Category: Boston:101

  • America Votes to End the Political Ads and Calls

    DSC_6517 - Version 22012-07-03-America Votes-election-day-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Next time, let’s have a referendum on how long politicians can campaign, and a way to opt-out of ads, mail, and calls! Here’s the only help I could find, Stop Political Calls from Citizens for Civil Discourse.

    By the way, this is also the last week to visit the America Votes exhibition at the Boston Public Library’s Norman B. Leventhal Map Center in Copley Square. The photo above was taken there.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 Penny Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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  • Thanksgiving 2012 Dining Out in Boston

    IStock_000006975358XSmall

    Time's running out to make Thanksgiving dinner reservations, especially if you want to enjoy your holiday meal in one of the area's great restaurants.

    NOTE: This is an outdated post: Here is the 2015 Thanksgiving Dining resource page.

    This year, we're cooking and dining at home. But, our choice on past holidays has beenSel de la Terre on Boylston Street. Click here for our report on one of those meals. They do have a new chef but the standards set seem to be the same and we've enjoyed every meal there since the change.

    Most places have special menus and sometimes set seatings for major holidays. Many will require a deposit or credit card number to place a reservation. 

    What Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving?

    Hotel restaurants are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, this includes some excellent choices including:

    Asana at the Mandarin Hotel
    L'Espalier at the Mandarin Hotel
    Rialto at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge
    Bristol Lounge at the Four Season's Boston 
    Brasserie JO at the Colonnade Hotel
    Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel

    Our top recommendation for a lower cost option with good food would be Petit Robert in Boston.

    More recommendations after this word on supporting BostonZest when you shop at Amazon. Here's a link to some of the best deals they have today. Once this link takes you to Amazon, we'll be credited for any shopping you do during this session.


     


    Here are links to some Master lists of Boston restaurants open for Thanksgiving.

    The reservation site, Open Table is maintaining a list of restaurants with Thanksgiving menus. Listings include a price and information on offerings beyond traditional holiday fare. Remember, there are many more restaurants open that day. Put a time and number of guests into the system to see exactly what is available.

    Open Table even includes some places outside the city if you are meeting up with family and friends who live in the suburbs. And, they can help you find a place to enjoy the holiday meal if you'll be away for the long weekend.

    Bostonchefs.com has some information on its members' offerings. For example, here are a few offerings we'd consider if we were looking for a great menu.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography:  istockphoto.com

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Enhanced by Zemanta
  • Thanksgiving 2012 Dining Out in Boston

    IStock_000006975358XSmall

    Time's running out to make Thanksgiving dinner reservations, especially if you want to enjoy your holiday meal in one of the area's great restaurants.

    NOTE: This is an outdated post: Here is the 2015 Thanksgiving Dining resource page.

    This year, we're cooking and dining at home. But, our choice on past holidays has beenSel de la Terre on Boylston Street. Click here for our report on one of those meals. They do have a new chef but the standards set seem to be the same and we've enjoyed every meal there since the change.

    Most places have special menus and sometimes set seatings for major holidays. Many will require a deposit or credit card number to place a reservation. 

    What Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving?

    Hotel restaurants are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, this includes some excellent choices including:

    Asana at the Mandarin Hotel
    L'Espalier at the Mandarin Hotel
    Rialto at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge
    Bristol Lounge at the Four Season's Boston 
    Brasserie JO at the Colonnade Hotel
    Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel

    Our top recommendation for a lower cost option with good food would be Petit Robert in Boston.

    More recommendations after this word on supporting BostonZest when you shop at Amazon. Here's a link to some of the best deals they have today. Once this link takes you to Amazon, we'll be credited for any shopping you do during this session.


     


    Here are links to some Master lists of Boston restaurants open for Thanksgiving.

    The reservation site, Open Table is maintaining a list of restaurants with Thanksgiving menus. Listings include a price and information on offerings beyond traditional holiday fare. Remember, there are many more restaurants open that day. Put a time and number of guests into the system to see exactly what is available.

    Open Table even includes some places outside the city if you are meeting up with family and friends who live in the suburbs. And, they can help you find a place to enjoy the holiday meal if you'll be away for the long weekend.

    Bostonchefs.com has some information on its members' offerings. For example, here are a few offerings we'd consider if we were looking for a great menu.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography:  istockphoto.com

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Enhanced by Zemanta
  • Thanksgiving 2012 Dining Out in Boston

    IStock_000006975358XSmall

    Time's running out to make Thanksgiving dinner reservations, especially if you want to enjoy your holiday meal in one of the area's great restaurants.

    NOTE: This is an outdated post: Here is the 2015 Thanksgiving Dining resource page.

    This year, we're cooking and dining at home. But, our choice on past holidays has beenSel de la Terre on Boylston Street. Click here for our report on one of those meals. They do have a new chef but the standards set seem to be the same and we've enjoyed every meal there since the change.

    Most places have special menus and sometimes set seatings for major holidays. Many will require a deposit or credit card number to place a reservation. 

    What Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving?

    Hotel restaurants are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, this includes some excellent choices including:

    Asana at the Mandarin Hotel
    L'Espalier at the Mandarin Hotel
    Rialto at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge
    Bristol Lounge at the Four Season's Boston 
    Brasserie JO at the Colonnade Hotel
    Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel

    Our top recommendation for a lower cost option with good food would be Petit Robert in Boston.

    More recommendations after this word on supporting BostonZest when you shop at Amazon. Here's a link to some of the best deals they have today. Once this link takes you to Amazon, we'll be credited for any shopping you do during this session.


     


    Here are links to some Master lists of Boston restaurants open for Thanksgiving.

    The reservation site, Open Table is maintaining a list of restaurants with Thanksgiving menus. Listings include a price and information on offerings beyond traditional holiday fare. Remember, there are many more restaurants open that day. Put a time and number of guests into the system to see exactly what is available.

    Open Table even includes some places outside the city if you are meeting up with family and friends who live in the suburbs. And, they can help you find a place to enjoy the holiday meal if you'll be away for the long weekend.

    Bostonchefs.com has some information on its members' offerings. For example, here are a few offerings we'd consider if we were looking for a great menu.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography:  istockphoto.com

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Enhanced by Zemanta
  • What’s Open in Boston on Veterans Day 2012, MBTA Schedule Changes

    20091102DSC_9813 - Version 2

    UPDATE: What's Open in Boston on Veterans Day 2013

    Here's a run-down of what's open in Boston on Veterans' Day, information on Boston trash collection, parking meters, and MBTA schedules for Monday, November 12, 2012. This year, the city of Boston is celebrating the holiday on the Monday following the traditional date of November 11th. That means you can start planning a long weekend.

    Be very careful about parking meters on Monday. *Please read the detailed note below. 

    But, the State is calling Sunday, November 11th Veteran's Day making that the day with pay regulations.

    We publish these reminders before each holiday to help you make the most of your time off!

    Restaurants, bars: Open

    Convenience stores: Open

    Supermarkets: Open

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Open

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes schools, libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with most Banks closed. But, we are noticing that some banks are keeping some branches open so check with your own institution.

    Stock market: Open, as are international markets.

    *Boston Parking: Here's what the city says, you may have to read this a few times.

    "City of Boston parking meters are free on Sundays and legal holidays
    and no time limit is enforced.  All other parking regulations,
    including rush hour restrictions at meters, remain in effect.  It is important to note that this applies only to the day that the actual holiday falls on, not to the day that offices may be closed in celebration of the holiday.  For example, if New Year's Day is Saturday but offices are closed on Friday in recognition of the holiday, parking meters will be in operation on Friday but not on Saturday."
    Remember this holiday falls on Sunday but the city offices are closed on Monday.

    Street Sweeping: City says, "Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 617-635-4500 for exact details."

    More information on Boston Trash Schedules and MBTA after this ad.

    Need a destination for a fall weekend? Here are a couple of books that might help you decide. Remember, Begin your Amazon purchases here to keep information like this flowing your way.

    Boston Trash Collection: The City says:

    "Monday, November 12 | 7am – Saturday, November 17, 2012 | 5pm

    Delay trash and recycling pickup 1 day only if you live in Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, or West Roxbury.

    *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."

    The MBTA press release says that on Monday, November 12, 2012 all services will run on their regular weekday schedules.

    For additional information on routes, schedules, and fares, "please call the MBTA Customer Service Center at 617-222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (hearing impaired TDD 617-222-5146)" or contact them at www.mbta.com.

    And, if you have to work: Holiday Pay Information For Retail Establishments from the Secretary of State.

    "Retail establishments which operate on New Year's Day, Columbus Day after 12 noon, or on November 11th after 1:00 p.m. are required to pay their employees time and one-half regardless of the number of employees on their payroll."
    http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cishol/holidx.htm

    (Photo of the Shaw Memorial on the Boston Common: ©2009 Penny Cherubino)

    Enhanced by Zemanta
  • What’s Open in Boston on Veterans Day 2012, MBTA Schedule Changes

    20091102DSC_9813 - Version 2

    UPDATE: What's Open in Boston on Veterans Day 2013

    Here's a run-down of what's open in Boston on Veterans' Day, information on Boston trash collection, parking meters, and MBTA schedules for Monday, November 12, 2012. This year, the city of Boston is celebrating the holiday on the Monday following the traditional date of November 11th. That means you can start planning a long weekend.

    Be very careful about parking meters on Monday. *Please read the detailed note below. 

    But, the State is calling Sunday, November 11th Veteran's Day making that the day with pay regulations.

    We publish these reminders before each holiday to help you make the most of your time off!

    Restaurants, bars: Open

    Convenience stores: Open

    Supermarkets: Open

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Open

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes schools, libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with most Banks closed. But, we are noticing that some banks are keeping some branches open so check with your own institution.

    Stock market: Open, as are international markets.

    *Boston Parking: Here's what the city says, you may have to read this a few times.

    "City of Boston parking meters are free on Sundays and legal holidays
    and no time limit is enforced.  All other parking regulations,
    including rush hour restrictions at meters, remain in effect.  It is important to note that this applies only to the day that the actual holiday falls on, not to the day that offices may be closed in celebration of the holiday.  For example, if New Year's Day is Saturday but offices are closed on Friday in recognition of the holiday, parking meters will be in operation on Friday but not on Saturday."
    Remember this holiday falls on Sunday but the city offices are closed on Monday.

    Street Sweeping: City says, "Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 617-635-4500 for exact details."

    More information on Boston Trash Schedules and MBTA after this ad.

    Need a destination for a fall weekend? Here are a couple of books that might help you decide. Remember, Begin your Amazon purchases here to keep information like this flowing your way.

    Boston Trash Collection: The City says:

    "Monday, November 12 | 7am – Saturday, November 17, 2012 | 5pm

    Delay trash and recycling pickup 1 day only if you live in Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, or West Roxbury.

    *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."

    The MBTA press release says that on Monday, November 12, 2012 all services will run on their regular weekday schedules.

    For additional information on routes, schedules, and fares, "please call the MBTA Customer Service Center at 617-222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (hearing impaired TDD 617-222-5146)" or contact them at www.mbta.com.

    And, if you have to work: Holiday Pay Information For Retail Establishments from the Secretary of State.

    "Retail establishments which operate on New Year's Day, Columbus Day after 12 noon, or on November 11th after 1:00 p.m. are required to pay their employees time and one-half regardless of the number of employees on their payroll."
    http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cishol/holidx.htm

    (Photo of the Shaw Memorial on the Boston Common: ©2009 Penny Cherubino)

    Enhanced by Zemanta
  • What’s Open in Boston on Veterans Day 2012, MBTA Schedule Changes

    20091102DSC_9813 - Version 2

    UPDATE: What's Open in Boston on Veterans Day 2013

    Here's a run-down of what's open in Boston on Veterans' Day, information on Boston trash collection, parking meters, and MBTA schedules for Monday, November 12, 2012. This year, the city of Boston is celebrating the holiday on the Monday following the traditional date of November 11th. That means you can start planning a long weekend.

    Be very careful about parking meters on Monday. *Please read the detailed note below. 

    But, the State is calling Sunday, November 11th Veteran's Day making that the day with pay regulations.

    We publish these reminders before each holiday to help you make the most of your time off!

    Restaurants, bars: Open

    Convenience stores: Open

    Supermarkets: Open

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Open

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes schools, libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with most Banks closed. But, we are noticing that some banks are keeping some branches open so check with your own institution.

    Stock market: Open, as are international markets.

    *Boston Parking: Here's what the city says, you may have to read this a few times.

    "City of Boston parking meters are free on Sundays and legal holidays
    and no time limit is enforced.  All other parking regulations,
    including rush hour restrictions at meters, remain in effect.  It is important to note that this applies only to the day that the actual holiday falls on, not to the day that offices may be closed in celebration of the holiday.  For example, if New Year's Day is Saturday but offices are closed on Friday in recognition of the holiday, parking meters will be in operation on Friday but not on Saturday."
    Remember this holiday falls on Sunday but the city offices are closed on Monday.

    Street Sweeping: City says, "Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 617-635-4500 for exact details."

    More information on Boston Trash Schedules and MBTA after this ad.

    Need a destination for a fall weekend? Here are a couple of books that might help you decide. Remember, Begin your Amazon purchases here to keep information like this flowing your way.

    Boston Trash Collection: The City says:

    "Monday, November 12 | 7am – Saturday, November 17, 2012 | 5pm

    Delay trash and recycling pickup 1 day only if you live in Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, or West Roxbury.

    *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."

    The MBTA press release says that on Monday, November 12, 2012 all services will run on their regular weekday schedules.

    For additional information on routes, schedules, and fares, "please call the MBTA Customer Service Center at 617-222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (hearing impaired TDD 617-222-5146)" or contact them at www.mbta.com.

    And, if you have to work: Holiday Pay Information For Retail Establishments from the Secretary of State.

    "Retail establishments which operate on New Year's Day, Columbus Day after 12 noon, or on November 11th after 1:00 p.m. are required to pay their employees time and one-half regardless of the number of employees on their payroll."
    http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cishol/holidx.htm

    (Photo of the Shaw Memorial on the Boston Common: ©2009 Penny Cherubino)

    Enhanced by Zemanta
  • A Sunday Dog Alert on 911 Emergency Calls

    A recent tweet from the Boston Emergency Medical Service read, “When folks w/pets call 911 for help put the animals in a room away from the patient if possible. It will speed our response.” 

    IStock_000014636366XSmall

    I retweeted the message to spread the word to more families with pets and then called Jennifer Mehigan, Director of Media Relations for the department. She told me what inspired that tweet. “Yesterday, after hearing an incident over the department radio where a crew was waiting on Animal Control to secure a dog before they could reach a patient,” she explained, “I felt it was necessary to remind people to put pets or animals in a secured room if at all possible.” 

    Plan for a 911 Call

     If you or someone in your family has a medical emergency, call 911 first. Then, move your pets to a safe, secure location. “Of course if the owner is the patient and there’s no one else around that may not be possible,” Mehigan said.  

    It may be wise to rehearse for this situation, especially if you have a chronic condition that might cause 911 calls. It’s always easier if a dog or cat is used to a given situation. For a pet who is never confined and the first time it happens is in an emergency, it could be extremely frightening.

    Let your animal experience staying in a dog crate or kitty carrier while you clean, have a worker in your home, a delivery, or are not feeling well. Then, should an emergency arise, it won’t be a strange happening for the pet. If you don’t have a crate, a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen with a door or gate could work. 

     
    IMG_0734

    Ed and I are currently training our new puppy to, “Go to bed.” This is a command we’ve used with other dogs for everything from a broken glass on the kitchen floor to a delivery. It means she should go to her crate in our bedroom and wait for us. 

    When the first thought that you might need to call for help hits you, round up your pets and make them safe. If it’s a false alarm, they’ve had a dry run. If you follow through with the call, you’ve kept your animals safe and improved your own care.

    Planning Could Save a Life

    “It is a very intimate thing to enter a person’s home to help them, and our staff are trained to keep the patient comfortable and try to put them at ease,” Mehigan said. “Sometimes pets in a home become upset when our crews are there and it is difficult for the EMTs to focus on the patient. If our crews ever feel that an animal will cause issues at a scene, they are told to contact police and animal control to secure the animal.”

    When that happens it delays patient care. If you are alone when you call 911, try to alert the dispatcher that you have a dog or cat who will be on the scene and whether that animal is secured. That will inform the ambulance crew of the need for possible assistance.  

    IMG_5816 - Version 22012-09-18-emergency-911-and- pets-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Whether big or small, young or old, friendly or fierce, your pet should be confined when emergency responders are asked to come into your home.

    Finally, you will have prevented your pet from escaping when doors are held open to allow responders to enter and exit with equipment and stretchers. Planning is not only for your health, but also for the safety of your pets.

    Note: This important message was first published in Penny's City Paws newspaper column.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!


    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: (Top) iStockphoto.com; (Middle) © 2012 Laurie Thomas; (Bottom) © 2012 Penny Cherubino 

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Enhanced by Zemanta
  • A Sunday Dog Alert on 911 Emergency Calls

    A recent tweet from the Boston Emergency Medical Service read, “When folks w/pets call 911 for help put the animals in a room away from the patient if possible. It will speed our response.” 

    IStock_000014636366XSmall

    I retweeted the message to spread the word to more families with pets and then called Jennifer Mehigan, Director of Media Relations for the department. She told me what inspired that tweet. “Yesterday, after hearing an incident over the department radio where a crew was waiting on Animal Control to secure a dog before they could reach a patient,” she explained, “I felt it was necessary to remind people to put pets or animals in a secured room if at all possible.” 

    Plan for a 911 Call

     If you or someone in your family has a medical emergency, call 911 first. Then, move your pets to a safe, secure location. “Of course if the owner is the patient and there’s no one else around that may not be possible,” Mehigan said.  

    It may be wise to rehearse for this situation, especially if you have a chronic condition that might cause 911 calls. It’s always easier if a dog or cat is used to a given situation. For a pet who is never confined and the first time it happens is in an emergency, it could be extremely frightening.

    Let your animal experience staying in a dog crate or kitty carrier while you clean, have a worker in your home, a delivery, or are not feeling well. Then, should an emergency arise, it won’t be a strange happening for the pet. If you don’t have a crate, a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen with a door or gate could work. 

     
    IMG_0734

    Ed and I are currently training our new puppy to, “Go to bed.” This is a command we’ve used with other dogs for everything from a broken glass on the kitchen floor to a delivery. It means she should go to her crate in our bedroom and wait for us. 

    When the first thought that you might need to call for help hits you, round up your pets and make them safe. If it’s a false alarm, they’ve had a dry run. If you follow through with the call, you’ve kept your animals safe and improved your own care.

    Planning Could Save a Life

    “It is a very intimate thing to enter a person’s home to help them, and our staff are trained to keep the patient comfortable and try to put them at ease,” Mehigan said. “Sometimes pets in a home become upset when our crews are there and it is difficult for the EMTs to focus on the patient. If our crews ever feel that an animal will cause issues at a scene, they are told to contact police and animal control to secure the animal.”

    When that happens it delays patient care. If you are alone when you call 911, try to alert the dispatcher that you have a dog or cat who will be on the scene and whether that animal is secured. That will inform the ambulance crew of the need for possible assistance.  

    IMG_5816 - Version 22012-09-18-emergency-911-and- pets-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Whether big or small, young or old, friendly or fierce, your pet should be confined when emergency responders are asked to come into your home.

    Finally, you will have prevented your pet from escaping when doors are held open to allow responders to enter and exit with equipment and stretchers. Planning is not only for your health, but also for the safety of your pets.

    Note: This important message was first published in Penny's City Paws newspaper column.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!


    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: (Top) iStockphoto.com; (Middle) © 2012 Laurie Thomas; (Bottom) © 2012 Penny Cherubino 

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Enhanced by Zemanta
  • A Sunday Dog Alert on 911 Emergency Calls

    A recent tweet from the Boston Emergency Medical Service read, “When folks w/pets call 911 for help put the animals in a room away from the patient if possible. It will speed our response.” 

    IStock_000014636366XSmall

    I retweeted the message to spread the word to more families with pets and then called Jennifer Mehigan, Director of Media Relations for the department. She told me what inspired that tweet. “Yesterday, after hearing an incident over the department radio where a crew was waiting on Animal Control to secure a dog before they could reach a patient,” she explained, “I felt it was necessary to remind people to put pets or animals in a secured room if at all possible.” 

    Plan for a 911 Call

     If you or someone in your family has a medical emergency, call 911 first. Then, move your pets to a safe, secure location. “Of course if the owner is the patient and there’s no one else around that may not be possible,” Mehigan said.  

    It may be wise to rehearse for this situation, especially if you have a chronic condition that might cause 911 calls. It’s always easier if a dog or cat is used to a given situation. For a pet who is never confined and the first time it happens is in an emergency, it could be extremely frightening.

    Let your animal experience staying in a dog crate or kitty carrier while you clean, have a worker in your home, a delivery, or are not feeling well. Then, should an emergency arise, it won’t be a strange happening for the pet. If you don’t have a crate, a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen with a door or gate could work. 

     
    IMG_0734

    Ed and I are currently training our new puppy to, “Go to bed.” This is a command we’ve used with other dogs for everything from a broken glass on the kitchen floor to a delivery. It means she should go to her crate in our bedroom and wait for us. 

    When the first thought that you might need to call for help hits you, round up your pets and make them safe. If it’s a false alarm, they’ve had a dry run. If you follow through with the call, you’ve kept your animals safe and improved your own care.

    Planning Could Save a Life

    “It is a very intimate thing to enter a person’s home to help them, and our staff are trained to keep the patient comfortable and try to put them at ease,” Mehigan said. “Sometimes pets in a home become upset when our crews are there and it is difficult for the EMTs to focus on the patient. If our crews ever feel that an animal will cause issues at a scene, they are told to contact police and animal control to secure the animal.”

    When that happens it delays patient care. If you are alone when you call 911, try to alert the dispatcher that you have a dog or cat who will be on the scene and whether that animal is secured. That will inform the ambulance crew of the need for possible assistance.  

    IMG_5816 - Version 22012-09-18-emergency-911-and- pets-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Whether big or small, young or old, friendly or fierce, your pet should be confined when emergency responders are asked to come into your home.

    Finally, you will have prevented your pet from escaping when doors are held open to allow responders to enter and exit with equipment and stretchers. Planning is not only for your health, but also for the safety of your pets.

    Note: This important message was first published in Penny's City Paws newspaper column.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!


    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: (Top) iStockphoto.com; (Middle) © 2012 Laurie Thomas; (Bottom) © 2012 Penny Cherubino 

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