(New York-WABC, January 16, 2004) -- Seven thousand people a year die from fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. We've seen that happen here this week. But up to half those deaths were preventable -- if the victims had been prepared with carbon monoxide or smoke detectors.
Preparation is the topic of our fire safety special.
Bill Ritter has a preview.
The theme for this year's "Operation 7 Save A Life" is "are you ready -- ready for anything?" It's not a rhetorical or paranoid question. Because being ready, being prepared for a blackout, or a snowstorm, or, even worse, another terrorist attack -- can make the difference between life and death.
John T. Odermatt, Commissioner, NYC Office of Emergency Management: "A lot of New Yorkers are consistently thinking about terrorism. But in reality we are more likely to be hit by some type of natural event. And the best thing they could do to prepare is to prepare themselves."
The first line of defense is Watch Command, the eyes and ears of the city, working 24/7.
John T. Odermatt: "They monitor everything, city events, national events. Or anything really that potentially affects the city."
That's one way the city is prepared, but what can you do?
For New Yorkers there's the Ready New York Guide, free from the Office of Emergency Management.
Also, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a guide called, "Are You Ready?"
The American Red Cross is another great source of free emergency information. They teach year-round seminars on emergency preparedness for both your home and office.
Neal Gorman, American Red Cross: "We've found, especially since the blackout of August, that people are really more aware about disaster preparedness. And we've been able to use some of that momentum to teach courses like this at places like Day Top, and other organizations around here. The key word that we're trying to hammer home to people is awareness. Be aware of the things you need during an emergency. Whenever you walk into a building, it's a real good idea to know where the exits are. The Red Cross knows through experience that the more confident you are, the smoother you'll survive during a disaster. You'll get by a lot easier, and it'll avoid a lot of stress."
Of course, safety measures can be taken to extremes. Safer America opened its doors after 9/11, offering everything from high-rise office parachutes, to gas masks and protective radiation suits.
Zyryl Houri, "Safer America": "It's always the same. When people realize that something when happening, oh gosh, they should have been very prepared. We see a surge in our sales when something happens. We saw in February when the terror alert was raised from yellow to orange, our Internet orders went through the roof. Within five days, we did one year worth of sales. Then during the SARS outbreak, we had a lot of people purchasing the respirators. And during and after the blackout, these emergency items, emergency kits, and radios and flashlights were very popular."
Houri showed us some items that were popular during the blackout, such as glow sticks, and a radio you charge by turning a crank, and costs $69.
Zyryl Houri: "During the blackout this item (the radio) helped me a lot. We didn't have power on the East Side, and I was able to know, thanks to that radio, that there was some power on the West Side. Which completely changed my day."
Also, a crank-powered flashlight. And another flashlight that you charge by shaking it up and down. And a crank-powered cell phone charger.
Zyryl Houri: "You have to be ready to be disconnected from the rest of the world."
You can see the entire special, "Operation 7: Save A Life -- Ready For Anything" Saturday night at 7:30 on abc 7. It follows the weather special, "Eyewitness To A Winter Storm," which airs at 7:00.
It's a full hour of information that could save your life. And we hope you join us.
