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The RJWestmore Training System Version 3.0

RJWestmore Training System Version 3.0

RJWestmore Inc. is proud to announce the release of Version 3.0 of our comprehensive e-based safety training program. The new system boasts features that property managers and building owners, employers and occupants have come to depend on for building specific safety training, such as the integration and automation that brings together facility managers, fire safety directors and local fire departments. The system upgrade showcases our continued commitment to offer the most user-friendly and complete training system on the market. Here is a snapshot of some of the new functionality that RJWestmore trainees will enjoy with Version 3.0:

New “Basics for individuals who need Special Assistance”

Basic Special Assistance Guidelines are now automatically sent when individual users add themselves to the RJWestmore Special Assistance List. Users will find copies of this in “Your Resources,” under the “Forms, Lists and Guidelines bullet point.

Version 3.0 offers lots of great features.

New “Management Report”

All user-training base information (relative to the past and current year) is contained in one easy-to-use Excel report.

New “Occupants” Page

The “Occupants” Tab in all users’ database management system now displays:

• Floor and suite information for every person
• Color-coded “Previous” and “Current Year” certification dates
• Past due training alert icon (over12 months)

New “System Notifications” Page

• How users choose how to view messages
• New Messages
• Read Messages
• Archived Messages—users can choose which messages to archive

New Social Media Links

• This enables users to share news of their life-saving training with friends.

• If you own or manage a building, or know someone who does, do them a favor. Let them know about the RJWestmore Training System. Choosing our service cuts property management training related workloads by 90% and saves users over 50% compared to conventional training! More importantly, IT SAVES LIVES! BE SAFE.

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 3.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information.

Part 2 of a 2-Part Series

National Stroke Awareness Month is an annual event held each May since 1989, designed to make Americans aware that they may be able to “Save the Life” of a person experiencing a stroke…be it a co-worker, friend, neighbor or family member. In this second part of our two-week series about stroke awareness, we will cover the ways you can raise awareness about stroke prevention and treatment and how to identify and eliminate risk factors.

Over the years, public education campaigns have been conducted during May to increase awareness of different aspects of stroke that directly affect specific populations, such as women or those at high risk for stroke. Today, National Stroke Association continues educating the public through campaigns such as the Faces of Stroke℠ and by creating easy-to-use tools and resources that initiate individuals and groups to raise awareness on a local level.

According to Samaritan Stroke Services, risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, atrial fibrillation and smoking.

“If stroke or other risk factors run in your family, there’s a higher chance you could be at risk too,” says Karen Phillips, RN and clinical coordinator for Samaritan Stroke Services. “By talking to your doctor and taking preventative measures, you'll have a much better chance of avoiding a stroke."

What can you do this May to raise awareness about stroke prevention and treatment?

1. Familiarize yourself with the emotional, physical and financial impacts that strokes have on our country.
2. Influence others to improve their health by sharing personal stories of how stroke affects lives.
3. Talk to legislators and thought leaders about how their decisions can positively affect survivors throughout their recovery.

What Can You Do to Lower Your Chance of Having a Stroke?

• People with a family history of stroke are more likely to have a stroke. If you have such a history of stroke, let your doctor know.
• Prevent and control high blood pressure
• Prevent and control diabetes.
• Eat healthy food
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise
• Abstain from using tobacco
• Do not overindulge in alcohol (Don’t drink more than two drinks per day on average for men or more than one drink per day on average for women).
• Treat atrial fibrillation.

The key to surviving a stroke is awareness and prompt medical attention. “Stroke does not have to be as debilitating as we once believed,” says James Meschia, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic's Primary Stroke Center. “However, obtaining prompt medical attention is critical so the effects of a stroke can be limited and the patient's condition can be managed to prevent further damage and improve recovery.”

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 3.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information.

Part 1 of a 2-Part Series

National Stroke Awareness Month is an annual event held each May since 1989, designed to make Americans aware that they may be able to “Save the Life” of a person experiencing a stroke…be it a co-worker, friend, neighbor or family member. In fact, knowing what causes a stroke, what you can do to prevent one and what to do if you or someone else may be experiencing a stroke could save a life—possibly even your own. In this first of a two-post series, we will discuss the nature and causes of strokes as well as the ways to prevent and identify strokes.

According to the CDC, the National Stroke Association and the Mayo Clinic, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is also a leading cause of serious long-term disability. There are approximately 795,000 new strokes reported in America each year. And although the majority of strokes strike people who are aged 65 years or older, strokes can actually occur at any age. In fact, according to a new study, Trends of Acute Ischemic Stroke Hospitalizations in the U.S., the CDC found that stroke hospitalizations have increased among both males and females aged 5–44 years old, raising concern about young people who might not be aware that they, too, could suffer from strokes.

A stroke or “brain attack” occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. Brain cells die when they no longer receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood or when they are damaged by sudden bleeding. When these cells die during a stroke, the victim loses those abilities that are controlled by that area of the brain. These abilities include speech, movement and memory. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in how much of the brain is damaged.

For example, someone who has a small stroke may experience only minor problems such as weakness of an arm or leg. People who have large strokes may be paralyzed on one side or even lose their ability to speak. Although some people recover completely from strokes, more than 2/3 of survivors incur some type of disability.

The good news is that up to 80% of strokes are preventable. So, armed with the right information, you can prevent a stroke! The best thing you can do to prevent a stroke is to familiarize yourself with stroke symptoms. And, if you or anyone appears to be suffering a stroke, immediately call 911. Do not delay. Don’t worry about being embarrassed if the symptoms turn out to be something other than a stroke. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. In fact, calling at once is crucial in order to ensure treatment is administered in a timely fashion. Given at the onset of a stroke, new treatments can actually reduce the severity of a stroke for some victims.

The most common warning signs of a stroke are sudden:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding or problems with memory, spatial orientation or perception
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes, blurred or double vision
• Trouble walking, dizziness or loss or balance or coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause which may be accompanied by a stiff neck, facial pain, pain between your eyes, vomiting or altered consciousness

“Every minute counts,” according to Karen Phillips, RN and clinical coordinator for Samaritan Stroke Services. “When someone is having a stroke, the sooner they are treated, the greater their chances are of having a complete recovery or experiencing limited damage. When strokes are treated within three hours with “clot-busting” medication, most patients will do very well, but that drug will not be as effective after three hours from the onset of the stroke, so time truly is of the essence.”

For more about strokes, check out next week’s RJWestmore blog posts. In the meantime, when a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 3.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information.

The Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month each April since the 1970s. So we at RJWestmore, Inc would like to take this opportunity to devote one of our April blog posts to alert the public about autism-related issues.

Affecting one in every 88 children in America, autism is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. This family of disorders includes autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art.

How can the average person help? Here are a few suggestions:

• Show you care. The Autism puzzle symbol is one of the most recognizable brands in the US. According to the Autism Society of America, the Autism Awareness Ribbon is a puzzle pattern which reflects the mystery and complexity of the autism spectrum. The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families who are living with the condition. The brightness of the ribbon signals hope—hope that through increased awareness of autism, and through early intervention and appropriate treatments, people with autism will lead fuller, more complete lives. Show your support of individuals who deal with autism by sporting the icon with a lapel pin, bumper sticker or refrigerator magnet.

To purchase the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon for your shirt, car, locker or refrigerator, or to order additional Autism Awareness items such as shoelaces, ornaments or scarves, click here.

Make a difference. Contact your representatives on the state and federal level and ask them to “Vote 4 Autism.” Connect to find out what your elected officials think about legislation which affects people with autism. For more information about this legislation and to take action to support it, visit www.autism-society.org/vote4autism. Also, you can search the Autism Legislation Database for up-to-date information about relevant issues.

Connect with your community.Many Autism Society local chapters hold special events in their communities throughout the month of April. But if you can’t find an event that suits you, feel free to create your own! Since autistic individuals struggle with simple tasks such as brushing their teeth or getting dressed, families need all of the help they can get.

1Power4Autism is an online tool that makes it easy to mobilize friends and family and help make a difference. The Autism Society recognizes the power that one person, one organization, one idea or one event can have on autism. Everyone can make a difference and support the one mission of the Autism Society.

A grassroots event program for the Autism Society to increase awareness, raise funds, and expand volunteers for national and local autism support programs, 1Power4Autism uses advocacy, fundraising events, volunteering and awareness campaigns to can create a powerful movement and make autism a national priority.

Watch a movie. Did you know that something as simple as going to the movies is not an option for many families affected by autism? The Autism Society is working with AMC Theatres to bring special-needs families Sensory Friendly Films every month. Click here for more information.

BE SAFE. RJWestmore, Inc. offers an informational worksheet detailing the most effective way to deal with people who have Autism, in the event of an emergency. The emergency preparedness instructions help family members as well as friends and first responders remember the proper methods for helping Autistic people, since those who care for people with autism, or are in close contact with an autistic person, must take special precautions before, during and after any emergency. What’s more, RJWestmore has a contact form for Autism Risk & Safety Management. Completing the form in advance provides first-responders.

Also, the RJWestmore Training System offers an informational PDF which is automatically sent to users who adds themselves to the Special Assistance List. The document is meant for anyone who identifies him or herself as having “any condition, temporary or permanent, that hinders or impedes the individual or others from safely evacuating.”

These individuals are encouraged to register and notify their company, the office of the building/Fire Safety Director and their Fire/Floor Warden.  They are also reminded to follow specific emergency action plan manual instructions and participate in all drills. All of these resources are provided for the safety of the affected individual as well as those in his or her community.

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information.

Emergency managers are experiencing a “sense of urgency” about the importance of including mass notification systems in professional disaster plans.

A mass notification system is a means of delivering a message to a large set of recipients. The complexity of the system is often dependent on the type of message that must be sent. For example, a mass email might be sufficient to alert employees about a drill, whereas notifying individuals when a building is on fire would require real-time interaction, escalation, scheduling, rosters and fail-over scenarios. One such mass notification system is the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

Homeland Security describes the system like this: “The EAS is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers, and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers to provide the communications capability to the President to address the American public during a national emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information, such as AMBER alerts and weather information targeted to specific areas.”

At a recent international security system conference, emergency manager, Mike Madden, explained the sense of urgency about creating mass notification systems of all kinds: “I think we are beginning to see a trend towards MNS spreading to larger corporate campuses and large manufacturing facilities because of the very nature of these large complexes and violence in the workplace. People are looking at more options to protect their employees.”

Incidents like the bombing of the Khobar Towers in 1996 and the shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007 moved the concept and importance of mass notification to the forefront for government as well as secondary education. As a result, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are adopting mass notification systems for hospitals and clinics around the country. What’s more, large defense contractors like Boeing are starting to explore the need for bring mass notification for military bases.

Part of the reason for interest in the systems is a basic cost benefit analysis for business owners who realize that, in an emergency, a mass notification system can get everyone to rapidly assemble at the onset of a disaster and quickly return to work stations following emergencies. And time is money.

Peter Ebersold, director of marketing for Notifier/Honeywell Fire Group said that, post September 11, most people expect mass notification to be employed. And at airports, that’s probably true. However, such is not always the case. In fact, a host of public transportation stations and large commercial buildings have no such system in place.

Fortunately, the RJWestmore Training System features a fully-integrated messaging system, which allows all users to instantly communicate with tenant managers or occupants in any property, without the necessity of leaving the RJWestmore Training System. While logged in, users can easily send mass messages which are delivered to everyone located in one or multiple properties, simply by clicking “all,” or targeting particular groups. So subscribers of the RJWestmore Training System don’t have to invest in cost-prohibitive free-standing notification systems for their commercial properties.

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

Include medications in your emergency preparedness kit.

Authorities repeatedly remind the public about the need for disaster preparedness to mitigate the impact of natural and man-made disasters. And here at RJWestmore, Inc., we encourage folks to BE SAFE by taking necessary steps to prepare for emergencies instead of being caught unawares. Arguably among the most important items to take care of on the front end is medicine.

Medicines are unlike other consumer goods because they are sensitive to external forces such as light and temperature. What’s more, medical professionals prescribe them only in small doses and most prescription or over-the-counter medications have limited shelf lives. So proper planning is important.

Thankfully, external stimulants like sunlight and extreme cold or heat may lead only to superficial changes, like discoloration. However, in other cases, failure to properly handle or store drugs may impact efficacy and/or potency. For specific instructions about safely handling and storing your own medication, contact your health professional. We are not doctors. So we provide these hints for handling medication only as a courtesy to encourage you to factor medication in your emergency planning.

Before a Disaster:

• Talk to your physician about your desire to prepare for emergencies. Ask if he or she would be willing to prescribe one extra dose of necessary medications, which you should fill and rotate in your disaster supply kit.
• Include medications for everyone in your family…including pets.
• Take extra care to make sure life-saving medicine is always on hand, such as insulin, heart medicine or asthma inhalers.
• Stock up on OTC medicine like aspirin, pain reliever, laxatives, anti-diarrhea medication and nasal decongestants.
• Don’t forget about topical agents like Calamine lotion, burn cream, hydrogen peroxide, eyewash and antibacterial ointment.
• Stow adhesive bandages, wraps, swabs, cotton balls, scissors, and disposable gloves, sterile dressings to stop bleeding, hand sanitizer or antibiotic towelettes.
• Prescribed medical supplies are as important as medications. Don’t forget important items like glucose monitoring equipment or blood pressure monitors.

Following an Emergency:

After emergencies such as a fire, earthquake or flood, consider the possibility that the effectiveness of your medicine may have been compromised.

The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers information about specific drugs that can potentially be affected by fire, flooding or unsafe water as well as the use of temperature-sensitive products that might react if refrigeration becomes temporarily unavailable.

According to the FDA:

“If lifesaving medication in its container looks normal the medication could still be used until a replacement is available.” Again, please talk to your doctor about the medicines you rely on for health and wellness.

• During floods, medicines might be exposed to unsafe or contaminated water. Contaminated medication can have serious health repercussions.
• Authorities recommended that drug products—even those in their original containers—should be discarded if they have come into contact with flood or contaminated water. This includes medicine capsules, tablets and liquids in containers with screw-top caps, snap lids, or droppers.
• Medications that have been placed in alternative storage containers should also be discarded if they have come in contact with flood or contaminated water.
• For reconstituted medicines or drugs that are mixed with water, the FDA stresses that “The drug should only be reconstituted with purified or bottled water.” Also, in this case, use only water instead of alternative liquids.
• Power outages often immediately follow disasters. Some medicines such as insulin require refrigeration. This is important to consider because unrefrigerated insulin has a shorter shelf life than what is displayed on the label. So remember to check all of your drugs once power is restored. And, when in doubt, throw it out!

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

BE SAFE. Be prepared for personal attacks.

Since we provide online safety training to tenants and residents of buildings, most of our blog posts relate to preparing for natural and man-made large-scale disasters. But our commitment to our clients’ safety extends beyond their well being while they are working or living in high rise structures. So we wanted to devote a post to personal security.

Is it possible to prepare yourself to deal with attempted assault and battery? Can you be sure you remain safe at all times? Should you take steps to make sure you’re prepared? Or is it enough to depend on uniformed police officers to step in on your behalf?

Here are a few startling statistics about crime in the United States:

• Approximately 12 million violent crimes are committed in the United States every single year.
• The violent crime category includes murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
• According to the most recent data available on the Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics’ website, in the United States in 2009, more than 307,000 people were victims of a violent crime:
• 88,000 forcibly raped
• 15,000 victims of murder or non-negligent manslaughter
• 408,000 robbed
• 807,000 assaulted
• The city of Detroit, Michigan is just one alarming example of how violent crime is thriving.  So far this year in Detroit, car thefts are up 83%, robberies are up 50%, burglaries are up 20% and property destruction is up 42%.
• Gang violence is rampant. USA Today reports that criminal gangs in the USA have swelled to an estimated one million members responsible for up to 80% of crimes in communities across the nation.
• One in four women in America will be raped. The FBI reports that only one in four rapes is recorded in the Uniform Crime Reports. And those reports do not include rapes that end in death, since those are reported as homicides.

In light of these statistics, is it sufficient to expect law enforcement to step in to ensure your personal safety? Consider the fact that there are approximately 800,000 police officers in the nation. Since there are some 312 million people in America, the ratio of law enforcement to citizens is 1 to 40. While they do their best to serve and protect, cops are not omnipresent. So, it’s imperative that you do your part to BE SAFE:

1. BE aware. When you’re walking to your car or a building, make sure you remain alert and aware of your surroundings. Is anyone following you? Does anything appear suspicious? In the same way you were taught to drive defensively, constantly monitor your surroundings so you remain on your guard against potential attacks.
2. BE careful. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way. If you walk by yourself in a dark alley at night or in a low-lit unsecured parking structure, you are inviting criminals to strike.
3. BE prepared. Whether you take a kick-boxing, martial arts or self-defense class, take steps to arm yourself with tools to fight off potential attackers.
4. BE heard. If you suspect that someone is following you, make noise. In fact, don’t be afraid to scream. If you are loud, you might thwart criminals who will move on to other less vocal targets of opportunity.
5.  BE wise. Don’t venture outside alone at night. Don’t stop by the side of the road to assist a stranded motorist if you’re by yourself. Don’t carry lots of cash or leave your purse or wallet open.

When a disaster of any kind strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

Avid fans of the television series Star Trek are familiar with the term: cloaking device. In a turn proving the fact that truth is stranger than fiction, physicists from the University of St. Andrews In Kentucky have created a cloaking device that is literally capable of hiding 3D objects. In their paper published in the New Journal of Physics, the St. Andrew’s team explains that the new device hides microscopic objects from view as seen from any angle.

In the same way that cloaking devices make objects appear invisible by deflecting light around them, pressurized rubber could be used to “hide” structures from shock waves produced by earthquakes, sending them around the structure rather than through it. This is good news for building owners and property managers since cloaking could potentially defend structures against earthquakes and other natural disasters.

The whole idea of cloaking works because light is the means by which we see everything around us. For example, consider how light strikes a computer keyboard and then bounces back through the user’s pupils into the back of his or her eyes, enabling writers to see what they are typing. If something were to be placed under a keyboard that caused the light behind it to bend before it hit the keyboard, and then caused it to bend back on the other side before it came to our eyes, we’d see nothing but the table the keyboard is sitting on.

If cloaking technology had been available last year, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant might have been able to escape damage from the earthquake and associated tsunami. According to mathematicians from the University of Manchester, invisibility cloaks could be used to protect key structures such as nuclear power plants, government facilities and electric pylons from earthquakes and terrorist attacks.

“Significant progress has been made, both theoretically and practically in the area of cloaking. We showed theoretically that stressing a naturally available material—rubber—leads to a cloaking effect from a specific type of elastic wave,” wrote Dr. William Parnell in The Proceedings of the Royal Society. “Our team is now working hard on more general theories and to understand how this theory can be realized in practice. If the theory can be scaled up to larger objects then it could be used to create cloaks to protect buildings and structures, or perhaps more realistically to protect very important specific parts of those structures.”

The new cloaking device won’t be on the market in the immediate future since the experiment used elements too small to be seen by the human eye. After more research is done, it will eventually be sized up and expanded to cloak everyday objects such as buildings.

When a disaster strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com for more information.

The RJWestmore Training System seamlessly connects users to the NOAA website.

Recently, on both the east and west coast, it’s felt a lot more like spring or summer than winter. Nevertheless, severe snow, avalanche warnings and damaging winds loom. No matter where you live and work, despite meteorological assertions to the contrary, weather is unpredictable. Even the most methodical forecasts often underestimate the severity of weather events. And even storms that come with prior warning can cause catastrophic results.

To BE SAFE, building managers and property owners should create a severe weather event plan and be ready to implement it with little or no advanced warning. This practice is a fundamental part of emergency preparedness which is essential to life safety and building protection. So, prepare today for potential severe weather such as hail storm, cyclone, hurricane, electrical storm, ice storm, thunderstorm, tornado, blizzard, flood and winter storm, extreme cold or extreme heat.
Here’s how to prepare for severe weather:

• Before you need it, set up and consistently test your ability to communicate during emergencies.

• Make use of applications that instantly transmit messages and weather advisories to tenant subscribers via voicemail, email and text messaging. The RJWestmore Training System includes an integrated property messaging system for just this type of communication.

• Whatever system you use, send notifications before, during and after severe storms. For use in extreme emergencies, these applications also have a reply feature that allows recipients to tell building staff that they are safe.

• Make sure lines of communication are open to your city’s emergency services so you will be alerted to disaster-related information. Learn your community’s warning signals and evacuation plans.

• Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify severe weather, such as advisories, watches and warnings.

• Purchase and program a NOAA Weather Radio for alerts. The RJWestmore training system includes NOAA weather watchers warningsand alerts button that users can click to enter zip code and then sign up for text messaging, desktop warnings, etc.
  

  The RJWestmore Training System Homepage features alive NOAA Weather link.

• Evaluate the current condition of your building:

o    Keep roofs and setbacks clean and clear, with scaffolding or loose equipment securely tied down.
o    Double check storm drains to prevent ice build-up.
o    Set up sandbags when preparing for a flood.
o    Test emergency backup equipment and systems.
o    Make sure adequate supplies are accessible.
o    Check flashlight batteries.
o    Confirm your energy management software functions properly.
o    Prepare an emergency kit that includes food, water, blankets and medical supplies as well as a whistle to signal for help. For a more complete list of provisions to gather for impending storms, check out the free preparedness tips from FEMA.

• If necessary, call extra operations and security staff.

• Monitor the status of mass transit services and roadways for tenant advisories.

• Consider retaining a 24/7 disaster recovery company to assist with storm damage remediation.

When a disaster strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJWestmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. What’s more, the NEW RJWestmore Property Messaging System is included FREE for all RJWestmore Online Training System users. Visit www.RJWestmore.com  for more information.

Here is some food for thought.

The information below is not all inclusive and is only intended to motivate you to GET PREPARED! Use your RJWestmore Online Training System ^TM or building-specific Emergency Manual and onsite training for more complete policies and procedures.

If a disaster of any kind strikes the building where you work or live, you will need to act quickly based on proper training. But not all situations necessitate evacuation. For instance, a power outage does not necessarily call for immediate evacuation. Further, depending upon the circumstances of the emergency (civil unrest for example), it might actually be safer to shelter in place inside the building.

Reaction time is very important in any emergency. You must be properly trained to react in the safest manner based on the ever changing, unique combination of circumstances. You should also coordinate with the qualified professionals in your building (or emergency responders) to evaluate the nature of the event, gather additional information, including the overall safety of the building and presence of hazardous materials systems (such as power, alarm systems, ventilation, mechanical systems, etc.)

If you hear an alarm, smell smoke, see fire or are instructed to evacuate, use your training and best judgment to immediately move to safety.

• Assume all alarms are real.
• Don’t panic. Stay calm.
• Move quickly but do not run.
• Call 911.
• Grab your “Go Bag” and critical personal belongings if it is safe to do so. (Your preassembled Go Bag should have comfortable shoes, prescription medications, energy bar, water, glasses, etc.) [Remember, it could be several hours before you are readmitted to the building.]
• Close doors behind you as you evacuate (but do not lock them). Emergency responders may need to gain access and Floor/Fire Wardens should be searching every room to make sure everyone has moved to safety.
• Proceed to the nearest safe exit farthest from danger. Do not use the elevator.
• Head to your predetermined Emergency Assembly Area—Safe Refuge Area and check in immediately. (If you are mobility-impaired in a building with fire-rated stairwells, you will move to the safest stairwell landing with your two assistance monitors (buddies) and wait for emergency responder assistance. If you are mobile and can evacuate safely, you might relocate within your building down to a safer floor or you might completely exit the building.)
• Wait for any instructions from first responders or building personnel.
• Do not re-enter the building until you have been instructed to do so by trained professionals.
• If anyone has been injured, call 911 and inform onsite emergency responders and building personnel.
• If you have a disability, make sure you inform building management and add yourself to the “Special Assistance List” BEFORE THE EMERGENCY. Learn the shortest, most accessible pathway for exiting from each area. Check with the building owner or property manager for approved evacuation routes, which (based on your unique special needs) should be incorporated as part of their Emergency Action Plan.
• RJWestmore Online Training System ^TM users can add/remove themselves from a “Special Assistance List” that automatically notifies building personnel of you and your special needs.

Did you know that safety training is a crucial part of legal compliance for commercial properties? Tenants whose property managers use RJWestmore Training enjoy access to interactive, life-saving instruction available 24/7 right over the internet. Ask your building owner or manager about the RJWestmore System, which helps train tenants and floor wardens for disasters such as fires (which are the most common emergency), earthquakes, bomb threats, medical emergencies, power outages and more.

The RJWestmore Training System provides building-specific information for emergency personnel, so professionals are able to familiarize themselves with property blueprints before they arrive on scene. This type of information is extremely useful because it saves valuable time.

What’s more, the RJWestmore System alerts emergency personnel when individuals in member-buildings require special assistance during an evacuation. This notice includes individuals who are physically challenged, mobility impaired, have temporary or permanent disabilities, medical conditions, pregnancy or any other conditions that could impede or prevent them or others from safely descending stairwells without assistance.

Here are some more RJWestmore Training System 2.5 perks:

• Everything is available online, including building-specific training and certification
• Training complies with federal, state and local laws
• Provides 24/7 training because seconds count when it comes to responding to emergencies.
• Promotes a safety-oriented environment
• Prepares you to react immediately
• Advises about preliminary warning signs
• Training is one of your best defenses against potentially fatal consequences.
• Helps you from becoming a victim.
• Shows you how to respond to hurricanes ahead of time. Because some emergencies are predictable, there is no excuse for failing to prepare.
• Immediate action can save your life.
• Provides information about how to respond to severe weather.   The U.S. is the most severe weather-prone country on earth. Flash floods, excessive rainfall, dam or levy breaches require proper training to mitigate water damage and save lives.

When a disaster strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJ Westmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.5 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. Visit www.RJWestmore.com  for more information.