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USA Disaster Relief Corps

Recently we took a look at private sector emergency response.  Companies like Wal-mart, Lowes, and Home Depot have developed nimble, responsive emergency response programs which provide both a community minded public service as well as a hefty profit margin.  

If these large companies are so affective at disaster relief I must ask the question, can other private endeavors be affective at response as well?

Recently the JFD sent a team to the Alexis fire equipment company to review our new rescue that is currently under construction.  While there they saw a medium duty rescue which is designed to support disaster relief operations.  This truck was apparently being built by the USA Disaster Relief Corps.  This small independent disaster relief group appears to be building DR capabilities to support communities in crisis.

I have reached out to this group to gather some additional information about this unique rescue squad.  In the mean time check out their web site, and their trucks capabilities.  

Squad 16 AKA "Big Red"

Facilitizing Radio Equipment

Today members of flotilla 4 coast guard auxiliary got together to offer radio equipment for use by the coast guard. The radios that were processed today are owned by the members of our flotilla, and can now be used on coast guard missions.

The coast guard certainly has a unique approach to operational equipment. This inspection process allows members to use the equipment that they own and operate regularly, while maintaining appropriate equipment standards.

I look forward to spending more time on the air.

6/12/08 American Red Cross food service

At noon the ARC food truck came around this canteen served bbq sandwiches, chips, baked beans and peaches. Good food.... Well back to work

W2IK's Approach to Emergency Communications

As we look at After actions reports, and post incident reviews I am amazed at how often Communications is referenced.  We never seem to learn the importance of simple reliable communications. 

As I have studied emergency response I have always been amazed at how effectively the Amateur radio community handles emergency radio traffic. As I have become more active in the HAM radio culture have become intrigued as to why Ham radio operators are not usually accepted within the traditional emergency response infrastructure.  Aside from being generally awkward, and socially challenged I have come to realize that Amateur radio communicators are often not prepared, or equipped to deal with the realities of emergency situations.

Recently I was introduced to W2IK.  This operator has learned valuable lessons from large scale emergency deployments to some of our countries largest disasters.  I would recommend that any HAM who is involved in ARES/RACES take a look at his web page, and share some of his experiences. 

I look forward to a greater HAM radio presence in Iowa's emergency response infrastructure. 

WI2K's Web Site

Incident Command Lessons Learned from Charleston

   

The city of Charleston Just released the independent review from the Sofa superstore fire which claimed the lives of 9 fire fighters last June. This 300 page document portrayed a bad situation which quickly got out of control. I bring this report to your attention so that we can learn a few lessons.

Unfortunately many people only review the tragedies from their own industry. This leaves countless learning opportunities un-addressed. Fortunately ICS has been established to be multi hazard, and universal in its application.  The excerpts below could apply to ANY Incident, and should be minded by ALL Incident Commanders, company officers, team leaders, staff, FC’s, aircrew, and Coxswain’s. 

As you review these notes keep in mind that the lessons encountered here are lessons covered in basic ICS training, Risk Management classes, and communications programs. Which most of us have been through. Please think back to the lessons you were taught about how your agency handles incidents, and compare those lessons with th way that Charleston has handled things.

Excerpts from the published After Actions Review.

The analysis of operations conducted at the scene of the Sofa Super Store fire
begins with an examination of the organization that was established and the
procedures that were implemented to direct and coordinate the efforts of
firefighters.

Tracking a missing person (Awareness)

As a part of their monthly meeting the STAR 1 search and rescue team hosted Scott Hanna who is a Tracker. Scott is a captain with the Albert Lee Minnesota fire department, and he is in the process of building a search and rescue team in his community. Scott is active in Tracking, and has focussed on that specialty aspect of SAR. Scott introduced the new members of the team to the details associated with tracking, and some of the unique perspectives of a tracker. Most notably scott passed around a little blue card produced by Universal Tracking Services. This card is a tool to write down, and record a detailed description of a subjects foot prints.

Overall this was an excellent review, and I encourage anyone interested in SAR to review this unique discipline.

http://www.utstrackingservices.com/

Notes

Tracking stick
Dowel Rod
Gasket O wrings

Blue Chalk
powdered chalk used to mark and ID a trail

Flashlight

Searching for a Search and Rescue Standard

As we know many states and jurisdictions have long established histories of successful search and rescue operations. These portions of our country generally have a very active outdoor culture, and they have developed aggressive systems to manage and support their citizens during times of distress. We also know that some states are in the process of growing and developing a search and rescue culture.

By recognizing a need, identifying supporting entities, and establishing a SAR culture Iowa is on the move. The Iowa Department of Public Safety has established an ad-hoc Search and Rescue committee. This committee has brought representatives together from several different agencies for the purpose of sorting out a SAR system in our state.

Unfortunately establishing a standard is not an easy task. Within our state we have all aspects of credentialing, and certification. We have some county SAR teams who develop their own training requirements, and credentialing programs. These SAR teams hold themselves out as a SAR entity with out any external review, or evaluation. Some of them are very good at what they do while others have very little experience to back up their claims.

Other teams have adopted and built certifications from outside “accrediting” agencies. Some of these agencies are privately held for profit companies, while others are state credentialing aids like the Iowa EMS ERT endorsement, or the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau. These programs offer an external influence for teams to build off of, but not many of the frequently cited certifications were intended to be a cornerstone from which to build a SAR team.

Finally there are other SAR groups who have sought out and certified to an external accrediting bodies standard. These certifications are often expensive, and difficult to obtain, but they are a bench mark able experience from witch to build. If your team has chosen to take this external “Nationally Recognized” route the question must be asked…

Which one do you choose? With groups like NASAR, ERI, ARDA, and others it is very difficult to determine what model is best suited to build, or credential an existing Search and Rescue team.

As I have plowed through the never ending list of credentials, and certifications I have hoped that a nationally recognized curriculum would emerge. Back in November of 2006 a FEMA committee released the first draft of proposed credentials from its search and rescue working group. This 90 page document addressed 36 different job titles. Each of these job titles was backed by requirements for; Formal Education, Training, Experience, Physical/Medical Fitness, Certification, and Licensing. These requirements referenced; OSHA, NFPA, ASTM, and other nationally recognized standard setting entities. As the industry has digested this document many pages of comments were generated. As a result of this feed back the Search and Rescue Working Group came back to the table and re addressed the proposed standards. This time around the group pared down its scope to 27 individual job titles, and the presence of NASAR specific credentials is virtually non-existent. In place of these entity specific certifications is the phrase “Develop uniform national certification standards”. It appears that this document continues to builds a foundation for the future of SAR, but it falls short of defining any specific certification process for the individual Search and Rescue Technician.

Download sar_credentialing.pdf

3/14/08 The NASCAR Airway

Recently a paramedic friend of mine went through some training conducted by the medics who staff NASCAR races. These medics find themselves in unique situations. Since drivers wear an increadible amount of safety equipment access to a patients airway may be difficult. to quickly establish an airway in these difficult access situations these medics took a 32 french nasal airway, and seated it over a 5.0 endotracheal tube. In a pinch a medic can lube up and place this combination airway. The medic can then hold the oposite nare and mouth closed. The end of the ett can then be attached to a bag valve mask.
by no means is this a difinitive long term airway, but it is a great down and dirty fix for a tight spot.

3/14/08 The NASCAR Airway

Recently a paramedic friend of mine went through some training conducted by the medics who staff NASCAR races. These medics find themselves in unique situations. Since drivers wear an increadible amount of safety equipment access to a patients airway may be difficult. to quickly establish an airway in these difficult access situations these medics took a 32 french nasal airway, and seated it over a 5.0 endotracheal tube. In a pinch a medic can lube up and place this combination airway. The medic can then hold the oposite nare and mouth closed. The end of the ett can then be attached to a bag valve mask.
by no means is this a difinitive long term airway, but it is a great down and dirty fix for a tight spot.

New Radio Codes

On a lighter note.

With all of the recent changes in communication policies I am pleased to help roll out the newest SAR specific codes. Since 10 codes have been removed from our culture a committee has decided to go with 12 codes. I hope these help with your future operations.

12-01 Be advised, your GPS coordinates place you in Uraguay.

12-02 Your radio is worthless. Set it on fire, make smoke signals.

12-03 Have found subject. Please advise us of our location.

12-04 Subject insists on being rescued by opposite sex.

12-05 Subject demands rescuers bathe before approaching further.

12-06 Subject has stolen litter and is tobogganing down hill.

12-07 Subject has obviously never been within 100 miles of this &^%$# place.

12-08 Subject is begging not to be put back in litter a third time.

12-09A What was your last message?

12-09B I was asking you what your last message was.

12-09C Well, I asked you first.

12-10 We've kicked over a wasp nest and are now 4 miles from last location.

12-11 Searcher stumbled into old cesspool. Send fire hose.

12-12 Searcher carried away by mosquitos. Do you wish direction of travel?

12-13 Searcher hurled chunks in helicopter. Team bailing out.

12-14 Flare away.

12-14A Flare away. Scratch one helicopter.

12-14B Flare away. However, car window was rolled up.

12-15 Is this a sketch of the subject, or a drawing of Mr. Potatohead?

12-16 _________ is picking on me.

12-16A I was not! __________ started it.

12-16B Not!

12-16C Did so!

12-19 Sure, this photocopied, enlarged, scanned, and faxed driver's
license picture is perfectly clear.

12-20 "Here" is not an adequate location -- please elaborate.

12-21 If I knew where I was, I wouldn't need you to bring me a map, would I?

12-22 Witness reports seeing subject enter gingerbread house.

12-24 The ELT beacon is directly south, west, and north of us.

12-25 Our computer-generated map only shows zip codes.