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As part of our continued efforts to maintain emergency preparedness, the ZSR Safety and Security Committee hosted two training sessions this past January. What follows is a brief summary of these training sessions and a review of key take-aways and reminders.

AED/CPR Training

In January, the ZSR Safety and Security Team hosted an AED/CPR (re)certification program. WFU Occupational Health, Safety and Training Coordinator Bridget Marrs led the program and ZSR Administration sponsored the program to have participants certified in National Safety Council AED and CPR response. Program participants included Safety & Security Committee members (James Harper, Mary Beth Lock, Mary Reeves, Meghan Webb, Peyton Barr, Thomas Dowling) and Hu Womack, Monesha Staton, Travis Manning. Some valuable advice in preparing for and responding to an emergency situation:

  • Know where the closest AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) and First Aid Kit are located in relation to your work area.
  • Know your co-workers! Find out if your office mates have any known allergies or medical conditions that may require attention.
  • Keys to acting in an emergency:
    • Your primary goal is to ensure the victim gets help quickly.
    • Call 9-1-1 for all emergencies FIRST.
      • be prepared to tell dispatcher your name, the location and number of victims, approximate age/sex/condition (responsive? breathing? bleeding?), what happened to the victim, what is being done for the victim. Remain on the line until the dispatcher says you can hang up.
    • Give victims only the care you have been trained in.
    • Always check the scene for safety before beginning to provide care. Never put yourself at risk to rescue a victim.
Meghan and Mary Beth getting hands-on experience with removing safety gloves.
Meghan and Mary Beth get hands-on experience in removing contaminated safety gloves.

Fire Extinguisher Training

Also in January, the Safety and Security Committee collaborated with Scott Frazier, Assistant Director Environmental Health & Safety at WFU and the professional firefighters from Winston-Salem Fire Department Station 8 to hold a fire extinguisher training. The firefighters brought along a fire simulator and fire extinguisher simulators for us to practice with. In using a fire extinguisher, you want to remember the P.A.S.S. method (Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the lever, Sweep from side to side).

The fire extinguishers we have in the library are all the “A, B, C” type meaning they can be used on any fire that would likely start in this building (paper, gasoline, or electrical fires, but not grease). Also it’s important to note that use of a fire extinguisher does not supplant our usual response of pulling the fire alarm pull and starting evacuation! Those should still happen first before starting suppress the fire with a fire extinguisher.

Other considerations for fire safety prep:

  • know where the nearest fire pull (alarm) and fire extinguisher are in your work area(s).
  • be aware of primary and secondary emergency escape routes in ZSR.
  • review the Fire & Life Safety tips provided by WFU Facilities and Campus Services.

On behalf of the Safety & Security Committee, thank you for your efforts in keeping our library safe and secure!