ARE YOU READY TO BE READY??
UPCOMING EVENTS AND CLASSES
COPE Preparedness NewsletterThe things you will need in a disaster. Come on...... go get this stuff.
Read more special coverage on the 20th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake, where you can see these items and more:
In case of an emergency, you should have basic
items, such as food and water, kitchen items, first aid supplies,
sanitation and hygiene items, tools, clothing and bedding, and household
documents and contact numbers. They should be compact and accessible.
It is often best to put together your own emergency supply kit rather
than buying one at a store so you can personalize it. In addition to
items below, kits should include comfort items such as coffee or candy, a
deck of cards or board games. If you have children, include toys.
* Health items
* Prescription medications and eyeglasses
* Infant formula and diapers (if applicable)
* Breathing Masks (NIOSH-N95)
* Personal First Aid Kit
Household documents:
* Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, bank account records, I.D. cards
* Photos of family members and pets (in case you are separated)
* Cash and traveler’s checks
* Tools
* Battery-powered flashlight (batteries included)
* Cell phone charger (batteries included)
* Work Gloves
* Light Sticks (3 each; one lasts 12 hours)
* Roll of duct tape
* Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
* Nutrition/protein bars
* Canned foods and juices
* Eating Utensils
* Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
* Water (at least 1 gallon per person, per day)
* Pet food and extra water for your pet (if applicable)
* Moist towelettes
* Plastic Sheeting (10’x10’)
* Rain Ponchos
* Backpack
* Whistle
* Battery-operated radio or TV
* Local maps
Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
* Complete change of clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes.
* Personal Hygiene Kit (includes shampoo/body wash, wash cloth, toothbrush and toothpaste, comb, deodorant)
* Books, games and/or puzzles for children
If
you lack clean water, you can use the water in your hot-water tank,
pipes and ice trays. If necessary, you can even use water in the
reservoir tank of your toilet (not the bowl).
If you hear reports
of broken water or sewage lines, you’ll need to shut of your incoming
water valve to stop contaminated water from entering your home. To use
water already in your pipes, let air into the plumbing by turning on the
faucet at the highest level of your house. A small amount of water will
trickle out. Then obtain water from the lowest faucet in the house.
To use the water in your hot water tank, be sure the electricity
or gas is off. Then open the drain at the bottom of the tank. Start the
water flowing by turning on the water intake valve and turning on a hot
water faucet. Do not turn on the gas or electricity when the tank is
empty.
You should treat all water of uncertain purity before using
it for drinking, food preparation or hygiene. There are many ways to
treat water, though since none is perfect, the best solution is a
combination of methods. Each of these methods will kill most microbes
but will not remove other contaminants such as heavy metals, salts and
most other chemicals. Before treating, let any suspended particles
settle to the bottom, or strain them through layers of paper towel or
clean cloth.
Boiling: Boiling is the safest method. Bring
water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes. Let the water cool before
drinking. Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it
by pouring the water back and forth between two clean containers.
Disinfection:
You can use household liquid bleach to kill microorganisms. Use only
regular household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium
hypochlorite. Do not use scented bleaches, color-safe bleaches or
bleaches with added cleaners. Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of
water. Stir and let stand for 30 minutes. Do not use anything except
household liquid bleach. Other chemicals, such as iodine or water
treatment products sold in camping or surplus stores should not be used
as they generally do not contain 5.3 percent sodium hypochlorite as the
only active ingredient.
Distillation: While boiling and disinfection
will kill most microbes, distillation will go one step further, removing
heavy metals, salts and most other chemicals. Distillation involves
boiling water and then collecting the vapor that condenses back to
water. To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the
handle on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang right side up when the
lid is upside down (make sure the cup is not dangling into the water)
and boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid
into the cup is distilled.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department offers
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to those interested in
being first responders. CERT training is free and consists of seven
classes covering topics such as fire suppression and emergency medical
care. Each class is 2½ hours long. Courses are available at multiple
locations.
To learn more about upcoming CERT training, visit www.cert-la.com and click on “Current CERT Trainings” or call 818-756-9674.
It is best to have both a land line and cell phone available in
an emergency, according to Ready L.A., the city’s emergency preparedness
department.
Here is what the city recommends:
* Keep a list of emergency numbers in your cell phone and/or near your home phone.
* Make sure you have batteries and car chargers available for your mobile phone
* If you have a landline, make sure you have at least one non-cordless phone in your home. It will work even if you lose power.
* Subscribe to text alert services from local or state governments like Alert.LA County.gov.
* Send texts instead of making calls during a disaster. Messages take up far less bandwidth.
*
Use Facebook, Twitter and Skype. According to Ready L.A., sometimes the
Internet continues to work when phone service is disrupted.
* If
you are unsuccessful in completing a cell phone call, wait 10 seconds
before redialing to help reduce network congestion. Keep conversation
brief.
* Conserve your cell phone battery by reducing screen brightness, placing the phone in airplane mode, and closing apps.
*
Historically, for land lines, if service shuts down, long-distance
service usually recovers first. Thus, have a single out-of-state contact
you can call with updates.
* KFI 640AM, KFWB 980AM and KNX 1070AM will broadcast emergency
alerts. Emergency alerts also likely will be broadcast via television.
*
Have a two-week supply of pet food and water in case of an emergency.
Rotate several times per year to keep it relatively fresh.
* Have extra prescriptions and medicines available.
* If you have a dog, keep a muzzle in your emergency kit. Some rescue agencies prefer them before they will assist in your
evacuation.
* Learn pet CPR, resuscitation and general first aid.
* Stay calm; most animals pick up on emotions and may react by displaying aggressive behavior.
* Check pet structures and favorite hiding places for hazardous debris.
* Microchip your pet and supply current ID tags at all times.
* Keep up-to-date vaccination records.
* After a disaster, immediately alert local shelters if your pet is missing.
*
Obtain a “Pet Alert” sign for doors and windows from your local SPCALA
Pet Adoption Center. You can also find similar signs on Amazon.com. This
sign will alert emergency first responders to evacuate your pet.
If a major disaster occurs, it may be necessary to
turn off home utilities. By doing so, you can prevent gas leaks,
flooding, fire or electrocution.
How to shut off your gas
*
Do not shut off your gas unless you smell gas, hear gas escaping, see a
broken gas line or suspect a gas leak. Once the gas is shut off, never
attempt to turn it back on yourself; wait for the gas company to
reconnect you.
The gas can be turned off at the main service
shutoff valve. According to Ready L.A., the valve can be found on the
gas line leading to your gas meter, which is normally in a side or
backyard. The valve can be found 6 to 8 inches above the ground. Using a
sturdy wrench turn to the valve until it is crosswise to the pipe.
According to Ready L.A., you’ll want to turn off your electricity in any of these circumstances:
* You smell burning insulation.
* There is a fire or major water leak.
* You suspect a gas leak.
* Arcing or burning occur in electrical items.
* Switches or plugs become blackened or hot.
* Power loss, accompanied by burning smell.
To
do so, first locate your main electric box, which you can usually find
in the garage or on the exterior on your home. If you have circuit
breakers, open the door to the breaker box and make sure the electrical
switch is off. If your house has fuses, find the pullout fuse that says
“main.” Remove all of the small fuses, and then remove the “main” fuse.
Water leaks can cause extensive damage, so it is sometimes best to shut off water after a disaster.
To
do so, you should locate your shutoff valve, which is often in a garage
or in the side or back of your house where water enters the building.
You’re usually looking for a wheel located on a riser pipe. Turn it
clockwise to shut off the water. If you live an apartment and don’t have
access to the shutoff point, you might want to cut off the water supply
to major appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators.
Source: City of Los Angeles, Ready L.A. program
In This Issue
In This Issue
Aug 10, 2013 08:58 am |In times of emergencies, breastfeeding is best Infants
and children are especially vulnerable and need special consideration
during emergencies. Medical experts recommend inclusion of the
protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding and safe
infant/young child feeding in emergency preparedness policies and
practices. It is recommended to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding as the safest form of infant nutrition during emergencies. ... |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Recent StoriesSan Pedro Residents – “Pay Attention” Clearwater Decisions Could Change Your Community!Draft EIR recommends sewage pipeline through San Pedro to Royal Palms How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors? – Another Reason for MYN |
Who Are We?1) COPE is a 501c3 non-profit with a mission: "Promoting Emergency Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach". 2) COPE is a collaboration of dedicated professionals, community leaders, and concerned citizens. 3) COPE provides preparedness training programs and community forums. Be Aware and Be Prepared! |
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM
Los Angeles Fire Department – CERT Unit
5021 North Sepulveda Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, California 91403
Phone: (818) 756-9674 / Fax: (818) 756-9681
Email: lafdcert@lacity.org Web Page: www.cert-la.com
LEVEL 1 SYLLABUS
CLASS 1 - INTRODUCTION, EARTHQUAKE AWARENESS
Registration
Introduction
Earthquake Threat in Southern California Personal & Family Preparation Nonstructural Hazard Mitigation
CLASS 2 - DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION TECHNIQUES
Fire Chemistry
Fire Extiguisher Use
Utility Control
Creative Firefighting Techniques Hazardous Materials / Placarding
CLASS 3 - DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS (SESSION 1)
Recognizing Life-Threatening Emergencies Treating Life-Threatening Emergencies Triage
CLASS 4 - DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS (SESSION 2) AND MULTI-CASUALTY INCIDENT
Head-to-Toe Evaluation
Treating Nonlife-Threatening Emergencies Treatment Area Management
CLASS 5 - LIGHT SEARCH & RESCUE OPERATIONS
Evacuation
Search Techniques Rescue Methods / Cribbing
CLASS 6 –TEAM ORGANIZATION & DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY
Developing a Response Team Incident Command System “ICS” Psychological “Size-Up”
CLASS 7 – TERRORISM & HOMELAND DEFENSE
History of Terrorism
Do’s and Don’ts During a Terrorist Act Homeland Defense Tips
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Los Angeles Fire Department's CERT Program (free of charge) was developed because of the need for a well-trained civilian emergency work force. The CERT Program provides for community self-sufficiency through the development of multifunctional response teams who act as an adjunct to the city's emergency services during major disasters. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, and provide immediate assistance to victims. CERT members can also assist with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community. Through this unique program, people from community organizations, business and industry, and city employee groups will become CERT members. They work as a team member and perform as individual leaders by directing untrained volunteers in the initial phase of an emergency.
The complete CERT Program is comprised of three progressive courses. CERT members begin their education with Level 1 training. Level 1 training is taught by professional experienced firefighters and paramedics. The course is followed by continuing education programs, including biannual refreshers.
We encourage our Level 1 graduates to enhance their education. Following the completion of Level 1, the CERT Program also offers Level 2 and Level 3 sequential training. CERT Level 2 includes 12 additional training hours in: “Introduction to Disaster Services”, “Mass Care”, and “Shelter Operations & Shelter Simulations”. Currently, Level 2 classes are free through the American Red Cross. Check for dates of available classes.
After you have completed Levels 1
You are receiving this email because you signed up for notifications on our website, at a community forum, or by personal invitation.
Copyright (C) 2012 COPE Preparedness All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment