Follow/Participate In Thursday’s American Red Cross “Emergency Crisis Data Summit” On Web

Follow/Participate In Thursday’s American Red Cross “Emergency Crisis Data Summit” On Web: "

The American Red Cross is holding a very exciting event in Washington on Thursday and is encouraging interested members of the public from around the U.S. and the world to follow it and participate through the web.

It is the organization’s first “Emergency Crisis Data Summit: Answering The Cry For Help” which will bring together government agencies, emergency management professionals, disaster response organizations and tech companies to discuss how best to harness the communications power of new media to prepare and respond to crises.

The day-long event — whose agenda is here –will be open and broadcast on the internet (more information about the Summit can be found here). You can keep track and take part in the conference using several social media properties:

* It will be ustreamed live via the NextGenWeb site. Register on Eventbrite for ustream details. The archived U-Stream will be available online, too, and on the Emergency Social Data blog. C-SPAN will also be providing coverage of the event.

* You can participate in the Twitter discussion at the hashtag #crisisdata as well as add to or comment on the Summit’s aggregated information via the Emergency Social Data Wiki. There will be a formal Twitter chat at 1 p.m. EDT/10 a.m. PDT featuring questions from @ntenhross and @ikepigott.

* In person attendees will update their observations and impressions via the Whrrl Emergency Social Data Society .

I will be attending the Summit and will be writing it up on the blog.

The Red Cross will be publishing a White Paper “The Case For Integrating Crisis Response With Social Media,” based on the Summit’s discussions (The early chapters have already been posted in advance on the Social Data blog to help frame the event’s agenda — I recommend taking a look at them as they provide a good overview/history of the subject.)

American Red Cross’ Social Media Director Wendy Harman doing a walkthrough at the Hall of Service in Washington where the Emergency Crisis Data Summit will take place Thursday.

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How long to survey your Neighborhood?

The Mira Mesa CERT members got together on February 10th for a neighborhood survey by car drill. The goal was to determine how large of a residential section of Mira Mesa could be surveyed within thirty minutes using an automobile. The things we would want to identify during this type of search are which buildings are damaged and to what level, where are there road hazards or blockages, how will out of area responders (such as SDFD) get to various areas of Mira Mesa, and where would our CERT members best be used in the interim. The thirty-minute time limit assumed that the team did not have radios and needed to perform a physical check in with the Team Leader to update status and confirm that the team had not run into trouble.
The scenario we used was an major earthquake had struck on a weekday evening which meant that we would concentrate on residences rather than businesses. Since we had four people, we all got into my van after discussing the general search plan and discussing team member roles. Those roles included Driver, Navigator/Scribe, and Left and Right Spotters. We also discussed using three people (driver and two spotters) as an alternative to a four-person team. To give us a way to identify what level of “damage” the houses had, we used the number of cars (or other vehicles) in the driveway: one car – no immediately visible damage, two cars – minor damage, three or more cars – major damage. Cars on the street did not count and houses with no cars were considered unknown status. We got started about 6:30pm.

It was an eye-opening experience. The first challenge was apartments – there was no way to get an accurate assessment in a short period of time. Driving and Navigation quickly became a full-time jobs as we tried to wind our way through residential streets and cul-de-sacs. The pot holes from our recent rains did create real (although very minor) hazards and the Navigator had to find a route which minimized backtracking and loss of time. Our spotters did a great job identifying and categorizing houses for “damage” but we found that 15 miles per hour was the fastest we could go and still get a good count. By the time we hit our 30-minute “check-in time” limit, we had covered about half of the area I had expected to cover and that was without any route-stopping roadblocks or “victims” on the street to slow us down. According to my maps, we covered a 1/4 square mile area (about ½ mile on each side).
Lessons learned:

1) A four-person team is required to do this kind of survey. There is too much to do for any fewer people without major delays to the search.

2) The Navigator likely cannot be the Scribe due to overloading. Each Spotter would have to keep records of their damage assessments with the Navigator calling out street names so the Spotter can add them to add to their notes.

3) A radio with enough range for the survey area would allow the teams to extend their search time, allow immediate status updates and call for additional team members if the situation warrants it. Either the Driver or Navigator should be able to handle the radio duties without overloading.

4) A handheld GPS unit might be used to mark locations by dropping way points on its map grid and incorporating them in the Spotter’s notes.

5) An initial survey for major roadway access is key to all other responders arriving on-scene. This can be accomplished both by the “intelligence” gathered from team members as they check in with the Logistics people and reporting what they saw on the way to the rally point (both roadway access and building damage) and by actual survey of routes that remained in an unknown status.

6) Communities laid out in a grid-type street pattern could probably searched more quickly than the area we selected. However, if you want a quick assessment of damage, you will have to have a large number of survey teams conducting surveys simultaneously in multiple areas of the community.

Ham Radios in Haiti

Here is a CNN story regarding the role of ham radios during an emergency.  Remember ham radios can be supplemented with the shorter-ranged FRS radios that anyone can use.  BTW, ignore the "low-tech" comments from a reporter who probably thinks if it doesn't have a touch screen, it must be "low-tech" - LOL.

CNN - Ham Radios in Haiti

Disney Offers Free Ticket If You Volunteer

There are several things in Mira Mesa and surrounding neighborhoods which you can do to get a free Disneyland ticket.

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Disney Offers Free Ticket If You Volunteer: "'It's an emergency, for Sara Ramirez, when she volunteers her time with the Muppets.'

If you are a Citizen Corps volunteer, you will probably find the humor in this 'Give a Day. Get a Disney Day' commercial.

Locally, there are many organizations participating in this program, including Volunteer Fairfax.

For additional information on the program, please visit the official Disney website.

Disney Parks not for you? Well, check this out and donate your ticket:

'We want to celebrate your good works in the community by giving you a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket to the Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort. After we receive verification that you've completed your service, we'll send you an email with a voucher redeemable for a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket for you to use, or you may donate it to a designated charitable organization'

What a great way to give back to the community... twice!

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

To all of my friends in Mira Mesa CERT, I'd like to wish the best for you and your families!

Have a safe and fun holiday!

Terry Walters
Mira Mesa CERT

Some Winter Safety Tips from USFA

Some Winter Safety Tips from USFA: "Some Winter Safety Tips from USFA: 'This is from the Family Preparedness Newsletter:

Winter is an especially dangerous time for home fires, as space heaters, holiday lights and candles get more use - it is no surprise that fires in the home are more common between December and February. The U.S. Fire Administration is part of the Department of Homeland Security, and their Web site has a wealth of information to help make this holiday season both warm and safe:

Fire Safety Tips: [ http://www.firesafety.gov/citizens/firesafety/index.shtm ]

• Never underestimate your children's curiosity about fire [ http://www.usfaparents.gov/matches/ ]. Strongly discourage casual contact with matches and lighters.
• Have smoke detector [ http://www.firesafety.gov/citizens/alarms/index.shtm ] on every floor of your home, and test them every month.
• Sadly, two-thirds of home fires that kill children under age 5 occur in homes without a working smoke alarm. [ http://www.usfaparents.gov/alarms/ ]
• Devise a home fire escape plan [ http://www.usfaparents.gov/escape/ ] and practice it with your family.
• Change your smoke detector batteries when you change your clocks.
• Learn about residential sprinkler systems [ http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/sprinklers/ ].
• When traveling, search this database for Hotel/Motel Fire-Safe List. [ http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/hotel/ ]
  

Resources:

• The U.S. Fire Administration provides informative resources [ https://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/publications/ ] in many formats, including books, pamphlets and DVD's, *free of charge**.*
• Click here [ http://www.usfaparents.gov/materials/ ] for a fact sheet on fire safety for babies and toddlers in multiple languages.
• Click here [ http://www.firesafety.gov/kids/index.shtm ] for kid-friendly projects and information about children and fire safety.

Also, we have posted about the hazards of dry trees in the past but if you decorate with a live tree, be sure to keep it watered -- here is a link to a video for how fast a dry tree can get engulfed in flames.

Cathleen

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Disposable soft Go Stretcher just $19 - That's right under twenty dollars!

The GO Stretcher can be used in the following ways:

As a Disposable Emergency Stretcher for everyday use.

As a Disposable Emergency Stretcher for Mass Causality and Disaster Preparedness.

As a Disposable Backboard cover and Strapping Support System

As a Disposable Patient Transfer System to move the patient from the backboard to the hospital gurney.

As a Disposable Gurney Sheet.

As a Search and Rescue Gurney.

As a Disposable Patient Transfer System to move the patient from the bed to a chair and back.

As a Seated Patient Evacuation System

Product Specifications:



Will hold over 500-lb load capacity.

Features (10) large hand holds which allow for easy patient handling and ease of product use.

Lowest cost Emergency Stretcher available today.

Water resistant coated woven polyethylene provides strength and durability.

Latex free.

Stretcher size with handles is 35" x71 "

Individually packaged and labeled, comes (50) units per case or sold individually.


Here's a link to the webpage.  http://www.lifemedicalsupplier.com/disposable-soft-go-stretcher-ref-305100ds-p-366.html

CERT National Newsletter is now available

The CERT National Program Office is pleased to announce that Volume 2, Issue 3 of the CERT National Newsletter is now posted on the CERT National website. Click on the following link to access the new edition: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/newsletter.shtm  {editor's note: this issue includes the Palomar Mountain, AMGEN Tour of California bike race where our San Diego County CERT's helped out}.


We hope you enjoy this issue of the newsletter and the stories about how CERT programs around the country are engaging in drills and exercises to maintain and enhance CERT members’ skills. From regional CERT Olympics in Texas and a regional CERT rodeo in Oregon and Washington State, to the AMGEN Tour of California bicycle race, to search and rescue exercises in Ohio and Virginia, and more, CERTs around the country are finding innovative and interesting ways to train.

The issue also features a request for CERT programs to submit their own drills and exercises for inclusion in upcoming publications from the CERT National Program Office.

If you know of others who would be interested in receiving CERT news and updates, please have them subscribe at the following website: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/subscribe.shtm. Thank you.

Sincerely,
CERT National Program Office
Community Preparedness Division
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Neat Product: GlovePaq™

Here is the link to a product called GlovePaq which I found at the Mira Mesa Home Depot for under six dollars! GlovePaq™

It allows you to clip 5 pairs of Nitrile Gloves to your belt, Go-Bag, vest or even put in a pocket so that they are always handy. They dispense one glove at a time, cuff first and are made of medical grade Nitrile which are tougher that latex gloves. The dispenser comes with a refill pack, so you actually get 10 pairs of gloves for one low price.

Repost of the S.T.A.R.T. system

Previously posted on November 25, 2008

Simple Triage And Rapid Treatment Training

Here is a great website with detailed instructions in using the START system. http://www.citmt.org/start/default.htm

If you just want to see videos of the various phases of START, click the following links in order. http://www.citmt.org/start/video/resp.wmv
http://www.citmt.org/start/video/perfus.wmv
http://www.citmt.org/start/video/mental.wmv

Safety in the After Disaster Environment

Safety in the After Disaster Environment: "

	Safety in the After Disaster Environment Department of Homeland Security US Fire Academy prepnet (EENET) DVD Library CERT Training - "Safety in the After Disaster Environment" Air Date: February 15, 2006. This broadcast prepares Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) members for the types of hazards encountered after a disaster and discusses safety while working in the disaster affected area. E202	From: PublicResourceOrg Views: 351 2 ratings
	Time: 31:48	More in Education

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Scanning documents for your Emergency Survival Kit

Scanning documents for your Emergency Survival Kit: "

As we’ve mentioned here before, September is National Preparedness Month, a nationwide effort to increase awareness as well as encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies. One of the most crucial aspects of preparation for an emergency is having the right supplies – an Emergency Survival Kit.

The Ready America website encourages everyone to prepare an emergency survival kit with basics such as fresh water, food, a dust mask, and medical supplies. Also included on the survival kit checklist is a collection of important documents such as copies of insurance policies, personal identification, bank account records. In the event of an emergency or natural disaster, would you be able to quickly locate and pack all of these documents without putting yourself or your family at greater risk?

Digitize and secure your important family documents. In addition to having all of your paper documents stored in a safe place, you could also have a portable, digital library of your family’s important information, in the event of an emergency such as a fire or flood. Imagine having your entire family’s birth certificates, medical records, insurance policies, and financial information all archived onto a tiny portable USB drive, packed in your Survival Kit and ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Visit the Ready.gov website to learn more about creating an Emergency Survival Kit for your family.

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"Are You Ready?"

United States Fire Academy "Are You Ready?" Air Date: January 18, 2006.

Included in this program are 3 20-minute segments:

1) one family's story on preparedness including building 3-day kits

2) an instructional video explaining proper protocol in setting up a portable generator while minimizing the risk of fire and eliminating carbon monoxide fumes

3) information regarding flash floods

I haven't watched the entire video yet but the intro looked very professional and easy to understand for anyone. Here's the link to this 58 minute movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaG7ii_tSTU

Fire Fighting "grenade"

Here's a neat idea, a throwable device for house fires! TV report on the YouTube link below.

Fire Fighting Grenade

Texting after a disaster

Texting after a disaster: "

Here is a link to an article discussing communication options during an emergency. Normal phone lines may be jammed but cellular and web-based phones would still work.

Go to the Safe America link (on the right hand side) for additional information. They have a tutorial on the use of texting for emergency communications.

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