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Inside this issue:

CONTINUING EDUCATION

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EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS FORUM

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STAND DOWN!

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BAN ON PLYWOOD

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FEMA

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RAIL TANK CAR

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BACK TO BASICS

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Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years!

Volume 1

Issue 25

Spring 2017

Our PUCO Grant

Funded Training classes are

FREE

to all public safety organizations!

TSA FIRST OBSERVER PLUS

Recent train attacks in France and Germany, older attacks in London and Madrid, and repeated warnings over the years from intelligence outlets show mass transit systems remain an attractive target for terrorist attacks. The large numbers of people bustling through every day offer the potential for a high casualty count as well as cover for terrorist operatives. Attacks against transportation can lead to loss of life and serious disruption of an important sector in our critical infrastructure. First responders should be working with owners and operators of trains, subways, and buses within

their jurisdiction to ensure them and their workers are well trained on suspicious activity reporting.

The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) offers the FREE First Observer Plus Program to help this process along. The program promotes surface transportation security through training and education on potential

terrorist activity. Short but robust training available through the First Observer Plus website

is for those working with buses, trucking, school buses, truck rental, parking, and highway, and includes a certificate upon completion. In

addition, TSA produced flyers targeting suspicious behavior reporting to the subsectors of freight rail, over the road bus, mass transit, and pipelines. As the Transportation Sector affects almost all Americans every day, it

would not be a bad idea for first responders to also take at least one of the video trainings as a review of suspicious activity related to transportation. First responders spend a lot of time on our roads; more trained eyes can

and will pay off. Visit: https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/firstobserver

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TRAIN as if your life depends on it!

2017 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FORUM SUCCESS

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2017 SAFETY STAND DOWN: MAYDAY SITUATIONS

The annual Safety Stand Down this year will be the week of June 18-24, and the theme will be MAYDAY, Self-Rescue, and

Rapid Intervention.

The National Volunteer Fire Council and the International Association of Fire Chiefs worked together to coordinate the event and produce resources, available through the Safety

Stand Down website, such as training materials and “Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Survival.”

Fire departments across the country are encouraged to suspend any non-emergency work during this week and focus on training and education related to MAYDAY situations, entrapment, rapid

intervention, and self-rescue.

All firefighters actively involved with structural firefighting will benefit from a review, as these are important personnel safety topics and training that could mean the difference between life and

death.

CYBER BEST PRACTICES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES

Cybersecurity concerns continue to be an issue for the Emergency Services Sector. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes that departments and agencies

have different levels of skills and resources available to address the issues, and many lack the facts. DHS has addressed these issues in the publication. Visit:

This 3-page guide lists quick, actionable, often easy things you can do to ensure your department is safe from ransomware and other cyberattacks, such as:

Set devices to automatically sleep or shut down when not in use;

Restrict personal use of agency devices;

Change default passwords on all devices that come with one;

Post pictures online understanding everyone may having access to them;

Treat unsolicited emails or suspicious emails with caution;

Turn off the settings for automatic downloads of attachments.

These fast, preventative measures can easily be turned into a departmental policy or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), making safeguarding the organization everyone’s job. Also, these measures should be incorporated into personal and family habits in order to secure financial information, family details, photos, and physical security.

Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years!

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TRAIN as if your life depends on it!

OHIO'S NEW BAN ON PLYWOOD FOR VACANT PROPERTIES TAKES EFFECT APRIL 2017

NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY PILOTS W.U.I. COURSE

It's officially illegal in Ohio to use plywood to board up properties certified as vacant and abandoned.

Ohio is the first state with such a ban to fight blight. The law that took effect this week is a boon for a practice known as clear boarding, using see-through polycarbonate windows and doors to secure vacant properties. Fannie Mae, the federal government-sponsored mortgage association, has used clear-boarding for several years.

Supporters of the change contend that though plywood is cheaper and easy to use, it sends a visual signal that lowers surrounding property values. They also say it's not just aesthetics,

arguing that plywood is susceptible to vandalism and blocks visibility for emergency

responders. The trade organization representing North American plywood makers

says the change increases costs for the properties' owners.

The U.S. Fire Administration is recruiting students for the 6-day pilot

offering of a new Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) course to be held at

the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD.

“WUI Planning Series: Evacuation, Land Use and Fire Regulations” is scheduled for April 23rd to 28th, 2017. This course contains three

modules covering: land use planning, adopting regulations for the WUI, and evacuation planning and procedures.

The course targets a wide range of students including land use planners, mitigation specialists, foresters, emergency managers, fire prevention and operations personnel, and building and real estate.

Those interested in applying should review the selection criteria and prerequisites in the course

flyer, then submit a General Admissions Application. For more information, please contact Woody Stratton at Woodrow.Stratton@fema.dhs.gov.

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In EMERGENCIES, people do what they are TRAINED TO DO!

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In EMERGENCIES, people do what they are TRAINED TO DO!

OEMA 2017 – 2019 Multi Year Training & Exercise Plan

The Multi-Year Training and Exercise Plan (TEP) is the roadmap for counties and state agencies to support each other and maximize efforts. It is also a pathway for the state of Ohio to follow in accomplishing the priorities described in the State of Ohio State Homeland Security Strategy, and is linked to the State Preparedness Report. The TEP is a living document that is reviewed and updated on an annual basis. This tool creates an avenue for counties and agencies to partner in training and exercise initiatives. The TEP is also intended to help strengthen relationships with potential partners in preparedness and response. In all, 74 county EMAs and six state agencies participated this year. This is a large increase from previous years. To view the results of the 2017-2019 TEP and to look at a detailed calendar of trainings and exercises across the state of Ohio please visit:

http://ema.ohio.gov/Training_MultiYearTrainingAndExercisePlan.aspx

UPDATED GUIDE FOR RAIL TANK CAR EMERGENCIES

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently released the updated Third Edition of

“Field Guide to Tank Cars,” (also located at the bottom of the AAR Bureau of Explosives resource page.) This guide was written to

assist emergency responders in planning for and responding to emergencies involving train

tank cars. Interest in these incidents has increased in recent years due in part to the

Bakken oil boom.

The guide is divided into eight sections covering guidelines for initial emergency

response; tank car classification and specifications; safety systems; markings; non-pressure tank cars; pressure tank cars; cryogenic

liquids; and a glossary of terms. The AAR loaded the guide with pictures and diagrams of different fittings, valves, tank cars, markings, and schematics of systems to assist first responders who

likely are not very familiar with tank cars.

The emergency response section lists emergency phone numbers for nine major rail companies operating in the United States and Canada. Departments who have plans or are developing them should ensure pertinent emergency numbers are included prominently in those plans. The guide

also reviews assessing damage to tank cars and provides techniques used by trained and experienced professionals when responding to tank car emergencies. Visit:

https://www.aar.org/boe

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Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years!

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TRAIN as if your life depends on it!

EVOLVING ROLE OF EMS DATA COLLECTION

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of EMS produced a new report

highlighting the changing role of EMS data gathering from simply being a collection mechanism to

becoming a profession that turns the data into consequential information with the potential to drive

decision-making. The report is a summary of the panel’s findings through its research and discussions with the EMS community; it is not intended to serve

as a consensus document.

”Beyond EMS Data Collection: Envisioning an Information-Driven Future” makes the case for using information not just to aid in decisions affecting patient-care, but also to aid in business and

industry related matters, ultimately creating an EMS industry whose direction and delivery are both backed up with data.

EMS has a reactive culture: if there is a plea for help, it responds. This reactivity often translates to all areas, such as the business model. Changing the culture takes time, but the reasons for change are outlined in this report. In short, EMS has become a leader in healthcare information gathering,

and it’s time to advance beyond collection.

BACK TO BASICS: HOW CLEAN IS YOUR AMBULANCE?

Research published in the American Journal of Infection Control shines a light on the contamination in ambulances. Research in Spain showed high levels of microbes such as

Staphyloccocus aureus on the steering wheel, passenger door handle, and stretcher handles. Similar testing found contamination in United States emergency transport can easily be

transmitted to patients without proper workplace cleaning habits.

Cross-contamination like this is a preventable issue but one that can have dire consequences for patients if it is left

unmediated. Cleaning and decontamination are two separate processes. Decontamination can only happen

after the area or medical device has been cleaned. Some items, such as items that would touch mucus membranes,

must also be sterilized.

Some states require an exposure control plan, which is part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s

(OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Whether your state requires it or not, it is a good idea to have a plan developed and keep it updated. More importantly, make sure everyone is well trained,

understands the reasons it is in place, and follows it every time. Also visit:

http://www.emsworld.com/article/10320653/ems-equipment-and-transport-vehicle-cleaning-and-disinfection-challenges-best-practices

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Contact Information

Dr. Bernard W. Becker III, Director Cleveland State University

Center for Emergency Preparedness

1717 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115

b.becker64@csuohio.edu

(Office) 216-875-9860 (Fax) 216-687-2225

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Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years!

Please visit our web site at http://levin.urban.csuohio.edu/cep

to find the class and programs your organization desires.

We employ over 40 subject matter experts in all fields of Emergency

Service throughout Ohio.

USFA RELEASES 2014 OVERALL RUN PROFILE

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) released the “Fire Department Overall Run Profile as Reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (2014)” (PDF, 757 Kb) and based on the information collected,

“Fire” Department may be a bit of a misnomer.

Only five percent of the 23,315,600 reported calls in 2014 were fire related. The category with the highest call volume was EMS and

rescue calls at 64 percent. In between were good intent calls (11 percent), false alarm calls (9 percent), and service calls (7

percent). About half of reported calls were to residential properties, but only 3 percent of those calls were fire related. Comparing this report to the 2004 report, we can see fire calls declined over the

past 10 years and EMS/rescue calls increased.

Data provided by these and other reports in the Topical Fire Research Series can assist fire department leadership in the planning and

operations decision-making process, determining the course of future budget and staffing needs as well as resource allocation.

Get the report at: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/reports.html