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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Electrical hazards are one of the most dangerous threats to wildland firefighters. Under heavy smoke conditions and in wooded areas, firefighters may not even know power lines are in the vicinity unless proper pre-fire planning has been completed.
A 2002 report from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) discusses these hazards, case studies of accidents, and lists recommendations to limit the possibility of injury and death.
An 18-minute training video (PDF, 286 Kb) produced by the Salt River Project, an Arizona utility company, describes the best practices and expectations between both the utility and the wildfire responders. The video was created with the western part of the U.S. in mind and is specific to that area, but it gives an instructive starting point for planners in regions that don't usually see wildfires on a large scale.
The video discuses when to contact the utility company; how certain types of smoke can cause arcing; how to stage around electrical utilities; the use of water, foam and retardants; dealing with downed power lines and how to respond if someone receives electrical shock or injury.
It also details the basics of energy management and the expected responsibilities of the utility company, such as line inspections, clearing brush, or cleaning soot off electrical equipment.
(Source: Wildfire Lessons Learned Center)The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) released a guide highlighting a study of emergency vehicle markings, lighting, and design for greater visibility. The guide "provides information on best practices in the application of various arrangements of emergency warning devices, creative use of retro reflective decal markings and other innovative designs."
The overall intent of the study was to identify ways to increase visibility of emergency vehicles to motorists approaching them, especially to try to limit rear-end collisions. It focuses on emergency vehicles not covered by existing standards, and gives many photos of markings on a variety of emergency vehicles and includes examples of international emergency vehicle markings compared to those in the U.S.
The report is available in PDF (PDF, 4.4 Mb) and as a PowerPoint presentation (PPT, 37.6 Mb), either of which can easily be used as a reference aid.
The guide was produced with support by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and in partnership with the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association's (CVVFA) Emergency Responder Safety Institute.
(Source: USFA)More patient files and records are being stored and transmitted by EMS providers electronically using mobile devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to educate medical workers of their responsibilities when transmitting Protected Health Information (PHI) using these devices.
Mobile devices can be less secure than other computers because they are more easily misplaced or stolen, can link to an unsecure wireless network, and can download viruses. HHS recommends providers have a plan mitigating the use of mobile devices within their office and the safe transmission of PHI. HHS's website dedicated to the safe use of mobile devices in health care offers a series of videos, frequently asked questions, and downloadable materials. The 2012 Mobile Device Roundtable transcripts are also available.
HHS's website dedicated to the safe use of mobile devices in health care offers a series of videos, frequently asked questions and downloadable materials. The 2012 Mobile Device Roundtable transcripts are also available.
(Source: HealthIT.gov)Google released an updated mobile application (app) giving detailed floor plans for public buildings like malls, box stores, casinos and even airports. Indoor Google Maps was created to help people navigate unfamiliar locations, but it also gives a new free indoor mapping tool to emergency and public safety responders.
Indoor Maps is an addition to the Google Maps app that's been available for some time. It shows your position as a small blue dot moving as you move through the landscape. If you are near or in a building with an available floor plan, it will show a detailed diagram – and can even show what level you are on within the building.
Google reports it has over 10,000 floor plans available with more being added. Floor plans can only be uploaded by businesses that own the rights to the plans, and can only include public areas. Excluded are secure areas (such as in airports), national defense locations and dwellings.
Fire and public safety departments interested in incorporating this technology into pre-fire planning and drills should not assume the floor plans are current or updated regularly. Such indoor mapping technology should regularly be checked for accuracy.
(Source: Google Maps)Adobe Acrobat (PDF)/Other Help
January 17, 2013 InfoGram (PDF, 157 Kb)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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Last Reviewed: January 18, 2013
Brush up on safety regs for highway transportation of explosives w/ this #training bulletin http://t.co/zhwdFCtkzK #fire June 11, 2013 @ 8:49 AM ET
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