I ask her to please call for help. The words that came out of her mouth next shocked me. Lady: "Who should I call?" Me: (Thinking in my head,  is she serious?) "911" Lady: "What do I say?" Me: "Tell them someone got hurt sledding and you need an ambulance." Lady: "Where are we?" Me: "PLEASE GIVE ME THE PHONE" I gave 911 the information, the ambulance came and off to the hospital we went. After a couple of operations, screws in her ankle and a cast for months, she recuperated perfectly. She only carries two small scars on her ankle! The scars that I carry, are inside me forever.

 One of the things I have learned from Safety Trainers since this accident; be a better communicator with the person who has the phone and the 911 operator. What I should have said was "call 911 explain to them what happened." "Make sure you give them your phone number in case you get cut off." "The address is.....

 We never expect to encounter situations like this, but take the time to prepare yourself, because when they happen, they happen fast and the only way to be in control is to be prepared with Safety Trainers expertise."

This story can teach us two lessons. First, the proper way to handle a situation. Linda did a great job of staying calm and keeping her daughter calm. She assessed what the problem was and knew she needed to call for help. Also, using people around you USUALLY will help the situation.

Second, The importance of making a 911 call and knowing what to say. The individual that had the phone seemed completely clueless on how make a 911 call. That is the most important thing to do in all emergences, call for help.

Thanks to Linda for sharing this with us. I hope that everyone who reads this can take something from it. I know I did.

Our next story comes to us from Dave McLaren at McLaren & Associates, CPA's.

"In 1991, on my way back from Waltham, I was following a red Ford Probe in heavy traffic about 5:30 on a Friday. All lanes were doing a steady 60 mph. Around Exit 13, where the road curves, I noticed the car in front of me slowly work its way onto the grassy median as if the driver fell asleep. All of a sudden, he swerved back into the fast lane, sending the car into a skid sideways at 60 mph. Suddenly, his rear tires (on the grass) hit a drain, the car swung around, plowed into the guardrail and then bounced off and rolled into the center lane. A trailer truck traveling at 60 mph T-boned the car sending the driver crashing out of his passenger window with his body flipping end over end on the highway as his car disintegrated and shot 100 yards down the highway. The truck never stopped. After stopping my vehicle and calling the police, I was stunned to see this man stand up, white as a ghost, covered in blood, start walking into oncoming traffic as the middle and slow lanes were still going by at 60 mph. I ran out of my car and grabbed him right before another driver hit him. He was in shock and had blood pumping out of his head, arm and leg. I was too afraid to let him lay down as I thought he would die on me. No one stopped for the accident. I ran to my trunk, got a blanket and a first aid kit and covered him and began applying pressure to his severe wounds. An EMT finally stopped to help me after about 10 minutes. The police arrived shortly thereafter. The actions saved his live and he recovered quickly."

I would like to thank Dave for sharing his story with us. Also, I would like to point out that Dave went above and beyond what is expected from a bystander and would like to congratulate him for that.

Our next story comes from Kevin Cantwell from Expert laser Services.

"Several years ago I had a crew clearing some brush and small trees. The guy on the chain saw was not a tree expert, but he was experienced in using a chainsaw and cutting down trees. As he was cutting the tree, another guy pushed on the tree with a backhoe to make sure it fell away from a building. Just as the tree was cut through the pressure made the trunk swing around. A limb hit the tree cutter in the side of his head, causing a severe concussion and months of lost time. He was not wearing a hard hat at the time, although I am not sure if that would have helped. The standard rule of using the right tool for the job might have applied. A backhoe is not the proper method to guide a tree as it is being cut. A tree company might have cost some more money at the time, but nothing compared to what happened to my workers compensation premium!!!"

I think this is important for any homeowner or business owner. It might not be you that has an emergency, but this is a perfect example of how others can effect us. We hire companies to come into our homes to do work everyday, it doesn't take much. Sometimes these workers have deadlines to meet and as a result might rush....this can make a very big difference!

Thanks to Kevin for sharing!

I wanted to share this poem with you.

"I chose to look the other way

 I could have saved a life that day,

 but I chose to look the other way.

 It wasn't that I didn't care, I had the time, and I was there.

 But I didn't want to seem a fool, or argue over a safety rule 

I knew he'd done the job before, if I called it wrong, he might get sore.

The chances didn't seem that bad,

 I've done the same, he knew I had.

So I shook my head and walked on by,

 he knew the risks as well as I.

He took the chance, I closed an eye, and with the act,

 I let him die.

 I could have saved a life that day, but I chose to look the other way.

Now every time I see his wife, I'll know I should have saved his life.

That guilt is something I must bear, but it isn't something you need to share.

 If you see a risk that others take, that puts their health or life at stake.

The question asked, or thing you say,

could help them live another day.

 If you see a risk and walk away,

 then hope you never have to say,

 I could have saved a life that day, but I chose to look the other way."

                                 Don Merrell

Simply look out for yourselves and for each other.

The American Heart Association has released some facts and statistics that are directly related to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. I want to share some of these facts with you. For the complete list you can visit the AHA site.

About 75 to 80 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at HOME. This means having someone trained in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can make a substantial difference for the survival rates of a loved ones.

Approximately 310,000 of all annual adult coronary heart disease deaths in the United States are suffered outside the hospital setting and in hospital emergency departments. Of those deaths, about 166,200 are due to sudden cardiac arrest.

These are some very important reasons why we still need people to have CPR training. With response times for medical professionals, EMT's and Paramedics, taking anywhere from 6 to 20 plus minutes, depending on location and time of day, it now becomes vital for a bystander to help with CPR.

 In addition, the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) have also been playing a vital role in saving lives due to sudden cardiac arrest. This is why many companies and communitieshave introduced AED's to their safety programs.

 In closing, I ask that you ask yourself one question, and if the answer is NO than please consider going through a training course.

 If someone collapsed in front of you right now, would you know how to react?

When I saw this article in the news today it really got to me. A 22- year- old young man was shot today when responding to a truck fire in a suburban area outside St. Louis. When he gets out of the firetruck a gunman opens fire and fatally struck Ryan Hummert and hitting two others including a police officer.

This is such a tragedy. This young man finished Fire Academy in March. He was dedicating himself to help others and this is  what one sick person did when he responded to put the fire out in his truck.

Our dedicated firefighters, EMTs, Police officers and Paramedics allow us to have a sense of safety knowing help is a phone call away. My hat is off to all of those heroes out there.

For the full article you can visit Fox News.

It has been a long time coming. The Federal Government has taken another step to help the chance of survival for victims of sudden cardiac arrest.They have declared the first week of June "National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week".

In a staggering study it is found that there is a 95 percent mortality rate for over 300,000 Americans who are victims of sudden cardiac arrest each year.

It is also estimated that on average it takes 8 to 10 minutes for first responders(9-1-1) to reach a victim. This number can vary depending on your location. Why is this important?

The reason that this is so important is because after four minutes without oxygen going to your brain it will begin to die. After eight minutes it becomes the point of no return, irreversible brain death begins to occur. So even if the heart is restarted, the damage after eight minutes can never come back. This is why we need people to do CPR.

You can read the whole article that was released by clicking here.

 This is an important step for making a difference. If people now become more aware of this situation and learn how YOU can make a difference than we can change these statistics and have a positive outcome for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. There are also programs out there that are now trying to make a difference such as:

• AED Implementation programs
• Public Access to Defibrillators (PAD) Program
• HeartSafe Community
• Family & Friends CPR and First Aid

With a lot of attention now on these issues we hope to start to create safer environment for everyone.

In a training that I did last night, I presented the class participants with I.C.E stickers and the handout that Safety Trainers has to go along with them.

One individual said to me "I heard about that before but I didn't believe it was real"

 Since that was not the first time something like that has been said to me it really got me thinking......

I need to let people know about this program.

The I.C.E. sticker is a way to show lay and professional rescuers that you have listed the In Case of Emergency contact in your mobile device.

 In the event that something happens to YOU how can we identify who you are and if there is medical information that we should know about to better help YOU.

If you ever got an email about this or read it in a magazine, medical professionals( EMT's, Paramedics, Police and Fire Fighters) are trained to take a look at your phone for this sticker to identify an established emergency communications protocol. This started in the UK and has now traveled into the US.

Do you travel overseas for business?

This is spreading as a world-wide campaign!

If you have any questions or would like more information, please  contact us.