First Responders

First Responders 911 . . . What Is Your Emergency?

Slips, trips and falls lead to many injuries. In fact, falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional death in homes and communities, and the risk of fall-related injuries rises significantly with age. Icy, wet winter conditions will further contribute to potential hazards. In order to help prevent falls, there are a few simple practices we can follow.

Wear shoes with good support and slip resistant soles. Clear pathways, tread carefully and, as winter approaches, avoid icy patches whenever possible. Clean up spills immediately. Flatten or remove loose area rugs. Be sure to secure electrical and extension cords. Always close lower drawers and upper cabinet doors. If you have small children, install gates at the top and bottom of stairs (unlatch the gate to pass – do not climb over them). Use handrails whenever possible. Periodically, check the condition of walkways and steps and repair damages immediately. Remove tripping hazards (paper, boxes, books, toys, clothing and shoes) from stairs and walkways. Ensure adequate lighting both indoors and outdoors. Never stand on a chair, table or other surface on wheels.

If you need to climb a ladder, be sure it is stable, on a solid firm base. Also, make sure someone else is within hearing distance, in case you fall and require help. Face the ladder, climb one rung at a time using three points of contact. Ensure an extension ladder is not too vertical (1 foot away from the surface it rests against for every 4 feet of ladder height). Use a tool belt so your hands are free to grip the rungs. Do not lean or overreach – instead, reposition the ladder closer to the work. Tie down a ladder in windy or inclement weather. Following these and other carefully thought out practices will certainly help to minimize accidents related to slips, trips and falls.

If you do have a mishap that requires an ambulance, call 911. BC Ambulance will assess the information you provide and call our North Shuswap First Responders as soon as they have dispatched the ambulance.

Let’s work together to make our world a safer place. ‘Together We Make a Difference.’

If you would like to order your green and white reflective address sign, they are only $40 and certainly priceless when a loved one needs help. Signs can be printed vertically or horizontally with your house numbers, so please take a moment to decide where you will mount your address sign, and which orientation will be best for you. You may send a message to nsfrinfo@gmail.com or call Margaret at 604-217-1638 to place an order. We look forward to hearing from you today.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a First Responder, please contact Kath at 250-318-0317 for more information.

If you would like to borrow home care medical supplies such as crutches, walkers, walking casts, shower chairs, etc, free of charge, from the First Responders Society, please contact Don Devine at donedevine@ gmail.com or call 250-955- 2101 to make arrangements and find out more about what we have available.