The symbol for for International Firefighters Day is a red and blue ribbon. The color red symbolizes fire and the color blue represents water. These colors also signify emergency services around the world.

We have selected a story written about the Newark ship fire. Follow https://www.iaff.org/news/ntsb-report-reveals-deadly-failures-in-newark-ship-fire-tragedy for the article.

It is essential to perform regular handwashing with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand-rubbed lotion approved by local health authorities.

Suggested handwashing practices while working with patients are:

May is designated as EMS awareness month and the 2026, campaign brings the world together to honor the accomplishments of EMTs, paramedics, and other critical team members. Additionally we are able to build an awareness of the vital role they play in prehospital medical care, emergency management and community healthcare.

The theme “We Care. For Everyone” expresses how our emergency service professionals’ dedication and lifesaving skills are put to the test, every day.

Asthma causes airways to become inflamed and constricted, which makes it hard to breathe. Asthma cannot be cured, but can be controlled with proper care. The best way to manage asthma is to care for it over time. For more information contact: The World Allergy Organization.

Ticks are out and about all year but are more active during warmer months (spring and summertime). Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, and even on animals and domestic pets.

Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or playing ball could bring you in close contact with ticks.

Most countries protect their communities with a form of vector control to rid areas of ticks much like efforts to reduce or eliminate the number of mosquitoes; however, there are nations with limited resources. Contact your local department of health or health ministry to learn more about vector control in you community and communities you plan to visit.

Before you go outdoors

1. Know where to expect ticks


2. Protect yourself and your clothing with an insect repellent. more on repellents


3. While walking or hiking stay in the center of trails and avoid leaving the path

1. Check your clothing and pets for ticks. Any ticks that are found need to be removed. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.


2. Check your body for ticks after being outdoors.
   
   Conduct a full body check upon returning from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child’s body for ticks:
   
   
   1. under the arms
   2. in and around the ears
   3. inside belly button
   4. back of the knees
   5. in and around hair
   6. between the legs
   7. around the waist


3. Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases.
   
   Taking a Shower will also help to remove any remaining repellant from your skin and hair, and provides an additional opportunity to do a tick check.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is part of a group of rare neurological conditions known as motor neuron diseases that mainly involve the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement.

Motor neurons extend from the brain to the spinal cord and to muscles throughout the body. These motor neurons initiate and provide vital communication between the brain and voluntary muscles.

Early symptoms of ALS usually include muscle weakness or stiffness. Gradually all muscles under voluntary control are effected, and individuals lose their strength and their ability to speak, eat, move, and breathe. Respiratory failure is a major cause of death of someone suffering from ALS.

Lou Gehrig was a baseball player for the New York Yankees and known for the phrase “I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” With courage, integrity, emotion, and his life-long team spirit he spoke those word while addressing the entire stadium audience about his plans to retire from baseball.

Lou Gehrig succumbed to ALS and afterwards, North America and much of the world started to refer to ALS as Lou Gehrig disease. May is ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Awareness Month. Click here to learn more about ALS.

The Genève Convention sets limits to the rules of war and established the humanitarian treatment of battlefield causalities. The treaty also adopted a special emblem of a red cross on a white background.

The modern day Red Cross is known as the Red Cross and Red Crescent, identifying a more global human kindness and inclusion.

After an absence of several years and rehabilitation from an illness, Mr. Dunant passed away on October 30, 1910. But not before he was awarded the first ever Noble Peace Prize for his role in founding the ICRC and the Genève Convention.

Guillain-Barré, a rare autoimmune illness, affecting less that one percent of the population. (Worldwide cases spiked during the HIV/AIDS crisis between 1980-2000.) Marked by progressive, potentially fatal ascending paralysis, with loss of motor reflexes, ataxia, and paresthesia.

Loss of motor function begins in the extremities and moves upward through the body. When it includes the diaphragm it may result in respiratory failure. Uncomfortable sensations (paresthesia and dysphasia) in the hips, thighs, and back are commonly experienced. Recovery spans from one or two months to over a year for most patients, but may be a cause of death for others.

Many people need to take special precautions during summer months to stay safe while at work or at play. Some topics to think about this coming summer include:

Certain places you visit or activities you participate in may need a little pre-planning as well. For example:

Each brick below leads to Web sites which have resources for seniors and those who are victims of elder abuse. The first brick, eldercare locator, provides, among other things, a search engine to locate services in your area. The second brick, OVC, is a governmental (US) resource for those who are victims of financial fraud. And the third brick leads to an abundance of resources for caregivers and victims. Everyone should visit all three sites to gain an awareness of services that are available to seniors, seniors of abuse, caregivers, and families.