In the past two weeks, we’ve touched on aspects in emergency response preparedness: plan, training. The next thing is drills. So you have the plan, your people have been trained but have you tested to see the effectiveness of the plan?

Again, because this is Nigeria, yes, God forbid but just imagine it isn’t forbidden and it actually happens, would your employees, co-workers, visitors know what to do? I’d be using an example in aviation to drive home the point. In the video above, I recently had my recurrency training and drills. This is mandatory for crew every 12 months because of the importance of periodic training. I have had to do this 6 times in the past 6 years. So of course, I do not want to crash land on land or water some day but if that happens, I’ve been prepped with knowledge to ensure we can be located by rescue teams, I know how to ensure passengers are protected from the elements, I know how to sort out food and water options not just for myself but for the passengers in my care and of course administer first aid where necessary. Just in case, you thought it was all about wearing short dresses, heels and lipstick, lol.

Would you be able to navigate your vehicle for 5 seconds if your eyes were closed? That is the minimum it takes when you take your eyes off the roads and use your device. A great number of young people feel invincible when they text and drive. There’s this belief that “this can’t happen to me” but is that really true?

There is an increase in the number of young people facing jail time just because they killed someone mistakenly. If you have to use your device, get off the roads. Do not text and drive.

A reminder on proper lifting to avoid waist and back pain. Remember, taking medication without necessary lifestyle changes will not help the situation. Make a conscious effort to adjust your lifestyle.

A reminder of all you need to know about fire-fighting in less than 2 minutes, isn’t that awesome?

What we eat has a direct connection to our mood, performance and our safety throughout the day.

TIPS TO REMEMBER

• People tend to take more shortcuts when they are tired or stressed
• Distractions cause more accidents than any other factor
• Eating right is important
• Breakfast gives you the right energy boost to start up your day
• The type of food eaten determines the energy levels that one can maintain during the day
• Avoid energy drinks and high sugar foods because they lead to blood sugar highs and lows
• Blood sugar highs and lows leads to mood changes all day. One minute you are alert and as soon as your supply runs low, you feel drowsy and weak
• Avoid cookies, pastries, candy bars because they lead to erratic blood sugar levels
• Maintain blood sugar on even level by eating whole grain carbohydrates, cereals, breads or fruits
• If you feel fatigued, stop work.

TIPS TO REMEMBER

• Always have a fire extinguisher in your car
• Know the location of your fire extinguisher
• The fire extinguisher should be inspected regularly
• 3 things to look out for during inspection: It should be charged, mounted correctly and unobstructed
• Your exit should be behind you and the fire in front of you
• If you can fight the fire, use the PASS principle
• If you cannot fight the fire, leave the building immediately