The Official RJWestmore Blog

Find out the facts about the Cholera Epidemic

The recent outbreak in Haiti has put Cholera into the spotlight. With more than 150 individuals dead, the epidemic has spread rapidly throughout the nation, which was ravaged by an earthquake in January, 2010. Prior to this outbreak, the disease had not been seen in Haiti since the early 20^th century.

In this blog post, we will explore the deadly disease and discuss how outbreaks can occur.

The Facts about Cholera:

• Cholera is a gastrointestinal infection caused by the Vibrio Cholerae bacterium which infects the small intestine and causes massive watery diarrhea, resulting in extreme dehydration.
• It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
• The first pandemic of the disease occurred from 1816 to 1826 in India, killing millions.
• The disease is a major cause of death throughout the world.
• Typical mortality rates with prompt treatment are less than 1%, but spike to 50% if left untreated.

How do people get Cholera and why does it spread?

• It is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through consumption of contaminated water or food.
• Direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely, but does take place.
• In developing countries such as Haiti, the water sanitation infrastructure is severely lacking. Residents are too often forced to retrieve water from natural sources such as rivers which are easily contaminated.

What is being done in Haiti?

• Charities and sponsoring corporations are working together to produce facilities that produce 10,000 gallons of fresh, clean water each day.
• Oral Rehydration Therapy is the main form of treatment for Cholera.
• Healthcare workers in the infected Artibonite Region are distributing information about the importance of hand-washing and drinking only treated-water.
• Authorities at the Pan American Health Organization say it is too late to administer the Cholera vaccine, as 80% of the population is already carrying the disease.
• Health aides are being set up in many communities to help prevent outbreaks through use of fast antibiotic and rehydration therapies.

A disease or condition is considered an “outbreak” when it reaches more cases than typical during a certain amount of time. The Cholera crisis in Haiti has been termed an “outbreak” because of the extreme number of cases as well as the time elapsed since the disease was last identified en masse in the country. Outbreaks of various diseases occur regularly. For example, Californians currently have a Whooping Cough problem and Brazilians have developed Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

Disease outbreaks and natural disasters require similar response methods. Both require proper planning and prevention. But when, despite our best efforts disaster strikes, then an organized and informed response is the best way to control the damage.

For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJ Westmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information and remember to BE SAFE.

Steps to take to be fire-safe.

Part 2 in a Series

Since a fire department in the United States responds to a report of fire every 19 seconds, fire is an ever-present danger at work, home or even when you are traveling. Fire is also one of the most common emergencies following an earthquake, explosion, terrorist attack, power surge or other natural or manmade disaster.

Since you never know when fire will strike, you should be careful to prepare so you will immediately know what to do in case of emergency. In this series, we hope to educate you in an effort to help you and your tenants prepare for fire. Today’s post will discuss the ways that you, as a building owner or property manager, can mitigate the risk of fire by making sound choices for building materials and furnishings and by educating tenants about taking responsibility for their own safety.

Making sound choices for building materials

If your property is still under construction, install fire-safe materials wherever possible.

David Horne, a member of the Fire Safe Council (FSC), admits that it’s impossible to take the risk of a fire down to zero unless you live in a bunker.

But he says, “Builders can make their (projects) between 20 percent and 70 percent less likely to burn from the outside by choosing fire-resistant materials and veering from traditional designs.”

Here are some fire-safe installation ideas from the FSC:

• Install stucco, fiber cement, and other noncombustible cladding materials
• Build eaves and roof decks that are boxed in and never made from wood.
• Omit windows from exterior walls that sit close together.
• Add an extra layer of gypsum or another fire-resistant material beneath the siding on facing walls
• Install double- or triple-pane windows to keep intense heat from breaking the windows
• Choose noncombustible materials for fences

Making Sound Fire-Safe Choices for Furnishings

Even if your property has already been built, you can take steps to lessen the risk of home, apartment or office fire.

Upholstered furniture, wall coverings, flooring and mattresses burn quickly and produce large amounts of toxic smoke. Burning upholstered furnishings or mattresses contribute to nearly every home fire death. Understanding the hazards associated with these furnishings will help you choose fire-safe products.

Whenever possible, select upholstered furniture that has been treated with fire retardant. Some professional organizations and the state of California have developed manufacturing standards to increase the fire resistance of certain types of furniture. For a complete list of these guidelines, check out the technical bulletins released by the California Department of Consumer Affairs/Bureau of Home Furnishing and Thermal Insulation.

Educating Tenants about Fire Safety

In a perfect world, everyone would know how to prepare for disaster and would take the necessary steps to mitigate risks. Sadly, we live in an imperfect world. So don’t assume that your tenants know how to proactively prevent fires or prepare for emergencies. Although you are not obligated to do so, it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to provide helpful, straight-forward guidelines for them to follow, so in the event of emergency, they are without excuse.

Print these helpful tips for distribution,  for information about fire safety at home, tips for basic home fire safety and fire safety at work.  The headline for each of these fact sheets notes that the responsibility for fire safety and disaster preparedness rests squarely on the shoulders of each individual. Additional reference materials are also available through FEMA and the National Fire Protection Association.  Whichever fire safety guidelines you prefer, post them in a central location.

Next week, we’ll look at the ways that you can mitigate the risk of fire by adopting best practices for storing flammable materials. When a disaster strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives.  For the latest emergency management training for property owners and managers, contact RJ Westmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information and remember to BE SAFE.

Report suspicious activity

Part 2 in a Series

A recent report by the Department of Homeland Security stated that attempted attacks on U.S. soil are at an all-time high. As a result, participation of private industry in surveillance has never been more important. The Obama Administration recently released its latest national security doctrine, which emphasizes the need for monitoring potential threats to United States-based targets.

The installation of CCTV Security Systems is becoming more widespread throughout urban and suburban areas, creating a “net” of coverage to aid in both terrorism prevention and speedy apprehension of suspects. As a property owner, you might consider installing a security system and establishing relationships with neighboring property managers as well as law enforcement.

Our post today explores best practices for terrorism surveillance, including how to scan for and identify suspicious activity and what to do with the information you gather.

Security System Installation

• Select a professional CCTV installation company, which can advise you on the number and location of security cameras.

• New camera systems offer DVR, which affords clients improved image storage and faster law enforcement review.

But the best camera system in the world is useless unless someone “knows what to look for.” Once your surveillance systems are in place, it’s important to educate your staff about how to identify potential threats.

Suspicious Activity could constitute “casing” of the building. Look for:

• Individuals walking by the building repeatedly with no apparent purpose
• Vehicles parked in unauthorized areas including loading zones or garage entrances
• People trying to access restricted areas of the building

IT and information-related issues can be signs that your building is being targeted:

• Terrorists who are scouting your location may do research. Be wary of:
  • Phone calls to your building asking for detailed tenant information or maps of the property
  • Website visitors from foreign internet connections repeatedly viewing your building’s website

Activities that could indicate an attack is imminent. Watch for:

• Vehicles that come very close to the building past security barriers and then quickly depart
• Individuals checking watches/cell phones frequently, and maintaining contact with other people who are located in various areas of the property

Cooperation with law enforcement and neighboring businesses:

• Once security systems are in place, contact your local FBI office and police department to inform them of the system coverage and your willingness to help identify potential threats by reporting suspicious activity and sharing your surveillance footage.
• Work with other business owners to discuss their surveillance tactics and share information about individuals or vehicles that have been behaving suspiciously.

With any complex problem designed to identify and prevent terrorism, cooperation is key. In the Times Square attempted bombing, a major lead about the bomber’s identity was obtained not from Times Square cameras but from shopping mall surveillance video that showed someone test-driving a suspicious vehicle. With a surveillance system in place, you can help foil terrorist attempts and play an important role in maintaining safety in your community.

Visit us next week for another post in our series about terrorism surveillance. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJ Westmore, Inc. Our e-based system offers the best emergency training available, with automated and integrated features. RJ Westmore, Inc. is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit trade organization that promotes sustainability in how buildings are designed, built and operated. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information and remember to BE SAFE.

How to prepare for holiday travel

It’s holiday time! Turkey, Christmas lights, and Hanukkah candles compel millions of families to travel during November and December.

If you are traveling through the air, you should know about some recently released tips from our friends at the TSA. The new tips are intended to help you travel more quickly and safely.

The TSA has a new Secure Flight program for airline ticketing:

• Secure Flight is a behind-the-scenes program that improves flying watch-list matches
• Family members need to provide photo identification, date of birth, and state gender
• Cooperate with TSA members to make sure no one from the “Do Not Fly” list gets on an aircraft
• Important tip – when booking your reservation, use the same name as it appears on your ID. Don’t use nicknames or shortened names (Don’t use “Bill” instead of “William.”)

Family Lanes:

• Special security line for those with families or infrequent travelers that are unfamiliar with airport screening procedures
• Is your baby formula or insulin packaged in a container that is larger than 3 ounces? If so, go through a family lane and a specially-trained TSA agent will help you out.
• Allows TSA agents the opportunity to properly check for liquid explosive materials.

What’s the 3-1-1 Rule?

• As you would imagine, the 3-1-1 Rule involves a 3, a 1, and another 1
• Liquids and aerosols should be 3.4 ounces or less
• Consolidate items into 1 plastic zip bag
• There is a per-person limit of 1 quart-sized bag of liquids
• Save the TSA agents’ time by having your bag of liquids outside of your carry-on and ready for inspection.

Traveling with food or gifts?

Many of you will be bringing gifts to your destination (and hopefully returning home with some!) The TSA has guidelines on these gifts. If you have any liquid gift such as wine, maple syrup or even a snow globe, you should either pack the gift in your checked luggage or just ship it to yourself. And remember, don’t spend time wrapping gifts with that special reindeer paper, since the TSA agents will need to unwrap and check each gift!

Finally, the TSA is reminding travelers to report any suspicious activity to an agent. Don’t be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t seem right. Keep all of these tips in mind and traveling can be a lot smoother for everyone. RJ Westmore wishes all of you a safe and happy holiday season! BE SAFE!