Taking a break

Changes are in the works for 7 Suns, so we're putting the blog on hiatus and will back at you later.

Self Defense

Some think the best self defense is having a gun to protect one’s self. In my opinion if you are not trained how to properly use your gun, buying a gun has just added to your danger.

Here are some resources that I found of interest.

No Nonsense Self Defense focuses on preventative actions

Self Defense from Teen Health

However, I am by no means an expert on this topic. I would love to hear from any of you who know more about this than I do!

Gun Safety

For those getting their kids guns or who have guns in the house, learning and teaching gun safety is of prime importance. In fact, I think all children should learn about gun safety. You never know when they are going to come across a gun at a friend’s house. I remember taking a gun safety course when I was twelve. These days I’d suggest starting younger.

Here are 4 resources for gun safety:

National Rifle Association Gun Safety Rules – includes a link to “Parents' Guide To Gun Safety”

Gun Safety from Kids Health

Kid Friendly site from the FBI on Gun Safety

Gun Safety - Prevent Accidents - Put Safety First! from Guns Magazine

10-month-old Illinois baby gets a gun permit

It’s old news, but a coworker just sent me this link to the article which also offers a video.
I don’t know about you, but seems ridiculous to me. At least it wasn’t a concealed carry permit… (If you have trouble getting the video to play, try this link.)

Speaking of concealed carry, I came across this site run by people who want to help people know what the laws are from state to state. Click on the state a permit was issued in and see which states honor that permit.

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial

In Emmitsburg, Maryland is the National Fallen Firefighters Monument. The National Fallen Firefighters organization was created by Congress in the early 90’s. The website has pages where you can search for fallen heroes by name and location, information and resources to support families, resources for local fire departments, information on state and federal benefits and more.

I think the website’s domain name sums it up well - http://www.firehero.org/

The 2008 Memorial weekend is scheduled for October 3-5, 2008.

Hall of Flame

I just stumbled across the Hall of Flame museum in Phoenix, Arizona. Read what they have to say about themselves:

The Hall of Flame Fire Museum and the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, located in Phoenix, Arizona, has almost an acre of fire history exhibits, with over 90 fully restored pieces of fire apparatus on display, dating from 1725 to 1969. Most of the exhibits are American, but we also have pieces from England, France, Austria, Germany, and Japan. The Hall of Flame sponsors the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, which honors firefighters who have died in the line of duty or who have been decorated for heroism.

Looks like a museum worth supporting.

Here’s the article that lead me to it: Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting

Game

Want to give someone a teeny glimpse into what firefighting is like? Check out this maze-solving logic game - Smart Games Fire Escape by Educational Insights.

Someone’s trapped in a burning building and only you can save the day! Keep your cool and think logically as you navigate the flame-filled corridors, armed only with a fire extinguisher and your wits. Climb ladders on both sides of the building to dodge the flames, or use your fire extinguishers to control the inferno. But be careful not to run out of extinguishers before you complete your rescue! This 3-D maze-solving strategy game includes 48 rescue missions at four levels of difficulty. Includes tower, magnetic firefighter, 5 magnetic fire extinguishers in three colors, 48 rescue missions, and an instruction booklet with solutions. For 1 player.

Police Blogs discovered

I was surfing the web and came across these police blogs and thought you might find them of interest, too.

Star Police Blog – Keeping tabs on crime, court and police news in east Alabama.

Brookline Police Blog – Brookline, Massachusetts Police Reports

Dalton Police Department Blog – Dalton, Georgia

LA Police Department Blog – Los Angelos, California

BPDNews.com – News Updates from the Boston Police Department

Does your city, town, county have a blog? Comment with what it is and the URL.

In the News

Just noticed this interesting article from January 7th - First female on Boston's version of a SWAT team rises to challenge

And this amazing one from January 10th – Drunkest Driver Ever?
What a dubious record to hold! You’d think that amount of alcohol in her system would have killed her! Of course, maybe if she hadn’t been found, it would have.

Risks of Death

I recently noticed this article, Police Offer Safety Tips After Deaths, referring to pedestrian deaths. Looks like it has good tips.

How at risk are we? The National Safety Council has an interesting chart of Odds of Death Due to Injury (United States, 2004). In it you can see deaths by numerous causes, such as fire, car accidents, falls, poisons, and more.Did you know we are more at risk of Exposure to excessive natural cold – 676, Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract – 878, than Drowning (water transportation accident) – 421? Compare that to Pedestrian deaths - 5,976! Wow, so it means we all better read the above tips.

Korean Martial Art

Hapkido or Hapkidoin is another form of self-defense. Hapkido employs joint locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, and strikes. Hapkido emphasizes non-resisting movements, circular motion, and control of the opponent. This picture shows a Hapkido tournament in Korea. For more information check out the site: Hapkido Info.

Safety Resource

I just discovered this site: The Police Notebook. Put together by the University of Oklahoma Police Department it has the following resources:
crime prevention
personal safety
internet safety
kid safety
fire safety
first aid and health
drugs and alcohol

Looks useful!

USFA's Smoking & Home Fires Campaign

If you smoke, put it out.
All the way. Every time.

Smoking & Home Fires: A campaign to prevent the #1 cause of home fire deaths.

United States Fire Administration
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.dhs.gov/smoking (English)
www.usfa.dhs.gov/fumar (Spanish)

Fire Safety Facts for Smokers and People Who Live With Smokers – used by permission

Smoking is the number one cause of home fire deaths in the United States.

Every year, men, women and children are killed in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. Most victims of smoking-related fires never thought it could happen to them. These fires can affect not only the smoker, but others living in or next to the home at the time of the fire.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is working to help prevent home fire deaths and injuries caused by smoking materials. Through this national fire safety campaign, the USFA along with partner organizations around the country will urge smokers to Put It Out. All the Way. Every Time.

Fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials are preventable.
You can make a difference.

SMOKING AND HOME FIRES ACTION STEPS:

If You Smoke, Smoke Outside

Most home fires caused by smoking materials start inside the home. It’s better to smoke outside.

Wherever You Smoke, Use Deep, Sturdy Ashtrays

Use ashtrays with a wide, stable base that are hard to tip over. If it wobbles, it won’t work.

Ashtrays should be set on something sturdy and hard to ignite, like a table. If you smoke outside, put your cigarettes out in a can filled with sand.

Make Sure Cigarettes and Ashes are Out

Put It Out. All the Way. Every Time.

The cigarette really needs to be completely stubbed out in the ashtray.

Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before throwing them away. Never toss hot cigarette butts or ashes in the trash.

Check for Butts

Chairs and sofas catch on fire fast and burn fast. Don’t put ashtrays on them. If people have been smoking in the home, check for cigarettes under cushions.

Never Smoke in a Home Where Oxygen is Used

Never smoke while using oxygen or are anywhere near an oxygen source, even if it is turned off. Oxygen can be explosive and makes fire burn hotter and faster.

If You Smoke, Fire-Safe Cigarettes are Better

Fire-safe cigarettes are less likely to cause fires. These cigarettes have banded paper that can slow the burn of a cigarette that isn’t being used.

Be Alert

To prevent a deadly fire, you have to be alert. If you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy, put your cigarette out first. Smoking in bed is just plain wrong.

GENERAL FIRE SAFETY FACTS:

Place properly installed and maintained smoke alarms on every level of your home.

Get smoke alarms that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. They are called “Dual
Sensor Smoke Alarms.”

Check smoke alarm batteries at least once every year. You can use a familiar date such as when you change your clocks or your birthday as a reminder.

Create an escape plan. Plan two ways to escape from every room. Practice the escape plan with everyone in the home.

If at all possible, install residential fire sprinklers in your home.

For more fire prevention information and campaign materials, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov/smoking.

The U.S. Fire Administration is a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is part of the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security. FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding
to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
USFA Publications Information: FA-309 / June 2007

Shirts and Jackets

We sell practical and casual clothing at Seven Suns.

But maybe you’re on the lookout for something more fun—like for the kids. I love these cool kid shirts at CafePress.

When my son-in-law was a deputy sheriff, his boys loved any kid-sized “police gear.” Now that he’s a Marine, they love camo and anything with Marine emblems, etc.

I think we need to remind all kids of the heroes (police, fire, military, EMTs) in our lives.

Organization

People in the emergency business often “live” in their car. Keeping track off all the paperwork, pens, flashlights, etc. can get difficult. Seven Suns sells some gear to help.

Check out Uncle Mike's Portable Car Seat Organizer. It transfers easily from vehicle to vehicle.

Or maybe you need help organizing your backpack or need an organized bag. These items might help:
BlackHawk Tactical Drop-in Organizer
Valor Bag 20"X13"X12-1/2" 4 Compartments 1001

Use our search option to find what you're looking for. If we don't have it, contact us. Maybe we can get it.

Resuscitation

I recently watched the movie “The Water Horse” set during WWII. What was shocking to me was seeing how they basically did nothing to help a drowning victim breathe. We take mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR for granted. Many people are trained these days to assist when the need arises. So it made me wonder. When did this all start? Here’s a brief history thanks to the American Heart Association.

1956 - mouth-to-mouth resuscitation invented
1960 - cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) developed
1972 - the world's first mass citizen training in CPR held in Seattle, Washington
1981 - dispatcher-assisted CPR program to provide telephone instructions in CPR began in King County, Washington

On our site we sell several First-Aid Rescue Breather Personal CPR Kits plus Microshields.

Other Emergency Vehicles

This was a first sighting for me – a lifeguard vehicle.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Connors. And another by Kevin:

Rescue vehicles during an evening rush hour accident – photo taken by Kenn Kiser. Here are three more vehicle shots Kenn took.

Sierra Ambulance courtesy of Michael J. Summerville.

It’s not just US ambulances that use the trick of backwards writing so that drivers see the correct word in their rear view mirror. This picture was taken by Clara Natoli of Rome, Italy. Here’s another emergency vehicle courtesy of Clara.

This photo by Mary Thorman of Costa Rica was labeled “First Modern Ambulance.”

Antique ambulance photo by redgate.

Military ambulance taken by Kathy Bishop.

Old war ambulance parked outside of the Air Transport Command in Delaware – photo courtesy of Emily Roesly.

Ambulance in Harajuku, Japan – thanks again to Daniel T. Yara.

(All photos are from http://www.morguefile.com/)