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Emergency Responder Preparedness: Issues, Policies & Preparations
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JOHNKIES
about 1 month ago
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Emergency Responder Preparedness: Issues, Polices & Preparation.
Access at www.LEAPS.TV and click on LEAPS.TV Guide
With the turn of the calendar to autumn, Emergency Responders need to prepare for the season of change. Fall can bring horrific flooding as experienced in Atlanta, early snow falls in the Rockies and hurricane season, quiet so far, still carries the potential for a late season mega-storm. This is the perfect time to revisit the LEAPS.TV Program, ‘Responder Preparedness: Issues, Policies and Preparations’, first broadcast in late July.
Judith Weshinskey-Price, Program Moderator and Manager of Amarillo Emergency Communications, points out; “Now is time for the annual review of your preparedness plans”. “Update plans with recent experiences your response teams have encountered, and notify all partner agencies”. “Further, make your plan available on-line and seek acknowledgement that all emergency response agencies have reviewed the plan.” “Make sure your department is trained and ready now to avoid service delays.” FEMA recommends this update at least every two years, but you should check local and state requirements – they may require more frequent updates.
“This is about preparation for police and sheriffs’ departments, 911 agencies and other responders such as CERT,” according to Weshinskey-Price, “When you are on duty during an emergency you will not have time to prepare your family for your extended absence – take the time now to prepare a family plan.” She also recommends that your department perform a readiness check. “Is your emergency equipment ready to respond instantly and is your location ready?” ”For example, if you are in a storm prone area, do you have plywood to protect windows and is the electrical generator’s fuel tank full?”
The ‘Issues, Policies and Preparations’ program represents four organizations who routinely prepare their responders to enter and survive emergency situations: US Public Health Service’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), FEMA’s Citizen Emergency Response Teams (CERT), the American Red Cross and 911 centers. Each guest panelist describes their top three issues of responder preparedness, the related policies, and then presents and describes the mandatory and recommended equipment for their responders prior to being placed into an emergency. The responders physical and psychological well-being, and that of their families, is also addressed. During the first forty minutes of the one hour program, presenters share their information with the audience and the final 20 minutes of the program is the pre-recorded Q&A and resulting interactive discussion.
Four Emergency Response experts make up the panel for this Program and all speak from real world experience:
Captain Robert J. Tosatto, Director, Medical Reserve Corps, US Public Health Service
Candace Burrell, Community Preparedness Program Manager, FEMA Region IV / CERT
Gary Niki, Senior Associate, Safety & Security, WMD/Terrorism Program American Red Cross National Headquarters Disaster Services
Debbie Vance, Director, Gordon County (GA) E9-1-1
And Moderator: Judith Weshinskey-Price, Manager, Amarillo Emergency Communications
View this LEAPS.TV re-run Program today at www.leaps.tv. G
o to the web site, click on the LEAPS.TV Guide and click the NOW button. Because it is pre-recorded, this Program is available for immediate viewing, 24x7 using only a computer and an internet connection – no phone line is needed and there is no charge to view this program. Review this program and then view it again as a team exercise. LEAPS.TV encourages viewing of the program by Response Teams as a unit as a starting point in the review of your Policies, Procedures and Preparedness for the autumn season.
LEAPS.TV is a computer based information delivery platform dedicated to the dissemination of information and training for the Law Enforcement and Public Safety communities. This Program is provided at no cost to active duty law enforcement personnel, their departments, and related public agencies. The only equipment required is a computer and an internet connection. There is no limit to the number of officers participating from a single location. Programs are first presented live and then are offered as recorded re-runs for up to 30 days following the live event. Watch this program by going to www.leaps.tv and clicking on the LEAPS.TV Guide page.
The Program Description:
Responder Preparedness: Issues, Policies and Preparations
A broad look at responder preparedness from the perspectives of 911, the American Red Cross, CERT and the USPHS Medical Reserve Corps. Physical and mental health and safety are covered as are supplies and equipment.
This program is available now.
Program Description
Emergency responders are our first line of defense. Emergency responders - from first responders to those who support them, such as 911, the Red Cross, US Public Health Service, CERT and others - must personally plan to protect themselves, and their loved ones, while they are protecting the rest of us. This LEAPS.TV series, Responder Preparedness, moderated by Judith Weshinskey-Price, manager of Amarillo Emergency Communications, will cover topics of particular interest to first responders and the managers and policy makers who must assure responder safety in an emergency.
The Wednesday, July 22, 2009 program, Issues, Policies and Preparations included representatives of four organizations who routinely prepare their responders to enter and survive emergency situations: US Public Health Service, FEMA's Citizen Emergency Response Teams, American Red Cross, and 911. Each of Judith's guests state what they feel are the top three issues of responder preparedness, their related policies and then present and describe the mandatory and recommended equipment for their responders prior to being placed into an emergency. Both physical and psychological well-being of responders will be addressed. This online program is the ideal opportunity to learn from the best and to share your own knowledge and insights, as well.
[Recommend this LEAPS.TV program to a colleague.]
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This program is being made available at no charge to the law enforcement and public safety community thanks to the generous financial support of The Law Enforcement And Public Safety Channel.