Review of "The Emergency App" for Kindle Fire

The day of the electronic Tablet certainly has arrived. I own a Kindle Fire. There are many things I like about, but today I am going to post my review of an "App" I have installed on my device.  It is call The Emergency App.    (We can talk about emergency power for this at a future date!)

When Training kicks in......

(Image courtesy of medicfirstaid.com)

Having worked in the medical environment... for a really long time now, I have had to attend training for CPR, Rescue Breathing, etc over and over again.  I have to admit that I have daydreamed during some of it as it is......redundant.  When your instructors tell you that your training should automatically kick in when an event arises....they aren't kidding.

Recently, I had a family member lose consciousness when we were not at home.  He told me he wasn't feeling well and that we needed to leave.  As we got up to leave, the thought came to my mind that I should get behind him and not in front of him.  Just as I turned to do this, he began to fall.  He reached for a bench and I grabbed his other arm to help him lay down without hurting himself.  He lost consciousness.  No kidding, within milliseconds, I knew what I should begin to do.  I immediately asked to someone to call 911.  I quickly checked for breathing and a pulse....which thankfully were both there.  Then I began to lift his legs and treat him for shock.  I needed help keeping him positioned to avoid shock and others quickly helped to continue to take his pulse, orient him when he awakened, etc.  Literally, this took milliseconds.  Many rushed to our aide and many offers of help ensued.  One individual did call 911 and relayed information, others went out to meet the paramedics, another took my keys to go to my house and get this family member's medications off the bathroom counter (note to self, leave home immaculate when leaving in case of an emergency), others offered to contact my other family members, etc. 

After being checked by the EMT's (and most of the Medically trained people who happened to be in the building and came because of their training....and concern....and we are so very grateful for them all), we were off to the hospital.  After running tests etc., he was released to come home with the recommendation to follow up with his physician.

Why am I sharing this with you?  Because being prepared involves being trained....ahead of time.  Did my family member and I do everything perfectly?  No!  For some crazy reason, I was without my cellphone.  This was important for several reasons, but mostly because my family member's allergies and medications were listed in my phone and I didn't have it with me.  Also, this family member has an implanted device.  He carries the identification card in his wallet....and he didn't have his wallet with him.  This situation could have turned out so much worse than it did.  In my mind, the Lord was teaching us a hard and fast lesson, "organize every needful thing". 


Also, it is a lesson in gratitude.  How thankful we are to have had so many individuals come to our aide medically, spiritually, and with love and concern.  We were very blessed to have everyone help us.  After the EMT's were finished a good neighbor let me know that they had consecrated oil if we needed it.  Another offered meals, another offered to contact other family members, others offered to take our 'stuff' home for us, and many said things like "if you need anything, please let us know". 

Let our experience help you look inwardly at the things you need to organize and prepare.  Prayerfully ask Heavenly Father about what you need to do, and listen for the promptings to help you do this.  In addition, seek training, not only for First Aid, but other needful skills. Emergencies do not give you warning, they just occur.  It is during those 'milliseconds' that you either know what to do, or don't.  I can't tell you the peace of mind I had during that brief period to know that I had the basic training to help keep my family member safe until the medical professionals could address his issues.  How grateful we are to all who came to our aide.  In so many ways, we were not only blessed during this situation, but given the opportunity to learn a very important lesson.

May the Lord bless you in your efforts to be prepared. 

Organize your Car First Aid Kit....

A First Aid Kit for your vehicle is a must!  You never know when someone will get an "owie" need a band aid!  Previously, I gave directions in how to make an Organizer with Zip-loc style bags.  Here is another use for this project. 

Here we have rubber gloves and large gauze pads for those big 'owies'.

Don't forget to include first aid for insect bites and minor burns.

Include an assortment of band-aides, alcohol wipes, and antibiotic wipes.

Include a thermometer, some Triple-Anti-biotic cream, and an instant cold pack.

Include feminine products and a triangular bandage.

You could include medications, but I choose not to as this would be easy for little hands to reach.  I lock those things in my glove compartment.

Get yourself organized!

It's a matter of ...First Aid and CPR training.

(Image courtesy of ww.co.thurston.wa.us)

Since our focus this week is on obtaining a First Aid Kit, the thought comes to mind....that we need to know what to do with it. After all, the training is also something that is "acquired" for the preparedness of our families.

Here is the link to our local Red Cross.  You can sign up for a course that is spread over 2 sessions to learn these basic skills.  Take your spouse and teenage children as well.  Don't be caught off-guard when that unforeseen situation arises.

The Mountain Valley Chapter course schedule is here.

It's week #4 in May, and the target item is........a First Aid Kit.

(Image courtesy of http://lc2.boe.loga.k12.wv.us)

This week we have a non-food item to gather.  Hopefully all of you have a form of this, or at least "part" of a first aid kit.  There are many checklists on the Internet that you can access to help you put together your own, or you can always purchase kits that are already assembled.  If you are like the LRH, you have a kit, but you need to go through it and make sure that it is stocked up correctly.  People in the family help themselves to it, so I don't always know what is in there!

Here is a list from the Red Cross:

2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)


25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)


1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)


5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)


5 antiseptic wipe packets


2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)


1 blanket (space blanket)


1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)


1 instant cold compress


2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)


2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)


Scissors


1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)


1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)


5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)


5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)


Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)


2 triangular bandages


Tweezers


First aid instruction booklet

So, take inventory and see what you need to stock up on .  Don't forget to have a kit in your vehicles and in your 72 hour kits as well.  More later on this......have a fabulous day!