In the event of a chemical eye burn, panic ensues. Our senses are rendered and instinct naturally takes over. Our reflexes instantly rush us to the nearest location our minds are programmed to believe offer relief…the sink, safety showers, eyewash stations, etc…

The mismatch between where cardiac arrest is most likely to happen and where automated external defibrillators (AEDS) are most likely placed may help explain in part the low survival rate for this “significant public health problem,” according to a Canadian study published yesterday online in Annals of Emergency Medicine (“Determining Risk for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest by Location Type in a Canadian Urban Setting to Guide Future Public Access Defibrillator Placement”).

HEMCO Emergency Showers are fully assembled and ready for installation to water supply and waste systems. This unit is equipped with a pull rod activated shower and push handle eye/face wash for quick rinsing of eyes, face and body. 

With nearly one million hazmat shipments a day across the United States, being prepared for accidents is crucial. “The safety record for these shipments is good, but unfortunately, accidents occasionally happen,” according to the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Injury Center:

Appropriate diagnosis and management of children and teens with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), including concussion, can help safeguard the health of young Americans.

The Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) has issued the first certifications to products for NFPA 1992, Standard on Liquid-Splash Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies, 2012 Edition.

Employees have been evacuated from the spill area. The onsite response team is suiting up and reviewing their plan to contain the spill and keep it from reaching a nearby creek. Now is not the time to start frantically paging through a dust-covered spill response plan — or worse, an outdated phone book — to try to find a store in the area that might have a piece of equipment that the responders will need.

A new compilation, ASTM Standards for Accident and Disaster Control, is now available on CD-ROM from ASTM International. The compilation includes 185 of the latest ASTM standards for accident and emergency management from ASTM Committees E54 on Homeland Security; F12 on Security Systems; F32 on Search and Rescue; and F30 on Emergency Medical Services.

NIOSH has released “Rig Check,” a collection of 35 inspection forms designed to be used by rig workers during the inspection of tools and equipment on oil and gas rigs. The monthly inspection forms cover emergency response, electrical safety, fall protection, stairways and walkways, lines and slings, tools, hoses, chemical hazards, ladders and platforms, and other equipment used on oil and gas rigs.

Being prepared can help travelers avoid dangerous situations in winter, says the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), which is passing along some travel safety tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that are especially useful this season.