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!

"

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

'

"

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

"

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.

"

"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.

"

New CERT-kits store and neat product

Here is a new product you might like from a new CERT store I found online.

http://www.cert-kits.com/ez-towels-in-a-tube.html

Ten multi-purpose hand towels in a tube the sized of a pack of Mentos. Easy to carry in your CERT bag.

Neat Glow Sticks with whistle

A great addition to any emergency kit, the Life Gear glow stick with whistle fits easily in a glove compartment or backpack.

LED glow stick runs up to 200 hrs on 3 AG-13 batteries (included)

Glow stick features an emergency flasher mode

Located on the back end of the stick is a standard white LED for use as a flashlight

Remove the cap on the tip of the glow stick to reveal a whistle that will certainly get everyone's attention

$5.95 at REI