Queens Survival Guide

Fire
Cooler Heads Prevail When The Heat Is Turned Up

By Liz Goff

What should you do if your smoke detector goes off, or if you notice a fire? FDNY officials urge you to stay calm, follow these suggestions – and never try to fight a fire on your own.

If your clothes catch on fire, stop in your tracks, drop to the floor, and roll over and over to smother the flames. The “Stop, Drop and Roll” method has been passed along for years, and is still the most effective way to extinguish yourself.

If a fire breaks out in your home, or in a non-fireproof apartment building, get out as quickly as you can, being sure to close doors behind you as you leave. If you live in a multiple dwelling and the fire is not in your apartment, stay in your apartment with the doors closed. Do not run into smoke-filled halls or stairwells, and call 911 from your apartment, if you can.

If you must leave, feel doors with the back of your hand before you try to open them. If they are hot, that means that there is fire on the other side, and you need to find another way out. Keep as close to the floor as you can. Smoke and heat rise, and the air is clearer and cooler near the floor.

If you are unable to get out, stay near a window and near the floor. Close the door and stuff a towel in the bottom of the door to prevent smoke from entering the room. Signal for help if you can – wave a cloth or sheet out the window, and yell for help. Do whatever it takes to make someone on the street know that you are there.

When leaving a burning home or apartment, do not stop to take anything with you, and don’t even think of using the elevator.

Officials suggest that you keep a home fire extinguisher – and learn how to use it. Make sure fire detectors are installed throughout your home or apartment, and check batteries on a regular basis.

A note for renters: contact your insurance carrier to discuss available “Renters Insurance” plans, which will provide coverage for losses due to fire. You are probably not covered by your building owner’s policy.

For additional information, call 311 or logon to the FDNY Web site at FDNY.nyc.gov

Share Plan With The Family

Each family member must know what to do in the event of a fire in the home. Unless a small fire can be easily controlled, it is recommended that fighting the fire be left to professional firefighters and that family members escape safely from the home.

A home escape plan must be created and practiced so that each person knows exactly what to do. It also is important to practice exit drills in the home.

Regardless of the cause of the fire, a home may be filled with smoke. In the confusion, one can easily become lost or trapped in the home. It has been proven that exit drills reduce chances of panic and injury in fires and that trained and informed people have a much better chance to survive fires in their home.

One very good step in the planning of a home fire escape plan is to make a floor diagram of the house. Mark the regular and emergency escape routes, as well as windows, doors, stairs and halls.

Not all “homes” are single residential structures but include apartments and other types of buildings. Some additional discussion may be helpful in the home escape plan.

Jumping from upper floors of a building should be avoided. Parents can purchase fire ladders for the bedrooms, or instruct children to use an adjacent porch or garage roof to await rescue by the fire department.

As a family, explore the building so that every exit is familiar, including those from storage, laundry and recreation rooms. If the hallways become smoke-filled as the result of a fire, memory can help in finding the exits.

Labor Pains
What To Do When The Baby Wants To Come Out – NOW!

By Ellen Thompson

The pregnant woman standing next to you grabs at her belly and the frightful words, “I’m going into labor,” echo through your eardrums. Her contractions are coming on quicker and quicker and she has a sudden urge to push. It’s not everyday that the responsibility of bringing a new life into the world is placed in your hands, but the American College of Nurse-Midwives say there is the rare chance that you will one day have to roll up your sleeves and act quick.

Over here at the Queens Tribune, we understand that emergency deliveries are a necessary last resort, however, we don’t recommend the tips we are about to give for any situation other than an emergency. Your best bet is always going to the hospital.

The following set of guidelines, recommended by the American College of Nurse-Midwives and All Refer Health, a medical emergency website, if administered right, can assist you in a safe delivery.

First thing first, call 911 and ask the dispatcher to send an emergency medical squad. Then try to contact the woman’s physician or midwife. The healthcare provider should remain on the phone to guide you until help arrives says the ACNM.

There is a chance that the baby may arrive before the emergency medical team does, if so do your best to gently guide the baby out. As the baby is eased out, if the umbilical cord is around the baby’s neck, either smoothly slide it over the head slowly or loosen it enough to form a loop so that the rest of the body can slip through.

Don’t try to tie off or cut the cord. Leave it attached to the baby until help arrives.

The child then immediately needs to be dried after birth to keep temperatures consistent. If a towel, sheet, or blanket are nowhere in reach you can use your clothes instead. Afterwards, rest the baby on your tummy, and warm him with your body heat the ACNM says.

As soon as the baby is dried, any mucus or amniotic fluid from his little nostrils needs to be eased out by gently running your fingers down the side of his nose. And if your baby doesn’t cry spontaneously at birth, try to stimulate him by rubbing his back or flicking the heels of his feet.

The most important parts of emergency deliveries are the don’ts, All Refer Health says. “Do not try to delay the delivery in any way, do not pull the baby from the vagina, do not pull on the umbilical cord,” they say.

Seniors
Elders Need Help In Emergencies

By Liz Goff

Seniors and people with disabilities are urged to take additional steps to prepare for emergencies. If you or someone in your household has special needs, consider the following tips when preparing disaster plans:

Keep at least a two-week supply of necessary medications on hand at all times, develop an emergency plan for every place you spend time and decide what type of support you may need in case of an emergency.

If you are dependent on electricity for your wheelchair, breathing device, or any other life-sustaining device, make appropriate plans for help in case of emergency or evacuation. The same goes for the hearing impaired, who may need to make special arrangements to guarantee they receive emergency warnings.

People with trouble getting around may require assistance to get to a shelter, or to evacuate from apartment buildings. Since elevators will not work in a power outage, dependent people should check with 911 or their physicians ahead of time, to arrange for assistance.

People with special needs, should also write down their medical conditions, medications and dosages, allergies, special equipment, medical insurance, Medicare insurance numbers, as well as personal and physician contact. Keep the list with you in emergencies, and give a copy to a friend or family member.

Identity Theft
When You Are No Longer Who You Think You Are

By LIZ GOFF

You know the deal. While surfing the Internet, you come across an offer by a national lending institution for a major credit card at a rock-bottom interest rate.

It’s an offer that’s too good to pass up, so you complete the application and wait. Thirty minutes later, you’re notified that your credit information has been processed and approved.

It feels great, when your credit history proves you worthy for this “instant” approval. Hold on to that feeling of satisfaction, for it is very likely that it will soon be replaced by anger, worry and disbelief when you discover that your information has also been pirated by computer bandits dubbed identity thieves.

What To Expect

The 1990s spawned a new generation of crooks, whose stock in trade are your everyday transactions.

In the course of any day, you may write a check at the supermarket, rent a car, mail your tax returns, apply for a credit card, make personal phone calls on your cell phone, order new checks for your checking account, or charge tickets to a ballgame.

Each of these transactions require that you share personal information: your bank and credit card numbers, Social Security number, your income, your name, address and phone number. While you are sharing this information through legitimate transactions, an identity thief may be looking over your shoulder – stealing your personal information, so they can “become” you, and assume your identity.

We know what you’re thinking – it can’t happen to you. Well, think again, experts say, because despite your best efforts to manage your personal information, to keep it confidential, identity thieves are always one step ahead of you.

The Official Response

Often, the onus of responsibility for identity theft falls on the consumer. There is help available, but if you really want to take care of any problems that come up, the best response is prevention.

Experts suggest that you follow a pattern of protection, employing the following measures:

Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your information: can you choose to have it kept confidential?

Pay attention to billing cycles, and follow-up with creditors if bills don’t arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an Identity Thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks, experts said.

Guard your mail from theft. Try to remove mail from your mailbox as soon as it is delivered, and never let mail “stack up” while you are away from home.

Use caution when putting passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. When doing so, avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

What Can I Do?

If you realize that your information has been hijacked, contact local police immediately, as well as the Economic Fraud Unit at the Queens District Attorney’s Office at (718) 286-6000. In addition:

Contact the fraud department of each of the three major Credit Bureaus, and tell them that you’re an identity theft victim (Equifax: 800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241; Experian: 888-EXPERIAN; www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013; TransUnion: 800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790).

Request that a fraud alert be placed in your file, as well as a victim’s statement – asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts, or making changes to existing accounts.

At the same time, ask the credit bureaus for copies of your credit reports. Credit bureaus must give you a free copy of your report, if you find that it is inaccurate because of fraud, experts said.

For more information go to www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call 877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

Pets
Don’t Forget Our Furry Friends

By LIZ GOFF

There are currently an estimated 1.5 million pets – mostly cats and dogs, co-habiting with Queens residents.

Where would they go in the case of a natural disaster – a hurricane or earthquake, or even a terror-related disaster? City and borough officials have made it clear – if a disaster were to strike, shelters would not accept pets.

Lucky cats and dogs would head for safety with their owners, but those left behind would surely perish or face the same hellish conditions as the 70,000 pets forced to remain behind when Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast.

This month, eight animal rescue groups formed the first Emergency Animal Rescue Coalition, a “Red Cross” for pets, to ensure that pets won’t be left behind during the next disaster.

But when it comes to caring for your pets here, when an emergency strikes, you should have your own pet evacuation plan, complete with a pet “go bag.”

Transport your pet in a carrier for the duration of the disaster. This makes them safer and more secure. Be aware of where your pets “hide” at home, so that you can easily find them in times of emergency. Remember – they are just as scared as you are.

Pet owners are urged to assemble a “Pet Survival Kit” that can be ready to go if you are evacuating your pet to a kennel, friend, or family member. The kit should include water, food and containers; a leash, muzzle, or harness; a copy of all current vaccinations and pet health records, license numbers and microchip numbers (if available); necessary pet medication; a pet carrier or cage; and a photo of your pet.

For more information and tips, review the NYC Office of Emergency Management’s brochure “Disaster Preparedness for Animals in New York City” online at nyc.gov, or call 311.

Hostage Crisis
Information May Be Key To Survival

By LIZ GOFF

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself a hostage – at the mercy of someone, desperately trying to flee the scene of a crime?

“It’s a very complicated situation. There are no easy answers, and there is no sure way out,” said a Queens detective, who is also a member of the NYPD Hostage Negotiator Team.

“If he has a gun, do whatever he says. Upsetting him (or her) is not a wise decision,” the detective said. “He may decide to shoot to injure or kill you.”

The police negotiator said a hostage “has to decide for him or herself” how you feel the situation is going at the time, before you can make a decision to make a move.

“Professionals tell you, ‘comply,’” the detective said. “Very often that is the best thing to do. Let the professionals handle it if you are not sure.

“You are there – the negotiators are not,” the detective said. “If you see this guy shoot two other people and he says you are next, you have to do what you have to do.”

There is no set pattern of behavior displayed by hostage-takers, police negotiators said. “Sometimes it helps to try to find out what he is wanted for – what he is running from,” negotiators said. “Every little thing you learn, everything you do and say is part of the scenario.”

NYPD hostage negotiators are trained to work with the hostage-taker, to reason with him when possible, and to try to make him see that holding someone against their will is not a way out, police officials said.

“Patience counts for a lot during negotiations,” the detective said. “But you can never forget that an innocent person is caught in the middle. This guy wants out. In most cases, he probably doesn’t want to hurt you, or anyone else.

“But that doesn’t mean he won’t,” the negotiators said.

“You know the saying, ‘It was him or me,’” negotiators said. “You can wait it out, wait for someone on the other end of a phone to get you out, or make a decision to take matters into your own hands.

“It’s like they say – you have to be there.”

Gang Fight
How To Recognize Gang Activity

By Michael Rehak

Being aware that gang activity exists in your neighborhood or at your child’s school could make a huge difference when it comes to personal safety for both you and your child.

Children of all ages join gangs to feel like they belong. It gives them a chance to be a part of something, feeds off the delusion that they have new friends, and offers a kind of fraternal bond that gives them a false sense of confidence.

Awareness of gang activity in your neighborhood is the first step to putting an end to it before it escalates into something worse.

What Can I Expect?

According to studies, there are five different types of gang members. The first is the “potentials.” These are considered the youngest or “could-be” members of a violent group. The second is called “the wannabe’s.” These kids dress, walk and act like members and participate in gang activities. The third is the regular members, who comprise the biggest portion of the gang; and the fourth group is called the “hard core” section. These individuals may hold authority and often protect the regular members. The hard-core members constitute 5 to 10 percent of the entire membership.

As a parent, it is important to recognize the warning signs. Gangs often distinguish themselves by race, ethnic background, by block or neighborhood, by names, hand signals, predominant colored clothing, physical markings, beads, graffiti in a child’s room, or becoming secretive about new friends.

Gangs tend to mark their surroundings with graffiti and in most cases, the more graffiti with the same signage usually equals one, two or three particular gangs have claimed their turf.

Gang Violence

For the most part, gang violence usually occurs between rival groups, when something like turf or ethnicity are at stake.

But even if you are unaffiliated, getting caught in the middle of a gang battle is just as dangerous as if you were wearing colors.

Gang members can often terrorize or even “jump” individuals on a handball court or a street corner just because they don’t know you or because you are not affiliated with a particular group. Being from a different neighborhood could also spell trouble because gangs often like to send the message of who’s the toughest around.

What Can I Do?

Reporting gang activity is by far the best method of putting an end to it in one particular area. It could lead to arrests and at least keep children safe and away from criminal activities. The NYPD has established the Gang Intelligence Unit to specifically deal with crimes of this nature.

Car In Water
Patience Is The Key To Survival

By Liz Goff

What would you do if your car drove off a bridge? Well for starters, it would help if you were able to swim, FDNY officials said.

Whether or not you are a swimmer, fire officials advise the following, if your car should drive off a bridge:

Try to remain calm. Fire officials said they realize it is asking a lot, but a clear head is absolutely necessary, if you hope to survive this type of accident.

Keep the car windows closed, release the seat belt, and let the car fill with water - to equalize the pressure inside the vehicle.

When the water rises to about the level of you shoulders, the pressure will have stabilized enough that you will be able to open the car door. “Take a very deep breath, open the car door and swim to the surface,” an FDNY official said. “Believe it or not, one large breath will take you to the surface.”

Once you reach the surface of the water, swim toward the bridge or structure you were driving on - and try to grab onto something to stay afloat until help arrives.

Fire officials said assistance might already be on the scene when you reach the top, or a Good Samaritan may be waiting for a sign of you, to jump-in and help you out of the water.

“Try to keep positive thoughts, stay calm and don’t even think there will be no one around to help you when you reach the top,” an official said. “Remember, this is a very public accident, and someone will spot you and call 911. Firefighters and NYPD Harbor Rescue cops are very well-trained to respond to this type of accident.”

Heimlich Maneuver

Hurricane Wilma brought torrential downpours to Queens this week.

Click image to right for details.