Gizmodo: emergencies

Pet Emergency Evacuation Jacket Turns Your Cat Into an Emergency Supplies Kit

Adam Frucci — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:40:00 EDT

Sure, you could keep emergency supplies in a box in your closet. But keeping it on your cat is just far more adorable, which is important in a crisis. [Japan Trend Shop via 7 Gadgets]

People Don't Always Call 911 For Emergencies

Adam Frucci — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:40:00 EDT

The 911 system is a streamlined way for the authorities to be notified of emergencies in their jurisdiction. It's also a number that morons call when their fast food orders are screwed up or they forget what day it is.

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.[Current TV]

Japanese Vending Machines Dole Out Free Beverages During an Emergency

Adam Frucci — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:10:00 EDT

Some new vending machines in Japan are designed to hand out free drinks to all comers—but only in case of an emergency.

In the earthquake-prone country, specially marked vending machines currently being distributed to subway stations can be set to "emergency mode," in which they hand out free drinks to everyone.

It's a pretty great idea, as water is something that people need during a disaster and is just sitting in those vending machines. They've just got to make sure pranksters aren't able to turn free mode on when there isn't a disaster afoot. [Inventorspot via The Daily What]

Drunk British Woman Wonders When the Internet Started, Calls 911 to Ask

Adam Frucci — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:20:00 EDT

The Avon and Somerset Police department have published some awesome YouTube videos featuring audio from drunk and stupid people calling 999 (911 in the US) with inquiries that don't quite qualify as emergencies. In the above clip, a completely shitfaced woman really, really wants to know just when the internet started. What's amazing is how polite the 999 operator was. Awesome stuff. After the jump, a bonus video from The IT Crowd on Britain's awesome emergency response number.

[YouTube via Boing Boing]

TongueSucker Makes CPR a Whole Lot Easier for Rookie First Aiders

AddyDugdale — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 07:13:05 EDT

Designed by students at the Royal College of Art in London, Tongue Sucker is a simple gadget to help people untrained in first-aid administer CPR during emergencies, as well as solving the hygiene problem for people unwilling to get up close and personal with a stranger in order to save his or her life. The idea, which prevents an unconscious patient from blocking their airway with their tongue, is as simple as its name:

Hold the open end over the victim's tongue and pinch the red bladder to create a vacuum. The Tongue Sucker will attach itself to the patient's tongue and keep their airway unblocked. Then start chest compression-only CPR (or sexy time, if you really are that much of a loser) — a simplified version of CPR for untrained first-aiders.
The students came up with the idea following the July 2005 subway bombings in London, when they realized that something was needed to bridge the gap between an accident and the arrival of the emergency services. Tongue Sucker is already past the prototype stage, but its four creators are hoping to start product evaluation and clinical trials soon.

[Tonguesucker via MedGadget]

Mobcharger Portable Emergency Cellphone Charger

Gizloco — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 10:02:16 EDT

The folks behind Mobcharger are talking it up as a solution to the all-too-common (?) of running out of cellphone battery life just when you need it most, like when a bear is chasing after you. If your cellphone's battery dies, plug in the Mobcharger and you'll be able to talk for up to 90 minutes, or leave on standby for 480 minutes. It comes in different models for the myriad cellphones (one for Samsung phones, one for Motorola, etc.) and requires that the cellphone in question already have been charged at least once before. It's expected to retail for less than $10 or thereabouts. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [Mobcharger via The Red Ferret Journal]