The Official RJWestmore Blog

In honor of Disaster Preparedness Month, RJWestmore, Inc. is proud to announce a new informational worksheet detailing the most effective way to deal with people who have Autism, in the event of an emergency.

The emergency preparedness instructions should help family members, friends and first responders remember the proper methods for helping Autistic people.

While a disaster can be a traumatic experience for anyone, it can be especially frightening for someone who is autistic. Autism is defined as a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.

Those who care for people with autism, or are in close contact with an autistic person, should be made aware of the special precautions that must be taken during an emergency.

Autistic people have a tendency to hide, or become suddenly paralyzed with fear, in the event of a catastrophe. Anyone who attempts to help them can be perceived as a dangerous threat. This is why it is important for emergency responders to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of autism, so that they can take precautionary measures.

• During an emergency, people with autism will resort to self-soothing methods, such as rocking, or talking to themselves.
• Autistic people have also been known to become fascinated with dangerous stimuli.
• For example; in the event of a fire, an autistic man may stand dangerously close to the flames in order to stare at the fire.
• In a flood, an autistic girl could potentially travel towards flowing water, instead of away from it, which could put her in immediate danger.

If more people are able to identify these types of behaviors, and offer assistance in a calm, non-threatening way, the chances of a successful rescue will be dramatically increased.

In dealing with someone who you know is, or who appears to be, autistic:

1. Speak slowly, in basic, concrete terms. Allow time for responses.
2. Use visual communication as much as possible.
3. Do not attempt to physically stop self-stimulating behavior.
4. Have Autism Emergency Contact Forms completed

RJWestmore offers disaster preparedness training for everyone, including people with autism. There has never a better time to learn how to respond during an emergency than in September, during Disaster Preparedness Month.  BE SAFE!

Shake, Rattle and Roll

We’ve got a full calendar at RJ Westmore, Inc. One event we’re looking forward to is the Great California ShakeOut at 10:15 a.m. on October 15, 2009, when we’ll join millions of Californians to participate in the largest earthquake drill ever!

Drop, Cover and Hold On!

Now an annual event, the ShakeOut will incorporate numerous exercises and drills designed to prepare adults and children to react quickly in the rather likely event of a California quake. In much the same way kids across America have been taught to Stop, Drop and Roll in case of fire, this exercise will give us all the opportunity to practice how to Drop, Cover and Hold On.

Practice Makes Perfect

At RJWestmore, Inc., we specialize in fire life safety and disaster preparedness training and education, so we can testify to the fact that behavior has to be learned and then drilled often in order to become automatic. If an earthquake hits, you may only have seconds to protect yourself before strong shaking knocks you down, or causes something to fall onto you. So, don’t wait until an earthquake hits to figure out how you’re going to react.

How to Deal

We are proud to join thousands of emergency organizations, emergency responders, and Search and Rescue organizations in support of Drop, Cover, and Hold On education. If you wonder whether you are adequately prepared to deal with an earthquake, take this free interactive quiz, which was prepared by the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.

Now is the perfect time to make sure you’re prepared, as September is National Preparedness Month. So check back often to learn about how to update your disaster plans and restock your disaster supplies kits.

And, in the meantime, BE SAFE.

Thousands of lives and both of the Twin Towers were lost on the now infamous day of September 11, 2001. The disaster gave Americans an uninvited lesson about the necessity of developing a comprehensive high-rise evacuation plan. It also shed light on the fact that, to be effective, disaster preparedness plans have to be taught to the people most likely to need them…all of the occupants in a building.

Fire Life Safety

One of the unavoidable risks of working or living in a high-rise building is fire. According to NFPA, the National Fire Protection Association, the following factors are unique to training for fire safety in high-rise buildings.

• The multiple floors of a high-rise building create the cumulative effect of requiring great numbers of persons to travel great vertical distances on stairs in order to evacuate the building.
• The physical demands of evacuation made on occupants often exceed the capabilities of many.
• The process of evacuating some of the largest high-rise buildings in the world may take upwards of two hours.
• The fire and life safety systems installed in high-rise buildings today, including automatic fire sprinkler protection, are designed to control a fire and therefore lessen the need to totally evacuate all occupants.
• Typically, the fire floor and the floors immediately above and below the fire will be evacuated. (Depending on the city where you live, there could be as many as five to seven floors within the building.)

Also according to NFPA, the key elements of emergency preparedness include:

• Early warning (typically through an alarm or voice communication system)
• Adequate means of egress (exit routes)
• Occupant familiarity with the plan through knowledge and practice.

The RJWestmore Training System provides unlimited access to building-specific, web-based emergency preparedness education to the folks who need it most. Using an educational, entertaining and user-friendly format, the system has been approved by all of the major fired departments across the United States. It was most recently recognized and approved by the Los Angeles Fire Department as one of the first approved online training systems to comply with the newly implemented LAMC 57.33.19 high-rise fire code. Simply stated, the system saves lives.

We are proud to announce our official receipt of approval by the Los Angeles Fire Department.  The RJWestmore Online Training system is the leading system in the United States for Online Fire/Life safety training in commercial buildings.  Among the nation’s leaders in fire safety codes, Los Angeles has recently passed stringent requirements for training in high rise buildings.  Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Code LAMC Sec. 57.33.19 covers online training and “certification of fire safety directors and floor wardens, as prescribed in the recent amendment to the stated City ordinance.”

If you have any questions about how this may affect you if your commercial properties are located in Los Angeles, we would be happy to discuss them with you.  Just shoot us an email!

Last week, RJWestmore participated in the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history, The Great Southern California ShakeOut, where we trained a group of commercial property managers on earthquake preparedness.

That day, millions of people in homes, schools, businesses, government offices and public areas all over southern California participated in the event to prepare themselves for the inevitable – a magnitude 7.8 or higher earthquake along the San Andreas Fault that scientists expect will happen.

As part of RJWestmore’s mission to “Save Lives Through Training,” we’re including links to earthquake preparedness resources on our blog this week, including information on the ShakeOut; the Drop, Cover, and Hold On! procedure; the Golden Guardian 2008 Exercise Series, from Governor Schwarzenegger and his Office of Homeland Security; and a great educational video from Preparedness Now, which is available below.

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The Los Angeles Public Safety Commission will vote and then pass to City Council for final approval new regulations regarding Fire Life Safety Training Code 57.33.19. If approved, the L.A. Fire Department will initiate these updated regulations to high-rise buildings, effective Jan. 1, 2009.

Violation of the new regulations could result in daily fines from $100 to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail. Any fees unpaid within 60 days of the due date will be subject to a 50% penalty.

If you are an existing RJWestmore Training System customer with a current emergency response plan, your obligations regarding the new regulations are almost fulfilled. There will be a meeting on December 10 to finalize additional information required by the LAFD in your emergency manual, as well as specific training requirements for your building’s fire safety director and individual floor wardens.

However, if no one is taking care of your building’s fire/life safety plans, please contact us today.

Stay tuned to RJWestmore.com for updates on the new fire regulations and how they could affect your building(s).

RJWestmore Inc. is proud to announce that three TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) Award Winners use the RJWestmore Online Fire Life Safety Training System!

These clients include 1901 Avenue of the Stars, AT&T Center, and Los Angeles Corporate Center.

The 23rd Annual TOBY Awards was held at the legendary Beverly Hilton Hotel. With more than 550 attendees, this commercial real estate gala lived up to its expectations as one of the most prestigious industry events in Los Angeles.

Congratulations to each of our award-winning clients for putting safety first!

You can be an award winner, too. With the RJWestmore Online Fire Life Safety Training System, you can bring your buildings up to code in 30 days. Our interactive, building-specific e-learning training system motivates and rewards tenants instantly. It’s a convenient and affordable solution to the training needs of your building(s).

Here at RJWestmore, our goal is to “Save Lives Through Training.” So far we’ve trained more than 150 million square feet, and it’s our mission to train 150 million more.

BE SAFE!

This week marks the beginning of the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week – which means that there’s no better time to safeguard your home.

Fire departments nationwide responded to nearly 400,000 home fires in 2006, but by practicing extra caution, preventing the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating, electrical and smoking materials – is within your power.

First, here are some statistics you should know:

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On this seventh anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, preparedness in the event of a disaster has even greater importance to Americans.

As a society, we must be ready to handle – at a moment’s notice – emergencies in our homes, businesses and communities.

But it’s not just the ongoing threat of attack for which we should prepare. Natural disasters – such as devastating hurricanes, floods and earthquakes – and the outbreak of epidemic diseases all demand a plan.

“Those with the capacity and wherewithal to help themselves must do so in advance, so that in the event of an emergency, responders can first assist those who are unable to tend to themselves,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, in a statement.

Throughout September, the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready Campaign – part of National Preparedness Month – highlights preparedness steps, including having an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, and becoming informed about different types of emergencies.

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At RJWestmore, we keep current on all policies and trends affecting safety training at commercial properties. In fact, our own CEO, Bob Westmore, is attending an important workshop today in Los Angeles: New Highrise Evacuation Ordinance.

The workshop is being presented by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Los Angeles (BOMA/GLA), and representatives from the Los Angeles City Fire Department will be speaking on important building stipulations including:

• "New Training requirements for Fire Safety Directors and Floor Wardens,
• "Methods for tracking tenant evacuation training,
• "Full building evacuation requirements for buildings over 35 stories, and
• "Fees associated with new training requirements."

We’re also serving as one of the sponsors for this important event, which covers life-saving provisions such as emergency preparation and evacuation training.

We hope to see you there!