Thursday, May 28, 2009

Holiday Vacation/Camping and ICE




















Don't spoil this great holiday by not being prepared. Sitting around the campfire watching the sunset...hopefully we can continue to enjoy these traditions in our respective countries.

Short public safety staffing due to budget shortfalls and increased vehicle and recreational traffic, alcohol use and people in a hurry to relax can combine to increase the risk of an accident.

First Aid Kit, Travel Itinerary, Preparedness Kit and of course your ICE Cards and Medical Info Forms Completed and on hand....

Enjoy the Holiday

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

June - National Safety Month 2009

Ok, so what is your organization doing to promote Safety in the Month of June?

Doesn't ICE make perfect sense?

ICE Testimonial

We received this note recently....

May 26, 2009

After reviewing the ICE for Safety materials on display in my workplace, I realized what a great idea this is.

I wish there would have been a resource like this to when I was in my teens to help paramedics contact my parents when I was involved in a life-threatening car accident. I can only imagine the time that would have been saved by having the information all on one card and easily accessible in a wallet.

I now have a card in my own wallet, and my husband and children carry them in case an emergency arises and they are unable to communicate how to contact me.

This is a terrific resource that is free to the community and a great way to help protect those you love.

Jodi S.


Hard to disagree with that! Thank you Jodi.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Safety Road Stop - ICE - EMS/Fire/Police

Safety Road Stop - How To

When: During a National Holiday, Special Event Weekend, Fireman's Field Days

Where: Roadside Rest Stop or Fire/EMS/Police Parking Lot/Campground etc.

Who: First Responders, Safety Organizations, Volunteers, Sheriff's/Police

What: Traffic or Community Safety Event , Car Wash,

Why: Awareness Public Service, Fundraising, Demo of New Equipment

Suggestions on what to do:

Schedule a date of combine this activity with previously scheduled public safety initiatives like roadside travel safety efforts or open houses, fundraising drives, local scout-church-social group car washes, firefighter field days, county fairs. (E.G. Memorial Weekend, July 4Th, Labor Day)

This can be designed as a drive in or drive through or a combination with a stop and learn opportunity with other safety organizations joining in your group effort. It can be an adjunct to an existing event (like field days) or a stand alone to promote preparedness. It can be all about your group or your local community/business concerns (best bet). Local Sheriff and Police have Child ID Programs they like to demo during these events. Give them a call.

Announce the fact your organization will be offering to provide free ICE Cards/Stickers and Information to those who stop by during your event time. Make sure you have plenty of room to handle the traffic flow and that you have several teams of people to handle multiple vehicles at once. One to talk the others to demonstrate or place stickers on/in vehicles.

The cards/stickers and literature can be sponsored by your organization or a local business who is community oriented.

Limit your activities to 5 minutes or so for each vehicle and if you are having a car wash then make this activity come after the wash when the car is clean. You might also opt to offer the discussion about ICE when the car is being washed as most people will not be doing anything at that time.

Have a prominently placed tent or shelter in place to protect your displays or PowerPoint demos or to get away from the distraction of the car wash. A big ICE Sign might be appropriate.

Now, this event would obviously get the attention of the local TV and radio media so don't forget that - take some pictures for your archives as well. Put out a press release to get the word out and make note on your fundraising literature and website (if no website ICE4SAFETY can help provide one free)

So......one scenario might run like this......we know ems/fire/police folks like training scenarios...
  • Wash the Car (optional, but nice idea - use a fire truck?)
  • Affix 2x2 Ice Stickers to Car
  • Install ICE Card Holders in Glove Box
  • Provide ICE Cards (Basic-Medical) to Driver/Family
  • Provide Medical Info Forms and Demonstrate How to Complete Online
  • Provide Tool Box Safety Talk on Using ICE in Cell Phones
  • Provide Cell Phone Sized ICE Stickers (1x1)
  • Provide and Demonstrate Selected Preparedness Topic (like an Emergency Vehicle Kit)
  • Campers, motor homes, boats, jet skis, kayaks, canoes, bikes - affix Stickers and Cards too!

At this point you can tactfully ask for donations or ask people to join up as a volunteer. There will be other likely variations to this theme based on your location and the kinds of events your community has and how much effort you would like to expend. Everyone knows about ICE so it is easy to use this tool to get their attention.

If your equipment has a an ICE Placard affixed, well all the better that people see your support of their being prepared. If some people can't make it...leave an email or phone contact information on your website so you can mail or stop out to residents to get them outfitted with ICE.

So, for those who ask "what can we do" all the time...there you go.

Don't forget the refreshments!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Fundraising Idea - EMS Safety Stop




During an ICE Promotional Tour during Memorial Weekend we stopped off at what we considered a great way for small EMS / Fire-Rescue Squads to raise some awareness as well as much needed capital.
We met with Mr and Mrs Devoe from Ellisburg, NY who were staffing the 24 Hour Coffee Tent roadside on Route 81 heading back from the 1000 Islands area.
Hats off to these folks for dedicating their time doing this public service to help save lives.
This also would be yet another excellent venue to alert the public about using ICE.
Stay tuned for more info on this idea to follow.

Friday, May 22, 2009

EMS Week May 17-23

ICE4SAFETY would like to commend our EMS community and to let them know we will continue to innovate and promote personal preparedness/safety here to make their tasks a little easier.

We appreciate the dedication, hard work and personal sacrifice these professionals make to ensure that we receive emergency care when and where we need it.

With all the many requirements to maintain certification and skill levels these folks truly have made a commitment to selflessly serving others......and we do appreciate it. It wouldn't hurt to remind them of that when you see them or get a call to support their organization.

Let's all do our part as citizens and help them out by being more prepared - in case we require their services! Thank You!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Preparedness Tip - EMP

Another key element to surviving an emergency situation is learning about potential (realistic) threats around you.

The potential for an attack on any country by a rogue military nation state, terrorist entity or enemy detonating a high altitude nuclear blast is now entirely possible. The effect of doing this would cause an Electro-Magnetic Pulse or EMP.

The effects of such a blast that now could come from a variety of sources would render electronic devices we have come to depend on totally useless.

Subways, aircraft, autos, radios, tv will all of a sudden stop. Oddly, humans would not for the most part be aware of such an attack as it occurs.

Sounds a lot like SciFi but unfortunately it is not. It's real. Many in our military or former military are aware of this threat.
It has been well documented for some years but is not widely talked about in everyday circles. Understandable.

So, how does this affect your preparedness efforts? Well, if all the work you do to prepare relies heavily on electrically powered and electronic devices to see you through a tough time then you should reconsider non electrical powered devices. Yes, they still do make them. Also consider protecting electronics using a "Faraday Cage" and considering some of the storage and preparedness suggestions we have mentioned in previous blogs. Spare parts for vital equipment such as generators is a must.

See more discussion about EMP from Military Training Manuals (TM) http://140.194.76.129/publications/armytm/tm5-690/c-5.pdf

One good source for non electric devices is Lehman's where you might find some things your grandparents used to use www.lehmans.com Many of the items are handy and have other applications as well.

Another good idea would be to read the book "One Second After" by William R. Forstchen
http://www.onesecondafter.com/ to get some perspective about the likely scenarios that could play out after such an attack. It also is relevant in portraying human nature in some of the other potential disaster scenarios that could occur.

No, we aren't asking you to run out screaming "the sky is falling" and go nuts (although some of the characters in the book do that) over this but we are suggesting that if you were unaware that you learn more about how fragile our infrastructure has become and how vulnerable it is - and we are. The author has some easy to read information on the same website. Do check it out.

Our government has taken steps since the 1950's to harden certain critical government and military systems against such an attack but as of late many of the civilian systems have become vulnerable and thus a national security issue of considerable concern.

A government commission had been empaneled in 2001 to study and report on this issue and you can download several highly informative reports on this topic at :
http://www.empcommission.org/index.php Their report was delivered on or about the same time the 9/11 Commission delivered theirs, so their wasn't much notice at the time.

As always the choice is your on whether to be prepared or not. Those that are stand a greater chance of surviving.

Friday, May 15, 2009

ICE Blog Worldwide


In just a few short weeks this feature has been online, we have seen people from all over the world visiting this site.
We track 1000's on the ICE4SAFETY website (last check over 90 countries) but we like to chat here quite frequently so bookmark this location as a favorite or hyperlink from your site.
Thank you for your continued visits!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Prep Tip - Radioactive Fallout Protection Tip

Some easy to read information on radioactive fallout measures you can accomplish on your own.....

Here Comes Fallout!
(Now, What was it I was supposed to Take?)
By Chuck Fenwick Director, Medical Corps, Courtesy of TACDA

What is the big deal about KIO3 or KI? You know it is for nuclear preparedness, but just why is it so important?Of all the radioactive isotopes and radioactive particles that can come from a nuclear reaction, radioactive iodine 131 (I-131) poisoning is one of the most lethal. The good news is that damage to the thyroid from exposure to I-131 can be prevented.

Keep in mind these facts about your thyroid:
1) Your thyroid runs on iodine.
2) Your thyroid is a pig.
3) Your thyroid is stupid.

Your thyroid runs on iodine and will absorb all it can until it is absolutely full. This fullness is called saturation or blockade. However, your thyroid does not know the difference between good iodine and bad iodine. Good iodine is taken up by the thyroid in the form of potassium iodate (KI03) or potassium iodide (KI). Bad iodine, I-131, is a radioisotope of iodine which is produced in nuclear reactions such as a bomb or nuclear power plant.

I-131 is what we call a beta emitter and if you get it on your skin it will burn you in much the same way as when you get bad sunburn. It has a half-life of roughly 8 days (8.01 to 8.07). One of the reasons spent fuel rods are stored in pools of water for months at a time, is that they will be off-gassing I-131 for roughly 10 half-lives (approximately 80 days). If you are caught unprotected and downwind from a nuclear reaction and the plume or cloud of fallout reaches you, your thyroid will absorb this bad iodine. You now have sunburn in your thyroid and it is not going to go away. Eventually that sunburn in your thyroid can give you cancer (the FDA doesn’t like me saying “will” give you cancer).

Now that your thyroid has absorbed the bad iodine, is there anything you can do to clean the thyroid out? The answer is no. There are a few things that will help, but in reality you now have this radioactive sunburn in your thyroid and you are in big trouble. All of the good iodine or Prussian Blue or activated charcoal we can throw at the problem is not going to help. Depending on your age it will… uh.. may take you several months to several years to develop cancer of the thyroid. That is the bad news. The good news is coming up.

The Good News: Iodine--including I-131 and the other iodine isotopes--are from the halogen group. They act like a gas, which combines with things such as soil or metal. In a plume they float along and when conditions are right they “plate out” and come down like microscopic rain where growing plants, animals, and humans absorb them. We may breathe, eat or drink I-131 and even absorb it through the skin. And yes, your pets are at risk too, as well as your livestock.

In fact, it is best not to eat exposed plants or food animals for at least 90 days, and this includes eggs and milk. Remember, your thyroid doesn’t care if it is bad or good iodine, nor does it care where it comes from. Let’s get back to the “I’m going to die” part. When taken for the proper length of time and in the proper amounts, KI03 and KI act as “thyroid blockers”. When the thyroid is filled to capacity with good iodine, the bad iodine is blocked from entering.

If you had KIO3 or KI on hand and had taken it before the plume or cloud reached you, then your thyroid would have been about 99% saturated with good iodine. The bad iodine would then biologically slough from your body through natural bodily functions. The bad iodine will only affect those who haven’t prepared.

Will the government be able to provide KI or KIO3 to you after (or just before) exposure to fallout? Maybe. If a power plant melts down or in a small terrorist attack, government officials may have time to get the iodine blockers to you. If it is a full-scale nuclear attack, however, members of the state and federal government will be too occupied with personal survival to help anyone except themselves.

Keep in mind that a nuclear attack always produces an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) and quite likely all electrical circuits will be destroyed or damaged. It will then be impossible to print or distribute any printed material through normal media processes. In fact, that new digital safe where you keep your family papers, guns, money and medicines will never work again, and if your KIO3 is in there, then your thyroid is in big trouble.

KIO3 versus KI: Actually there is no versus. They are both thyroid blockers and both will blockade the thyroid. Both KI and KIO3 are FDA approved and inspected.
Please see <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_iodate>

KIO3 is more heat tolerant than KI; therefore, KIO3 is used in most of the world’s iodized salt—not so the United States. When stored in a dark, cool place, KIO3 has a much longer shelf life than KI.

Because it is so stable, Medical Corps stamps an 8 to 10 year shelf life on the label, and has given a lifetime replacement warranty on the product. If your KI03 has been damaged or is beyond the warranty date, send a picture of your bottle, and we will replace the 90-tablet bottle for $5.00, and the 200-tablet bottle for $10. How much should you have on hand? First and foremost, you need to have a several weeks’ supply of KI or KIO3 on hand in storage, now. If we have a nuclear event, the chances of you getting it after the event are remote to nonexistent.

Another point to consider: If we have one nuclear event we will most likely have others over the next several days. That is the reason we produce multi-dose bottles. We had to ask ourselves, "How much is enough?"

How do you Take KI and KIO3?KIO3 can be taken in tablet form or sprinkled on food or dissolved in drinks. It is not bitter and children won't throw it up--which is the point. However, taking KIO3 on an empty stomach feels like taking an aspirin on an empty stomach so take it with food or water. If food or water is not handy then by all means don't delay--just swallow or chew up the proper dose. KI, on the other hand, is terribly bitter and the taste must be disguised.

This from the FDA on disguising the bitter taste of KI: The mixture of potassium iodide with raspberry syrup disguises the taste of potassium iodide best. The mixtures of potassium iodide with low fat chocolate milk, orange juice, and flat soda (for example, cola) generally have an acceptable taste. Low fat white milk and water did not hide the salty taste of potassium iodide.

When should you take a thyroid blocker?I'm supposed to say that the authorities will tell you when to take the KIO3 or KI, but if there is an EMP it will be impossible for them to relay this information, and most likely the authorities will either be in a shelter or dead--so you really are on your own. A gas mask will not do the job properly. You would have to live, eat, drink and sleep in the mask for many days.

Also, human skin will absorb radioactive iodine even if you do wear a mask. The only way to completely avoid I-131 is to stay in a self-contained blast shelter that has a proper air filtration system. Thyroid blockers are most effective if taken 8 to 12 hours before exposure. They can be started 8 to 12 hours after exposure with fairly good results, but the earlier the better, as any amount of radioactive iodine is bad for your thyroid.

Caution! KIO3 in tablet form is for nuclear emergencies, only, and is not a supplement for thyroid health. You want your thyroid to function normally during peacetime and the amount of iodine you receive in your food and salt should be adequate for normal thyroid function.

Do not take a thyroid blocker unless you expect an imminent exposure to radioactive fallout. Medical Corps' KIO3 will block the thyroid from working, which is exactly what you want to happen during a nuclear emergency. The directions are on the bottle and are very important. How long should you take a thyroid blocker?You will need to take your KIO3 or KI for 3 to 14 days depending on the event. For a period of 80 days after the last known nuclear event, do not drink the milk from cows or goats and eat only canned foods. Small babies should not take a thyroid blocker for longer than 3 days unless absolutely necessary.

This means a baby in the womb, too! If pregnant, do not take a thyroid blocker for more than 3 days or nurse your baby while taking the blocker. If babies block their thyroid for longer than 3 days then a doctor may need to give them a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). If your thyroid has been surgically removed then you do not need to take a thyroid blocker. Read the label for proper dosing. KIO3 comes in 170mg tablets or 85mg tablets.
KI comes in 130mg tablets or 65mg tablets so the dosing on the bottle will tell you how much to take and how often.

In conclusion: Buy your KI or KIO3 now so you can concentrate on other things like food, water, shelter and education--especially education.

The old civil defense motto was: Knowledge Replaces Fear.

Chuck Fenwick, Director, Medical Corps

ICE4SAFETY Note:
Locally you may be able to obtain a supply of FDA approved product called IsoSat tablets from your pharmacy. If you live near a nuclear power plant, you should have already been able to receive a free supply of this material from local government. If not check it out.

Prep Tip - Emergency Operations Kits











When you are in a hurry you want to be able to locate your emergency tools and backup equipment essential items easily but you do not want to spend hours looking for everything.
"To save time you need to spend time."
In this case you need to organize everything you need to run certain equipment like pumps, chain saws, generators, power tools and the like. This will become especially important when it is someone else who is actually doing the locating or the use/repair because you may be unavailable or called out to service (EMS/Fire/Business) in an emergency or simply be out of town.
One quick way is to utilize the military 5.56mm ammo can that is slightly larger than the .50 caliber ammo cans found in surplus and online stores. These can hold more and are usually in better condition. They seal up and protect from dirt, water and other crap that will destroy your important gear. Most likely won't float without help but they can be tied together and taped shut for added security in a flood situation. You can paint them an easily distinguishable color as well.
Labeled with ICE Stickers and descriptive labels the purpose is readily apparent.
These are fairly easy to open and they make locks that work to keep out nosey kids. Locks might also become a problem if no one has a key......
Here you have two such examples set up side by side or stacked, front and back views to give you an idea how easy this is to do. Gotta run? No problem...everything you need should be inside like oil, spark plugs, spare chains or gas connections, regulators, filters etc...
This also would make a fine container for storage of extended supplies of medicines and medical equipment that could be stored in a cool location in basements or refrigerators if need be.
Remember you may be using whatever is in the boxes for an extended period....
When looking for this type of can, ask for the SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) Ammo Can $10-$15 each. Cheaper than fancy tool bags, more secure than cheap plastic containers, easy to store. Can store nails and screws, hammer and drills too and they can be chained down in a group.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

ICE - New Services to Agencies

















If your organization is looking to provide useful emergency tools for the community....the newly revised Emergency Medical Info Form is an invaluable item. If your organization is looking to fund raise then passing out the new version with your logo embedded in it might be a unique plus for you!

You will have to send your logo to ice4safety@gmail.com and we will return the document in a PDF file to upload onto your website or print out for people to complete by hand. Remember to Keep It Simple and factor in Redundancy.......

Above you will see the brand new Amber Ambulance Logo embedded in the form. Amber is celebrating their 60th anniversary year as the only All
Volunteer Ambulance in Central New York

Amber just commenced a very responsive fund raising effort utilizing customized logo ICE Cards and will be conducting additional ICE promotion/informational events throughout 2009 and beyond.

In addition, ICE4SAFETY will create at no charge - while they last, free websites and email to those agencies that are going to sponsor ICE in their community. You will have to provide some historical information and digital pictures of your rigs/staff and relevant data......

We just started one for Amber...... www.amberambulance@weebly.com

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

ICE - Fire Rescue Vehicles/EMS



Fire/Rescue/EMS might enhance their ICE Programs by using the ICE symbol on their rigs.
The ICE Placard appears to fit in very nicely on this Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Truck!
Sheriff Substations are next!
Your's can be too. Nice Job PBCFR and PBCSO