FIGHT FLU BEFORE FLU FIGHTS YOU

Flu season is here and OEM and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene remind New Yorkers to get flu shots this year. It is especially important for the following groups to get flu shots due to risk of complications: People over 50 Children from age six months to five years People with chronic medical conditions Pregnant women Healthcare workers who provide direct patient care By getting a flu shot you can protect yourself, as well as those around you. You can also stop the spread of flu in other ways: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing Stay home if you are sick with a fever and cough Read the press release Visit the Health Department online Read the Tip of the Week online

OEM and Department of Education Launch Ready New York for Kids

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg, OEM Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno, and Department of Education (DOE) Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm introduced Ready New York for Kids, an emergency preparedness program for school-age children. As part of this program, which teaches kids and parents about preparing for emergencies, OEM and DOE have created two Ready New York for Kids guides. One guide is designed for elementary school children, the other targets students in middle and high schools. Throughout the month of November, Ready New York for Kids will be distributed to all 1.1 million New York City public school students. Ready New York for Kids is available in nine languages, including English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Haitian-Creole, Urdu, Arabic and Bengali. The guides are available through OEM's website, and by calling 311. OEM encourages parents and guardians to review the Ready New York for Kids materials with their children and work together to create a disaster plan. Read the press release Download copies of the guides

Turn Back the Clock, Check Your Batteries, and Restock

Take advantage of your extra hour this weekend as daylight-saving time ends. On Sunday, November 4, when you turn back your clocks, remember to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and make sure your Go Bags and Emergency Supply Kits are fully stocked. Check expiration dates on emergency supplies and replace any items that may have been used. The Fire Department will be distributing fresh 9-volt batteries for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the five boroughs this week. Get free batteries from the Fire Department Read the Tip of the Week online

Twenty Tips for a Street-Smart Halloween (DOT)

Halloween is an exciting holiday for children; it's also a great time to talk to your kids about street smarts. To ensure trick-or-treaters stay safe, NYC DOT and Safe Kids New York City offers these safety tips for kids and motorists.

For Kids
1. Kids 10 and under should trick-or-treat with a trusted adult
2. Only trick-or-treat in familiar areas that are well lit
3. Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
4. Look left, right and left again when crossing; always walk, don't run, when crossing streets
5. Make eye contact with drivers and watch for cars that are turning or backing up
6. Walk on sidewalks or paths; if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible
7. Never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars
8. Wear light-colored, flame-retardant, costumes decorated with retro-reflective tape or stickers
9. Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls
10. Carry a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers
11. Wear face paint and makeup; a mask can restrict a child's vision

For Motorists
12. Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods
13. Drive more slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road
14. Be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances
15. Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs
16. Remember that costumes can limit children's visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle
17. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully
18. Remember that children are excited on this night and may move in unpredictable ways
19. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30-9:30 p.m.
20. Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and pedestrians

Kids - Check out these Halloween safety tips and maze with your parents and have a fun and safe Halloween! (in PDF)

Parents - forward these tips to share with your friends and neighbors. Together we can all have a safe and happy Halloween.

Know What to Do When You're Forced Out at Home

As the World Series begins, OEM reminds New Yorkers to know what to do in case home is not safe. Whether you live alone or with others, you should learn a few steps to stay safe if you have to evacuate: Decide where you will go if you have to leave in a hurry. Choose one location close to your home and another outside your neighborhood. Identify all possible exit routes in your home and practice using them in a non-emergency situation. Choose an out-of-state contact who all your household members can call if they are separated. If local phone circuits are busy, an out-of-state number may be easier to reach. Read more on evacuation Learn how to pack a Go Bag Read the Tip of the Week online

Poison Proof Your Home

Each year the New York City Poison Control Center receives over 70,000 calls. Approximately 90 percent of these incidents occur in the home and over half of them involve children under the age of five. Follow the steps below to poison proof your home. Keep poisonous materials, like cleaning agents, out of reach or in locked cabinets. Never store food with non-food items. Throw away expired medicine. Never store cleaning agents or poisonous materials in food or beverage containers. If you suspect a poisoning, call (212)-POISONS immediately. Certified pharmacists and nurses are on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Translation services are available in 150 languages. Learn more about hazardous materials in NYC Visit NYC's Poison Control Center website to learn more about poison prevention Read the Tip of the Week online

Practice Your Fire Tactics

It is Fire Prevention Week and this year's theme is "Plan and Practice Your Evacuation Route." An evacuation plan should include two different exit routes and a meeting point a safe distance from your home. While practicing your evacuation, remember to: Close doors behind you to slow the spread of the fire. If your family's plan includes a fire escape, make sure the window is not painted shut and that everyone can open it. Submit a video of your evacuation plan to the "Be a Home Escape Planning Star" contest sponsored by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). Learn more about fires in NYC Join the Fire Department at local events celebrating Fire Prevention Week Read the Tip of the Week online

Make it Your Business to Prepare

Over 25 percent of businesses never recover from a disaster, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety. Is your business prepared for an emergency? Ready New York for Business, an emergency preparedness guide from OEM and the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), offers some advice: Identify the hazards most likely to affect your business. Plan how to communicate with employees, suppliers, and clients if you cannot access your business or provide expected services. Back up computer data and important documents like licenses and business certificates and store them somewhere off-site. New Yorkers can pick up the guide at SBS's Solution Centers or at Department of Consumer Affairs' Licensing Centers. It is also available in four languages on OEM's website or by calling 311. Read the press release Learn more about emergency planning for business Read about emergency business assistance from SBS Read the Tip of the Week online

TELL YOUR TALE, GET A GO BAG

Last month, OEM announced its first-ever Ready New Yorker of the Month winner. Are you a Ready New Yorker? The next deadline for submissions is Friday, September 28, so here's your chance to prove it: Enter the contest online or request a hard copy of the application Write a true short story (200 words or fewer) about how or why you are prepared for emergencies Make sure you comply with all competition instructions (in pdf) Finally, if you are already prepared, encourage your friends and loved ones to prepare themselves by learning more about Ready New York Read the winning story for September and learn more Enter the contest online Read the Tip of the Week online

Stay Safe and Sound Underground

Most accidents on the subways result from slips and falls on stairways. Slow down and use the handrails to keep your balance. Should a more serious incident occur while you are underground, keep these three tips in mind: Listen for instructions. Stay inside the train. Subway tracks are dangerous and poorly lit. The safest place is usually inside the subway car. If evacuation is necessary, an MTA employee will provide instructions over the intercom or by walking through the train. Only pull the emergency cord if someone is caught between closed car doors and is in danger of being dragged. If your train is between stations and you pull the cord, the train will stop, preventing emergency responders from reaching the train. Learn more about subway preparedness Read about subway safety from the MTA Read the Tip of the Week online

Don't Forget Your Pet

A year ago this week, OEM introduced Ready New York for Pets — a guide for pet owners on how to care for pets during an emergency. OEM encourages all pet owners to include pets in their disaster plans: Think about where you will go with your pet and how you will get there if you have to leave home during an emergency. Know what you will do if an emergency prevents you from returning home to your pet. Put together a pet Go Bag. This Saturday, September 15, stop by the Ready New York table at the American Kennel Club's Responsible Dog Ownership Day in Madison Square Park to pick up your free copy of the Ready New York for Pets guide and learn more about how to prepare your pets. Get more tips on how to prepare your pets Read the Tip of the Week online

Remember to Prepare This September

As National Preparedness Month gets underway this September, take time to make sure you and your family are ready for any emergency. Prepare by making a disaster plan, gathering emergency supplies, familiarizing yourself with hazards you may face in NYC, and getting involved in preparing your community. This Thursday, September 6, stop by one of seven sites throughout the five boroughs to pick up your free copy of the Ready New York preparedness guide and learn more about ways to get involved in preparing your fellow New Yorkers. Sites include: Bronx: South Bronx Hub (148th Street & Willis Avenue) Brooklyn: Borough Hall (Columbus Park) Manhattan: Foley Square (Worth and Centre Streets) Mitchel Square Park (168th Street & Broadway) Queens: Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station Jamaica Station (Parsons and Archer Avenues) Staten Island: Staten Island Ferry Terminal Learn more about National Preparedness Month Read the presidential declaration Read the Tip of the Week online