Some examples include:
- Sesame Street Fire Safety Station Color and Learn
- Is Your Home Fire Safe? Door Knob Hanger
- Fire Safety Checklist for Older Adults
Cathleen
Saturday, March 27, 2010
USFA Publications
USFA Publications: "The U.S. Fire Administration provides free information resources in many formats, including books, pamphlets and DVD's and many of these are citizen-focused. You can use their online catalog to order from over 400 publications and other information products.
Some examples include:
Cathleen"
Some examples include:
Cathleen
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
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 ]
Resources:
Cathleen
"
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.
Cathleen
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Citizen Corps News: Citizen Corps Announces New Social Media Tools
Citizen Corps News: Citizen Corps Announces New Social Media Tools: "
Citizen Corps Widgets: www.citizencorps.gov/widgets/
Widgets are web tools that can be put on your webpage, blog, and social media sites. Citizen Corps' widgets are free and display information provided by FEMA's Community Preparedness Division through continually updated data feeds. Citizen Corps widgets are easily placed on your web page by copying the code of the widget and placing it within the html code of your web site's editor. CitizenCorps.gov currently offers three widgets in several sizes:
- Citizen Corps Logo Widget
- This widget provides quick links to Citizencorps.gov and FEMA's email updates during disasters webpage.
- Community Preparedness News Widget
- This widget provides regularly updated community preparedness news from FEMA's Community Preparedness Division.
- Are You Ready? Widget
- This widget enables users to search for Citizen Corps Councils and partners close to them.
Citizen Corps Web Banners: www.citizencorps.gov/councils/banners.shtm
Web banners are graphic files that can be used by individuals to link from their website to CitizenCorps.gov. These banners are free and are available in several styles and sizes.
Citizen Corps RSS Feeds: www.citizencorps.gov/rss/
RSS feeds provide subscribers with automated updated information through user-defined applications without having to continually visit CitizenCorps.gov. These RSS feeds can be imported into self-made widgets and many other social media sites. CitizenCorps.gov currently offers two RSS feeds:
- National Community Preparedness News Feed
- This RSS feed provides users with the latest Community Preparedness news and events from various departments of the Federal Government and our National Citizen Corps Partners and Affiliates. The goal of this feed is to provide our users with one National-level feed to receive up-to-date information on individual and community preparedness issues, events, and best practices.
- Local Citizen Corps in the News Feed
- This RSS feed provides users with information on activities and events of Citizen Corps Councils, Partners, and Affiliates from across the nation. The goal of this feed is to share community preparedness and Citizen Corps best practices and lessons learned.
Citizen Corps Twitter: www.twitter.com/citizen_corps
Twitter is a Microblog that gives FEMA's Community Preparedness Division the opportunity to provide users with specific community preparedness information in a timely manner. Current followers of the Citizen Corps account include Citizen Corps Councils and partners, the emergency management community, and the general public.
Citizen Corps News Emails: www.citizencorps.gov/subscribe.shtm
Citizen Corps also promotes transparent communication and collaboration through using an email subscription service that allows any visitor to the CitizenCorps.gov website to register to receive Citizen Corps News updates and to receive updates during disasters in their local area.
FEMA FaceBook: www.facebook.com/fema
Citizen Corps regularly contributes to the FEMA Facebook page to provide disaster preparedness information to the general public and information on how citizens can get involved in preparing their communities.
Sincerely,
The National Office of Citizen Corps
FEMA Community Preparedness Division
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Disposable soft Go Stretcher for 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
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
Saturday, October 10, 2009
New 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™
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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.
GlovePaq™
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Good videos on the S.T.A.R.T. system for triage
Previously posted on Mira Mesa CERT blog.
(Click title link below to go there.)
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
Friday, September 25, 2009
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 | Views: 351  2 ratings |
| Time: 31:48 | More in Education |
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