Hey, did you feel that?

Whole lotta shakin' goin on!

VA Earthquake Tremors Felt In Central Ohio

This month's featured product is the Prestan Professional Adult CPR Training Manikin, with monitor!

Away from the classroom, instructors want their students to act confidently when faced with a cardiac emergency. We want our participants to leave class knowing they can help save the lives of people in cardiac arrest.

Achieve this with Prestan Professional's revolutionary new CPR manikin with Rate Monitor. The LED indicators allow for instant feedback to both instructor and student regarding their rate of chest compressions. Instructors can monitor several students quickly and easily, while students themselves can visually gauge their compression rate reinforcing more practice time using proper technique. Click here to view a demonstration of this feature.

Depth of compression is a crucial skill to learn as well. Class participants learn proper compression depth with the manikin’s audible ‘clicking’ sound. When compressions are done to the ECC recommended depth, the manikin’s ‘click’ lets students know they are on target. Compression rate and depth - two vitally important components to learn for successful CPR. With Prestan’s visual and audible reinforcement of good CPR technique, students will confidently embrace their role in the cardiac chain of survival.  

Other features of the PP-AM-100M include:

• Realistic looking manikin with a pinch-able nose and fully formed neck portion that allows for a carotid pulse check.
• Easy-to-insert lung bag speeds setup of the manikin.
• The optional face shield is secured so it won't slip and there's no need for adhesives.
• Realistic skin resists dirt, grime and grease so your manikin stays looking professional. 
• Adequate upper chest sizing facilitates AED training.
• Visual anatomy ‘landmarks’ such as a navel and ribcage allow for practice of the Heimlich maneuver and reinforce proper hand placement for compressions.
• Head-tilt illustrates how to open the airway and allows each student to observe a true chest rise when proper head-tilt chin-lift technique is used.
• Manikin’s head structure is capable of demonstrating the jaw-thrust maneuver.
• Clicker mechanism increases student's confidence in administering adequate compressions.
• Manikins are capable of being cleaned and decontaminated per CDC guidelines.
• One-year factory warranty against defects in workmanship.

The PP-AM-100M, available with either Light or Dark skin, includes 10 Lung Bags, an Instruction Sheet, and a nylon carrying case.
And as a special bonus, you get 10 CPR masks in a mini keychain pouch FREE!!

Follow this link to shop the complete line of Prestan Professional CPR training manikins & accessories.

Pocket Mask 101

Feeling intimidated by the new standard in resuscitative care, the pocket mask? If you answered yes, rest easy knowing that you are not alone.

But, there's nothing to fear. A pocket mask employs the same principles as any other resuscitation barrier or mask, it just has the convenience of being re-usable. While the valve you breathe into must be replaced after each use, the mask itself can be cleaned and decontaminated per CDC guidelines. 

When used with the head-tilt, chin-lift airway opening method, the rescue mask allows two avenues of entry during resuscitation.

And with two avenues of entry, each rescue breath delivers life saving oxygen your patient desperately needs. When not connected to an external oxygen source, exhaled air from the rescuer can still provide sufficient oxygen to live, up to 16%. Most masks (including ours) also have a built-in oxygen inlet, allowing for administration of 50-60% oxygen from an oxygen cylinder.

The portability of the mask is an added benefit. In contrast to the bag valve mask, which requires two hands to operate (one to form a seal and the other to squeeze the bag), the pocket mask allows for both of the rescuer's hands to be on the patient's head. This hand placement makes for a superior seal of the mask's pliable bladder to the patient's face, meaning less oxygen escapes from around the mask border and more goes to where it's really needed.

A question I often field is, "How do I know if my mask is still ok to use?" Unfortunately, there's no one size fits all answer. Depending on how the masks are stored, anywhere from one to many years. Best to inspect your equipment on an annual basis. In short, if the mask is still pliable and the air bladder full, it's still a good mask. Look for cracks in the body of the mask. Will the air bladder make a good seal to your patient's face? Is the head strap still stretchy? Is the mask's valve still working? Is it missing altogether? A good question to ask is, "Would I feel confident in providing care with this equipment?" If the answer is anything but a resounding, "Yes!", better to throw it out than risk it failing while responding.

It really is, just that easy! So whether you are instructing students or participating in a CPR class, this is the mask you want. Keep one with your AED, in your car, home, camper - anywhere you might be since you never know when an emergency situation might occur. At least for me, when I carry an umbrella, it never rains. If I forget it, I'm sure to get soaked. It's always better to have the tools and not need them, than to need the tools and not have them.

Now that you see there's nothing to fear, click here to shop our store for 100% latex-free CPR pocket masks. Be Ready with the Right Tools!

This month's featured product is the Family First Aid Kit!

With Summer now in full swing, the kids are out riding their bikes and skateboards, having soccer practice and baseball games - it's more important than ever to make sure you have a good first aid kit stocked and ready to care for those bumps and scrapes.

Here's a good one!  It's appropriate for 8-10 people, comes in a water resistant nylon bag and has a handle for complete portability. The FAK4100 is a well-equipped kit that's perfect for everyday situations as well as emergency preparedness.

The customizable bag includes an emergency essential not found in many kits, a CPR barrier. When unzipped, the bag opens flat which makes for quick access to needed supplies. The zippered, interior pockets list contents and are clearly labeled by emergency category. This well designed bag keeps frequently used items at your fingertips; no more valuable minutes spent rummaging through a cluttered kit!

Perfect for use anywhere including the car, home, office, and especially with your 72-hour disaster preparedness gear. Consider upgrading your kit with elastic bandage wraps, or extra triangular bandages (not included, but can be found in our store).

Be ready with the right tools to protect yourself and your family when camping, hitting the trail, soccer field or anywhere life takes you. Need a gift idea? It also makes a great housewarming gift!

Contents are organized using a clearly marked section system for fast, easy access.
The 108-piece kit includes:

Severe Bleeding and Burns Pack
2 Combine Pads, 5" x 9"
1 Cello Wrapped Self-adhering Rolled Gauze, 4" x 4 yards

Medium Cuts and Scrapes Pack
5 Sterile Gauze Pads, 3" x 3"
5 Sterile Gauze Pads, 4" x 4"
1 Cello Wrapped Self-adhering Rolled Gauze, 3" x 4 yards
1 First Aid Tape, 1" x 10 yards

Small Cuts and Burns Pack
1 Pair Plastic Tweezers
2 Fingertip Bandages
2 Knuckle Bandages
25 Adhesive Bandages, 3/4" x 3"
1 Adhesive Bandage, 2" x 4.5"
5 Adhesive Bandages, 1" x 3"
26 Adhesive Bandages, 3/8" x 1.5"
5 Adhesive Bandages, 1.5" x 1.5"
5 BZK Antiseptic Towelettes (alcohol-free towelettes to cleanse without stinging)
5 Triple Antibiotic Packets, 0.9 grams
2 Hydrocortisone Packs, 0.9 grams
2 Ethyl Alcohol Hand Sanitizer, 0.9 grams

Instruments Pack
1 Nextemp Thermometer
1 Patho-Shield Plus CPR Barrier
1 Emergency Blanket, silver, 54" x 84"
1 First Aid Instruction Guide
2 Tablets Chewable Aspirin, 81mg
2 Pairs (size Large) Powder-Free, Latex-Free Medical Grade Vinyl Gloves

Splinting Pack
2 Triangular Bandages, 38" x 38" x 54"
1 Ammonium Nitrite Instant Cold Pack
1 Pair Scissors

Click here to shop our store for this and other kits! 

Great video, catchy tune - now you'll be humming it all day too!

video produced by CHE

                                         Click here to watch!

Laughter is great medicine

This month's featured product is the AED Practi-TRAINER!

 CPR, while an integral and crucial component of the resuscitation process, often isn't enough to convert your patient's heartbeat to an effective rhythm. Dramatically increase survivability rates of your patient during a cardiac emergency by performing CPR in conjunction with the use of an AED.
Early defibrillation is a critical component to master in the cardiac chain of survival.

An introduction, even a brief one, coupled with training increases bystander confidence and improves performance in AED usage. Equip yourself and your staff to increase survivability rates for persons in sudden cardiac arrest knowing that no device other than a defibrillator has consistently improved long-term survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

WNL's Universal AED Practi-TRAINER has been completely updated and features many functional improvements from their last version. They gathered feedback from customers, worked with both a designer and a manufacturer to produce an incredible product. Fully compliant with the new 2010 ECC CPR guidelines, this AED training unit includes a replaceable scenario/language module - making it the most unique and cost effective unit on the market today.

As an instructor, a few of the features I love include the built-in metronome with audible tones and a flashing light to help students time their compressions to 100 per minute. The clear voice prompts, even when the unit is at low volume, guide students through each step of the defibrillation process. As for the training pads, they conform perfectly to the torso and leave no sticky residue on my Prestan CPR manikins!

With training comes confidence. Participants will actively embrace both their and the AED's role in the cardiac chain of survival. And that confidence is what saves lives.

Worried that when ECC guidelines are updated, you'll need to buy an entirely new unit or send it out for costly re-programming? Not with this model – to upgrade to the newest guidelines all you have to do is replace the inexpensive plug-in firmware module!

The AED training package includes:

• 1 complete unit with 8 English and Spanish pre-programmed scenarios installed
• 1 remote control
• 1 power adapter
• 1 set of child pads and connector
• 1 set of adult pads and connector
• 1 manual
• Zippered, nylon-lined, fabric carrying case with handle

Dimensions of the unit are 7.5" x 6" x 1.75"
Carrying case dimensions are 11" x 8.5" x 3"

Remote requires 2, AAA batteries (not included)
Training unit requires 3, AA batteries (not included)


This unit is for training purposes only and cannot be used for patient defibrillation.

Click here to view purchase options for the AED & additional training pads.

Get Ready, Get Set ...

"It can't happen to me."

At one time or another, we've all said those words. The truth is - stuff is always happening - and it's happening to someone who spoke those very words.

Preparing for the unexpected isn't something we put on our To Do list. It's not like laundry or dishes that demand our attention on a regular basis.  It's not something that gnaws at our subconscious reminding us to, Be Prepared!  But when the unexpected happens, catching us unaware ...well, then it's in the forefront of our every waking thought. It demands our complete and undivided attention.  "If only we'd thought of that sooner" becomes the new mantra.

Humans have the wonderful ability to put off until tomorrow what doesn't need done today. But when it comes to disaster preparedness, we must think today about what we'll need tomorrow.  Time and again I hear people, especially here in Ohio, say - "Oh, we're not the target of any terrorist threat, we don't have earthquakes or hurricanes - what's the point of preparing for something that'll never happen?"

Let's take a look at Ohio and what we have happening. Ice and snow storms. Flooding and yes, we even have earthquakes. A 5.4 magnitude quake shook western Ohio in 1937 and as recently as March 17, 2011, a magnitude 2.6 quake rattled the morning coffee cup.
For a complete history of Ohio quakes, click here.

And what about personal disasters?  Can you imagine your home burning to the ground, your possessions fueling the all-consuming blaze?  I'd call that a disaster.

So, even here in "safe" Ohio, we're under threat of debilitating winter storms, crushing ice storms, fire, severe flooding, tornadoes ...oh my, what can we do?!

About the climate and weather, nothing. What we can do is prepare ourselves as best we can to help mitigate the impact to our property, our family, and ourselves. The good news is that we can do a lot in this area. Whether it's a weather disaster, or a personal crisis we are responsible for how we react and respond. Wouldn't it be nice to have some tools in our toolbox to aid and support us through this trying time?

There are numerous ways you can acquire those "tools".  Attending a safety seminar at your local firehouse is a great way to learn how to keep your home and family safe. Fire safety personnel are a fantastic resource for fire safety information and are more often than not happy to share fire safety tips. Do you know how to use a fire extinguisher?  What size fire can you safety extinguish? What type of extinguisher goes with which type of fire? Wouldn't it be nice to know the answers to these questions before you NEED to know the answers to these questions?  Here's a quick 2-minute video to help you with some of those answers:

Ok, so now we've thought about fire, but there's still so much to think about and prepare for!  I know, it's a lot to deal with all at once, but that's the good thing about preparedness - you don't have to do it all at once. A little bit of attention a little bit at a time can build you a physical and psychological tool kit you'll be able to draw from when the need arises. That's the good news. But you have to start. And you have to start now.

The first step in learning what kind of disasters to prepare for might be to learn your city's hazard profile. Often, your state EMA can help you with this question. As an example, flooding and tornadoes are of particular concern here in Ohio. While you can't predict what type of disaster you'll have to deal with, you can always prepare. And preparation helps prevent panic.

There are a ton of resources to help you with the planning and preparing part. Often the hardest part is sifting though the mountain of information out there. Some sites lead you to believe that when it comes to disaster preparedness, anything less than a fully stocked underground bunker is pointless. That's just not true. You want to think ahead to what you'll need to keep you and your family alive and well should say, you're snowed-in and can't leave your house for three days. Or, what's my family's plan if there's a home fire? The questions you ask now and the plans you make can mean the difference between a struggle for survival versus safe, sustainable living through the trouble.

Start thinking about what you use on a daily basis. What you can and couldn't live without. A great exercise is to pack what you think you'd need to survive for three days - and live off that. Take it a step further and live from your pack outdoors for a time. Not a big fan of camping? Wouldn't it be better to see what it's like when you don't have to live that way versus when you're left with no option?

Finally, remember you don't have to do everything all at once. I do hope this gets your thinker thinking and maybe puts disaster preparedness on your To Do list.  There's a ton of resource material out there to help you, but whatever you do, make sure your plan fits you, your family, your circumstances. Planning and practice helps prevent panic.  Make the decision to be one of the folks who come out the other side saying, "We had the right tools when we needed them. We made it."

Here are some useful links to preparedness supplies you'll want in your pack:
Triangular bandages
Elastic bandages
Emergency blankets and bags
First Aid kits
Nitrile gloves
CPR barriers and masks

Click here to prepare, plan and stay informed with the help of Ready.gov.

Read on for a great save story from today's guest blogger - Robin



 FIRST AID LEARNED TOGETHER LASTS FOREVER!!

While on a camping trip many years ago, 12 year old Carl tripped while playing. A toy gun he had been holding stabbed into the side of his head. His 13 year old brother Chris made him lie down and stay still, and immediately applied pressure in order to stop the bleeding. While protecting the wound, Chris radioed for help. (They were in a remote area). Help arrived in the form of brother #3, Charlie.

Charlie quickly inspected the wound. The skull was exposed, which is truly frightening, but they knew what to do. Charlie and Chris bandaged Carl's head and headed for the nearest hospital. Carl walked into the emergency room with a brother on each side, and as is frequently the case, had to wait....and wait....

When the Dr. finally decided to treat Carl, he was astonished at the severity of the injury, and complimented Chris and Charlie on the expert care and bandaging job. They had superficially looked at Carl upon arrival, and due to the good bandaging and the fact that he had walked into the hospital, they did not think that the wound was serious (even though they had been told differently).

Now for the life lesson: Always carry a severely  injured person into the emergency room. If you carry the injured person, he or she will get treated much more promptly!

Don't be a deer in the headlights!

During my First Aid classes, I ask my students, "After witnessing a car accident, you choose to take action. During your scene survey and triage (prioritizing care for the injured individuals), you see three victims. A young woman screaming her head off about her broken arm, a middle-aged man standing quietly over by the curb looking disoriented, swaying, clearly having vomited, and an fidgety child playing with his PSP still securely strapped in his car seat.

Who needs your most immediate attention?"

Answers range from the amusing, "What PSP game is he playing?", to "the screaming chick obviously needs the most help. She's noisy." Still, most are surprised by the answer.

In this case, the squeaky wheel doesn't always get the grease. When prioritizing care for your patients  remember that if they're screaming, they're breathing. That simple fact is a crucial determining factor during triage since well, breathing is important. 

So, now we know the screaming women is breathing. Where should we look next? Some might turn their attention to the child. Pediatric patients can distract caregivers as we always want to save the kids first. While yes, their bodies are small, kids are resilient - they "bounce". They might not be as fragile as we think they are. Children haven't had the occasion to abuse their bodies as much as us older folks have, so no, don't neglect the injured child, but also don't let them draw your attention away from a possibly more injured person. 

Despite his unassuming stance, the gentleman standing by the curb needs our attention first. Barring drunkenness, his unsteadiness and expulsion of stomach contents are both telltale signs of head injury. A condition we, as lay responders or spontaneous rescuers, cannot successfully treat by ourselves. We need to care for this patient within our level of training and get them to definitive medical care pronto. 

Always, when you're checking your patient, keep this question in mind. What's going to kill them first? Rescuers, even seasoned professionals, can see severe bleeding and focus solely on that condition. But if they aren't breathing and have no pulse, is the application of the best pressure bandage going to save them?  Yes, severe bleeding must be addressed. We all stop bleeding - eventually, so let's treat before the system empties itself, but get it dressed and move on. 

Additionally, manage the scene through utilization of available resources. That will aid in the stabilization of both you, your patient and the situation. Ask bystanders to, "Please hold this here", to help apply direct pressure to bleeding wounds while you begin CPR. You'll find most people want to help, they just aren't sure what to do. Use them! 

Importantly, make sure someones called 911 or the local emergency assistance number.  How many times have I happened upon an accident scene minutes after the incident only to find everyone paralyzed by indecision. I ask, "Who's called 911?"  Silence. That's not a good feeling. Your patient's life depends on those precious minutes, and the clock starts ticking not when the ambulance arrives, but at initial injury. Give them the best chance for a positive outcome. If you do nothing else, make sure help is on the way.  

True, we won't always make the right triage decision. All we can do is think, act, and do our best with the knowledge we possess. Something is always better than nothing. Simply comforting the patient; letting them know you're there and that help is on the way does a world of good. So arm yourself with knowledge and the physical tools to perform your skills; the feeling of empowerment is amazing. You really can save lives.  

Learn to care for these conditions by participating in a CPR and First Aid class. Here are some useful links:
American Heart Association's Find a CPR class link. 
American Red Cross's Take a class link.
or Find a CPR class in your area by clicking here.

And to make sure you're ready with the right tools, visit our store.

Baked Potatoes

Often while walking down the street of our fair city during the winter months, I see homeless folks huddling in doorways, over steam vents and sewer grates doing anything they can to get and stay warm. My heart goes out to them as I cannot imagine their daily hardships, endured season to season. I don't, however, always feel comfortable giving them my loose change or just a dollar. I think, "How far can they get on a dollar? That's not enough to make a difference."

While I can't do everything for everyone, I can do one thing for someone.

So I started giving out space blankets. You know, the kind that make you look like a baked potato when you wrap up in them? While the majority of people already know how to use them, I also advise to wrap the woolen blankets others donate inside the thermal blanket to keep it dry.

The science behind the material is simple. As an insulating barrier, the blanket protects against some of the major ways we lose heat - by radiation of body heat and convection (think air moving across skin). It's not rocket science, even though the Mylar material is a by-product of the space age.

But their uses don't end when the weather turns warm. They can still keep you and your stuff dry in the Spring and Summer rains!

While I can't solve the complex issue of homelessness on my own, I can feel good about giving comfort to those less fortunate. My dollar seems to go a lot further and bring a bigger smile to the recipient’s face. Now that feels like a win-win to me.

Click here to view this product on our website.