Webinar Series Starting In March

SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST is the #1 killer in the US annually and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is the difference between life and death for these victims.  Every minute that goes by without using an AED results in a 10% less chance of survival!

You simply can’t wait for EMS or First Responder community teams to arrive!  National average EMS response is 8-10 minutes in urban areas.

OSHA highly recommends these devices in the workplace and there are many industry-specific, federal, state and local mandates for AEDs due to the death toll of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).  But, even if you are not mandated — you should consider purchasing one of these devices.  They take survival rates from SCA from 3-7% to over 65%! PLUS, if you can use a cell phone – YOU CAN USE AN AED!

So, are there any drawbacks to owning an AED?  Yes, if you do not maintain them or implement them according to your applicable AED acquirer laws in your city/county/state.  Think Safe knows these laws and is known for providing the legal protection and solutions our clients and dealers need.

Think Safe, in an effort to help our customers and dealers understand the legalities of defibrillator ownership, is sponsoring a webinar series on AED Programs: Avoiding Liability.

The webinar runs 3 times per day in March with speakers Paula Wickham or Greg Stebral, industry experts, providing key tips and resource materials for existing AED programs or those interested in selling AEDs or purchasing AEDs for their facility or workplace.

There is no fee.  There is no software to download. You just need an internet connection (no phone). All you have to do is go to:

http://www.thinksafewebinars.com/State-and-Local-AED-Acquirer-Laws.html

Once you fill out the form (we DO NOT SELL your information) you will be provided a screen that shows open webinars and you can click on and select any times / dates with open seats.

There are many dates/times to pick from this month- we know how hard it is to push a webinar into your busy schedule but…. you’ll find value from this webinar and we look forward to seeing you online.

Business AED Package

If you have any questions or want to schedule a specific time for this webinar please contact Paula Wickham at pwickham@think-safe.com or call our offices and ask for Paula or Greg, 319-377-5125.   Making Minutes Matter!

Automated External Defibrillators (AED)s: Pediatric & Infant Use

People who are familiar with AEDs and defibrillators know that both adult and pediatric pads had to be considered pre-2010 AHA science updates[separate pads are required to allow the AED to administer different shock dosage to the heart, lower for pediatric events of course].  Having both pads available creates extra costs as both have an expiry date and need replacement after 2 years usually. We often get asked, ” Do we really need pediatric pads?”

With the 2010 Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) and American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines Updates there comes new published science on the use of AEDs on infants and children. 

Former science [pre-2010 and post-2005] suggested not to use AEDs on infants and to use pediatric pads on children under 8 years of age or under 55 pounds.  Evidence of this from prior blogs or internet posts includes: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Defibrillator, which contains old outdated information summarized below.

OLD INFORMATION: Do not put adult pads on a pediatric patient and vice versa! Pediatric pads are used on children who are ages 12 and under. [this is pre-2005 information]

NEW GUIDELINES INFORMATION: http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@ecc/documents/downloadable/ucm_317350.pdf   clearly updates the guidelines to show that it is acceptable to use AEDs and even adult pads on pediatric patients, including infants.  The KEY is anterior and posterior placement.  For more details, see the information below pulled directly from the recent guidelines update.

AED Use in Children Now Includes Infants

2010 (New): For attempted defibrillation of children 1 to 8

years of age with an AED, the rescuer should use a pediatric

dose-attenuator system if one is available. If the rescuer

provides CPR to a child in cardiac arrest and does not have an

AED with a pediatric dose-attenuator system, the rescuer should

use a standard AED. For infants (<1 year of age), a manual

defibrillator is preferred. If a manual defibrillator is not available,

an AED with pediatric dose attenuation is desirable. If neither is

available, an AED without a dose attenuator may be used.

2005 (Old): For children 1 to 8 years of age, the rescuer

should use a pediatric dose-attenuator system if one is

available. If the rescuer provides CPR to a child in cardiac

arrest and does not have an AED with a pediatric attenuator

system, the rescuer should use a standard AED. There are

insufficient data to make a recommendation for or against the

use of AEDs for infants <1 year of age.

Why: The lowest energy dose for effective defibrillation in

infants and children is not known. The upper limit for safe

defibrillation is also not known, but doses >4 J/kg (as high

as 9 J/kg) have effectively defibrillated children and animal

models of pediatric arrest with no significant adverse effects.

Automated external defibrillators with relatively high-energy

doses have been used successfully in infants in cardiac arrest

with no clear adverse effects.

If you are a school or camp or childcare provider, what does this mean?  Until new science [in 2013 or after] is released you should consider looking at your current AED program.  Do you have pediatric pads currently?  Those will expire in 2 years or less – should you replace them?  In these economic times, there are many non-profits and schools who will not have adequate budgetary capacity and it may be a topic of consideration.  Due to the new science, strong consideration can be given to this — IF you can accommodate for proper AED use communication to responders or the public who would use the device with ADULT PADS on a child under 8 years or 55 pounds.

How do you accommodate?  A simple solution: a  sticker/decal set that can be attached to your AED case and responder supplies to remind responders on WHAT TO DO for pediatric events.  The set includes directions on where to find illustrations with 2010 instructions and how to apply the ADULT pads (complete with pictures) anterior [front] and posterior [back] for pediatric events and why.  Call 888-473-1777 for more technical information on this solution.

The reason for anterior and posterior placement, simply put, is to allow the pads to shock the heart WITHOUT the pads touching – the surface area of a pediatric victim’s chest is not large enough usually to allow normal ADULT pad placement.

Simple directions and illustrations and quick references on the AED, AED instruction manual or guides, AED policy and AED protocols and CPR/AED poster you keep at your facility all will help with communication of this simple change for pediatric vs. adult use.

The ONLY exception are customers who have Philips FRx (the ONLY model to allow switching of shock level with an Infant/Child Key inserted into the AED while using the SAME SET OF PADS).  Philips FRx models offer a wonderful solution for facilities that want to be able to accommodate pediatric or adult situations without a large CONSUMABLE cost from 2 yr disposable pads for each event.  The FRx is a more expensive model with a higher purchase price – however, IF you know you are going to be primarily using the device on pediatric patients, this model would be a leading device to consider.

We are here to help.  First Voice can provide a sticker/decal/ template set to easily show on your AED and responder supplies WHAT TO DO for pediatric events.  The set includes directions on where to find illustrations with 2010 instructions and how to apply the ADULT pads (complete with pictures) anterior [front] and posterior [back] for pediatric events and why.  Call 888-473-1777 or contact your dealer for First Voice products for more information – Part number PED-DECAL01.  Pricing is only $10.00 including shipping.  Please provide your AED brand so we can make sure to ship the right decal set.

First Voice EID upgrades NOW AVAILABLE!

Talking First Aid Book / First Aid Calculator

ECC / AHA & National First Aid Science Upgrades were released in late 2010.  For more information on this see our blog post from October:

http://thinksafe.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/the-2010-guidelines-for-cpr%E2%80%A6/

Think Safe’s First Voice EID is ready for CPR/First Aid upgrades to be sent to you, our dealers and customers!

Part No. DC01: The $29 upgrade is sent in a datacard and can be easily inserted/changed by following the user instructions sent with the upgrade.  

Dealers please contact us for further information on how to provide your customers easy upgrades (email:mmaly@think-safe.com).

The First Voice EID is the only Emergency Instruction Device / Talking First Aid Book / First Aid Calculator on the market for business use, containing all first aid & CPR AHA manual current protocols.  The device is easy to upgrade through an accessible dataport on the back of the device as first aid & CPR protocols do change every 3-5 years through scientific studies and advances in first aid / CPR science.

2010 updates implemented in 2011 on the EID protocols include:  CPR updates to include compression depth & C-A-B changes for trained rescuers and hands only CPR for untrained rescuers, education & recognition of gasping vs. normal breathing, and advised AED use for infants.  First Aid updates include additional heat stroke advice, jellyfish sting updated care,  clarification on aspirin use for heart attack symptoms, both US and Canadian Poison Control contact information, bleeding wound care updates (elevation, pressure points, tourniquet, compression bandage use), additional information on when to suspect head, neck or spinal injuries, and snakebite first aid care updates.

Please contact us today for your upgrade:

(email:pwickham@think-safe.com or 888/473/1777)

SafetyMate Trade-in: $50 Value!

Or, if you have an outdated SafetyMate model

NOW is the time to upgrade to First Voice:

$50 REBATE on ANY SafetyMate exchanged

& First Voice EID (AVU5001) ordered!

Expires:  3/31/2011

What are the reoccurring budget items for my AED program?

There are 5 potential budget items that affect your AED program.  Note that any non-compliance, where necessary, leads to a break down in your AED program and does open you to potential for legalities.  Once you have an AED program, remember to budget for these items where applicable!

1)       Electrode Pads – The majority of the AED models on the market have a 2 year electrode pad life.  The date of the expiration is clearly marked on the pad package, an example is shown on this posting for the Philips FRx Rugged AED.  Some AED models do have 3.5 yr expiry dates up to 5 yr expiry dates, however. Dates vary due to packaging mechanisms but be sure to follow manufacturer guidelines and expiration dates provided.  The electrode pads will dry out and prevent proper AED functioning/use if they are not replaced as needed.  Pads range in price from $35-$120, depending on make and model owned.

2)       Batteries – The majority of the AED models on the market have a 3-5 year warranty and lifespan.  The date of the expiration is also clearly marked on the battery.  Various models will warranty the devices for xx years AFTER initial install so be sure to clearly mark your records on WHEN you install the battery for these models.  Also, the HeartSine Samaritan and Physio Conrol / Medtronic CR Plus Lifepak or Lifepak Express models have a combo pack you purchase with battery/pads being replaced simultaneously.  Defibtech / Cintas does sell a model that has a suggested annual replacement of an off-shelf 9V battery (this ensures their AED performs proper self-testing).  AED batteries range in price from $75-$400, depending on make and model owned.

3)       Training – AED acquirer state laws many times dictate that you have to ensure expected users are trained in American Heart or Red Cross or equal CPR & AED certified courses (American Safety & Health Institute, Medic First, Health & Safety Institute, Emergency Care & Safety Institute, American Health Association, etc).  These certifications range depending on which training org you use but every 1-2 years the certification expires and needs to be renewed.  Courses can be obtained locally at Red Cross locations or through the American Heart Association network but also there are over 100,000 instructor throughout the US alone and there are local training centers that can provide a competitive price for CPR & AED, First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogen or Universal Precautions plus other more advanced or supplemental add-on training classes.  Various online solutions are also available.  Think Safe has a listing of US training centers and online solutions; contact us at or info@think-safe.com if you would like to contact a local trainer in your area.

4)       Program Manager Software / Database – AED acquirer state laws many times also dictate that the AED has to be maintained to manufacturer and industry standards.  This standard generally a 30 day check.  Many companies have their own database solution for ensuring equipment is checked regularly and records of these checks are kept on file (big companies).  If you do not, there are online solutions that are inexpensive but key in helping to not only auto-notify your AEDs are checked to standards but also the log and records of all AEDs are filed and backed up regularly for legal protection.  A nice comprehensive  UNLIMITED user solution at $25-$50/location (customer) can be seen here, showing it’s full capabilities:  http://www.firstvoice.us/FirstVoiceAEDManagerVideo/tabid/751/Default.aspx

5)       Medical Oversight – AED acquirer state laws in approximately 20 states requires a licensed physician or “certified healthcare provider” to oversee the AED program.  This is NOT an Rx!  Proper Medical Oversight includes sign-off by the appropriate license owner referred to in that state law on:  AED/CPR training of the organization (who is trained, how often, what they are trained on); AED placement and markings; AED communication; AED policy; AED maintenance & upkeep procedures.  Contact Think Safe at if you are not sure if your state requires medical oversight.  Medical Oversight costs anywhere from $75/AED to $350/AED or some companies chose to hire medical direction and pay a retainer annually.  Think Safe has a national network of medical directors and can provide a quote for efficient medical oversight for your organization, charging you for locations ONLY where mandates require it. In some cases, we can connect you with a local FREE source for medical oversight.  Call for more details.  AED distributors/dealers are encouraged to call as well.

Think Safe [VIEW OUR BIO] is a certified Women-Owned Business (WBENC) providing first aid & defibrillator expertise to clients since 2004. Known for technical assistance to customers on: [State AED acquirer laws] [AED funding sources and grants] [AED program management solutions] including [Medical Oversight] [& Online AED database / record-keeping compliance software].

References available or drop us a line  [888.473.1777]

School Mandates for AEDs slowed by economy

I recently read this article:  http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/111835889_Defibrillator_bill_stalled_over_funds.html

There are several very good points made in this article.

Of note is that these lifesaving devices can be purchased for $1000 or under and AED packages (cabinet, etc) are $1000 to $1500.  And, companies and facilities should want to purchase and maintain the devices under their own lead, not based upon being MANDATED to buy.

I know of several MANDATED customers (schools, fitness clubs, gyms, etc) where they – without hand holding and an easy database solution that is inexpensive – DID NOT hold up their end of the bargain historically due to the absence of an AED program Champion.    Pads expire, Batteries expire, devices go unchecked and management is crossing their fingers [and toes] that the device works when it is needed at their location (if it is even remembered to be used).

The key is that these devices save lives, they should not be mandated, they should be affordable and easy to maintain.  THEY SAVE LIVES and let’s not forget that Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the biggest killer annually in the U.S.

How can you fund an AED?  There are grants – email us for a copy of “THE FOUNDATION OF FUNDING AEDS” – FREE, COMPLIMENTARY and no strings attached!

EMAIL:   grants@think-safe.com (subject – COPY OF FOUNDATION OF FUNDING AEDS)

How can you make sure the AED is constantly in compliance and checked regularly for under $25 – 50/yr at your location?  info@firstvoice.us or check out this link:

http://www.firstvoice.us/Products/FirstVoiceAEDProgramManager/tabid/727/Default.aspx

It seems that the answer to placing the devices are not mandates but rather, proper funding and program solutions for the long term!   We can always be reached at  as well at the contact info below, and we are happy to give you our technical insights into accessible funding sources and cost reductions, where applicable!

Making Minutes Matter

Think Safe Blog /grants@think-safe.com (888.473.1777)

Customer LifeSaving Event Post-Event Review

HeartSine ECG (click on this link and link on next page to see an actual scanned ECG record of a lifesaving event) One of our customers recently used their HeartSine samaritan HS01 AED to save the life of a fitness club member!

What does all of the attached ECG picture and lines mean?

It took about 1 second to put on the AED pads after turning on the device.  It took the HeartSine about 8 seconds to analyze and recommend shock.  It took 5 seconds for the employees to stand clear and press the shock button.  Shock 1 was administered about 16 seconds into the rescue/response.

CPR then commenced.  You can see the effectiveness of the CPR and then the patient’s heartbeat restored.  At just past 2 minutes from initial use of the AED, EMS arrived and removed the AED pads, placing on their own pads.

The EMS confirmed that the AED being used so quickly was part of the reason the patient survived. The in-house response time was just under 2-3 minutes from time of collapse to time AED arrived on scene to use. WITH EVERY MINUTE THAT ELAPSES, CHANCES OF SURVIVAL DECREASE BY 10%!

This AED was used in a fitness club, in a metro area, response time for EMS was just under 6 minutes from time of 9-1-1 initial call.

This data was pulled from the AED using event review software that is included FREE with the equipment sold by Think Safe.  A medical director for the fitness club was sent the information for their interpretation and for use by the patient’s medical doctors.

Truly, AEDs are powerful lifesaving devices! The only way to reduce the 300,000 plus death toll on Sudden Cardiac Arrest (the nation’s largest killer) is to increase public knowledge on AEDs and improve AED placements for quick and effective defibrillation response for victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).  With average national EMS response times being 8-10 minutes, workplaces and places of high risk for SCA need to purchase AEDs in order to protect their employees or members.

To find out more about how your organization can easily install and implement an AED or AED program; please call us at 888-473-1777.  Our company can arrange for someone to visit you or your facility or we can speak with you over the phone.  All of our AED packages come with the following at no extra charge:  Prescription (Rx), AED Administrator Toolkit (inspection tags, checklists, drills, placement surveys and install direction, AED acquirer compliance checklists to state laws, post-event review technical assistance and more….

Contact one of our AED experts at:  888-473-1777 or info@firstvoice.us for more information and help.

AED Site Risk Assessment: Part2

AED Site Risk Assessment

Many times we get asked at Think Safe the question, “How much risk do I have for someone  having a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) here?”

In the previous blog post we spoke about determining the level of risk at your facility and if your facility was at higher risk for having a SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) event. We also provided a list of higher risk facilities.

If you want to now move on to assessment tools, here are some questions to answer:

1) Is it unlikely that the existing EMS system would be able to reliably achieve a “call- to-shock” interval of five minutes or less at this site?

2) Has an SCA incident occurred at this site in the past five years and have the demographics of the population served by this site remained relatively constant?

3) Do 10,000 or more persons regularly gather at this location?

4) Does this site have a large concentration of persons over 50 years old?

5) Is there a high probability of SCA at this site based upon this formula:

A. Take the number of individuals at your location and multiply this number by the % of people age 50 or over.
B. Multiply this number by the average number of hours spent at the location each day.
C. Multiply this number by 350 if the location is residential or 250 if the location is non-residential.
D. If your answer is 600,000 or higher, your location has a high probability of SCA.

If you answered YES to any of the above questions you are at higher risk of having an SCA event and you need to talk to our technical experts or a local rep by contacting 888-473-1777 or info@think-safe.com.

Think Safe can provide a full AED Site Assessment Survey for your use and one of our local representatives would be happy to perform on onsite AED placement assessment.  Think Safe’s First Voice product line includes a full line of AEDs and AED accessories.  From low cost and rugged solutions our product catalog has what you need to put in place an effective and protective AED program.

Think Safe, Inc. * 1105 Hawkeye Drive * Hiawatha, IA  52233 * 888-473-1777 * www.firstvoice.us

Automated External Defibrillator Programs

AED Site Risk Assessment

Many times we get asked at Think Safe the question, “How much risk do I have for someone  having a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) here?”

Due to the number of deaths every year and SCA events that occur, we like it when people appear to be educated that it is only a matter of time – at some point we are all likely to experience or witness a SCA event.  Again, we are talking about the nation’s biggest killer; affecting over 300,000 people in the US annually and killing more people than all forms of cancer combined!

The following information might provide you some helpful insight to determining your levels of risk.  What are the most likely places to have SCA events occur? Some studies have shown a higher incidence in certain locations, listed below.

· Airports
· Community/senior citizen centers
· Dialysis centers
· Ferries/train terminals
· Golf courses
· Health centers/gyms
· Cardiology, internal and family medicine practices, and urgent care centers
· Jails
· Large industrial sites
· Large shopping malls
· Nursing homes
· Private businesses
· Sports/events complexes

Watch for our next blog post on AED Site Risk Assessment for key questions to ask.

Automated External Defibrillator Programs

To see more information about how to assess your risk, contact us at 888-473-1777 or info@think-safe.com.  We can provide you a complimentary (NO CHARGE) AED site risk assessment survey.  If you would like, we can send a local rep to your facility for a NO CHARGE placement assessment as well.

The Think Safe First Voice product line includes a comprehensive AED package that protects our distributors and customers and includes:  AED Administrator Toolkit, AED inspection tag, AED Inspection Checklist, AED Acquirer State Civil Liability Immunity Laws Compliance Checklist, and more….  www.firstvoice.us

AEDs: Use by Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Healthcare Providers

Just what is the standard or duty to provide care of healthcare, long-term care or elderly care providers for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)?

From my consistent research and study of the AED industry, the standard appears to be that many nursing homes, elderly housing complexes or assisted living facilities still do not have an AED policy or program.   In 2007 a summary study within the industry showed:

http://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610%2807%2900207-1/abstract

Contrarily, here is an Ohio-based midwest article on AEDs & some facilities who have decided to implement AED programs:  http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/358076/many_nursing_homes_lack_device_to_restart_heart_portable_defibrillators/

Now, not taken into consideration is the question regarding “duty to provide care” – and what is really the up-to-date 2010 standard to provide care as it relates to AEDs or CPR in these facilities?

*  Are there any industry mandates taking place? What is the healthcare industry doing about AEDs?

*  What are the trends for DNR orders or Attempted CPR- are the number of DNR orders going up or down as a % of population being admitted to healthcare facilities?  Should nursing homes or long-term care facilities have solid AED programs in place due to a decreasing % of DNR orders and more patient preferences to attempt CPR?

In January 2010 there was a great article I read that showed how UCLA is implementing AED programs across their system, due to the improvement in SCA survival they offer. UCLA Article

Nursing Studies Show AEDs improve SCA response times (this is an additional Nurse.com article on SCA & AEDs in the industry)

I have also read many articles/studies in recent years on in-hospital SCA survival versus out-of-hospital survival and perhaps UCLA is trying to improve SCA survival and change the statistics, which show IN-HOSPITAL survival is lower than OUT-OF-HOSPITAL per many studies.  The above link shows the obstacles facing nurses and staff and why AEDs may be a welcome addition to healthcare facilities.

Regarding long-term and elderly facility industry practices such as DNR advanced directives

Paula Wickham, AED Industry Expert

are followed.  But, methods for identifying CPR status need improvement to enable accurate identification and prompt resuscitation of residents who want CPR:

http://www.gnjournal.com/article/S0197-4572%2898%2990117-3/abstract

It is known that ACPR is infrequently performed in long-term care setting and is rarely successful (successful being defined as admission to the hospital alive).  Survival (defined as discharge from the hospital) is also rare but survival does occur though. All nursing homes are not required to offer ACPR and many nursing homes in the United States, as well as in other parts of the world, do not offer ACPR.

In my assessment from my research, agencies such as the American Bar Association’s Commission on Law & Aging show that about two-thirds (2/3) of the adult population does not have an advanced directive or DNR.  I could not find any recent studies to answer my DNR questions on DNR preferences.

Recent mandates or pending mandates and “encouraged use” Bills have passed in recent years in the following states that are for assisted living facilities or long-term and medical facilities:  Texas, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Florida and others.

Perhaps it will some day become an expectation for all long-term facilities to have an AED and perform CPR but for now, it appears that each facility has to make their own decision but for sure they should consider their state’s legislation or pending legislation as it affects licensing for their facility.

One exerpt of a study states, “Surveys have shown that many elderly in different parts of the world want to be resuscitated, but may lack knowledge about the specifics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Data from countries other than the US is limited, but differences in physician and patient opinions by nationality regarding CPR do exist.”  In the essence of observing the opinions of those elderly that do want to be resuscitated – perhaps there will be some marketing advantage to employ by organizations that implement AED programs.

This article was written by Paula Wickham, President of Think Safe and AED industry expert.  Think Safe has an entire staff of technical experts for AED bills, laws and mandates.  If you would like more information on AED mandates or pending mandates for your long-term or elderly care facility, you may reach us at 888-473-1777 or by emailing info@think-safe.com and requesting a copy or link to your state’s requirements.

School Lists Should Include an Emergency Preparedness Kit

This is an excerpt from a great article from News Leader in Springfield, Missouri on something to consider adding to your back-to-school list as you are getting your last-minute supplies – an Emergency Preparedness Kit.

The American Red Cross suggests that when parents buy back-to-school supplies, they also consider adding to an emergency preparedness kit to the shopping list.

Calling the effort the “Golden Rule for Back to School,” the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the Red Cross points out, “Whether it’s the last-minute run to the store for the glue that will hold a child’s project together or the dozens of bake-sale cupcakes whipped up late at night, parents frequently deal with the unexpected. Being prepared for emergencies — and not just the glue and cupcake variety — is the new golden rule for having a great school year.”

Items for an emergency preparedness kit include:
• Water — one gallon per person, per day (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
• Food — non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (seven-day supply) and medical items
• Multipurpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area

Other tips to keep in mind:

• Supplies need to stay in an easy-to-carry, easy-to-transport container that can be used at home or on-the-go.
• Your family should create and practice an evacuation and communications plan, and each family member should know how to execute it.
• Designate an out-of-area friend or relative to be an emergency contact, and make sure all family members know how to contact them.
• An evacuation plan involves having two meeting places: one right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency (like a fire), and another outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate.
• Designate an evacuation route.
• Be trained in CPR and first aid so you can respond before help arrives. Those minutes can mean life or death! Think Safe has great certified online training solutions.

For information on Think Safe’s innovative emergency preparedness training and tools, and how they can save you time and money, check out the First Voice product line here.