An Important Message Regarding Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)

In the wake of numerous celebrity and athlete related cardiac arrests, SLCC’s Emergency Management Department wanted to remind everyone what they should do in case they witness a medical emergency of similar degree. We first encourage everyone to become certified in First Aid, CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) use. 

Imagine a community in which every member is trained and prepared to respond to any medical emergency and how comforting it would feel to be amongst trained colleagues. Don’t let yourself be the weakest link in community safety. Secondly, we urge students, staff and faculty to take a walk around the buildings they frequent to locate AEDs, emergency exits, fire alarms and extinguishers, Evacutracs and shelters. 

 

While having an AED certification gives you familiarity and confidence, you are not legally required to be certified to use one. In fact, AEDs are made to be as user-friendly as possible. Not only do they provide audible, step-by-step instructions through a loudspeaker in English, but they also have images to assist the hearing impaired or non-English speakers. Ultimately, this means anyone physically capable of getting an AED is capable of using one. 

 

Lastly, please report any AEDs that are beeping to Michael Gipson, the Emergency Management Coordinator. A beeping AED indicates the unit requires service—usually a replacement battery for the AED unit itself or the storage cabinet. Any time unit or storage cabinet batteries are replaced, pads and equipment within them are inspected. Michael can be reached at Michael.Gipson@slcc.edu. Your education in emergency response is what could make the difference in saving the life of a friend or colleague. Stay safe, Bruins! 

 

Respectfully,

 

Michael Gipson (he/him)

Emergency Management Coordinator

Department of Public Health and Safety

Salt Lake Community College

801-957-4538

Happy—and Safe—Holidays

Ghosts and goblins aren’t the only things that can be scary as Halloween kicks off the holiday season. From fire hazards to online scams, following these tips can help you stay safe during the eventful time of year between Halloween and New Year’s.

• Rather than a candle, consider lighting up your jack-o’-lantern with a small, battery-operated flameless one. If you do illuminate it with a traditional candle, remember to blow it out before going to bed or leaving home.
• Only use nonflammable decorations indoors.
• Whether you’re making holiday cookies or the Thanksgiving turkey, practice cooking safety to avoid fires at home. Stay alert in the kitchen and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen.
• Water your Christmas tree regularly. Dry branches are a fire hazard. Turn off the tree’s lights overnight or when you’re not home.
• Place your menorah on a sturdy, non-flammable surface out of the reach of small children and pets. Never leave lit candles unattended.
• When you shop online for holiday gifts, be cautious and avoid scams by shopping with trusted retailers. Be on the lookout for emails that seem too good to be true. Don't click on links!
• Learn the weather and climate risks for the area to which you’re traveling.

For more safety tips and information visit the SLCC Emergency Management Emergency Preparedness webpage at What is Emergency Management? | SLCC

June Is Pet Preparedness Month

Your pets are an important part of your family, and they rely on you to keep them safe. Are you prepared to keep them safe when a disaster occurs?

You may have to evacuate quickly or may be separated from them when something happens. By making a plan to prepare your pets for disasters, you can prevent having to make impossible decisions about your beloved pet and can give them their best chance of staying safe during and after a disaster.

Things to consider when making a plan:

• Have an evacuation plan for your pet. Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside. Know a safe place where you can take your pets before disasters and emergencies happen.
• Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
• Have your pet microchipped. Make sure to keep your address and phone number up-to-date and include contact information for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area.
• Contact your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office to get additional advice and information if you’re unsure how to care for your pet in case of an emergency.

Keep that plan, and what you need for your pet’s care in an emergency kit tailored specifically to their needs. Here are the top ten items recommended for your kit:

• Food. Keep several days’ supply of food in an airtight, waterproof container.
• Water. Store a water bowl and several days’ supply of water.
• Medicine. Keep an extra supply of the medicine your pet takes on a regular basis in a waterproof container.
• First aid kit. Talk to your veterinarian about what is most appropriate for your pet’s emergency medical needs.
• Collar with ID tag and a harness or leash. Include a backup leash, collar and ID tag. Have copies of your pet’s registration information and other relevant documents in a waterproof container and available electronically.
• Traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet.

For more pets and animals preparedness tips, visit Ready.gov.

This blog post was prepared by John Flynt, SLCC's Emergency Manager. 

Emergency Preparedness Points

A primary goal of Salt Lake Community College is to provide the safest educational and work environment possible for students, faculty and staff. To meet this endeavor, the college’s Public Safety Department and Emergency Management Division provide educational tools and training opportunities for the college community to play an active role in their personal and family preparedness.
 
One of the tools provided by SLCC is the Crisis Manager app that can be downloaded on your phone. This app provides protective actions, emergency procedures, and reporting phone numbers by category for quick reference. 

SLCC’s Emergency Management department recently published instructions on how to create an account for the Crisis Management App in order for you to be more informed and safer during emergencies. It was brought to our attention that the previous instructions included some extemporaneous steps that may have caused confusion. Your ability to use the app does not require you to create an account. Please follow these simplified instructions to better protect yourself and others from any emergencies that may take place on campus. In our effort to continually improve safety and security, we appreciate and welcome feedback from the college community. If you have any questions or issues, please contact either John Flynt (957-4963) or Michael Gipson (957-4538) for assistance.
 
Also, April is Earthquake Preparedness Month. Each year we welcome many new students, faculty, and staff who may be new to Utah and the Salt Lake Valley and who may be unaware that we live on one of the world’s longest continuous faults. The Utah fault approximately 240 miles long and divided into 10 segments, each segment roughly 25 miles long.  
 
This month there are two simple steps you can take to enhance your level of personal preparedness:

1. Download the SLCC “Crisis Manager” app (https://www.slcc.edu/emergency-prepare/docs/crisisappflyer.pdf to have emergency procedures and incident reporting information on your phone.

2. Visit the SLCC Emergency Preparedness webpage (What is Emergency Management? | SLCC) for information about earthquake potential in the Salt Lake Valley and plan to participate in the Great Utah ShakeOut.