Colorado Medical Reserve Corps

02/10/2018

02/07/2018

CHECK IT OUT
February is Heart Health Month, and this year's focus is on younger adults. National trends show heart disease death rates are declining more slowly than they have in the past, especially among adults ages 35 to 64. In many communities across the United States, death rates are increasing among adults in this age group. In addition, the risk factors for young adults — physical inactivity, to***co use and hypertension — also are increasing. Younger adults can reduce their risk through lifestyle changes and by managing medical conditions.

Get information on what you can do to reduce your risk:

CDC Heart Disease.

Preventing Heart Disease: Healthy Living Habits.

Heart Disease Fact Sheet.

NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Move With Heart.

01/09/2018

Title: Avalanches: Slippery Slope to Danger
Extreme Skiing Mixed with Extreme Conditions Warrant Extreme Preparedness. According to the National Ski Patrol, the growing interest in free skiing and riding is pushing more skiers and snowboarders to venture outside of ski area boundaries in search of perfect powder. However beautiful the back country may be, those pristine slopes come with multiple risks, and one of the most significant is the risk of avalanche.
Snow conditions in the back country are far more unpredictable than those where the snow is groomed snow, such as that found at ski resorts. Back country areas are also not patrolled.
Although, snow experts use a wide variety of advanced technology to track and predict avalanche conditions the risk still remains. So, before you hit those pristine alpine glades this season take a minute to brush up on avalanche safety tips and check out the resources here in Colorado designed to help you stay informed.
Basic Avalanche Safety Tips
• 30 Degree Slopes: The key to avoiding avalanches is to stay away from terrain where those conditions exist. Avalanche terrain exists on any slope steeper than 30 degrees. It doesn’t matter if it is a big slope or a very small slope. It doesn’t matter if it is an open slope or one with trees. If it is steeper than 30 degrees it can produce an avalanche.
• Runout Zones: Avalanches have caught many people unaware because they were below avalanche terrain in what is called a runout zone (the place where avalanche debris like trees and rocks typically come to rest). These slopes are as steep as expert black diamond runs and some intermediate blue runs. Even if the slope doesn’t appear that steep it is considered avalanche terrain if the slope above it is steep.
• Frequency: Avalanches do not occur every day. It all depends on snow conditions and the weather. Generally, most avalanches occur during storms or during the 24-48 hours following one.
• Check Conditions: Because avalanche conditions can change rapidly from one day to the next check current conditions and get avalanche danger ratings from a regional avalanche center.
• Triggers: An avalanche will not occur without a trigger. This trigger could be weight from additional snow or weight from a person traveling on the snow.
o Instability: Avalanches are more likely to occur after a heavy snowfall as this increases snow instability.
o Melting Snow: Wet avalanches are likely to occur in warmer temperatures. Melting snow adds moisture which weakens the bond between snow layers.
o Recent Activity: Recent avalanche activity in the same area is an indicator of snow instability. It’s also a sign that more avalanches are likely to occur.
o Wind: Wind can create dangerous snow slabs. If there has recently been high wind, an avalanche is more likely to occur.
o Cracks: Cracks in the snow surface and/or “whoomping” sounds mean that a weak layer is collapsing and the snowpack is unstable.
Safety Tools
According to the Forest Service National Avalanche Center, the following tools should be carried when going into the backcountry:
• General tools
o Snow saw
o Probes
o Slope meter
o Monocular (can magnify up close and far away)
o Walkie talkies
o Bivy Sack (a small, waterproof shelter)
o Climbing skins (allow skis to climb on a slope)
o Avalanche Beacon
o Shovel
o Backpack
o Spare Strap
o Snow science kit
o Avalung or an Air Bag System
o Helmet
o Headlamp
o Water bottle
o Stove and fuel
o Tool kit
o Map and compass
o First aid kit

• Avalanche preparedness tools
o Avalanche beacon – emits a signal over a distance of 60 to 100 feet. Always ski with an avalanche beacon in transmit mode. If searching for an avalanche victim, switch to receive mode.
o Avalung – a sling or backpack-style air pack that can allow the user to breathe for approximately one hour if no other air is available.
o Airbag pack – Deployable pack designed to keep an avalanche victim closer to the surface. Also helps to increase body volume, giving the victim more free space within the avalanche.
o Helmet – Nearly 30 percent of avalanche fatalities are caused by trauma. A helmet can reduce this risk.
• Repair/survival kit
o Extra food and water
o Extra clothes such as gloves, hat, socks, insulated coat and pants
o Headlamp
o Extra binding parts
o Pocket tool with Pozidrive screwdriver
o Wire, duct tape
o Epoxy, strip screw inserts, steel wool
o Candle/matches/lighter
o Emergency thermal blanket
o Chemical hand warmers
o Knife
o Extra beacon and headlamp batteries
o Consider carrying a light gas stove to melt snow (they weigh about the same as a liter of water).
What to do if you get caught by an Avalanche
The following tips are from the Forest Service National Avalanche Center:
• Try to ski or board off the avalanche slab by maintaining momentum and angling to the edge of slide. Discard poles (never ski in the backcountry with your pole straps on).
• If you have releasable bindings and your skis or board comes off, roll on to your back with your feet downhill. Swim hard up stream to try to get to the rear of the avalanche.
• Dig into the surface to slow yourself down and let as much debris as possible go past.
• Grab a tree if you can.
• Fight.
• As the avalanche slows, try to thrust your hand or some part of your body above the surface and then stick a hand in front of your face to make an air space around your mouth.
• If completely buried, try to remain calm--hopefully your partners have practiced rescue techniques and they will quickly find you.

Know Before you Go!
In Colorado, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) offers training courses and current snow and avalanche conditions. Visit them online at www.avalanche.state.co.us
The CAIC’s Twitter feeds provide timely information and updates on avalanche and snow conditions.
Simply follow the area or areas that are of interest to you:
• CAIC - Steamboat and Flat Tops Info -http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Front Range - http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Vail and Summit County - http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Sawatch Range - http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Aspen - http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Gunnison - http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Grand Mesa - http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Northern San Juan - http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Southern San Juan - http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Sangre de Cristo - http://twitter.com/
• CAIC - Off-Season Avalanche Information - http://twitter.com/
Information Sources:
• U.S. Forest Service National Avalanche Center
• National Ski Patrol
• Colorado Avalanche Information Center

For more tips and preparedness information, follow us:
On Twitter:
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/READYColorado
Google +: READYColorado
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/READYColorado

01/03/2018

Spread the word with daily online safety and preparedness tips on Google+, Facebook and Twitter. Use the following blog, or create your own, and post all throughout the month. Remember to include the hashtags and Monoxide
Title: The Invisible Killer
Can you catch this invisible killer? Carbon Monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. Cooking and heating are the most common causes of Carbon Monoxide poisoning at home. Installing Carbon Monoxide detectors throughout your home is the best way to prevent poisoning from this silent killer.

The most common symptoms of moderate Carbon Monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea and drowsiness. Exposure to undetected high levels of Carbon Monoxide can be fatal. Unless suspected, Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other illnesses so your best protection is prevention.
Protect your family by following these tips:
• If you suspect Carbon Monoxide poisoning, immediately move all family members including pets to an area with fresh air.
• Have your chimney checked every year. Debris accumulates and Carbon Monoxide may build up inside your home or cabin.
• Make sure your Carbon Monoxide alarm is working by testing it routinely. One hundred and fifty people die each year from consumer product-related carbon monoxide.
• Never run a car or truck in the garage with the garage door shut. Carbon Monoxide can build up quickly.
• If using a generator during a power outage, run the generator outside and away from windows to avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
• When vacationing, check to see that Carbon Monoxide detectors are installed close to sleeping areas throughout the home or condo.
• All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside and kept clear.

Information Sources:
• National Fire Protection Association
• US Fire Administration (USFA)
• Centers for Disease Control
For more tips and preparedness information, follow us:
On Twitter:
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/READYColorado
Google +: READYColorado
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/READYColorado

READYColorado is a public awareness campaign supported by public and private partners to assist with community preparedness.

09/18/2017

Stay Safe During a Wildfire
Wildfire Preparedness
With several active wildfires affecting the Pacific Northwest and the Western United States, it is important to know how to stay safe with information and resources from Prepareathon™.

Wildfires can happen anywhere in the country and at any time of year. If you see a wildfire approaching, call 911 to report the fire. Do not assume that someone else reported it.

Follow these tips from Prepareathon’s How to Prepare for a Wildfire Guide:

If ordered to evacuate:
Leave immediately.
Help firefighters, if there is time before you leave. Some of the things to help include closing up the house and leaving lights on for visibility, as well as moving flammable materials to the center of the home, away from windows. You can also leave hoses connected to a water source, so they are available for the fire department.
Text SHELTER and your ZIP code (e.g., SHELTER 20472) to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area. Follow local media for more information on shelters.
Download the FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) for disaster resources including directions to open shelters.

If trapped in your home:
If you cannot get out, close the door and cover vents and cracks around doors with a cloth to keep smoke out. Crawl on the floor if there is smoke – the air is cleaner. Crawl to a door and touch it with your hand. If the door is hot, do not open it. Call 911 and provide your location.
Keep doors, windows, vents, and fire screens closed.
Keep your doors unlocked.
Move flammable materials (e.g., curtains, furniture) away from windows and sliding glass doors.
Fill sinks and tubs with water to assist in dousing small smoldering fires, which may pop up.
Stay inside, away from outside walls and windows.

Remember: Get low and go! If you hear a smoke alarm, get out fast! For more information on how to prepare for, stay safe during and recover from a wildfire, review Prepareathon’s How to Prepare for a Wildfire guide, or got to: www.usfa.fema.gov/wui_toolkit or watch the When the Fire Starts video.
FEMA Friends provided this article -thanks!

Outreach materials, training resources, research and more to help fire departments prepare for, and respond to, Wildland Urban Interface fires. http://1.usa.gov/1WSMPyO

09/18/2017

Practice and Build Out Your Plans During National Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month Logo
The third week of National Preparedness Month (NPM) 2017 begins on Sunday, September 17.

Each week NPM focuses on a different preparedness action. The theme for September 17-23, is Practice and Build Out Your Plans. Put your emergency preparations to the test by holding a drill and include features like financial preparedness into your plans. Consider the following preparedness steps from the Ready Campaign:
Complete an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK).
Maintain emergency savings for use in case of an emergency.
Participate in an emergency drill or preparedness event.
Know how to access community resources (e.g., shelters, food banks).

If you plan to host a preparedness event, we encourage you to share it on the Prepareathon™ website.

FEMA Friends provided this article

09/18/2017

National Prepareathon Day
Prepareathon Logo
Disasters and emergencies raise our awareness of the need to prepare ourselves, our families, and our communities for the types of disasters that can affect us. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are reminders that disasters are often unpredictable.

While September is National Preparedness Month, September 15 is National Prepareathon™ Day, which aims to highlight the preparedness actions that individuals, families, and organizations completed over the past year.

Sit down with your loved ones to take stock of your preparedness efforts and consider taking the following actions:
Talk with your family and neighbors about planning for an emergency and identify an out-of-town emergency contact that can help your household reconnect if a disaster affects you.
Consider the costs associated with disasters such as insurance deductibles and evacuation costs, and plan for those costs. Anticipate initial out-of-pocket disaster expenses for lodging, food, gas, and more. Check your insurance coverage to make sure you are protected against the risks you face. Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage or losses from flooding.
Consider starting a savings account, if you do not have one already, to help you recover from an emergency or disaster. Use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit to get started. The EFFAK is a flexible tool designed to help individuals and families at all income levels collect and secure the documentation they would need to get on the road to recovery without unnecessary delays, should disaster strike.
Download the FEMA app, which allows you to sign up for weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the country. Also, sign up for local alerts and warning systems your community may have.
Learn where your community’s shelters are located (and whether or not they are pet-friendly).
Practice using your community’s evacuation routes should you be required to leave – this way, you know exactly where you would go, how to get there, and what to do if an emergency occurs.

To participate in National Prepareathon Day and share your achievements with the rest of the Nation, register your preparedness action on the Prepareathon website and post about your success on social media with the hashtags or .

09/18/2017

Food Safety and Kitchen Cleaning After a Disaster
Food Safety
Flooding can cause power outages for hours, days and even weeks, which may make food unsafe to eat.

If a fire, flood, power outage or natural disaster impacts your home, minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness by knowing how to determine food safety.

You can learn the right decisions for keeping your family safe after a power outage with food and cleaning safety facts from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

After a Flood
Use bottled drinking water that has not come into contact with flood water.
Do not eat any food that may have come in contact with flood water.
Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance it may have come in contact with flood water. Food containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps.
Discard cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home canned foods if they have come in contact with flood waters. They cannot be cleaned and sanitized effectively.
Inspect canned foods; discard any food in damaged cans. Check cans for swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing/denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel-type can opener.
Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle ni***es, and pacifiers that may have come in contact with flood waters. There is no way to clean them safely.
Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes, utensils (including can openers) with soap and water (hot water if available). Rinse and sanitize them by boiling in clean water or immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
Thoroughly wash countertops with soap and water (hot water if available). Rinse and then sanitize them by applying a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water. Allow it to air-dry.
Note: If your entire refrigerator or freezer was in flood waters — even partially — it is unsafe to use and must be discarded.

After a Weather Emergency
The USDA also issued a news release with food safety tips to follow in advance of losing power, steps to follow if the power goes out, and food safety after a flood. There were also steps to follow after a weather emergency.
Check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40°F for two hours or more.
Check frozen food for ice crystals. The food in your freezer that partially or completely thawed may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is 40°F or below.
Never taste food to decide if it is safe.
When in doubt, throw it out.

For more information about cleaning up after a disaster, review Prepareathon’s Flood and Hurricane guides. Also, see food safety tips at Ready.gov.

From our FEMA friends

09/07/2017

Come join us at the 2017 National Preparedness Month Fair
Admission to the event is FREE!

September is National Preparedness Month, focused on helping Americans understand that preparedness goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, dead-bolt locks and extra food in the pantry. OMEGA, the City of Aurora, the American Red Cross and the Community College of Aurora are hosting a safety fair in conjunction with many of our partners. The event features speakers, exhibits, demonstrations, vendors and contests.
To learn more visit: http://fair.omegasar.org/

Fires, tornados, flooding, winter storms. Do you have an emergency plan? Severe weather patterns, technological disasters and terrorism are prevalent in today's news. Do you know what to do if disaster strikes? Is your family ready?

OMEGA, a Colorado based multi-disciplinary response team, is using this opportunity to raise community awareness. Saturday, September 9, 2017 come to the National Preparedness Month Fair at the Community College of Aurora Lowry Campus and learn what it truly means to be ready.

Please share this information and attached flier with anyone and everyone you know. The event is open to the general public and is free. Come have some fun and learn some safety tips before they are needed!

Jennifer J Scott
O.M.E.G.A.
720-270-2975
www.OMEGAsar.org

OMEGA SAR

09/07/2017

Information from FEMA

Apply for Hurricane Harvey Disaster Assistance
Apply for Assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov
If you have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers resources to help you recover.

Visit www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey for trusted recovery information. To find and apply for assistance, visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

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Help Those Impacted By Hurricane Harvey
How to Help After a Disaster
Whether you want to donate cash, goods, or services to assist in the Hurricane Harvey response, make sure you do so responsibly with information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Learn the safest and most effective ways to donate or volunteer with these FEMA guidelines:
Cash is the most efficient method of donating. Cash offers voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover.
Donate through a trusted organization. Find trusted national and state level agencies to donate or volunteer from the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
Affiliate with existing non-profit organizations before coming to the disaster area. Contact and affiliate with an established organization to ensure that you receive training to respond in the most effective way.
Be safe. Do not self-deploy. Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and authorities identify opportunities to help.
Be patient. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster.

If you need help in determining who to give to, the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website has a list of major non-profits active in disaster work or contact your FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaison for guidance. For more information, visit www.fema.gov/volunteer-donate-responsibly.

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Turn Around Don’t Drown
Turn Around Don't Drown
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, take a moment to review flood safety information. When you see flood waters ahead: Turn Around Don't Drown.

Stay safe by avoiding flood waters altogether.

If you come upon flood water, you may not know how deep the water is or what is in the water that you cannot see including hazardous materials, sharp items, or downed power lines. Consider these facts to be flood smart:
Just six (6) inches of moving water can knock you down.
Just one (1) foot of water can sweep your vehicle off the roadway.
If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay in the vehicle.
If water is moving at a high velocity and is rapidly rising in the vehicle, exit the vehicle immediately, seek refuge on the roof of the vehicle, and signal for help.
If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately (unless water is moving at a high velocity) and move to higher ground. Rapidly rising water can engulf the vehicle and its occupants, sweeping them away.

For more information on how to prepare and stay safe download the Prepareathon How to Prepare for a Flood guide.

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Make a Plan During National Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month Logo
Friday, September 1, marks the beginning of National Preparedness Month (NPM) 2017.

This year’s theme is Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can. In addition to the overarching theme for the month, each week has a theme highlighting different preparedness actions.

The focus for the first week of NPM, September 1-9, is, Make a Plan for Yourself, Family, and Friends. Learn how to plan with the following steps from the Ready Campaign:
Make an Emergency Plan.
Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area.
Learn your evacuation zone and have an evacuation plan.
Check your insurance coverage and review the Document and Insure Your Property guide.
Plan financially for the possibility of disaster.

National Prepareathon Day, September 15, is the perfect time for families, businesses, and organizations to take a few minutes to discuss their emergency plan. It is a day of action when families, organizations, and entire communities can practice their plan and better prepare for hazards and other emergencies.

If you plan to host a preparedness event, we encourage you to share it on the Prepareathon website. You can find more resources for National Preparedness Month, including the NPM social media toolkit, at www.ready.gov/september.

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Important Dates to Remember
September 1-30: National Preparedness Month
September 11: 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance
September 15: National Prepareathon Day
September 28 – October 1: 2017 National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Annual Forum

This is the Hurricane Harvey resource page which contains information and cross-links to multiples pages of content. For SurvivorsTo consolidate information, we moved the survivor resources and information to the Texas Hurricane Harvey page (DR-4332).

08/24/2017

Internet Safety

Internet Safety image
Spread the word with daily online safety and preparedness tips on Google+, Facebook and Twitter. Use the following blog, or create your own, and post all throughout the month. Remember to include the hashtags

Internet Safety

How many electronic, internet enabled devices do you have in your home? How often are you, your family, and your children sending and receiving information via the internet?

According to one survey in 2016, 88% of the population are internet users (link is external) in North America. The same study reports that in 2016 there was an average of 7.7 devices/connections per person, and by 2021, the average internet household will generate 227.5 gigabytes of internet traffic per month.

The virtual world that we increasingly engage mirrors both the good and the bad of our society. This begs the question, while you and your family are daily engaging with the ‘good’ on the internet are you protected from the ‘bad’? According to ConnectSafely (link is external), the number one safety tip for virtual worlds, as for anything else, is good parent-child communication.

Low-key, routine discussion about online experiences, just as with offline ones, makes it easier for them to talk with you when things come up. The most likely risks for teens in virtual worlds, just like in school halls and elsewhere, are cyberbullying or harassment and s*xually suggestive communication among peers. Language filters help, but kids often have workarounds.

Here are a few social web tips for parents from ConnectSafely (link is external):

Be reasonable and try to set reasonable expectations. Pulling the plug on your child’s favorite social site is like pulling the plug on his or her social life. Instead of being protective, it can shut down communication and send kids “underground” where they’re more at risk. It’s too easy for them to set up free blogs and profiles from anywhere, including friends’ houses or even a cell phone.
Talk with your kids about how they use the services. They, not news reports or even experts, are the ones to consult about their social-Web experience. Help them understand basic safety guidelines, such as protecting their privacy (including passwords), not harassing peers, never talking about s*x with people they don’t know, avoiding in-person meetings with people they “meet” online, and taking care in what they post – because anything people put online can be grabbed, reworked, and used against them.
Support critical thinking and civil behavior because no laws or parental-control software can protect better than a child’s developing good sense about safety and relationships. Research shows that kids who are aggressive and mean online toward peers or strangers are at greater risk of becoming victims themselves. So teach them to be good citizens and friends online as much as offline.
Consider requiring Internet use in a high-traffic place in your home – not in kids’ rooms – to help you stay aware of their online time. This way, you can encourage a balance between online time and their offline academic, sports, and social times. Know that there are also many ways kids can access the Internet away from home, including on many mobile phones and game players.
Try to get your kids to share their profiles and services with you, but be aware that they can have multiple accounts on multiple services. Use search engines and the search tools on social-networking sites to search for your kids’ full names, phone numbers and other identifying information. You’re not invading their privacy if they’re putting personal info in public “places” online. If their pages are private, that’s a good thing, but it’s even better if they share it with you. Be aware of the apps they use on their mobile devices.
In today’s day and age internet safety should not be an afterthought. Things like cyberbullying, identity theft, account hacking and stalking by online predators are occurring more and more often. Take proactive steps today to ensure that you and your loved ones are engaging the digital world safely and appropriately.

Internet Safety Resources

08/24/2017

Be Bear Aware

There have already been several people/bear interactions this year. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website has many great resources for those exploring the Colorado outdoors. Before heading out to enjoy the Colorado outdoors take a minute to learn how to be “Bear Aware” and enjoy a safe hike or camping trip. If you are camping or hiking west of Interstate 25 there’s a good chance you are in bear country. According to the CPW website, “Bears that learn that people have food routinely visit camp sites, picnic areas and resorts in hopes of finding an easy meal. If you want to avoid problems for yourself and the bears, make sure there’s nothing to attract bears to your camp.” Below are Bear Aware safety tips from the Colorado Parks and Wildfire to make your next excursion in the Colorado backcountry a safe one.

Be Bear Aware Camping Tips: Secure Your Trash and Food

Never intentionally feed a bear. Baby bears are cute, but the momma bear is always nearby and won’t take kindly to you being near her cub.
Stash Your Trash. Use bear-proof trash containers when available. If they’re full, double bag trash and lock it in your trunk or RV. Never leave trash outside.
Store Attractants Safely. Store food, beverages and toiletries in bear-proof food lockers.
Keep a Clean Tent. Don’t bring anything with an odor into your tent, including foods, beverages, scented toiletries, gum, toothpaste, sunscreen, candles and insect repellent. Don’t sleep in the clothes you cooked a meal in.
Lock RVs and Vehicles. Close windows and lock your vehicle and RV when you leave your campsite and at night before you go to sleep.
Be Bear Aware Camping Tips: If a Bear Enters Your Campsite

Do Not Turn and Run. Yell, wave your arms and try to appear larger.
Make It Feel Unwelcome. If the bear continues to approach, throw rocks or sticks toward it and continue yelling.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings. When hiking in the woods, be on the lookout and avoid surprising a bear or other wild animal.
Notify Authorities If You Encounter an Aggressive Wild Animal. Immediately report any conflicts to the nearest Colorado Parks and Wildlife office.
Be Bear Aware Hiking Tips

Do You See Tracks? Tracks, bear s**t and shredded logs mean you are in bear country.
Be Alert at All Times. Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk, when the wind is in your face, visibility is limited or you are walking by a noisy stream. A firm clap or quick shout warns bears that humans are in the area.
Keep Dogs Leashed. Exploring dogs can surprise a bear or bring an irritated bear back towards you.
Never Approach Bears or Offer food. If your presence causes the bear to look up or change its behavior in any way, you are too close.
Be Bear Aware and Bear Encounters

If you surprised a bear on a trail:
Stand still, stay calm and let the bear identify you and leave.
Never run or climb a tree.
If you see cubs, their mother is usually close by. Leave the area immediately.
If the bear doesn’t leave:
A bear standing up is just trying to identify what you are by getting a better look and smell.
Wave your arms slowly overhead and talk calmly. If the bear huffs, pops it jaws or stomps a paw, it wants you to give it space.
Step off the trail to the downhills side, keep looking at the bear and slowly back away until the bear is out of sight.
If the bear approaches:
Stand your ground. Yell or throw small rocks in the direction of the bear. A bear approaching a person could be food-conditioned looking for a handout or, very rarely an aggressive bear.
Get out your bear spray and use it when the bear is about 40 feet away.
If you’re attached, don’t play dead. Fight back with anything available. People have successfully defended themselves with pen knives, trekking poles and even their bare hands.
Information in this blog came from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.