A look at the ideal emergency bags

 

If history has taught anything, it's that disasters can happen at any time and when you least expect them. People have to do what they can to prepare themselves for the worst. This is why disaster survival kits or bags need to become a must-have for every household.

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According to public safety expert Martin Lloyd Sanders, the contents of emergency bags should have everything a person or a small group would need to survive for a few days.

Below is a shortlist of the essentials.

1. First aid kit

There is perhaps nothing more essential to an emergency bag than a first aid kit. From cleaning and patching up small wounds to preventing infection to providing the basic medication, first aid kits are nothing but indispensable to a person's survival.

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2. Water (at least a few liters) and water bottles

Many survival experts say that the rule of thumb of putting together an emergency bag is having at least a liter of water a day. Also, it's best to use reusable water bottles instead of plastic mineral water bottles since the plastic could contaminate the water if left sitting for a long time.

3. Bleach

Bleach is a surprising addition to an emergency bag mainly because it can be used to help disinfect water from sources like tap or rivers or lakes, Martin Lloyd Sanders adds.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, is an expert in biological safety and security. He has used his skills in his involvement in resolving biosafety and biosecurity issues both in the U.S. and abroad. Read more about his expertise on this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States Government.

Safest and worst places to go to during the coronavirus pandemic

 

It is crucial for people to understand how quick coronavirus can spread outside the home. While some locales have yet to enforce lockdowns, some have already made attempts to reopen businesses to the public. More often than not, this has resulted in a spike in cases, except for places which have handled the situation from the beginning. Once an epicenter for coronavirus, New York is now safely reopening, thanks to preventive measures that have slowed down the spread of the virus. Public safety expert Martin Lloyd Sanders claim that people should know places which are safe and those which have a high chance of having COVID-19. 

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Bars A bar is probably the last place you want to be in during this pandemic. It’s enclosed with often poor ventilation, the place can get crowded, and it’s often filled with people who talk in close quarters. Even though the staff may do their best to disinfect seats, tables, and bar stools, the virus can easily remain airborne, ready to infect other people.

Restaurants
Restaurants are generally roomier compared to bars. And if proper social distancing etiquette is followed, only about 25% occupancy should be allowed. People are only able to remove their face masks when eating and conversations, which could allow the spray of viral components are limited to a small area. If you are craving for restaurant food, it is still best to have it for takeaway. 

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Public parks
Public parks are generally safe, unless there is an unusually large amount of people congregating in the area. There isn’t really much surface area for the virus to cling on to and people can easily follow social distancing rules in these open spaces, making them some of the safest public areas you can visit during the pandemic, according to Martin Lloyd Sanders. Just be sure, to wash your hands and bathe as soon as you get home.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., obtained his degree in zoology at the University of California and his doctorate from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. Visit this website for more updates on the current pandemic situation.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

What to do during a flash flood

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Over the past few years, the weather has become more and more unpredictable. As the world combats this climate crisis, there are now unique and old threats to public safety. A lot of places that weren’t prone to floods before are starting to get affected, and people need to know how to respond to these emergencies appropriately. Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders believes that knowing what to do during these emergencies can keep you safe. If you are caught in a flash flood, here is what you need to do.

If you live in a low and flood-prone area, tune in to your local weather or TV station and pay attention to the weather updates. Local officials will advise residents on what steps to take and inform people of any relevant weather activities.

If you are stuck inside a vehicle inside a flood and you notice that the water is starting to rise quickly, vacate your vehicle and seek higher ground. Regardless of how big or heavy your car is, it can easily get swept away by fast-moving water. The last thing you want to be in is inside a vehicle getting swept away into deeper parts of the flood.

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If you are outside and the water starts to rise, stay away from the direction of the floodwater’s flow. Don’t force your way into a flood as it is possible to get hit by debris being carried by the fast-moving water.

Lastly, always have an emergency kit in your home at all times. Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders notes that an emergency kit should have at least a gallon of water per person, medication, toiletries, a power bank for your phones, extra cash, blankets, clothes, map of the area, and a list of emergency contact numbers.”

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, formerly held the position of Director for Safety, Environmental Compliance and Emergency Management in Federal Occupational Health (FOH/PSC). He has the task of overseeing department-wide safety, environmental compliance, and emergency response policy. For more reads on emergency procedures and public safety, visit this blog.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

What to do during an active shooting

The U.S. is the country with the highest rate of public shooting in the world. Public shooting has been reported in the news too often. According to Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, an expert in public health, citizens should know how to react to such acts of violence. Here is what you should do if you are caught in an active shooting scenario.

There are a lot of things you can do, but what you can do is limited to your location and your distance from the shooter. If you are at a safe enough distance, you should call 911 and alert local law enforcement of the crime being committed. If you are at an advantageous position where you can see the shooter but the shooter can’t see you, stay on the line and keep giving law enforcement information on the shooter’s location and direction.

If you think you do not have time to call law enforcement due to your situation, evacuate immediately. If you know your surroundings, think of an escape route with plenty of cover and not wide open spaces. Leave your belongings if they will hinder your escape. And if you see wounded people in the location, do not attempt to move them unless you are trained to do so.

In the instance where evacuation is not an option, the best thing to do is to find a hiding place, one that is away from the shooter’s view. According to Martin Lloyd Sanders, the best place to hide is a location where the door can be locked, items can be used to barricade the entrance, and you also have other means of escaping like a window.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., obtained his degree in zoology at the University of California and his doctorate from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. To know more about Capt. Sanders, visit his profile here .

Disclaimer:  This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. 

Cdc Threat Levels For Antibiotic And Antimicrobial Resistant Threats

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC determined three threat levels for the outbreak of antibiotic and antimicrobial resistant diseases. As their names suggest, these diseases have the ability to resist the effects of drugs and evolve new strains that are resilient to current drugs. The following are the threat levels:

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The lowest threat level is dubbed “concerning,” which has a threat score of 3/5. This threat level is for bacteria with low antibiotic resistance. The bacteria also have multiple therapeutic options for resistant infections. Nevertheless, these pathogens can cause severe illness and thus require monitoring and rapid incident response.

The next level is labeled “serious,” with a score of 4/5. These threats have reasonable availability of therapeutic agents or several other reasons which make them considerably worse than concerning. These are diseases that can only worsen and need ongoing public health monitoring, and evoke preventive measures.

The highest threat level is “urgent,” with a score of 5/5. Urgent threats are high-consequence antibiotic resistant threats due to risks identified by the CDC across several criteria. This disease may not be widespread but have the potential of infecting a lot of people in a given area. This threat requires public health attention to identify infections and to limit transmission.

Image source: cdc.gov

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., formally held the position of Director for Safety, Environmental Compliance and Emergency Management in Federal Occupational Health (FOH/PSC). He is a multi-awarded scientist and US Army veteran who has been deeply involved in biosafety and biosecurity issues both here and abroad. To know more about the CDC and its procedures, visit this website.