Professional Supplies For Less Blog

"The Fastest Police Action Upon Graduation"

2009-07-05T07:35:00.003-05:00

This past week saw what very well might have been some record breaking action for the New York City Police Department.

Thursday was graduation day for Officer Dariel Firpo and his fellow officers from the Police Academy. Just minutes after the ceremony Firpo was walking away when he saw a 79 year old man being mugged. Firpo chased the mugger down and arrested him.

The mugger, Jeffery Grant, has 48 previous arrests on his record.

Naturally everyone was impressed with Firpo's actions. Chief police spokesman Paul Browne, "May be the fastest police action upon graduation in department history."

While I join everyone else in praising Firpo, credit has to be shared with Grant's stupidity. In the first place with 49 arrests now on his record his future as a crime lord is in serious jeopardy and he should probably be considering a new career path. Second, to be trying to mug someone just blocks from the Police Academy and minutes after the graduation ceremony when a stream of eager new cops are going to be walking by is pretty stunningly stupid.

Anthrax Detection Device

2009-06-30T19:23:00.002-05:00

Who doesn't love a cool gadget?

Here's a nifty new tool for the well-supplied first responder tool bag - The Ceeker. Pronounced 'seeker' the New Zealand made tool accurately identifies anthrax with remarkable accuracy.

Veritide Ltd., the company that developed it, says that their hand-held device recently passed two weeks worth of testing with impressive numbers. The Ceeker correctly identified anthrax 100% of the time and it caught hoax substances with 95% accuracy. You'd rather have a few false positives when it comes to something anthrax, wouldn't you?

First Reponder Fees Banned in Florida

2009-06-19T19:13:00.000-05:00

I wanted to post a follow-up to a story that I wrote about back in May. Some Florida municipalities were attempting to balance their books by charging people for the services the received from first responders, specifically the police.

In example included a woman who was pulled over and ticketed. After paying the ticket and seeing her auto insurance go up she also received a bill from the city for a the policeman's time.

Well, the bill finally wound its way through the legislature and ended up on the governor's desk. She signed it - right or wrong it would have been incredibly unpopular for her to have vetoed it!

Autism and Emergencies

2009-06-15T19:09:00.001-05:00

It can be frustrating for first responders – not to mention dangerous – when they have trouble communicating with conscious victims in emergency situations. One area where this issue comes up is with autistic children.

Autism diagnosis have skyrocketed in recent years and the chances that emergency personnel will encounter someone with autism increase all the time.

To help with this issue Autism Speaks has released The Autism Safety Project. The project is aimed at both sides of the equation – families with autistic members, the autistic themselves and the emergency personnel who may encounter them. When everyone is reading from the same playbook chances are increased for a good resolution.

For more information check out AutismSafetyProject.org

Found via Examiner.com

First Responders, DDS

2009-06-11T10:21:00.000-05:00

If the latest first responder trainees in California ask their practice dummy to turn and spit it’s understandable. Just force of habit, really.

California dentists are being trained to act as first responders in emergency situations. It’s thanks to a modification in the Dental Practices Act that has elevated dentists’ roles as first responders.

Consequently, dentists are being trained in triage and the basics of being a first responder.

It makes a lot of sense, really. Dentists do have medical training even if it is specialized. More importantly they have experience dealing with patients, an important asset when trying to control an emergency medical situation.

The Future of Triage

2009-05-28T10:44:00.000-05:00

Not much has changed about triage in recent decades. During emergencies with many people with medical needs healthcare professionals and first responders stop, bend over each patient and check things like breathing, heart rate and responsiveness. Determining who should be treated first takes skill, sober judgment and the ability to juggle lots of information. It also requires the ability to gather that information delicately, swiftly and accurately.

No wonder there's been little change. There simply isn't a machine as capable as the human brain for such a task. But things may be changing.

A device that can take measure the various risk factors of a patient is being developed. The goal - a realistic goal - is to create a single instrument that can take these readings from a patient from a distance. In other words, one person could, in just a few seconds per patient, evaluate and accurately order a triage - something that now takes around 3-5 minutes per patient.

The Standoff Patient Triage Tool (SPTT) is still in development but plans are to put it in the field for test by this autumn.

These are fascinating times we're living in!

National Emergency Medical Services Week

2009-05-20T10:11:00.000-05:00

We are in the midst of National Emergency Medical Services Week. Across America first responders are being recognized for their contributions to our communities as well as the nation as a whole.

There's an interesting bit of history to this 36 year-old celebration. It was first observed during the Ford administration. It was all part of a budgetary fight that Ford eventually lost regarding funding for a program for trauma center and EMS system development.

Ford had declared that there would be no new spending in the federal budget and had eliminated the proposal for the program. A vigorous lobbying campaign was launched that eventually convinced enough congressmen and Senators to override the president. The program was put back into the budget. In fact it was the only new spending that year in the federal budget!

Declaring a new National Emergency Medical Services Week was Ford's way of offering an olive branch to first responders. Good call, Mr. President!

Teaching High School Students First Responder Skills

2009-05-15T09:56:00.000-05:00

This isn't much of a news story, just a quick mention that a new First Responder Certification class will be available as an elective at a local school.

But the idea is a new one to me and seems like a great one. Talk about real life skills! As kids roll their eyes at trigonometry or having to learn the dates of the Norman invasion they can't make the claim that first responders skills will never be used in real life.

When I was growing up no such thing was available. We had the once a year drunk driving presentation put on by the local police department and that was about the extent of our in-school exposure to first responders. Teaching high school kids not only how to handle an emergency but also how to help others is an excellent move.

So kudos to the school for doing this. Let's hope more schools will consider it.

Who Pays for First Responders?

2009-05-08T10:01:00.000-05:00

The answer to that question, as most of us understand it, is the taxpayer. But how about the people who were actually served by the first responder? There is a seductive logic at work here. If I drift through life never needing the services of the police or fire department then it isn't exactly fair that I've had to spend all that time paying for them, is it? (We'll forget for the moment that my life was greatly enhanced by the orderly traffic and safe society that they provided.)

The Florida state legislator is grappling with this issue right now. The Ocala police department has begun billing people who were involved in traffic accidents that required the attention of a police officer. Their argument for sending these bills out is a bit more pragmatic that simply pay for use. They point out that often the Ocala police department is spending its time and resources on people who live outside of their jurisdiction - in other words, outside of their tax base. Additionally, it seems these days that the great use of the traffic cop is to impartially write up an accident for insurance purposes. If for-profit insurance companies are going to use cops like this then shouldn't the police departments be compensated for that?

The state of Florida doesn't seem to be seduced by the argument. Setting aside the fact that they are not even sure if the city ordinance is constitutional, the legislature is hearing from their constituents that they are unhappy about the bills. A traffic accident almost always means time and money lost on the part of all parties involved. Receiving an unexpected bill from the police seems only to serve as insult to injury.

First Responders First In Line

2009-04-27T10:54:00.002-05:00

I didn't put swine flu in the title of this post because it seems to me that the story is being over-hyped. That being said, I wanted to check out how a future pandemic of swine flu or a similar outbreak would be handled.

First, the US government has a stock pile of Tamiflu built up - about half a million. That's comforting enough, I suppose, as long as you don't consider how that number compares to the actual population of the US.

One truly comforting fact, though, is that the distribution network of clinics and hospitals will treat infected first responders first. So at least there's that; those who take care of us in emergencies will be taken care of.

Homeland Sercurity Now Blogging

2009-04-23T10:45:00.000-05:00

Back in February I highlighted blogs written and maintained by actual first responders. It was a lot of fun and I've enjoyed keeping up with the blogs since then.

Now I discovered that the US Department of Homeland Security has a blog. Who knew? It's still pretty new - at least this iteration in case it just started over with the new administration - but it makes for some interesting browsing.

Of course there is some government speak and a few of the entries sound a little press-releasey but then one comes across lines like "There is a great deal of impatience when it comes to communications interoperability." That's something we've discussed here; it's nice to see someone at the top is worried about it, too. At the same time it's disheartening that they feel like they're banging their heads against the wall, too.

Anyway, check it out. Interesting stuff.

Mall Cops are Important First Responders, Too

2009-04-12T09:53:00.002-05:00

It had never really occurred to me to ask why but mall cops are generally considered to be laughable. They shouldn't be but they are.

Look no further for proof of this than the 2009 theatrical releases. Two comedies have been released this year that relentlessly exploit the stereotype for laughs.

Tom Walton has had enough. One movie and he might have just laughed it off but two is pushing it. Walton is with AlliedBarton Security Services, one of the largest employees of security personnel, including mall cops, in the US. He recently issued an email demanding that mall cops get the respect that their training and position deserves.

I haven't seen the movies but I have to admit that Walton has a point. Being a mall cop can't be an easy job; I know I wouldn't want to do it. And having a couple of popular movies out making the job the butt of the joke can't be easy, either.

Planning Ahead - Spotlight on Wills for Heroes

2009-04-09T10:03:00.004-05:00

When first responders are on the clock their work keeps them very much in the moment. There's not a lot of thought or discussion of five or ten year plans; during an emergency the professionals are concentrating on the moment and if there is any planning for the future it is how to get the civilians and themselves safely to the next moment.

But the future comes and sometimes it brings tragedy for first responders. Of course we all know this whether we like to think about it or not. But there is an organization that helps those who are protecting us protect their future and their families. So today I'd like to offer my kudos to Wills for Heroes.

According to their website this organization offers programs that provide essential legal documents free of charge to our nation’s first responders, including wills, living wills, and powers of attorney. Additionally they offer:

Support of pro bono estate planning programs through qualified organizations;
Coordination of community, business and legal resources to address the needs of families of first responders injured or lost in the line of duty;
Development of educational materials about estate planning;
Financial assistance to families of first responders injured or lost in the line of duty;
Financial resources to enhance first responder welfare and safety; and
Public education of the need to support first responders and their survivors.

Wills for Heroes doesn't operate in all states of the US yet. To see if their services are available in your area check out their website.

Found via glensidenews.com

Telling First Responders the Who, the Where and the How Many

2009-03-31T08:50:00.000-06:00

First responders know that one of the most important and potentially dangerous details of any emergency is who is on the scene - both recue workers and victims - who is supposed to be on the scene and where everyone is. Firefighters are often frustrated in their efforts and sometimes even killed when they attempt to search and rescue in a burning building that has the potential to collapse. These situations are worsened when the firefighters don't know where the victims are or even if there are any civilians left in the building.

Using a combination of wireless sensors and radio frequency identification tags, or RFIDs, plans are underway to correct this problem. While it won't work in every situation, buildings were employees wear IDs and/or check in by punching in on a keypad are prime candidates for the system. It's still in development but the devices could locate civilians in an emergency situation, identify who is where and tell rescue workers how many people are on the scene - all vital information that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the rescue operation as well as save the lives of civilians and first responders alike.

New Administration Pledges First Responder Support

2009-03-17T08:21:00.002-06:00

Vice President Joe Biden spoke before the International Association of Fire Fighters Union Conference yesterday. He promised support from the administration in the form of The Public Safety Employee Cooperation Act that would make fire fighters' jobs safer. He quoted a study from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, saying “the lack of staffing is the key cause of fire fighter fatality." Biden acknowledged that fire fighting can never be made completely safe, but we can make it “safer than it is today.” He said that it is in “our nation’s own naked self interest” to take care of those that defend us.

Former First Responder to be Named as FEMA Director

2009-03-09T09:23:00.003-06:00

Who would know better how to mobilize first responders on a national level than a former first responder? That's precisely what Craig Fugate was in the years before he was named director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management. Now the next step in Fugate's career looks to be Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Before being appointed by Jeb Bush to the state level position Fugate served as a volunteer firefighter, a paramedic and as a lieutenant at the Alachua County Fire-Rescue. During his time as director of the Floria Division he faced 11 major disasters. The man knows a thing or two about emergencies.

First Responders Still Not Talking to Each Other

2009-03-02T10:19:00.002-06:00

It's not their fault. They want to!

US politicians like to talk about the 'lessons of 9/11.' Typically this means that we should vote for one or another candidate because their opponent never learned the right lessons and therefore we will all die if we vote him or her into office. But in the case of first responder communications it seems like no one is willing to learn anything.

The events of that day brought to the public's attention something that had been nagging at first responders for years. In many cases cops couldn't talk to firemen, firemen couldn't talk EMS, and EMS couldn't talk to cops - at least not via wireless communications devices. Obviously that needed to be fixed and after 9/11 everyone realized it.

But here we are over seven years one and the problem persists. To get an idea of the hurdles that are being allowed to remain in place check out Andy Seybold's article about it at wirelessweek.com. It is absolutely ridiculous that these problems remain. Seybold demonstrates that it should be relatively inexpensive to solve the problem but wireless providers won't do because they don't see a market.

If business won't do it, it becomes a question of political will. We the people own the wireless spectrum and we allow the wireless companies to use it for profit. They should also do their part to support first responder communications!

Next time a politician talks about how he learned the lesson of 9/11 ask him what he's done lately to force wireless companies to help those who want to help us when there's an emergency.

The Paramedics Diary - First Responders Blog 4

2009-02-28T11:15:00.004-06:00

Well, its the last day of the month but there's still time to squeeze in one more blog. This is another blog from an EMS professional. But, unlike the previous blogs, the blogger of The Paramedics Diary hails from England.

Stuart Gray describes his blog as "A record of the working life of a London Ambulance Paramedic. All in-confidence. All real." And that it is. The entries are long and detailed and provide a unique perspective on emergency medical services.

The Firefighter Blog - First Responder Blog 3

2009-02-23T11:09:00.003-06:00

This time I'm looking at a firefighter's blog - The Firefighter Blog. The author is a former fire chief. In most entries he looks at recent news stories about fires and offers some commentary. He worked for the California Dept of Forestry so wild fires are generally his main focus. Occasionally he wanders into politics and local California issues but it's all very interesting and worth checking out.

Street Watch: Notes of a Paramedic - First Responder Blog 2

2009-02-14T11:04:00.000-06:00

This week's entry is Street Watch: Notes of a Paramedic. I particularly enjoy this blog. It has just the right mix of naked self examination and general on the job talk. In one entry the blogger is telling about the minutia of a new duty that he's taking on, in the next he's telling a heart wrenching story of when he accidentally broke an old man's sternum while administering CPR. His plain speak style gives it an arid realism.

The Philisophicla Cop - First Responder Blog 1

2009-02-07T10:52:00.002-06:00

I'm going to try something new this month. Usually I report bits of news about first responders with some commentary but this month let's take a look at what other bloggers are saying. Here are my ground rules. 1) The blog must be maintained by an actual first responder. 2) It must be more than a year old. 3) It must be regularly maintained, I phrase that I'm aware can mean all sorts of things in the blog world.

The four I will choose will be chosen completely arbitrarily and are not necessarily the best. But they will be readable and, in my mind, contribute to the conversation.

So, for the first one let's take a look and The Philosophical Cop. This is a nice, very readable blog. The entries are short and to the point. There's more quick commentary than actual philosophizing. The author is a cop. Check it out.

First Responder Program Shut Down

2009-01-25T07:34:00.000-06:00

Stanley, WI is a small town outside of Chippewa Falls. And they have no first responder program. At least not right now.

See, the Governor of Wisconsin has suspended the first responder programs for Stanley because the emergency personnel have failed to prove their certification to the state. That's not to say they aren't trained; according to David Jankoski, the town's mayor, the 14 first responders do have the training and are experienced at handling emergencies.

But failure to comply with the state's regulations led to the programs being shut down even though Jankoski says that neither he nor the council knew that there was a problem. Not until they received a letter in early December closing the program.

Now, I'm not taking sides here. The state is right to expect that emergency personal have provable training. I'm just saying, if you're in Stanley, WI try not to get hurt for the next few months while the politicians get this mess worked out!

When a First Responder Isn't Available

2009-01-17T07:42:00.001-06:00

A friend of mine joined the Army some time back. He decided early on that he wanted to be a Ranger and that's what he ended up doing. The road there wasn't easy and his superiors were constantly looking for ways to kick him or his buddies out of the program. It wasn't that they had been singled out; the Army does this with all of its trainees, especially those destined for elite units, to make sure that they get the best.

So, one night he and some friends went out to a bar. With almost Hollywood predictability the evening ended with a fight out back and a chunk of broken glass lodged in my friend's head. The cut was bad enough that it probably would have warranted a few stitches in the emergency room.

The bartender was a former Ranger and knew that if the drill sargents saw the cut that they'd get the story of the fight and that would be one fewer Ranger-in-training. He also knew a thing or two about quickly patching up wounds. Using a tube of superglue the bartender sealed the wound and stopped the bleeding. The blob of superglue held the wound and protected it better than any band aid and when the skin grew back together it just pushed the glue out.

Is this the best way to deal with a wound when first responders aren't available? No, not really and I'm certainly not suggesting that you try. Want to know the right way to patch yourself up if you know that it's going to be a while, perhaps even days, before you can get to professional medical folks? Check out this article from Examiner.com.

Kudos to Michelin's Driving America's Safety Program

2009-01-08T08:33:00.004-06:00

From time to time I like to just say "good on you" to people and organizations that are helping out first responders. One of the great challenges that first response organizations constantly face is funding. There just never seems to be enough money for vehicle maintenance, equipment upgrades and all other such challenges that can crop up.

So today I'd like to say kudos to Michelin's Driving America's Safety program. As you know Michelin makes and sells tires. From time to time this program offers free tires to first response organizations who need them. At a few hundred apiece replacing all of the tires on a vehicle can run into some real money for emergency responders so this programs can really help out.

I first read about Michelin's program in this article. Interestingly Michelin's website doesn't mention it so I can't provide Michelin's perspective on it. But a Google search for "Driving America's Safety" reveals a lot of stories about it from all of the local newspapers that describe the program when their local ambulance was provided with tires.

So, Michelin, good on you for Driving America's Safety.

National ID Suggestion

2009-01-03T08:24:00.001-06:00

Back in October I reported on a white paper published by the Smart Card Alliance. It argues, convincingly, on the wisdom of establishing standards for a national ID card for first responders. Big emergencies often see EMT, firefighters and other volunteers coming in from other states to help out. Standardized ID cards that provide information about training, certification, etc. would be incredibly helpful to organizers as they work to best utilize the help.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has responded by recommending that first responders carry such cards. They make suggestions about what information should be included on these cards but they fail to mandate the cards.

The issue comes down to money. While this was being considered local first response organizations complained that if a federal mandate came down for these cards without any funding attached to it they would have trouble finding the cash for the project themselves. That makes a lot of sense. If I can’t breathe I’d rather that the first responders that are helping me have an updated respirator than an ID card that can work in West Virginia as well as Oregon.

But it shouldn’t be a choice between vital equipment and an ID. It seems like FEMA could come up with the cash to support this program and make it mandatory. Efficiency at an emergency site means time saved, lives saved, and, more to the point, money saved. But often emergency management is a lot like health-care in the US - very little funding for preventative measures.

FEMA is accepting comments from the public on this issue until Jan. 21.