Oram Security Consultants, LLC
July 2009 
Welcome to Oram Security Consultants, LLC
 
Greetings!

Summer is here, and at Oram Security we want to wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July! The Fourth of July, is the holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.
 
"What we need are critical lovers of America - patriots who express their faith in their country by working to improve it."
-- Hubert H. Humphrey
 
To improve America, we need to protect it.  Protecting America includes protecting ourselves, our family and our homes.  Oram Security is here to provide you with the training and knowledge to help you do that.  www.oramsecurity.com
Taking Protective Actions during a Flu Pandemic
A flu pandemic is an outbreak caused by a new flu virus that spreads around the world. The virus will spread easily from person to person, mostly through coughing and sneezing. Because the virus is new to people, everyone will be at risk of getting it.
During a flu pandemic, you can use simple actions to help protect yourself and others from becoming sick with the flu. No single action protects completely. If used together, the steps below can help reduce the chances of becoming infected.
� Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available.
� Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your arm when you cough and sneeze.
� Stay away from other people if you are ill.
� Avoid crowded places and large gatherings as much as possible.
There may be times during a pandemic when you must be in a crowded setting or in close contact (within 6 feet) with people who might be ill. During such times, the use of a facemask or a respirator might help prevent the spread of pandemic flu.
 
Wearing a Facemask or a Respirator
Very little is known about the benefits of wearing facemasks and respirators to help control the spread of pandemic flu. In the absence of clear science, the steps below offer a "best estimate" to help guide decisions. They will be revised as new information becomes available.
Consider wearing a facemask if
� You are sick with the flu and think you might have close contact with other people.
� You live with someone who has the flu (you therefore might be in the early stages of infection) and need to be in a crowded place. Limit the amount of time you spend in these crowded places and wear a facemask while you are there.
� You are well and do not expect to be in close contact with a sick person but need to be in a crowded place. Limit the amount of time you spend in these crowded places and wear a facemask while you are there.
Consider wearing a respirator if you are well and you expect to be in close contact with people who are known or thought to be sick with pandemic flu. Limit the amount of time you are in close contact with these people and wear a respirator during this time. These recommendations apply if you must take care of a sick person at home.

What is a facemask?
Facemasks are loose-fitting, disposable masks that cover the nose and mouth. These include products labeled as surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation, and laser masks.
Facemasks help stop droplets from being spread by the person wearing them. They also keep splashes or sprays from reaching the mouth and nose of the person wearing the facemask. They are not designed to protect you against breathing in very small particles. Facemasks should be used once and then thrown away in the trash.
 
What is a respirator?
A respirator (for example, an N95 or higher filtering facepiece respirator) is designed to protect you from breathing in very small particles, which might contain viruses. These types of respirators fit tightly to the face so that most air is inhaled through the filter material. To work the best way, N95 respirators must be specially fitted for each person who wears one (this is called "fit-testing" and is usually done in a workplace where respirators are used). Most of the time, N95 respirators are used in construction and other jobs that involve dust and small particles. Some healthcare workers, such as nurses and doctors, use these types of respirators when taking care of patients with diseases that can be spread through the air.
If you have a heart or lung disease or other health condition, you may have trouble breathing through respirators and you should talk with your doctor before using a respirator.
Like surgical masks, N95 respirators should be worn only once and then thrown away in the trash.

Additional Information
Neither a facemask nor a respirator will give complete protection from the flu. That is why it is important to wash your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes with a handkerchief or your arm, and avoid crowds and gatherings during a pandemic. To learn more about these and other issues relating to pandemic influenza, visit
http://www.pandemicflu.gov 
Securing the Unoccupied Building
The economic downturn is forcing many companies to shut their doors. But building owners are feeling the pain, too. Once companies that lease a building shut down, many building owners are unable to fill those commercial realty spaces, and those properties can be left empty for months on end.
     
Empty buildings can become enticing to vandals, too, so protecting the property should be considered. Securing a closed facility may require a few additional products that can help safeguard your unoccupied building or property. And often, installing or utilizing security services can actually lower property insurance rates, which saves money..
 
Oram Security can provide you a security survey and risk assessment for your business.
Seven Deadly Sins of Social Networking Security
 
Admit it: You are currently addicted to social networking. Your drug of choice might be Facebook or Twitter, or maybe Myspace or LinkedIn. Some of you are using all of the above, and using them hard, even IT security practitioners who know better.
While it's impossible to escape every social networking threat out there, there are steps one can take to significantly reduce the risks. CSOonline recently checked in with dozens of IT security professionals (ironically, using more than one social networking platform to do so) to pinpoint seven typical security mistakes people make; and how to avoid them.

Link to Article
In This Issue
Protective Actions - Flu Pandemic
Security in Unoccupied Buildings
Seven Sins Of Social Networking
Fireworks Safety!
Summer Safety
Fireworks Safety Tips From The National Councel On Fireworks Safety

Use fireworks outdoors only.
Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
Always have water handy. (A hose or bucket).
Only use fireworks as intended. Don't try to alter them or combine them.
Never relight a "dud" firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should wear safety glasses.
Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a "designated shooter."
Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.
Do not ever use homemade fireworks of illegal explosives: They can kill you! Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
 

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Summer Safety

Summer's here, and it's time to put up your defenses. Reacquaint yourself with the first-aid moves that will keep your family safe.
Whether you're at the beach, in the woods, or just in the backyard, be sure your family knows what they're getting into: Can they identify poison ivy? Can you? Do you know what to do if someone gets stung by a jellyfish?
Check out some common summer threats, and make sure you know what to do if one of your family members were to need immediate care. 

 

Simon Oram
Oram Security Consultants, LLC
Security Tips
Summer is here and for the most of us, that means opening windows and doors so we can get some of that fresh summer air into our homes. The problem is that fresh air is not all that it can let in. When you are out, criminals can use those inviting open windows to enter your home. Be sure to close all your windows and doors before you leave for the day and make sure they are locked. In windows where you have air conditioner units, be sure to secure the unit to the window frame and secure the window above so that it can not be raised off the unit. At night, try to keep all windows on lower levels closed or at least secured in a manner that will not allow them to be opened more than 6 inches. Have a Security Survey completed of your home to help you address these issues.