Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Federation of members and partners, highlighting recent accomplishments and new resources related to standardization.
NFPA and CPSC Offer Toolkit on Fire Safety Challenges for Multigenerational Homes
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), an ANSI member and audited designator, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have developed a toolkit that provides recommendations on fire safety with a focus on multigenerational households.
"Multigenerational households may include older adults, very young children, and people with disabilities who require added assistance in the event of a fire," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA's vice president of outreach and advocacy. "Home fire safety planning and prevention is critical for all families, but for households with family members who have specific needs or limitations, advance planning is paramount to ensuring everyone's safety."
Safety measures recommended in the toolkit include:
Make a fire safety escape plan with two ways out of every room and a family meeting place outside. Practice the escape twice a year.
Make sure there is bright lighting in stairways and handrails along the full length of both sides of the stairs.
Designate someone to help each child, older adult, and person with disability during an escape.
Clear clutter to prevent trips and falls.
The toolkit includes infographics in English and Spanish, a 10-minute lesson plan, and resources to assist in working with local media.
To read all tips and access the multigenerational toolkit, see the NFPA news item.
AAMI Surveys IT and Healthcare Technology Management Professionals on Hospital Cybersecurity
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, recently conducted a survey of professionals in the IT and healthcare technology management fields on cybersecurity in hospitals. It is intended to be the first of an annual in-depth survey from AAMI on a specific healthcare technology issue.
Results of the AAMI Pulse survey revealed a disconnect between preparedness and awareness. While almost three-quarters of respondents said that their healthcare delivery organization is prepared to handle a cyber-attack, nearly half didn't know if the IT network of their organization had been compromised in 2016.
The survey also examined how cybersecurity is prioritized by upper management. Seventy percent of respondents said cybersecurity was a "high priority" for their organization's C-suite, while nine percent reported the opposite: upper management in their organization considered cybersecurity to be "low" or "no" priority.
To read more results of the survey, including organizations' use of tools to protect against cyber-attacks, see the AAMI news item.
NWRA Releases White Paper on Organic Waste
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has released a new white paper on organic waste.
NWRA reports that organic waste comprises the largest percentage of the waste stream by weight: food, yard waste, paper, wood, and other organics combined make up almost half of what is discarded. "State of Organics Recovery" delves into the generation and disposal of organic waste, regulations on organics, types of organic waste, and more. The paper also covers the recovery of organics, including existing infrastructure, technologies involved, and what is needed to increase organics recovery.
Learn more in the free NWRA white paper.
NRA Publishes Culinary Forecast for 2017
The National Restaurant Association (NRA), an ANSI member, surveyed over 1,000 professional chefs for its "What's Hot 2017Culinary Forecast." Survey results are available on their website, providing insight into trends for menus, food concepts, and kids' food, among other areas.
For menu trends, the NRA predicts a rise in the use of African and Middle-Eastern spices, as well as a continuation of cuisines from Southeast Asia. Lesser-used grains like amaranth, farro, and sorghum are likely to make an appearance. Uncommon meats like tongue and pig ears, on the other hand, are going out of style.
Concept trends on the rise across the nation include a focus on environmental sustainability, with diners seeking businesses that recycle, source locally, and manage food waste. Another cited trend is fast-casual restaurants that serve high-quality, fine-dining versions of pizza and burgers.
Kid-friendly foods on the radar for 2017 include whole grains, entree salads, and oven-baked foods, all trends that lead to more healthful children's menus.
Read about more food trends in the NRA's Culinary Forecast.