OSHA First Aid Kit for Small Businesses

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OSHA’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards business regulations requires first aid kits for certain types of businesses. However no matter the nature of your business, it is not unreasonable to have a basic first aid kit on hand.

The following first aid kit list sets forth the minimally acceptable number and type of first-aid supplies for first-aid kits required for loggers, and frankly, it doesn’t seem like much. I have more than this in my first aid kit in my house!

The contents of the first-aid kit listed should be adequate for small work sites, consisting of approximately two to three employees. When larger operations or multiple operations are being conducted at the same location, additional first-aid kits should be provided at the work site or additional quantities of supplies should be included in the first-aid kits:

OSHA First Aid Kit List:

1. Gauze pads (at least 4 x 4 inches).

2. Two large gauze pads (at least 8 x 10 inches).

3. Box adhesive bandages (band-aids).

4. One package gauze roller bandage at least 2 inches wide.

5. Two triangular bandages.

6. Wound cleaning agent such as sealed moistened towelettes.

7. Scissors.

8. At least one blanket.

9. Tweezers.

10. Adhesive tape.

11. Latex gloves.

12. Resuscitation equipment such as resuscitation bag, airway, or

pocket mask.

13. Two elastic wraps.

14. Splint.

15. Directions for requesting emergency assistance.

Once an employee is injured, having the right first aid available can significantly reduce further injury of valued employees.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News Live. Disclosures

June is Home Safety Month

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You may think all the corners of tables in my hope are protected with soft pillows and my kids are wrapped in bubble wrap. No, but there are few safety hazards and yes, my kids are wrapped in bubble wrap. We helicopter parent the heck out of them and I can’t think of any other way to be. Maybe they wash their hands too much, but is there such a thing?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is there to raise parents’ awareness about the leading causes of injury and how they can be prevented.

Protect the Ones You Love

More than 9 million children between birth and age 19 are seen for injuries each year in U.S. emergency departments, and injuries are the leading cause of death among children in this age group.

Home Safety Month is an ideal time to learn about child safety and the top causes of child injury.

 

Burns

Install and maintain smoke alarms in your home.

Develop and practice a family fire escape plan.

Set your water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

Use safe cooking practices, such as never leaving food unattended on the stove.

Drownings

Install a four-sided isolation fence, with self-closing and self-latching gates, around backyard swimming pools.

Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and get recertified every two years.

Supervise young children at all times around bathtubs, swimming pools, and natural bodies of water.

Slips and Falls

Use playground equipment that is properly designed and maintained, and that has a soft landing surface material below.

Use home safety devices, such as guards on windows that are located above ground-level, stair gates, and guard rails.

Supervise young children at all times around fall hazards, like stairs and playground equipment.

Poisonings

Store medicines and other toxic products such as cleaning solutions in locked or childproof cabinets.

Put the poison control number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every home telephone.

Dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures

Devising a Family Emergency Action Plan

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Tragedy happens. Mother Nature, manmade disasters, accidents and freak occurrences require families to have some form of emergency action plan or evacuation plan.  The best defense to aver tragedy is having systems in place.

The Red Cross is known for their disaster response strategy and they have put together a comprehensive list of steps to take:

Create a Family Emergency Plan

Meet with your family or household members.

Discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live, learn, work and play.

Identify responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team.

If a family member is in the military, plan how you would respond if they were deployed.

Plan what to do in case you are separated during an emergency

Choose two places to meet:

Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire

Outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate

Choose an out­of­area emergency contact person. It may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Everyone should have emergency contact information in writing or programmed into their cell phones.

Make a Home Evacuation Plan

Decide where you would go and what route you would take to get there. You may choose to go to a hotel/motel, stay with friends or relatives in a safe location or go to an evacuation shelter if necessary.

Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on your map in case roads are impassable.

Plan ahead for your pets. Keep a phone list of pet­friendly hotels/motels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes.

The most important aspect of any fire is protecting life and limb. The stuff inside and the structure itself doesn’t matter when it comes to family safety. But when people lose all their stuff in a fire, it is still very hard, and to some, devastating.

If you lose all your mementos, clothes, photos and all the items that make life comfortable, it can take 1-2 years or more to adjust and get back on your feet.

Fortunately, today’s home security systems can also be equipped with fire alarms that prompt a dispatcher to call the fire department ASAP.

On houses with porches that have poles and posts and the resident is adept at climbing that may be a consideration for some.

The safest and most recommended option is a fire escape ladder. I own a 25 foot ladder, three-story fire escape ladder with anti-slip rungs that can hang out a window.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures

ADT Pulse: Remote Security Systems for Small Business

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The standard old school home alarm system covers monitoring, doors, windows, motion and glass. Today’s digital wireless home alarms are much more. Today’s small business alarms are much much more.

While these remote security systems are very simple and easy to program, they are very complex, but user friendly. Once you dive into the system it gives you a tremendous amount of “awareness” of the goings on in and around your small business and the alarm system does it automatically.

No matter the nature of your business, whether you have inventory, hardware, assets, or employee or client data, you need to make sure your business is protected by a security system.

Remote Arm/Disarm

From almost anywhere you can easily arm and disarm your system, giving added security when you can’t be there to lock up.

Secured Remote Video Monitoring

You can view events in multiple areas of your facility, have greater control over loss, and oversee your business from almost anywhere.

Office Equipment Control

Somebody leaves the coffee maker on. The AC is set on high. You can control these settings when you’re not in the office.

Email & Text Alerts

Whether away on business or across town at home, you can receive email & text alerts regarding your business and system.

Office Light/Temperature Control

You can control the lights and thermostats in your office remotely, saving energy, time and money. You can also set up recurring events.

Find out more information on ADT Pulse at ADTPulse.com

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News Live. Disclosures

Identifying Safety Hazards During Your Home Search

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Buying a home is stressful. The whole process is overwhelming due to it being such a large dollar amount coupled with wondering if you’ll actually get the loan. Then on top of itall, you want to make sure the home you are buying is safe for your family.

Studies show the major causes of injury in a home revolve around  people falling, getting poisoned, home fires and choking. And then the concerns go to hazards and toxins like carbon monoxide, lead paint, mold infestation, asbestos and radon gas.

When looking to buy a home and even looking around your own home notice:

Falling: Outside,look for unsafe conditions that would facilitate a fall.Such as retaining walls or ledges without proper barriers, porches or stairs without proper railings.Inside,are the stairs to the higher floors safe? Is the wood rotted? How about the basement stairs? Are the windows on higher levels equipped with proper locks so kids can’t open them? Are there locks on doors to porches? How accessible is the attic and is the attic floor solid or lined only with insulation?

Drowning: Does the property have a pool? Is it fenced according to code? Is the pool directly accessible from the home without an additional fence or gate? Is there a pond or lake? Are there barriers to entry? Are there wells, tight tanks or drainage tanks that are accessible by removing a simple manhole cover?

Hazardous materials: Is there evidence of the storage of chemicals inside or out? Any containers or smells of gasoline or any flammable materials? Has the soil ever been tested for chemicals? Are the garage rafters, attic and basement completely free of old containers that might contain toxins? Has the basement been tested for radon? Is there lead in the paint? Have the pipes been tested for asbestos insulation?

Carbon monoxide: This is when a good inspector is necessary. It would also be a good time to have portable carbon monoxide detectors to determine if the boilers, burners or furnace vents are leaking. An inspection of the furnace and the chimney are necessary to rule out any leaks.

Mold: If the homes forced hot air has too much moisture in it then the vents can get moldy. If the home has or has ever had a leaky roof or leaky pipes or if the siding wasn’t I installed properly then mold can grow in the basement, attic, walls and ceilings. Mold is a real problem that a good inspector can detect.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News.Disclosures

Electrical Safety in Your Home

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Electricity is an increasing presence in our modern lives. May is National Electrical Safety Month, and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is promoting a healthy respect for electricity and increasing awareness of electrical hazards.

Electrical incidents and fires disrupt countless lives and result in the loss of billions of dollars in productivity and assets each year.

Week 1 – Cooking Up Safety in the Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where families gather to cook favorite recipes, share warm meals, and reconnect with each other, but it’s also the location where two-thirds of all home fires start. Identify and correct potential hazards in your kitchen before someone gets hurt.

Week 2 – Plug Into Safety in Your Family Room

The family room is an area of the home where many people go to unwind and relax, but there are certainly a lot of appliances powered there. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average home today has three televisions, two DVD players, at least one digital camera, one desktop computer and two cell phones. Many homes and their electrical systems were built before most modern-day home electronics and appliances were even invented. Learn to recognize and eliminate potential electrical hazards that can exist in common areas of your home.

Week 3 –Wake Up to Safety in the Bedroom

The average adult sleeps almost 8 hours per night, spending at least one-third of every day in their bedroom. Unfortunately, we are often at our most vulnerable while asleep. Thirty-six percent of people killed in home fires never wake up. Take steps to make sure your bedroom is safe—you’ll sleep better!

Week 4 – Build a Foundation of Safety in the Basement

The basement is one of the most commonly ignored areas of the home. Yet, it is also where some of your most essential—and expensive—home electrical equipment is kept. Heating equipment and electrical distribution systems are two of the leading causes of home fires. You can help keep your home safe by learning the basics of how these systems work and making sure they are properly maintained.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussing home security and identity theft on TBS Movie and a Makeover.Disclosures

Top 10 Warning Signs of Employee Theft

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that employee theft costs American employers more than $50 billion dollars each year. In a study conducted last year by The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, executives of 60 percent of the companies surveyed said they expected their employees to steal money or equipment. Another study conducted by The Chubb Group in 2004 found that 39 percent of private companies had employees who stole company funds, equipment, or merchandise.

 

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to employee theft. Many dollars are saved when business owners and managers make prevention their top priority.

Look out for:

#1 Big spenders: Large purchases such as cars, TVs, jewelry, vacations and more, especially if they cry poormouth.

#2 Violators: Employees who habitually violate company policies are breaking the rules in more ways than one. Often that means they steal too.

#3 Drug abusers: Employees that have a substance abuse problem need to feed their habit and they steal to do it.

#4 Liars: White lies are lies. If you catch employees in a little lie, chances are they are lying big.

#5 Disgruntled: Employees who may have cause to feel wronged justify their theft. If work conditions are unfair, morale goes down and theft goes up.

#6 Loners: If an employee makes an effort to work alone that may mean they are scheming and planning to steal.

#7 Comes in early, leaves late: While this may please some employers, the extra 30 minutes before and after everyone arrives and departs allows for plenty of time to toss items in their car with no one watching.

#8 Cooked books: The moment a discrepancy is recognized a deep investigation into the numbers must be performed.

#9 Protect your business by performing background checks as they are the best defense against internal theft. Screen all employees before hiring them. Limit the number of employees authorized to ring up other employees’ sales, reducing the opportunities for collusion. Use a card access system rather than traditional keys to digitally document who comes and goes.

#10 Install a closed-circuit television system. It allows you to monitor employees and serves as a very strong deterrent when employees know one is in place. Install hidden cameras. Employees will seek out blind spots where there are no cameras.

Robert Siciliano personal and small business security specialist toADT Small Business Security discussingADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures

5 Steps To Ensure Your Home Loan Is Safe

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Home loans are granted by banks who are FDIC insured. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency created by the Congress to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation’s financial system. The FDIC preserves and promotes public confidence in the U.S. financial system by insuring deposits in banks and thrift institutions for at least $250,000; by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to the deposit insurance funds; and by limiting the effect on the economy and the financial system when a bank or thrift institution fails. In essence the FDIC has your back.

Problems with loans today generally revolve around loan modification that puts a borrower in a risky position. Many people are 30-120 days or more behind on their payments. Many face foreclosure and others get a temporary reprieve from their banks. The idea behind a modification is to get your loan to a point where you can afford it and keep up with the payments.

Step 1: Before you get into trouble look at your finances, your reserves, and how much you could afford if you lost your job and for how long.

Step 2: Contact your lender and see if there are modification programs that would work for those numbers in Step 1. You might quickly find you can get a cheaper loan for little or no costs.

Step 3: Do your homework. This means get educated, get savvy, and learn the ins and outs of your options. Get the assistance of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that are available to provide you with the information and assistance you need to avoid foreclosure. As part of President Obama’s comprehensive Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan (HASP), you may be eligible for a special Making Home Affordable loan modification or refinance, to reduce your monthly payments and help you keep your home.

Step 4: Keep good records. Mortgages require reams of documentation necessary to process a loan or modification. Gather all your paperwork and keep it in one place. This file will grow, so clearly mark each document and place it in its proper file.

Step 5: Honesty is the best policy: There are dozens of documents to fill out, paperwork to provide and many more questions to answer. In this process there are numerous opportunities to lie with whatever is written down or provided. Be forewarned that banks are getting much better at uncovering these lies and going after violators.

The lending process doesn’t need to be scary, overwhelming or above your head. Just take the time to learn the fundamentals and your loan should be safe and secure.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures

10 Tips How to Prevent Retail Shoplifting

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People steal. Stealing is normal. That doesn’t mean it’s good, because it isn’t, but I’ll bet some scientist could prove stealing is in our DNA. We’ve been stealing to survive for millions of years. Today, you wouldn’t think stealing would be necessary, but still, millions steal because of need or greed. Store managers know this better than anyone.

According to the Nation Retail Security Survey, small businesses often experience higher annual shrinkage than larger companies. In part because smaller businesses are not equipped with retail security systems. However, there is plenty you can do to reduce and/or prevent retail theft.

Make it Difficult for Retail Theft to Happen:

#1 Instruct employees to be the first line of defense by greeting or acknowledging every customer who enters their department.

#2 Provide personal customer service to as many customers as possible.

#3 Instruct floor personnel to make frequent eye contact with customers who wish to browse on their own.

#4 Assign zones for staff coverage so that floor personnel don’t leave vulnerable areas unattended.

#5 Instruct floor personnel to make a pleasant comment to every customer about the item(s) being taken into the fitting room, so that the customer is aware of what is expected to be either returned or purchased.

#6 Always maintain 100 percent compliance when placing security tags on vulnerable merchandise.

#7 Install added security measures in “blind spots” around the store (e.g., bright lighting, security mirrors, anti-shoplifting signs, and camera).

#8 Lower displays around the cash register that block the cashier’s view of the selling floor.

#9 If your store is large in size, improve retail security by making frequent announcements over the public address (PA) system, such as “Security to area 4,” even if your store doesn’t have security personnel or an area 4.

#10 Issue a criminal trespass warning to all known shoplifters who you want to be prohibited (by law) from entering your store again. Let shoplifters know, by work and deed, that your store prosecutes all offenders.

Robert Siciliano personal and small business security specialist toADT Small Business Security discussingADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures

How to Respond in a Medical Emergency

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First, I’m no doctor so this advice is not intended to be substitute for consulting with a medical professional. If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, seek immediate medical attention.

But I am a Dad and these things interest me. So I hopped on over the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and took a page out of their book “What to do in a Medical Emergency” They have information on everything from Abdominal Pain to Snake Bites to Vomiting. But what interests me the most is the fundamentals like “Is It An Emergency?” because before we go diving into the particulars of specific emergencies, its’ good to look at it from 30,000 feet.

AECP says it is essential to know how to recognize the signs of a medical emergency – because correctly interpreting and acting on these signs could potentially save the life of a loved one — or your own life — one day. Many people experience the symptoms of an emergency, such as a stroke or a heart attack, but for various reasons (such as fear), delay seeking care right away. For many medical emergencies, time is of the essence, and delays in treatment can often lead to more serious consequences.

Emergency physicians believe it is the responsibility of every individual to learn to recognize the warning signs of a medical emergency. The following signs and symptoms and are not intended to represent every kind of medical emergency, but rather to provide examples of common issues.

Then they go onto discuss:

Add ‘ICE’ to Your Cell Phone

Preparing for Emergencies

Should You Drive or Call an Ambulance?

Symptoms of Childhood Emergencies

Warning Signs and Symptoms

What to Expect in the Emergency Department

When Your Child Has an Emergency

AECP says you also can learn to recognize — and act on —emergency warning signs by taking a first aid class and learning CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Your local hospital, American Red Cross or

American Heart Association may conduct first aid courses in your area or can guide you to organizations that do so.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures