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WLBZ2.com - Bangor, Maine - STORM CENTER Cancellations & Delays

StormWatch | WABI TV5  Cancellations & Delays

7-Day Forecast for Latitude 45.36N and Longitude -68.31W
(Lee, Maine)
NOAA Graphical Forecast for Caribou, ME

NOAA Education - Cool sites for Everyone ( Weather )

                Winter Preparedness

About- an excellent link with an easy-to-read wind chill chart & everything you ever wanted to know about preparing for, and being safe in very cold weather.

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                 Fire Preparedness

We may think of wildfire as a Western event but look around at where we live.....

                                     
                              http://www.sccfiresafe.org/Documents/Why_100_Feet.pdf

                                 

                                          Preparing To Evacuate

 Fires never occur when expected and often families are fragmented with adults in one place and one or more of the children somewhere else. It is important that everyone understands there is a second location where all are to meet up eventually. This may be the home of a relative or close friend within a few miles from home.

The sudden order to evacuate leaves many homeowners in a quandary as to which of their cherished possessions to load into the car. Consider keeping some of them permanently in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe to reduce the number of things to take away during evacuation. The confusion around fires can be terrifying, and a list prepared ahead of time for quick consultation assists in gathering up these essential items with the least amount of stress:

Legal documents These include birth certificates, deeds, stock certificates and other essential paperwork. Discuss with your accountant and/or attorney about which ones are most important. This also applies to your fire insurance papers too because you will need them if your home or property is  damaged by fire.

Mementos. Heirlooms, art work and other keepsakes.

Jewelry and other valuables. Gold, precious stones, coins, fine art, family silver, antiques etc

Computer Files. If you have an office at home or store vital records and data in your computer, be sure to keep all your files backed up on CDs or other media. There may not be room to take the computer with you, but a pocketful of discs ensures you preserve your data.

Family pets.

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                        Emergency Pet Preparedness

It's 3:00 A.M. You're shocked awake by the doorbell. You stumble to the door and open it to see a police officer. He warns you an out of control fire threatens your community. You have 10 minutes to evacuate your house and head for safety. You've got to prepare yourself, your family, and your pets and clear out fast!

Would you be prepared for this situation? What about a disaster that gives no obvious warning, like a severe earthquake? If a fire, flood, earthquake, storm, or other disaster ever strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, electricity, and phone service for days, or even weeks. You may have to leave your home suddenly, or stay in your house for a period of time.

By taking time now to store emergency food, water, and other essential supplies, you can provide for your entire family, including your furry loved ones.
                                                                                     

                                             Stay Cool!

If you have to leave home suddenly, collect your wits and your pets. The behavior of pets may change dramatically after any disaster. Normally quiet and friendly cats and dogs may become aggressive or defensive. Watch animals closely. If your animals are outdoors, bring them inside (place a leash on dogs). Your pet is very attuned to your emotional state. Try to keep your cool so your pets don't panic. Speak firmly but calmly. Once they are in the house, you may want to place them in a separate room or in carriers so they don't become panicked by all the activity.

If you are being directed to an emergency shelter, note that your pets may not be allowed into these shelters for health and space reasons. In this case, prepare an emergency pen for pets in your home that includes at least a three-day supply of dry food and a large container of water.

If you cannot locate your animals and have to go, leave as much water and food inside or outside for them as possible. (It is a good idea to have a feeder and waterer on hand that will last for several days or more.) Also place a sign on your door, in case emergency workers in the area find your pet. Include an address and phone number, for example, that of a close relative or friend. and a picture of your pets, if readily available.

If you're prepared, you can load your short-term (three days or more) emergency store into your car, load the pets, and go within minutes.

                                            Don't Leave Home without It: Disaster Pet Supply Kit

In an emergency, there's no time to gather food from the kitchen, fill bottles with water, grab a first-aid kit from the closet and snatch a flashlight and a portable radio from the bedroom. You need to have these items packed and ready in one place before disaster hits.

Pack at least a three-day supply of food and water for yourself and your animals, and store it in a handy place. Choose pet foods that are easy to carry, nutritious, and ready-to-eat. In addition, pack these emergency items for your pets:

Medical supplies and first aid manual
Copies of health records
Pet food and treats
Pet vitamins
Food/water dishes
Can opener, disposable utensils
Pet first aid kit- probably same as yours
Blankets/towels/bedding
Pet hygiene items (brush, shampoo)
Pet carrier(s) with ID tag
Collar/ID/leash (dogs)
Pooper scooper (dogs) & bags for disposal
Litter box and litter/scooper (cats)
Collar/ID, harness and lead (cats)
Toys
Cleaning supplies

Your kit should contain at least a three-day supply of any medications your pet normally takes. Any additional 1st aid products can come from the family's first aid kit.

                     Pet ID                                                

                                          Traveling with Pets            

Always place cats in a carrier when traveling, even short distances. You may want to place your dogs in carriers as well. You can give them a few drops of Rescue Remedy (a natural herbal combination that calms nerves) before you leave.

Be sure your pets are wearing their collars and ID tags and that their carriers have ID tags as well with emergency contact numbers.

If your pets will travel in a carrier, it is a good idea to have a water container inside the container with a small amount of water (to prevent spillage). Many carriers come with plastic dishes that attach to the door.
                                               

                                                       Stay-at-Home Preparedness         

If the disaster forces you to stay home and be self sufficient, you'll need to have emergency stores of pet food and supplies.

Water: The Absolute Necessity

Stocking water reserves and learning how to purify contaminated water should be among your top priorities in preparing for an emergency. You should store at least a two-week supply of water for each member of your family, including pets.

If activity is reduced, healthy pets can survive on less than their usual food intake for an extended period. Food, unlike water, may be rationed safely.

Store the dry and canned foods your pet is accustomed to eating. Familiar foods are important. They are less likely to cause your pet digestive problems and can give them a feeling of security in time of stress. Also, canned foods won't require cooking, water, or special preparation. Following are recommended short-term and long-term food storage plans.


Food Storage Tips

Keep food in the driest and coolest spot in the house-a dark area if possible. Keep food covered at all times. Open food bags/boxes or cans carefully so that you can close them tightly after each use. Wrap biscuits in plastic bags and keep them in airtight containers. Inspect all food containers for signs of spoilage before use.

Short-Term Food Supplies

Even though it is unlikely an emergency would cut off your food supply for two weeks, you should prepare a supply that will last that long. A two-week supply can relieve a great deal of inconvenience and uncertainty until services are restored.

The easiest way to develop a two-week stockpile is to increase the amount of pet foods you normally keep on your shelves. You may already have a two-week supply of food on hand. Make sure you include a manual can opener and disposable utensils. (See Individual/Family 72 Hour Disaster Supplies Calendar (excel) for a plan which won't be a burden on your budget)

How to Store Your Short-Term Stockpile

Keep canned foods in a dry place where the temperature is fairly cool-not above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and not below freezing. To protect bagged/boxed foods from pests and extend their shelf life, store them in tightly closed cans or metal containers.

Be sure to rotate your emergency pet food supply. Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies, dated with ink or marker. Canned foods should be rotated at least once or twice per year. Check the pet food packages for expiration dates; use and replace them before they expire. Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in front.

Your emergency food supply should be of the highest quality possible. Inspect your reserves periodically to make sure there are no broken seals or dented containers.

Long-Term Pet Food Supplies

In the unlikely event of a military attack or some other national disaster, you may need long-term emergency pet food supplies. The best approach is to store a variety of dried and canned foods with large amounts of staples from which you can make pet food.

Pet food shelf life varies. Here is a general guideline:
         Canned food = 2 years from manufacture date (some are 3 years).
         Dry food = 1 year from manufacture date (except Lamb-6 mos).
         Treats = 1 year from manufacture date.
 

Animals in Disaster (Humane Society of the United States)

                                                                                           FLOODS

  Prepare for Spring

Spring is mud season. Spring is "frost heave" season. We're also accustomed to thinking of spring as "flood season" in Maine. Although floods can come at any time, in the late winter and early spring we have snow, frozen ground, no leaves on the trees and ice in rivers, all of which increase the risk of flooding when spring rains arrive.

Here are some useful links for "flood season", along with entries from our own library for flood safety and preparedness. And remember, a Maine spring also often features winter-like storms, so don't lose touch with
Winter Safety Tips.

Flood: A temporary overflow of water onto lands not normally covered by water and that are used or usable by man, producing measurable property damage/destruction or forcing evacuation of people and vital resources.

Flash: Quickly rising small streams after heavy rains, ice jams, or rapid snow melt.

Riverine/Riparian/Ice Jam: Periodic overbank flow of rivers and streams.

Urban: Overflow of storm sewer systems, usually due to poor drainage, following heavy rain or rapid snow melt.

 

There are eight major rivers, more than 5,000 streams and brooks, 6,000 ponds and lakes, and 3,500 miles of coastline in Maine which are vulnerable to the effects of flooding. While minor to moderate flooding may occur at any time, major flooding has frequently occurred when heavy rains and rapidly melting snow and ice have caused flooding; when ice jams have restricted the natural run-off of water; or where high winds, heavy rain or snow, and higher than normal wind-driven tides have combined to cause heavy coastal damage. Residential and commercial development within the flood plain areas or near the ocean have contributed to the increased losses from flooding situations. Historically, minor to moderate flooding occurs annually and those areas affected are prepared to deal with it. Major flooding, while less frequent, has occurred and major property damage has resulted.

                  Here are some facts you may not know:

• As little as two feet of water will float most cars and small trucks. If your vehicle begins to float, you lose complete control over the vehicle. If your vehicle stalls in a flooded roadway, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground. The water may sweep the vehicle and its occupants away.

• Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are vehicle related.

• On October 21, 1996, 4 to 19 inches of rain caused very serious flooding in New Hampshire and western Maine. In Scarborough, Maine, one man drowned when he drove his car into a flooded roadway. Unknown to the man, the road had already been washed away.

• In 2004, in Gardiner, a man died when attempting to kayak in a swollen stream. Rushing flood water may look exciting to the amateur canoeist or boater, but it has incredible power and may be carrying hidden debris.

Here are some flood/flash flood safety tips:

• Never drive a car into a flooded roadway. Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are vehicle related.

• Keep away from streams during heavy rainfall events. Swiftly moving water is extremely powerful and can easily overpower a person.

• Do not attempt recreational boating in flood water. The power of the water, and the chance of heavy debris being swept along, make this extremely dangerous.

• Keep children and pets inside and away from flooded streets, culverts, and streams.

• Report any flooding to the appropriate authorities.

• Obey all road blocks and barriers, even if the flooding has receded. Flood waters may have undercut the road surface or left dangerous debris in the roadway.

• If you live in a flood prone area, have a plan in case the water starts rising quickly.

• If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

                                                          Maine Prepares: Display Fact Sheet

       Preparedness--- a Super Duper link with very useful information on::::
Maine Prepares: A Special Supplement to local papers on:

Individual/Family 72 Hour Disaster Supplies Calendar (excel) Using the calendar, your family can assemble an emergency kit it small steps over a six-month period. If you have trouble accessing this form please contact our office an we will be happy to mail you a copy.

Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness (IS-22) is FEMA’s most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness. The guide has been revised, updated, and enhanced in August 2004 to provide the public with the most current and up-to-date disaster preparedness information available.
Copies of Are You Ready? are available at no cost through the FEMA publications warehouse (1.800.480.2520). Call today to get your copy!!

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      Pandemic Influenza

                                                                              Kid's Resources...

Pandemic Flu... What to do, what to do!

Adult Resource: DHHS PandemicFlu.gov *********

What is "Pandemic Flu"? A "pandemic" is when a disease is spread from person to person throughout the world.   A "pandemic flu" occurs when a new influenza virus (which we call "flu") spreads easily and very quickly, making a lot of people throughout the world sick.   Some doctors and scientists are worried that a pandemic flu will make a lot of people very sick. They are also concerned that someday the Avian Flu (also called "bird flu") could become "contagious" (spread from person to person) and become a pandemic.

But that has NOT happened yet! At this time, Avian Flu can ONLY be spread by birds who have it; so a sick bird could give Avian Flu to another bird or to a person who handles the sick bird, but it CANNOT be spread from one person to another.

What can YOU do to help?

We can get vaccinations (shots or medicine) to protect us from some diseases like measles, tetanus, and some kinds of flu. But sometimes a new flu spreads so quickly that doctors and scientists do not have enough time to develop a vaccine to keep us from getting sick. When that happens, it is important to stay away from people who may have the flu. And if you are sick, it is important to make sure you do not spread flu germs to someone else.

So if there is a flu pandemic before there is a vaccine, people may need to stay home for some time so they do not get the flu from someone else. That is why it makes good sense to BE PREPARED before anything happens in your neighborhood. You and your family can plan ahead for many emergency situations by using the following checklist!

Be Prepared

• Stock at least a two (2) week supply of water and food. During a pandemic, if the people who take care of our water supplies are sick, water may not be available. If people are told to stay home or if you are sick yourself, you may not be able to get to a store. Even if you can get to a store, it may be out of supplies if the people who run the store or the people who supply products to the store are sick or required to stay home. So it is important for you and your family to have extra food and water on hand. And, of course, extra food and water would also come in handy for other types of emergencies, like when the power is out due to a major storm like Hurricane Katrina!

Stored foods should be "non-perishable" (that means they should stay good for a long time without needing to be in a refrigerator). They should also be easy to prepare in case you are unable to cook, and they should require little or no water to prepare so that you can save your water for drinking. Here are some ideas for non-perishable foods to have on hand:   Ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, and soups Canned juices Canned or jarred baby food and formula Fluids with electrolytes (minerals that help keep your body's fluid levels in balance), like Gatorade or, for babies, something like Pedialyte Bottled water Protein or fruit bars Dry cereal or granola Peanut butter or nuts Dried fruit Crackers Pet foods (don't forget your furry and feathered friends!)

• Ask your parents or guardians to fill out a Family Emergency Health Information Sheet and an Emergency Contacts Form. And talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.
  
   
• Keep a good supply of prescription and nonprescription medicines and other health supplies that are needed often, including pain relievers (like aspirin), medicines for an upset stomach, cough and cold medicines, and vitamins. Here are some ideas for medical, health, and emergency supply items to have on hand if you have to stay at home for some time:

  Needed medical supplies like glucose (blood sugar) and blood-pressure monitoring equipment, if you regularly need to check your blood sugar or blood pressure Soap and water or hand wash Medicines for fever Thermometer Anti-diarrhea medicine Fluids with electrolytes, like sport drinks Vitamins Flashlight Batteries Portable radio Manual can opener Garbage bags Tissues, toilet paper, disposable diapers

  Kids Comfort Pack! Don't forget to create your own personal comfort pack! Include a favorite book, stuffed animal, toy, coloring and activity books, or other things that will help you feel calm and comfortable during an emergency. And here is a link: http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/mind/middleschool/ for  you to print and put in your comfort pack!

Stay Healthy and Protect Others Too!

There are many things you can do EVERY day to help limit the spread of germs and prevent infection! Here are some good health tips for you and your friends and family:

Eat a well balanced diet, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products. Also eat low-fat dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream!), lean meats, poultry, fish, and beans. Drink plenty of water and go easy on salt, sugar, and saturated fat. Exercise on a regular basis and get plenty of rest!

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you are caught off guard and have no tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm (bend of the elbow) or your sleeve. You could also use your hand to cover your mouth, BUT ONLY if you can wash your hands with soap and water right away, before touching anything else. This little song should help you and your friends and family remember how important it is to "Cover Your Mouth and Turn Your Head".

Put used tissues in a waste basket. Stay away from others who are sick as much as you can. Stay at home if you are sick. You should not go visiting, to school, to play, or to special events when you are sick. That is the time to stay home with a good book or some other fun indoor activity that you feel well enough to do.

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   LEARN SKILLS TO SAVE SOMEONE YOU LOVE

Learn CPR is a free public service supported by the University of Washington School of Medicine.  Learn the basics of CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Updated with new CPR Guidelines issued by the American Heart Association and published in Circulation, Dec 13 2005.

	CPR FOR ADULTS - CPR in three simple steps CPR FOR CHILDREN - CPR in three steps for small children CPR FOR INFANTS - CPR for infants in five simple steps                                              CPR POCKET GUIDE - CPR instructions you can print and take with you CPR FOR CATS & DOGS - CPR instructions for your family pet
	CPR FOR ADULTS VIDEO - CPR techniques for adults CPR FOR CHILDREN VIDEO - CPR techniques for children CPR FOR INFANTS VIDEO - CPR techniques for infants
	CPR FAQ - Have a question about CPR? Check here first CPR FACTS - Facts and general information about CPR CPR LINKS - Links to other great CPR resources CPR QUIZ - Think you're an expert? Take our quiz and test yourself CPR HISTORY - Interested in learning about the history of CPR? SELF CPR? - Click here to view information about this phenomenon.
This web site is to be used as a free guide and an informational resource, but it cannot replace real CPR or first aid training. Please try to attend a CPR training course in your community and help save a life.

Email Mickey Eisenberg M.D. at learncpr@u.washington.edu

 1998 - 2006 Learn CPR

   This site teaches us how to perform CPR on our furry and feathered friends!

	CPR & Emergencies for our pets
A testament to the power of love- Owner says dog saved her with 'Heimlich' Wednesday, March 28, 2007 12:13:44 AM
Toby, a 2-year-old golden retriever, saw his owner choking on a piece of fruit and began  jumping up and down on the woman's chest. The dog's owner believes the dog was trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life. Debbie Parkhurst, 45, of Calvert told  the Cecil Whig she was eating an apple at her home Friday when a piece lodged in her throat. She attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself but it didn't work. After she began beating on her chest, she said Toby noticed and got involved. "The next thing I knew, Toby was up on his hind feet and he got his front paws on my shoulders," she recalled. "He pushed me to the ground, and once I was on my back, he began jumping up and down on my chest." That's when the apple dislodged and Toby started licking her face to keep her from passing out, she said. "I literally have paw print-shaped bruises on my chest. I'm still a little hoarse, but otherwise, I'm OK. The doctor said I probably wouldn't be here without Toby," said Parkhurst, a jewelry artist. "I keep looking at him and saying, 'You're amazing.'"
Now, if Toby can do it, so can YOU!

 

                                  

CONSCIOUS ADULTS - First aid for a conscious choking adult
CONSCIOUS CHILD - First aid for a choking child
CONSCIOUS INFANTS - First aid for a choking infant    

                             

CHOKING ADULT VIDEO - First aid for a choking conscious adult
CHOKING CHILD VIDEO - First aid for a choking conscious child
CHOKING INFANT VIDEO - First aid for a choking conscious infant