Although Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence has come and gone, authorities caution that hazards related to the storm persist and deaths are still occurring.
The latest and most controversial fatalities occurred on Tuesday, when a sheriff’s van became submerged in floodwaters and the two people being transported in it – mental health patients – drowned.
Hurricane Florence is no longer a hurricane, but other ferocious storms will likely make an appearance during hurricane season. Among the hazards associated with hurricanes are electrical dangers. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says the following electrical safety tips that can help reduce the risk for injury and damage to homes:
Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence is a reminder that severe weather can wreak havoc on human, animal and environmental health and welfare.
OSHA is reminding employers and workers that September is National Preparedness Month – a good time to prepare for severe weather emergencies whether or not you live in a hurricane zone. Other parts of the country may experience tornadoes, extreme storms, flooding, wildfires and other acts of nature that threaten safety.
Although Florence may no longer be a hurricane, the storm still poses plenty of danger for people who are in or will be returning to affected areas. Electrocution, water-borne infections and drowning are among the health risks associated with flooding, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has issued the following safety tips:
The timing was coincidental. On the same day a shooter opened fire in a Fifth Third Bank in downtown Cincinnati, killing three people and wounding two others, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker convened an active shooter/hostile event response (ASHER) program for first responders and school officials at the headquarters of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
An average of 16 pedestrians are killed each day in the U.S. - a total of 5,987 in 2016 alone - and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) wants to do something about it.
The problem isn’t a new one; pedestrian fatalities have been on the upswing every year since 2009.
Summer vacation for students around the country is drawing to a close as the nation’s schools prepare to open their doors for the new school year. So, while you’re making that list of school supplies the kids will need, take a look at these safety steps from the American Red Cross and make your student’s trip back to the classroom a safe one.
Regardless of where in the world your facilities are located, natural disasters present a potential risk. From tornadoes and hurricanes to massive blizzards and wild fires, countless events happen without warning throughout the year.
"They continue to put their bottom line ahead of saving lives”
August 21, 2018
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is condemning the formal approval of new building safety codes in Connecticut, alleging that changes made to the previous codes will increase the state’s residents’ vulnerability to fire.
Still-raging wildfires in California have already claimed eight lives and destroyed countless homes and other buildings – and they are likely to be followed by more fires, say the experts. Extreme heat and breezy conditions are forecast for the week ahead. That and the bone dry landscape make residents who’ve escaped the worst so far unable to breathe a sigh of relief – yet.
