This InfoGram will be distributed weekly to provide members of the Emergency Services Sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. For further information, contact the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) at (301) 447-1325 or by email at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov.
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In support of National Preparedness Month 2010, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the availability of Ready Responder, which is a website dedicated to all-hazard readiness and planning for emergency responders and their organizations. The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) acknowledges that first responders serve a critical role in emergency operations upon which citizens depend for essential services. Therefore, according to this website, “it is vital that response personnel and their departments take the steps necessary to prepare and plan.”
The EMR-ISAC recognizes Emergency Services Sector (ESS) agencies and their personnel will be more focused and proficient when performing duties if ensured that their families are safe and protected. Consequently, FEMA offers the Ready Responder Toolkit (PDF, 3 Mb) to supply ESS organizations with a series of planning tools to help prepare their personnel and families for emergencies. The toolkit introduction indicates: “These tools are flexible and customizable to be used by planners to meet the needs of their department or agency.”
The toolkit provides resources on how to develop an organizational preparedness plan; promote individual, family, and organizational preparedness; and engage other entities in these efforts. There are also sample newsletter articles, media pitch templates, and other press materials that can be used to develop and distribute internal and external preparedness messaging.
The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) was notified that the U.S. Fire Administration, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters, released the Best Practices for Emergency Vehicle and Roadway Operations Safety (PDF, 62 Mb). This document highlights the results of a U.S. Department of Justice supported initiative to enhance emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety for law enforcement officers and firefighters.
The EMR-ISAC noted that the goal of this project is to provide a basic guide for all law enforcement and firefighting personnel to improve their level of safety at work. The document discusses training, policy development, education, and technology to improve emergency vehicle and roadway safety operations.
“With vehicle crashes and emergency responders being struck on the roadway being major causes of on-duty fatalities, it is important for all first responders to avail themselves of these programs to reduce these tragic causes of death,” said Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn A. Gaines. “We are grateful for the Department of Justice’s support of this emergency vehicle and roadway safety initiative which benefits the fire service and law enforcement alike.”
Also see Emergency Vehicle and Roadway Operations and Tips for Safe Emergency Vehicle Operations (PDF, 581 Kb) for more information on this subject.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), electricity is an integral part of today’s modern world and readily available in nearly all American communities, businesses, and most homes. However, given the correct circumstances, electricity can kill, painfully shock, damage sensitive equipment, and ignite combustible materials. Those exposed to electrical hazards (e.g., emergency responders) by working with or around electricity are particularly at risk of burns, shocks, or electrocution.
The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) observed that the National Safety Council (NSC) asserts sound safety practices can help minimize electrical hazards and cut down the risk of accidents. The Council emphasizes that “the hazard of electricity cannot be eliminated, but it can be controlled through education and engineering.”
When reviewing their websites, the EMR-ISAC noticed that OSHA and the NSC allege the more Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel, electricians, and other professionals understand about electrical energy, the safer they will be when performing assigned duties. Therefore, OSHA electrical safety tips and NSC electrical safety suggestions (PDF, 43 KB) are available for the review and consideration of ESS departments and agencies.
See the OSHA website for more electrical safety recommendations.
When researching quality training opportunities to bolster the protection and safety of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned about The People’s Burn Foundation. This nonprofit organization recently announced that its acclaimed “To Hell and Back” firefighter training is now available. This free resource is a series of four training modules that focus on how burn injuries can be prevented and how burn severity can be diminished by properly using personal protection equipment and breathing apparatus, and also by following appropriate standards.
The four modules discuss burn prevention, situational awareness, and cyanide risks for emergency responders. However, the Foundation indicated the key features of the training are the customization and tracking components, which enable supervisors or trainers to create user groups, build custom courses from the available modules, and track users’ progress through the course, providing an easy, measurable way to train firefighters.
After some perusal, the EMR-ISAC appreciates that this free program may be particularly valuable to small or volunteer departments looking to increase training opportunities without stretching their budgets.
The U.S. Fire Administration/EMR-ISAC does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites, and does not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.
This INFOGRAM may contain copyrighted material that was not specifically authorized by the copyright owner. EMR-ISAC personnel believe this constitutes "fair use" of copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use copyrighted material contained within this document for your own purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
DHS and the FBI encourage recipients of this document to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to DHS and/or the FBI. The DHS National Operation Center (NOC) can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9685 or by email at NOC.Fusion@dhs.gov.
The FBI regional phone numbers can be found online at www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm
For information affecting the private sector and critical infrastructure, contact the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), a sub-element of the NOC. The NICC can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9201 or by email at NICC@dhs.gov.
When available, each report submitted should include the date, time, location, type of activity, number of people and type of equipment used for the activity, the name of the submitting company or organization, and a designated point of contact.
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U.S. Fire Administration, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 | USNG: 18SUJ00529652
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September 2, 2010 InfoGram