by California Casualty | Nurses |
Alright, what’s the secret?
There has to be something our top bloggers know that I don’t. Because for the life of me I cannot figure out how you guys (and gals!) find time to do all the things you do!
Today’s Battle of the Blog spotlight is on our FIRST NURSING blogger!
This is Keith Carlson, RN (aka: “NurseKeith”)
NurseKeith is a registered nurse, professional coach, writer, AND rock star blogger. Oh, excuse me, did I forget to mention he also co-founded an internet radio station called “RN.FM Radio: Nursing Unleashed”?
Seriously, people, how can you pull all this off!?
The name of Keith’s blog (well….one of them) is Digital Doorway. In his blog posts, NurseKeith discusses everything from the latest happenings in the world of nursing to book reviews to personal stories from his nursing experiences.
The real miracle is that Keith found some time to talk to us about his blog. Learn more below!
How would you describe Digital Doorway?
Digital Doorway is a venue for my thoughts, opinions and reflections on issues related to nursing, health care, and coaching.
What would you say is the focus or mission?
The mission of my blog is to be informative, thought-provoking, and intellectually stimulating, and to communicate important and timely information related to nursing and healthcare, as well as social justice and related topics.
What inspired you to start it?
I started Digital Doorway as a means to use my voice as a nurse and writer in a public format.
My blog began more as a personal exploration of issues important to me, and in the last 4 to 5 years it has become increasingly focused on nursing and health care.
How long have you been writing on this particular blog?
Digital Doorway has been active since January of 2005.
Do you have a favorite thing to write about?
My favorite subjects to write about are nursing, health care, social justice, and health.
Tell us a little bit about your blog ‘community’ …
My blog community is varied and sundry. I am sometimes surprised by the amount of attention that certain posts engender, and I am frequently gratified by the wonderful encouragement and feedback that I receive.
What would you say has been your best experience as a blogger?
My best experience as a blogger has been the ongoing relationships with other nurse bloggers that I have developed over the years, as well as the organic notoriety that has been created by the blog.
I have actually met several people face to face with whom I first connected through Digital Doorway. It’s wonderful to create a real friendship out of an online connection.
What have you learned through the experience?
I have learned a great deal about writing, blogging, the internet, nursing, and the intersection between internet technology and healthcare.
If you win, to which charity will you donate your $200 winnings? Why?
I will be likely to donate my $200 winnings to Madre, an excellent organization that assists women and children around the world.
Other than the blog, where can we find you on the web?
On Facebook and on Twitter.
We are so happy to have our first Nursing blogger profile! To learn more about Nurse Keith and check out some of his blog posts, click here. To vote for your favorite Nursing Blog in Battle of the Blogs, click here!
by California Casualty | Firefighters |
During my search through the Fire & EMT blogosphere for the TOP blogs, we found a ton of great bloggers. There are countless firefighters and EMTs out there with great advice, stories and suggestions.
But while I searched, I also found a whole different kind of fire blog: blogs that represented entire units of firefighters, instead of just one particular FF! This bigger take on the fire world opens up whole new opportunities for fire blogs.
We are so pleased to profile one such blog today! Ladies and gentleman, today’s top blog is…
CAL FIRE: Inyo-Mono-San Bernardino Unit!
If you are looking for an inside look into a CA fire unit, this is the blog for you. But that’s not all CAL FIRES offers. It’s also a one-stop-shop for information about the Unit and its personnel, fire and life safety information, access to fire safety videos, product safety, regional cooperators in fire and life safety, and a large collection of fire service pictures of training, fire fighting and firefighters accomplishments.
Phew. That’s a lot of coverage. But what’s great about CAL FIRE is that it actually delivers.
My favorite thing about CAL FIRE? The blog does a stellar job of presenting relevant, useful fire and safety information in clear, interesting ways using great photos and linked resources.
Exploring the blog, I started to wonder how it came about. So we chatted with a CAL FIRE editor to get the inside scoop!
How would you describe CAL FIRE?
Our blog is an information site both for CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit personnel, CAL FIRE personnel and the public at large.
What is the focus or mission of the site?
The mission of our blog is to provide up to date information on what CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit personnel are achieving and accomplishing. The blog is also designed to provide fire and life safety information to the general public while providing information of interest to the news media.
Why did you start it?
We began the CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit blog site to provide information to unit personnel, the public and the news media about what was going on in the Unit as well as fire and life safety information.
How long has it been filling this role?
Since May 25, 2010 when the blog was created.
How long have you been blogging?
On and off for more than five years. This is the first consistently maintained blog that I have done.
What’s your favorite thing to write about?
For the Cal FIRE San Bernardino Unit blog, everything I write about is my favorite. I enjoy spreading the word about the accomplishments and achievements of our personnel as well as keeping fire and life safety information before the public and news media.
What can you tell us about your blog ‘community’?
Our ‘community’ consists of interest from around the world such as Russia, Germany, Brazil, Egypt and South Korea to name a few. I am not only surprised by the reach of our blog but that so many different people would be interested. Last month for example we had 3,742 page views… I am humbled and inspired to do the best job I can in providing information that displays our unit and personnel to the world.
What has been the best your best experience as a blogger?
When we were named a top fire department blog last year.
(Woo hoo, Congrats!)
What have you learned?
I have learned that people hungry for information and this, as I mentioned, inspires me to provide the best information and photographs possible.
Any great stories to share with us?
Yes, during the annual ABC7/Firefighters Spark of Love Christmas Toy Drive in 2011 we were able to have the “Angel Cars” at two events. The toy drive events were held in the cities of Highland and Yucaipa, where the CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit is the city fire department. Both events were honored to have these cars which pay tribute to the fallen emergency responders who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and United Flight 93. These beautiful white cars contain the names of every person who died in those tragic events. We were indeed honored to have them as a part of our Christmas Toy Drive efforts to help less advantaged children in those communities to have a brighter Christmas.
If you win, to which charity will you donate your $200 winnings? Why?
If I win, the money would be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association because not only are they a great organization that is working continually to find a cure for this disease, but this is an organization that all of CAL FIRE has chosen to assist in raising funds for a cure.
To check out CAL FIRE, click here! To vote for them in our blog competition, click here! You can also keep up with their great fire and safety content by following along on Twitter.
by California Casualty | Peace Officers |
It’s not a big secret around here that we think pretty highly of law enforcement. It’s hard not to have the utmost respect for people who risk their lives to protect yours.
So today, I am so honored to talk about a blog that is all about taking care of the LEOs who take care of us. As one editor puts it, it’s about helping cops “survive the job” …
Today’s Top LEO Blog Finalist is…. (drum roll please)
CopsAlive.
Before I spent a lot of time on CopsAlive, I thought I knew the risks that LEOs faced. In my head, they all basically revolved around criminals. But LEOs face so many dangers that weren’t even on my radar.
Luckily, they were on CopsAlive’s radar. The site takes the time to discuss:
- PTSD
- Suicide
- Sleep deprivation
- Healthy eating on the job
- … and so, so much more.
The site is such a great resource for LEOs and their families. We wanted to make sure our network of LEOs knew about all of the relatable, reliable information on CopsAlive and about the great conversations the site encourages.
Of course, we also wanted to know about the hero in blue behind the blog. So here’s our interview with a CopsAlive editor, a retired 23-year police veteran who now edits CopsAlive.com and provides training to police officers and their agencies.
What is CopsAlive?
CopsAlive.com was created to gather ideas, tips, suggestions and best practices from cops to help other cops survive their career. Many people who serve, and who have served, in law enforcement bear the scars of the cumulative stresses that accompany the career. The Law Enforcement Survival Institute (LESI) and CopsAlive.com work tirelessly to assemble strategies, tactics and best practices to help anyone working in this profession successfully survive their career. LESI and CopsAlive.com work with agencies and families to create environments that support healthy, happy and effective law enforcement professionals both on the job and at home.
What would you say is the mission of the blog?
Our mission of “Saving the Lives of the People Who Save Lives” extends from our Armor Your Self™ training seminar to the Information, strategies and tools available on our website to help cops plan for happy, healthy and successful careers, relationships and lives.
How did it all get started?
When I retired from law enforcement, I was really burned out and didn’t want anything to do with cops or the negativity of law enforcement. Then five years ago a friend of mine, who had quit police work to pursue a family business, killed himself. He was only 38-years-old and I thought “what a waste”, he and everyone else in law enforcement deserve better. So I started looking at all the statistics on law enforcement suicide and all the other issues that take their toll on cops. This career is toxic, and we as a profession need to do something about that. For my part, I produce a blog at www.CopsAlive.com and invite other people to contribute information that will help cops and anyone in law enforcement survive the job.
That’s incredible. How long ago did you start it?
CopsAlive.com was launched on Law Day, May 1, 2008 which is now just over four years.
What’s your favorite thing to write about?
I love hearing the stories about all the heroic things people in law enforcement do every day.
Least favorite?
I hate hearing about the cops who have risked their lives and been injured or traumatized doing their job and now they are suffering and their departments don’t know what to do with them so they just throw them away. This needs to stop. We say that we “always take care of our own,” so we had better walk our talk. If we say that “no one gets left behind” then we had better create systems to help prevent injuries and trauma and also have systems in place to support those who are injured or are suffering from the traumas of this job.
How would you dsecribe the community that has formed around CopsAlive?
My blog’s community is very diverse, made up of people connected to law enforcement from around the world. They are cops, family members, criminal justice students, and cadets in the academy. They are police officers, sheriff’s deputies, parole officers, corrections officers, detectives, probation officers, dispatchers, CSI’s, K-9, SWAT, Traffic cops and others from just about every facet of this job. There are also survivors, parents, vendors and people in support roles. They are people from within the law enforcement, security, military and intelligence fields, and most of all they are people who care about helping one another. Just like everyone else in the world, they do stupid things that make me laugh, but they also inspire me with the many great things they do, many times at great sacrifice to themselves and their families.
What has been your best experience as a blogger?
Based upon the comments, emails and phone calls that I receive, I really believe that I am making a difference. I know that I have saved a couple of lives and made a few more a little better. Most of all I get the drive to do more and work harder because there is a lot of work to do, and it will be a long time before my work is finished.
Four years in, what have you learned?
I have learned that the people in and around law enforcement can be some of the most generous and noble people on the planet. I have also learned that many in our profession are suffering in silence, and I believe that we must do something to help them and insulate everyone in this profession against the toxic effects of the stresses of this job.
Suffice it to say that there are a lot of great men and women working in law enforcement that do heroic things routinely, but many times those acts take a toll on the officers and their families. This is a profession that believes that we must be brave, superhuman and stoic. Until I can get people to admit that they need help, I cannot share their stories and risk that they would not be supported by their peers or agencies.
If CopsAlive is voted our Top LEO Blog, to which charity will you donate your $200 winnings? Why?
I would choose S.O.L.E.S. or Survivors of Law Enforcement Suicide because I think these survivors are so often overlooked. S.O.L.E.S. needs to support the families that have to live with the death of their loved ones who were just as brave and true as any other cops, but who took their own lives and were perhaps not celebrated as heroes.
Where else can we keep up with you on the web?
We have created a new site at www.PoliceWellness.com which is the home of our Total Policing Wellness Project. The Total Wellness Project is a community effort to ensure the wellness of police officers around the world by gathering tips, suggestions, stories, strategies and resources from law enforcement officers to help other cops survive this career. Once we have enough information to assemble and edit into a special report on the concept of total wellness for police officers we are going to publish it for free to everyone in law enforcement as an electronic special report on the Internet.
For those who prefer recording videos instead of writing we have also just created www.YouTube.com/SurvivalTipsForCops as a means of gathering video tips from cops for other cops to help them survive.
We are also on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
We are so proud to profile a blog that is doing so much to help our heroes. To check out all of CopsAlive’s posts, click here. To vote for them as a Top Law Enforcement blog, click here!
by California Casualty | Educators |
What is it about Kindergarten teachers that make them such outstanding bloggers!?
Today we are profiling another magnificent Kindergarten blog: Mrs. Wills Kindergarten!
If you are looking for an elementary school blog with fantastic (and super creative!) resources, Mrs. Wills Kindergarten is a MUST SEE blog!
And the blogger behind the blog, Deedee Wills, is a rock star.
Not only is she a fun, interactive blogger, but she is also working on a web site that helps teachers find the right books for their teaching ideas, organizes web-based teacher book studies, and is constantly updating the blog with great book ideas and giveaways.
Phew!
Luckily, Mrs. Wills did manage to find a little time between all this multitasking to talk to us a little bit about her blog and her experience as a Kindergarten blogger!
Deedee, how would you describe your blog?
My blog is about the daily happenings in my kindergarten classroom. I share lesson ideas and hopefully inspire teachers to try new things in their classroom. I also can connect with teachers around the world. Blogging helps me be even MORE reflective in my teaching… as a result, my students win.
What do you aim to accomplish with ‘Mrs. Wills Kindergarten’?
To share and connect with other teachers, particularly primary teachers.
Is this your first blog?
Yes.
When did you launch it?
January 2011
Do you have any favorite or least favorite topics?
Favorite: student writing!!!! Least favorite: promotional items.
(I have to step in here and say that Mrs. Wills has a fantastic post about student writing that I just love. It’s about the class pet, Miss Theodora, and you can find it here!)
Tell us a little bit about your blog ‘community’…
My blogging community is awesome! There are so many bloggers that make me laugh out loud… goodness! In the world of teaching we often shut the door and work with little kiddos. We sometimes can work closely with teaching peers in our building, but everyone is busy. In the blogging world, everyone’s door is wide open. You can look inside of 15 classrooms in less than 5 minutes. It helps you gauge if you are on track with your instruction or if you need to kick it up a notch. You can see the possibilities. Anyone who says that teaching is no longer fun, needs to sit down and see how amazingly joyful it can be.
What has been your best experience as a blogger?
Last summer I led a blog book study on Math Work Stations. GOODNESS! I created Linky parties and asked other bloggers to help host various chapters. We had K-2 bloggers represented and it was amazing. We were able to share resources and see the vertical alignment of instructions. It was incredible! I am getting ready to do the same thing with a book based on writing instruction. We are VERY excited! You can read about last summer’s here: Math Work Stations Chapter 1 and 2 This summer’s here: In Pictures and in Words.
What have you learned from the blogging experience?
There is more than one way to bake a cake! There are many ways to inspire and teach children. When we share our perspectives, children win.
There is no such thing as a dumb question. I have had first year teachers email me and say, “This may seem like a silly question, but…” My feeling is that we were all new once and someone helped me. If I can help someone through my semi-random ramblings, I am happy to do it.
Any stories you’d like to share?
I had a teacher who was from Joplin, MO email me and tell me how low the teacher moral was (this was 8 months after the devastating tornado). She asked if I would donate an item I had made to give to these teachers. Of course… but then I thought… I can do better than THAT! I called out to the blogging community and they were AMAZING! You can read about this here: Love to Joplin.
So, Mrs. Wills, if you win the Battle of the Blogs, to which charity will you donate your $200 winnings? Why?
Donors Chose is a wonderful organization. I would love to be able to support another teacher by helping to fulfill their project.
Want to know more about Mrs. Wills Kindergarten? Check out her blog here! Already a fan? Vote for her in our Battle of the Blogs here!
by California Casualty | Peace Officers |
Today’s featured blogger has one of the most interesting journeys into the Law Enforcement world… we just have to share.
First things first. Her name is Suzie Ivy…
(Hi, Suzie!)
When Suzie was 45-years-young, she decided to enter the police academy. Now, I can’t speak for you guys, but I gotta say I think that is pretty incredible.
And that was just the beginning. Suzie was also the first female officer in her town (girls rule!). Not even two measly years later, she was a bona fide detective.
Best part of it all?
Suzie’s ongoing journey is chronicled. Head to her blog and you can hear all the ups and downs on her road to mid-life-restructuring.
In the meantime, we wanted to know more about Ms. Ivy as a blogger! Check out our interview with her…
So, Suzie, how would you describe your blog?
My blog is the happy, sad, and hilarious side of law enforcement.
What do you hope to accomplish with ‘The Bad Luck Detective’?
To make people see police officers as real people. We are at times good, bad, and ugly but we are human. We laugh and cry the same as everyone else.
Why did you start it?
I needed a way to relieve stress from work. I’m a detective specializing in sex crimes. Quite often my cases get me down and I needed a place away from work where I can connect with people who help me find reasons to laugh.
When was that (starting the blog)?
Two years ago.
What’s important about the blog- to you as a writer?
I feel blogging has saved my sanity many times and it’s important for everyone in law enforcement to have an outlet where they can by honest and share their true feelings. It’s a job we can’t help but take home and if we don’t find a way to escape for a short time our careers will end too soon or we will be miserable. A life balance is key to our success.
Do you have a favorite–or least favorite– thing to write about?
My favorite thing to write about is anything that will make someone laugh. It’s usually at my own expense because, like all cops, I make stupid mistakes. My least favorite thing to write about is officers dying in the line of duty, sex crimes and domestic violence. I’ve written these posts because we need more public awareness.
Has anything surprised you in this blogging experience?
First, the fact that people actually read and follow my blog is amazing and exhilarating. So many of the comments I receive from readers put a smile on my face or make me laugh out loud. By sharing my less than stellar moments in LE, readers are willing to share theirs. Every comment gives me inspiration.
What has been your best experience as a blogger?
Meeting new people and making wonderful friends is beyond a doubt the highlight of blogging.
Have you learned anything?
That it’s okay to share sad times too. When I first started my blog, I was determined to always make people laugh. I’ve found that when I share my unhappy moments, my readers offer incredible support.
Can you share with us something funny about yourself?
It doesn’t matter how busy I am at work, I’m called to catch snakes. I have no fear of them but most of the officers I work with are petrified when it comes to these amazing creatures. I slid a small garden snake under the bathroom door to get a fellow officer back for a practical joke he played on me. He stood on the toilet screaming until we got the door unlocked and I collected the snake. I’m sure retribution will come my way and I waiting.
So, Suzie, if you win the Battle of the Blogs, to which charity will you donate your $200 winnings and why?
100 Club of Arizona. They don’t just provide support for the families of fallen officers they provide grants to police agencies to help with safety equipment and keep us alive. They are awesome!
We loved learning more about the amazing Miss Suzie Ivy almost as much as we love reading her blog. This Bad Luck Detective is also on Twitter and Facebook. To read her blog CLICK HERE! To Vote for her blog, CLICK HERE!
