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The purpose of this article is to make readers aware of the MayDay effort, an annual event, begun in 2006, designed to be the one day each year that emergency preparedness is concentrated on fully, and to encourage participation in MayDay 2007. The article also lists some general resources for disaster planning and preparedness.

This is a viewpoint article discussing the MayDay initiative, and ways to enhance disaster planning and preparedness in cultural institutions.

The article finds that MayDay 2006 launched a new initiative for disaster preparedness and planning. The idea is that this will become an annual time when cultural institutions dedicate the day to emergency preparedness and planning. Selected results of the first MayDay are described and the ideas for MayDay 2007 events are listed.

This article provides information and examples of appropriate MayDay activities by describing MayDay 2006 events and providing pointers to online resources to assist archives and museums identify activities for MayDay 2007.

Since Hurricane Katrina, substantial focus has been placed on disaster planning and preparedness in cultural organizations. This article promotes concrete actions that can be taken to enhance disaster planning and preparedness in cultural institutions and identifies resources on the Internet to help archives and museums in this endeavor.

The purpose of this paper was to prospectively audit an eye department's quality of note keeping in a casualty setting.

The paper found that locally agreed standards for quality of documentation were based on criteria integral to the patient pathway. Assessment of local practice, was carried out, by reviewing patient records. The results were compared against locally agreed standards and indicators were divided into those, which the unit performed well, and those, which could be improved, necessitating action. Changes in practice, including education and document redesign, were carried out. The results were re‐audited and compared with previous cycles.

The paper found that 145 records were audited in four cycles over a nine‐month period. The department performed consistently well in the majority of indicators. All but one of the poorly performing indicators improved with the changes in practice. These improvements were sustained with repeated re‐audit.

The paper shows that good note keeping in the unpredictable setting of the casualty clinic is difficult, which impacts on patient care. This simple audit has had a beneficial effect on the unit's standard of note keeping in the casualty environment and can easily be adapted to improve documentation in other clinical specialties and scenarios.

The classic audit cycle has been applied to the prescribing practice to improve aspects of the quality of prescribing in the setting of a department of health care for older people in a district general hospital. Details the methods used both to increase the appropriate prescribing of drugs of proven benefit, and also to restrict the use of drugs which may prove hazardous. The latter provides an example of risk management. Also discusses the dilemmas posed in treating older people with multiple pathologies, on the one hand, trying to avoid an ageist approach, on the other, attempting to minimise the pitfalls of polypharmacy.

Disappearance of a Reims Cessna F172N light aircraft after loss of radar contact when not a great distance from one of the Channel Islands, and subsequent recovery of the engine from the sea bed 13 months later, is a rare occurrence. No trace was ever found of the pilot (the sole occupant) or of the rest of the aircraft. It was on a flight from Shoreham to Jersey in January, 1985 and the pilot had obtained the latest Jersey weather after landing from a previous short flight. Guernsey weather was similar to the forecast obtained and the aftercast indicated that the cloud cover would increase and lower in the area of the Channel Islands and that the risk of severe icing and low level turbulence would also have increased in the vicinity.

A new Company, Rentatank Ltd., 20 Mayday Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR4 7HL, has been launched to provide a rental service for intermediate bulk containers (IBC's). For the first time in the U.K. a range of containers from 450 litres (100 gallons) to 3,000 litres (665 gallons) can be rented. Previously IBC's have tended to be regarded as items of capital expenditure, but with typical rental rates of 60p to £1 per day users can now consider them as revenue items.

AFTER three major failure of rudders, these components are to be replaced on all seven of British Airways' Concordes. It is intended that manufacture and fitting of the rudders will be completed by April, 1993. The incidents occured in 1989, 1991 and in March this year.

Following engine start on a Bell Jetranger helicopter, the pilot commented on a high frequency vibration which was apparent through the pedals. Once the aircraft had lifted into the hover, the vibration could no longer be detected and the helicopter departed Newmarket to return to Blackbushe. During the flight a short duration noise was made by the helicopter which was variously described by witnesses on the ground, as a ‘sharp crack’, ‘similar to a car gearbox breaking up’ and ‘stuttering like a car misfire’. After this, the helicopter began a gentle right turn to the north, towards the town of Crowthorne. The ground speed appeared to reduce to between 80 and 85 kt in this turn.

PROPOSED rules by the FAA revise current requirements for the passenger emergency exits of transport category aircraft as well as adopt two new exit types into the regulations. It is also proposed to reduce the maximum inflation time of an escape slide to reflect the current state‐of‐the‐art. These considerations result from recommendations made by a subgroup of the FAA's Design and Certification Group and follow on amendments to Part 23 FAR.

A Hughes 390SH helicopter was to fly from its operating base to its maintenance base for a 50 hour inspection. The forecast for the flight indicated that the intended route would be affected by fog and low stratus. The aircraft flight manual states ‘Use engine antiicing when OAT is below + 5°C and visible moisture conditions prevail’. Another aircraft in the area reported that there was no discernable horizon between the top of the fog layer and the base of the stratocumulus. Visual flight between the layers was possible but reference to flight instruments was required to prevent disorientation. The ground became visible at 350 feet agl on descent in the accident area.