(ASSODIGITALE.IT) TUALATIN, OR ndash; March 15, 2007 ndash; In today rsquo;s world of unpredictable extreme weather situations, you never know when seconds could be the difference between safety and danger for you and your family. Oregon Scientific, globally-known maker of personal electronics, recently donated a number of its NOAA certified Public Alert Monitors to families featured on ABC rsquo;s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
ldquo;When Oregon Scientific learned about the Westbrook family and the challenges they face, we knew we had to support them in any way we could. Living in Oklahoma rsquo;s lsquo;Tornado Alley rsquo; can be challenging enough, but with two paraplegics in the family, updated weather information becomes a matter of life and death. By offering them their own Public Alert Monitor with Weather Station, we hope that they can find a bit of peace of mind during the volatile severe weather season, rdquo; said Helena Wong, Global President of Oregon Scientific.
Oregon Scientific rsquo;s Weather and Emergency Alert products receive all NOAA reports and provide all available government-issued emergency advisories such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, floods and civil danger warnings. A 100-decibel alarm sounds in emergent situations, including Amber Alerts. The devices also track U.
S. Emergency All Hazards and Emergency Alert System (EAS) weather bulletins, warnings and forecasts; and Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) allows broadcast receipt specific to up to six different counties.
Historically, nearly 200 tornadoes occur in the U.
S. during the month of May; however statistics indicate the severity of April storms can be deadly with an average of 26 deaths occurring. Combining basic weather knowledge with technology found in Oregon Scientific rsquo;s weather and public alert systems can be lifesaving in severe storm situations.
Below are some tornado preparedness tips as suggested by NOAA:
What to do before a tornado:
Designate a location for shelter. Have a disaster supply kit on hand containing:
bull; First aid kit with essential medications
bull; Flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries
bull; At least a three-day supply of food and water
bull; Various tools and supplies including a non-electric can opener
bull; Sturdy shoes and work gloves
bull; Cash/credit cards
bull; Copy of important family documents
During a tornado:
bull; If at home, go to a basement or storm cellar, away from windows. If neither basement nor storm cellar is available, find shelter under a piece of sturdy furniture.
bull; If at home, go to a basement or storm cellar, away from windows.
bull; If at work or school, go to the basement or inside a hallway at the lowest level. Avoid auditoriums, gymnasiums, cafeterias or large hallways.
bull; If in a vehicle, never try to outrun a tornado. Get out of the vehicle immediately and take shelter in a nearby building. If there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area.
bull; If outdoors, get inside a building, if possible. If unable to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area. Use arms to protect head and neck and stay low to the ground.
After a tornado:
bull; Check for injured or trapped persons
bull; Give first aid when appropriate. Don t try to move the seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.
bull; Listen for emergency information
bull; Use the telephone only in an emergency
bull; Be alert to fire hazards such as broken electrical wires or damaged electrical equipment, gas or oil leaks, or smoldering piles of wet hay or feed.
bull; Report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities
bull; Do not shut off utilities unless instructed to do so by local officials or if there is immediate danger from a gas leak.
Weather and Emergency Alert Monitor Availability
Oregon Scientific rsquo;s Weather and Emergency Alert Monitors are currently available at leading national retailers, catalogs and online retailers. For a full overview of these products and where to buy, visit www2.
oregonscientific.com.
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