Take Charge During National Preparedness Month

September 6, 2018 by

disasters_happen_0605_onwhite_mediumDuring the month of September, families, businesses, communities and governments across the United States focus on preparedness. While we don’t know how much more Mother Nature can potentially serve us, we still must take action and prepare for future emergencies NOW. Here are 4 steps to help ensure you have a plan to help keep you and your family safe if a disaster strikes:

1. PLAN: Communication is key in preparedness. Make a family emergency communication plan that addresses how to reunite after an emergency if separated. Address the needs of elderly or special needs persons, young children and pets in your home. Be sure and communicate your plan with family and friends before disaster strikes. (Learn more about Emergency Communication Plans and download plan templates here.)

2. READY KIT: Be prepared with an emergency supply kit, aka “Ready Kit”. Each family, individual or business has different needs. Most of the items are inexpensive and easy to find, and any one of them could save your life. Don’t forget to consider any unique needs beyond the basics for elderly or special needs persons, young children and pets. (Download a ready kit checklist here.)

 3. UNDERSTAND YOUR INSURANCE POLICY: You can’t prevent disasters from happening, but you can protect your home and property from potential damages. Work with your insurance agent to make sure you have the best coverage possible for your needs and that you understand the policy.

4.  CONSIDER GETTING INVOLVED: When disaster strikes, every person counts. You could be the difference in someone’s life. If you already have a Ready Kit, considering creating one for a neighbor. You can also find volunteer opportunities in your community to help show others how to stay safe during a disaster.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. While our business is to help prevent falls from windows, we also recognize the importance of disaster preparedness. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding New York City safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Safety Tips Tagged With:

Tips to Help Prevent Choking and Suffocation

August 15, 2018 by

Choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death claiming thousands of lives each year. Unfortunately the elderly and infants make up a large number of those deaths. Choking risk increases with the elderly due to living alone, having dentures and difficulties with swallowing. Here are some tips to help prevent choking and suffocation if you should encounter someone having an issue:

The Heimlich Maneuver

If a victim is able to cough, encourage them to continue to help clear out the object. If they can’t cough, speak or breathe, they need immediate attention. The best way to help someone in this situation is to administer the Heimlich Maneuver or abdominal thrusts. The Heimlich is not recommended for children younger than 1 year old. Here are the steps recommended to perform the Heimlich Maneuver. Seek medical attention even after choking stops.

Administer CPR

CPR will need to be performed if the victim becomes unresponsive. Here are the CPR steps to help a victim. Continue with CPR until the victim responds, an AED is made available or medical help arrives.

Infants and Children

The rescue procedure for infants and children is different. Here are the recommended steps. Prevent this type of tragedy with a few simple practices. Cut infant food into smaller pieces, avoid giving them hard candy and keep small objects out of reach. Also supervise young children while eating and playing.

 

At Sentry Window Guards, our business is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

 

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips Tagged With: ,

5 Triggers for Poor Indoor Air Quality

July 15, 2018 by

While most expect poor indoor air quality (AIQ) to be at its worst “seasonally,” poor IAQ is actually a year-round issue that needs to be addressed. Poor IAQ can cause problems such as headaches, nausea, and eye and throat irritation. More serious risks can include asthma and allergies. Unfortunately children and the elderly are more at risk to experience symptoms of poor IAQ. Here are some common sources for poor IAQ and solutions to reduce the risks to help keep you and your family safe in your home:

  1. INTERIOR PAINT & NEW CARPETS: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are gasses released by many household products such as interior paint and new carpets. Try to use a low concentration of VOC-paints and leave windows open and a fan running while painting. Choose low-VOC carpet to also help reduce the amount of VOC gasses emitted.
  1. CLEANING PRODUCTS: Try and avoid cleaning products containing chemicals such as ammonia and chlorine. Replace with hot water, baking soda and less-toxic cleaning products.
  1. HVAC SYSTEMS: Systems with cracks, dirty air filters and poor ventilation can cause dangerous carbon monoxide buildup. Maintain your HVAC system on a regular basis by scheduling annual inspections and changing out air filters. Also make sure your carbon monoxide alarm is properly working with fresh batteries.
  1. GAS STOVES: Improperly installed or vented stoves can dangerous. Vent the stove with a fan that blows properly and make sure burners are adjusted correctly.
  1. CIGARETTE SMOKE: If someone in your home is a smoker, the best solution is to have the smoker smoke outside. Also keep in mind that second hand and third hand (smoke that lingers in clothes, cushions and carpets) smoke can be especially harmful to children and the elderly.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. While our business is to help prevent falls from windows, we also recognize the importance of safe air quality in homes. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips, Summer Home Tips Tagged With: ,

Protect Your Child From Lead Poisoning

May 24, 2018 by

Child HOliday and Year Round SAfety TipsAccording to Business Insider, between 1976 and 1980, 77.8% of American children had elevated lead levels in their bloodstreams. In 1991, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services called lead the “number one environmental threat to the health of children in the United States,” and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended every American child be screened for lead in their bloodstreams. Thankfully lead poisoning is far less common today but it is still a concern, especially in children.

Most lead-poisoned children have been exposed in their own homes. If you rent your apartment or home, controlling your family’s exposure to lead is more difficult to control. Many New York City apartments are older dwellings and even though lead-based paint has been banned for residential use since 1960 older buildings contain old layers of lead paint. Lead paint was typically used on kitchen and bathroom walls and throughout homes on doors, windows, and wooden trim. Unless tested you can’t be sure if it was used in your home or apartment. Before you move in, ask the landlord if the paint has ever been tested for lead. If it has, ask to see the results. However, landlords in New York State are not required to test paint for lead, nor are they required to allow a prospective tenant to test paint for lead before renting.

LEAD POISONING SYMPTOMS:

The most common way children get exposed to lead is by mouth. They may chew on a windowsill or other area that contains lead. Symptoms of lead poisoning vary. They may affect one area or many parts of the body. Typically, lead poisoning builds up slowly after many small exposures to lead. Lead toxicity is rare after a single exposure or ingestion of lead. Signs of repeated lead exposure include:

  • Abdominal pain, cramps
  • Aggressive behavior, irritability, fatigue
  • Constipation
  • Headaches
  • Loss of developmental skills
  • Loss of appetite
  • High blood pressure
  • Anemia
  • Kidney problems
  • Numbness or tingling in the extremities
  • Memory loss

NYC LEAD PAINT NOTICE:

New York City law requires that tenants living in buildings with 3 or more apartments complete the attached form and return it to their landlord before February 15, each year. If you do not return this form, your landlord is required to visit your apartment to determine if children live in your apartment. This form also applies to dwellings built from 1960 – 1978 if the landlord knows lead paint was used. To download the form, click HERE.

At Sentry Window Guards, our business is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

 

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips Tagged With: , ,

Relieve Spring Allergies With These 6 Tips

April 16, 2018 by

While the spring pollen count isn’t as high here in New York City as it is in the south, the potential to suffer from seasonal allergies is still a real possibility. No matter if your symptoms are minimal or major, pharmacies have geared up for the influx of sniffling, miserable sufferers looking for some relief. Here are 6 tips to help you find relief and allow you to enjoy the splendor and beauty of the spring season:

  1. Shower after outdoor activities – Pollen is floating everywhere outdoors and it loves to cling on clothes, hair and skin. Although you may not see it, showering immediately after outdoor activities can help minimize the pollen brought into your home.
  2. Wash your sheets – Wash bed sheets once a week to help reduce pollen and other allergens from invading your bed. Even if you are showering before you get into bed, some pollen may still find its way into your sheets.
  3. Change HVAC system air filters – The filters in your HVAC system are meant to trap allergens and keep them out of your home. If the filters are dirty and clogged, this process won’t happen properly. Change filters out monthly during high pollen and allergy season.
  4. Close windows – As much as we love to invite the fresh air inside, if the pollen count is high and you are an allergy sufferer, this isn’t a good idea. Keep your windows closed and turn on the AC if necessary.
  5. Wear a mask – Sometimes we can’t avoid outdoor activities such as lawn or landscaping work. To help keep you from ingesting grass, pollen and allergens that can cause you to suffer, wear a mask that you can find at your local pharmacy.
  6. Talk to your doctor – If your allergies are interfering with your everyday routine, you many need to make an appointment to meet with a doctor. You can purchase allergy medication over the counter, but it is always a good idea to speak with a medical professional before starting any medications, especially if you have certain allergies to medications or if you are taking medicine for another medical condition.

We hope that these 6 tips will help you find some relief this allergy season. For more information regarding Sentry Window Guard products, contact us at 718-389-1777.

Filed Under: Safety Tips, Summer Home Tips Tagged With: ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »