To go back to the homepage Click Here

 

Safer America Newsletter

http://www.saferamerica.com                                                Toll free: 1-866-SAFER-99

226 East 54th Street, Suite 502                                               Tel: 1-212-374-4056

New York, 10022 NY                                                               Fax: 1-425-660-77-79

 

Your safety supply retailer since 2002                                    GSA award # GS-07F-5804R

 

 

NEW – You missed one of our issues? Forgot which one contained some information you needed?

Our past issues are now available via our Newsletter Archives! Check it out to review Safety Preparedness Tips relevant to you in no time!

 

 

Dear Friends,

Last winter, as the deadly bird-flu virus marched out of Asia, across Europe and down into Africa, public health experts warned of the potential for a catastrophic pandemic like the Spanish flu of 1918.

This year, by contrast, bird flu seems all but forgotten, mentioned occasionally when it claims another life or when it causes a major outbreak in, say, a French turkey farm. With flu season reaching its peak, the question for many Americans now is whether the threat they are facing is not Spanish flu but swine flu — another widely advertised menace that never materialized.

 

But that is premature, scientists say, cautioning that the virus is as dangerous and unpredictable as ever. It killed more people in 2006 than it did in 2005 or 2004, they point out, and its fatality rate is rising — 61 percent now, up from 43 percent in 2005.

 

More worrisome, they say, is that the disease is out of control in birds in more places than ever, including Indonesia, the Nile delta in Egypt and Nigeria, where public health mechanisms are weak. These three countries have a combined population of over 447 million people.

 

Health experts remain cautious, warning that the pandemic could begin at any time and noting that February is a particularly risky month.

Recent flu outbreaks among poultry in Russia, Britain and Hungary are not particularly worrying, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said, because those countries are proficient at eliminating veterinary diseases. 

 

Safer America brings you the best in personal safety products.

 

The Safer America Team

http://www.saferamerica.com

 

 

Highlighted products                                       

To view a complete list of our products, click here

All the products presented on our website and in this newsletter are in stock.

Discount price for the newsletter highlighted products are valid until broadcast of the preceding newsletter.

 

                                                                         

Survive-All Vest III

$174 for Newsletter’ subscribers instead of $179 regular retail price

No vest on the market today even approaches the caliber of the SURVIVE-ALL VEST III™. This vest is the first of its kind – a post urban survival vest for a family in a neighborhood in the city… For more info, click here

 

 

NORTH 7700 Series Half-Mask Respirator

$29.95 for Newsletter’ subscribers instead of $32.25 regular retail price

**Comes with 2 P100 cartridges!!** Lightweight, low profile design for greater worker acceptance. This Half-Face respirator offers a comfortable fit for a wide range of faces… For more info, click here

 

Discounts                                               

 

February Discounts:

·         Following January promotions success, this month’s orders over $400 will receive a free stainless steel Winchester Blade with Sheath – ideal for campers, hikers or to complete your survival kit!*

·         10% OFF Solar Power/Handcrank Radio!

To receive the discount for those items, you only need to refer to this newsletter when placing your order!

·         You represent a Governmental Agency? We’ll give you GSA prices! When placing your order, just ask our representative or notify us of your agency status.

*One Blade per household; offer valid only while supplies last.

 

 

Safety Tip                          

 

Safety Preparedness – Gas Masks 101

 

A gas mask or full-faced respirator is a negative pressure devise that requires the user to physically draw air through a cartridge or canister containing material which filters out specific pollutants.  There are two types of gas masks, half face and full face.  Full-faced gas masks are more desirable because the level of protection is greater by covering the entire face.  Canisters or cartridges are designed and rated to filter out specific contaminates or gases and should be carefully considered before purchasing.

 

What should I look for when buying a gas mask?

Not all gas masks are created equally. Pick an established and respectable manufacturer that has necessary approvals or certifications. The canister should also be sealed and with an expiration date.  Most canisters have a shelf life of 2 to 8 years; therefore canisters from military surplus stores dating back to the Korean War are next to useless.  If you are spending less than $150 for a full face gas mask and cartridge, be very careful. Nowadays, many people are selling Israeli gas masks for adults and kids but you should ask for a technical sheet and make sure the canister is in a sealed package with a valid expiration date before purchasing.

 

Who can wear them?

  • Adults can wear gas masks but anyone with any respiratory problems should consult a doctor first. SCBA and PAPR are the alternative to gas masks.

 

  • Infants and small children are NOT recommended to wear gas masks and should use a PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) or SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus). This is because children’s lungs are still underdeveloped and have difficulty using a negative pressure mask, meaning that you have to breathe in to draw the air through the canister.  A PAPR is a positive pressure device that continually blows air into a hood making it very easy to breath.  It consists of a pump motor, filter or canister and hood that cover the head or entire body in the case of an infant.    

 

Age guidelines for gas masks are unclear but NBC canisters are harder to breath through than normal particulate filters so even healthy adults depending on their size may find using a gas mask difficult.

 

How long does a gas mask last?

The life of your gas mask will be determined by your exposure level. If exposed to a chemical or biological agent, the cartridge should be properly discarded even after one use and the mask cleaned using approved methods. A gas mask properly stored will last over 10 years, but don’t forget to Fit Test the Mask and to replace the canister(s) 5 to 8 months before expiration. 

 

Fit testing

It is paramount that your gas mask fit well with no leaks around the face especially when using a negative pressure gas mask.  Any air that can enter the mask not through the canister is dangerous.  A badly fitted gas mask is ineffective in protecting you against any chemical or biological agent.   There are basically two methods for fit testing.  The quick way is don (put on) the mask, cover the canister ports with your hand and breath in.  If no air is able to get in, the mask is probably ok.  The better method to fit test a gas mask is called Qualitative fit testing and should be administered by a trained and qualified 3rd tier person.

 

To view Safer America’s selection of Gas Masks – Click Here

To view Safer America’s selection of Escape Hoods– Click Here

 

___________________________________________________

 

It Happened 35 years ago…

February 5th 1972: U.S. airlines begin mandatory inspection of passengers and baggage.

 

Prior to the 1970s American airports had minimal security arrangements to prevent aircraft hijackings. Screening measures were introduced starting in the late 1960s after several high-profile hijackings.

 

Sky marshals were introduced in 1970 but there were insufficient numbers to protect every flight and hijackings continued to take place. Consequently in 1972, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) required that all airlines begin screening passengers and their carry-on baggage by January 5, 1973. This screening was generally contracted to private security companies. Private companies would bid on these contracts, with the lowest bid usually being the winning one. The airline that had operational control of the departure concourse controlled by a given checkpoint would hold that contract.

 

The September 11, 2001 attacks prompted even tougher regulations, such as limiting the number of and types of items passengers could carry on board aircraft and requiring increased screening for passengers who fail to present a government issued photo ID. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act generally required that by November 19, 2002 all passengers screening must be conducted by Federal employees. As a result, passenger and baggage screening is now provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), part of the Department of Homeland Security.

___________________________________________________

 

Today, we live surrounded by safety items and devices; such apparels are becoming part of our everyday urban landscape. Nobody wishes to ever having to use any of those protection products – but to know they are there “just in case”, that should be everyone’s concern.

 

Have a good week,

 

The Safer America Team

http://www.saferamerica.com

Toll Free: 1-866-SAFER-99

Fax: 1-425-660-7779

 

© Copyright 2007 SaferAmerica; All Rights Reserved