Categories
Charities/Groups we support Emergency Responders

Disaster dog handler — what it takes

Greetings all,

One of the things I thought I would touch on is what it takes to be a search dog handler in a disaster setting.  Usually on tv or in the papers you see these people walking around with nicely trained dogs in a horrible setting and think, ‘wow, that would be cool, going out there with Fluffy to find people.’  There is a lot of training that goes into the dog and the handler to prepare them for that type of a situation.

A disaster search dog handler has to sit through classroom training, yes, it’s not always about working with a dog.  You do have to understand things about safety, collapsed structures, rope systems, hazardous materials, marking systems for buildings that are not safe, how to communicate in the command structure as well as all of the information you need on how to train and handle a search dog.  This type of training is what professional firefighters also go through to prepare them for their career(the basics anyway).  So as a canine handler, you have to understand how to fit in that structure, how to keep yourself and the rest of your team safe, help the person you are looking for AND handle the dog.  This takes a lot of time.  My team training for this weekend is actually the maintenance of my CPR/First aid certification through the Red Cross, which has NOTHING to do with training my dog but is part of my responsibility for keeping my skills as a first responder current.

So yes, you do have to spend a lot of time on ‘non dog stuff’ in order to be a disaster dog handler.  Keep in mind, FEMA has a 40 hour class that all disaster dog search dog handlers MUST go through before you can be deployed.  This is not a class that is open to the general public, you have to be part of a FEMA team in order to take the class.  You spend 1/2 a day in classroom learning about such things as building markings, how buildings collapse and the safety precautions you have to take as well as dog training things.  You then spend the afternoon out training, HARD.  In addition to this 40 hour class, the other classes include:  your hazardous materials class is usually 16 hours of classroom, the ropes class is also 16 hours, the CPR/First Aid is 8-12 hours, then you also have the incident command classes which run anywhere from 4 to 32 hours of classroom.  That’s a lot of time in the classroom and very little spent working your dog!!!!!

So then, you add your dog training time on top of that.  You and your dog have to train in obedience, agility, rubble search and having the dog take directions on which way to search.  So while you are sitting in class learning all sorts of new things, at some point you have to make time to train with your dog (remember, the cool part about searching with Fluffy).    First and foremost, you have to see if Fluffy has the ability to do this work.  (which is a whole different post).

Am I trying to talk anyone out of doing this type of volunteer work, NO!  It’s great, I love it and my dogs love having a job.  But then I’m the person who got up at 4am on Saturday, drove 3 hours, to sit in class for 6 hours, train my dog for 1 hour, train other people’s dogs for 2 hours, drive home for  3 hours (got home at 8pm) and spent my own money to do it.

Just have an appreciation for how much time, sweat and training those cool dog handlers have put in when they make their job look easy.

Wags,

Robin and Dunder (search dog in training)

Categories
Emergency Responders General Preparedness Uncategorized

Search dogs in the world of disasters

Greetings to all,

As you think about disasters, being personally prepared is extremely important and I’m glad to see all the posts that are coming into the site. Keep in mind, many of the people you may deal with in disaster situations (including Katrina and tornadoes) are volunteers.

Many people do not realize it, but 95% of the search and rescue dog handlers out there are volunteers. They spend their own time and money training/certifying and even deploying to disasters. Only the federal FEMA teams and some of the state disaster teams have paid positions. However, you still only get paid for deployments, NOT for training.

This weekend, Dunder and I are off to some training and will be posting a few pictures next week of what we are doing. Dunder is a 16 month old yellow lab/golden retriever cross that was found in a shelter. We will be attending ‘drive’ training. (no he isn’t learning how to drive…he’s learning to want his toy more!) Basically, we are going to go play tug and let him bark at people. For us this is fun, for lots of other people they would find that annoying.

We do this type of training because a search dog’s job has to be fun for them, or they won’t do it well. Nintey percent of what I do is spend time trying to make the ‘training’ that Dunder and I do fun. It’s all a game to him with the biggest reward being that game of tug at the end. (I bet your boss wished you worked for something that cheap.)

Wags!

Robin and K9 Dunder (search dog in training)

Categories
Fire Preparedness/Safety

Winter Fire Safety

According to national fire stats about 84% of all fires are residential fires, and most of these occur in the winter months due to the use of alternative heating devices such as space heaters and fireplaces.

Many of these fire safety sources repeat the logical suggestions that each home should have a working smoke detector and families should practice fire drills.

To this, 1800Prepare adds the following suggestions which are excerpted from the book “Disaster Prep 101” (found on our books page).

1.  Smoke detectors are great to have and they’re inexpensive, so have at least 2 per floor, and have one that only comes out in winter.  This extra one is meant to be used near your alternate heating devices during the winter when they’re in use.

2.  Some of these extra smoke detectors might be located far away from your bedrooms.  Since the worst time for a fire to occur is when the family is asleep, use this simple trick.  Go get a “baby monitor.”  They’re inexpensive new, and you might find some deals at yard sales or thrift stores.  Put the monitor’s transmitter near your farthest smoke detector and the receiver in your bedroom.  If the smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night, you’ll be sure to hear it.

3.  When you practice your family fire drills, take turns to allow each family member to be “it,” the one who discovers the fire and warns the others.  Also, be sure to have some realistic practice by performing your fire drill while blindfolded and crawling on hands and knees (IF all family members are physically capable and you’re not doing anything dangerous like trying to crawl down the stairs.  Safety first, even in drills!)

4.  Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher in each area a fire may occur such as the kitchen, garage, and near your clothes dryer.

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Categories
General Preparedness Personal Stories Preparedness Planning

A Survivor of Flight 1549

A dear friend of mine, Matt Kane, was a survivor of Flight 1549.  I asked him to give me his thoughts on his experience.

As a survivor of flight 1549 I believe preparation and emotional control were the key to our survival. It starts with the crew, especially Capt Sully. Their ability to make critical/correct decisions throughout the experience was key to the final outcome. The first thing he and the crew did was face their reality. They were not immune to their fear, but they did not allow it to control them. It was all about the question what is next.  They were able to control the panic and tap into their emotional benchmark.

Both the crew and the survivors of flight 1549 were prepared for the situation. The crews years of experience allowed them to make critical decisions and execution. The passengers were not overcome by fear and panic, but were prepared by inflating lift vests, opening exit doors and existing in an orderly controlled fashion.

I can make these comments with the upmost confidence based on the fact that I  experience this from seat 24 A with water up to my waist before the exit doors were open. We were prepared for the situation, we did not panic and survived.

Categories
Charities/Groups we support

Paying it Forward

As many of your already know, since my appearance of The Office I have very much wanted to find a way to “Pay it Forward” and take the opportunity I was given to do some good. I was so extremely lucky to be given the part of “Cool Guy Paul” of Disaster Kits Limited and felt I had to share in the good fortune.

My character is the sole owner of a company that makes and sells Emergency Preparedness Kits and supplies. These are products that people would need or use if they were every faced with a disaster. During a disaster: hurricane, fire, flood, earthquake, act of terror and any of a long list a terrible events there are many people who respond. This list includes police, fire, EMT’s, C.E.R.T. team volunteers, Red Cross, military, Coast Guard and depending on the incident many other groups. One type of responder that is not often talked about but is extremely important and desperately needed are search and rescue dogs and their handlers. These dogs have the ability to do things that in some cases humans simply cannot do and in other cases….they just do it much better and quicker (in most situations…time saved…means lives saved)

With their ultra-sensitive hearing, night vision, endurance and keen sense of smell these dogs perform takes such as:

1. Finding a lost person in the woods
2. Following a patient with Alzheimer’s missing from a nursing home
3. Locate a skier buried in an Avalanche
4. Assist law enforcement with crime scenes
5. Find live people trapped in collapsed buildings
6. Locate drowning victims

This is just  short list of some of the amazing things these dogs and their handlers do in extremely dangerous and often unstable environments, in any weather, day or night. As a volunteer firefighter I have been on calls and seen these dogs in action.

From what I have found, most of these dog teams are operated by volunteers. These very unique, brave and talented people give up their time and money to find and train these dogs. Not only does the dog have to go through training but so does the handler. They have to learn to work with the dog as a team to perform the necessary task. This training can take anywhere from one to two years. Between finding and caring for the dog, travel, training courses and deployment this can get to be expensive.

I decided a while ago that I was going to sponsor a dog. I wanted to be able to provide all the money necessary to find and train at least one of these amazing animals and support their team. I wanted to do this for 2 main reasons.

1. To take the amazing opportunity I was given and do something more with it then just benefit myself.

2. To help educate and make people more aware of these great animals, their handlers and what they do.

After a long search I am happy to report that I have found a dog and handler and have already begun my support. Here is a quick brief:

He is a yellow lab/golden retriever mix and was found at an animal shelter in May of last year.  He had been given up for adoption by his previous owner who thought he was overly aggressive and who did not have time for a growing puppy.  He was evaluated and placed into a Paws of Life foster home and for the next three months learned how to play tug and that people were fun.  He then went to training with FEMA K9 handlers who saw a significant amount of potential in him.  At 6 months old he was competing basic tasks for his search dog training such as barking at hidden people, playing tug and agility.

He is now in training for a state urban search and rescue team and a wilderness search team.  He’s working on obedience, agility and searching rubble and wooded areas in training.  He’s learning to walk off leash, stay for 5 minutes, come to an emergency stop when called and navigate a complicated agility course. Over the next few months he will also be learning how to work out complex scent problems with his nose and bark to tell us he’s found the person. After that his training will get more technical. I plan to send out a monthly update on his progress.

HERE IS THE BEST PART!!!

This dog…who if all things go according to plan…and who will be trained and deployed to save lives is named “Dunder“. He was obviously named after a paper company that most of you know.

I will be supporting “Dunder” in a number of ways:

1. I will be taking a % of all sales from my company and donating it to various organizations and charities involved in the search, rescue and response field. ‘Dunder” and Paws of Life will be one of them.

2. If I am fortunate enough to have my character appear in a future episode I will be donating a portion of what I am paid to “Dunders”: support.

3. I will be exploring other fundraising and awareness options.

For more information on “Dunder” and Paws of Life you can go to www.1800prepare.com and click on the Charities We Support link. There you can click on the link to Paws of Life. This will take you to a page that shows information and a picture of “Dunder”. It is also a place where if you want you can make your own donation to help support “Dunder”. By no means am I asking you to make a donation. I am fully committed to supporting this myself. However…please feel free to make a donation if you would like.

I have already discussed with “Dunders” handler who also happens to run Paws of Life that is we raise enough money I want to find another dog who will be named……”Mifflin“. I am confident I will reach this goal.

Ok….this blog post is already about 300 words longer then I planned. Until next time….Be Ready….Be Prepared….and stay safe.

All the best,

Paul

Categories
Cell Phones

50 Emergency Uses for Your Camera Phone

In an emergency you’ll not only need to provide and receive help, but after the event is over, you’ll face the prospect of return, repair, and rebuilding. Central to all these activities is communication and documentation. Everything in our society carries a heaping helping of red tape, and disasters are no different. Below are 50 of the many ways one simple tool, in this case the camera phone, can be used in an emergency to help you document, record, and relay some of your more important pieces of information.

Granted, any camera could be used for some of the things listed below, but the phonecam carries a distinct advantage with it. It can immediately transmit the pictures it takes. If you don’t have a phonecam, that’s okay. Go with what you have, or with what you can afford. Disposable film cameras and digital cameras are acceptable, and microcassette recorders that will let you record information verbally are useful as well.

However, the phonecam rules, so let’s look at ways yours can be used in an emergency. The following are excerpts from our book “Disaster Prep 101” found at www.disasterprep101.com.

1. Last minute child ID. Whenever the family might be separated, take a series of last-minute pictures of all family members, especially the kids, and also the pets. You might need this to reunite the family later.

2. Draw a map, shoot it, send it. Trying to send or receive directions to or from a certain location and voice directions just aren’t cutting it? Draw a map on paper, take a picture, and send.

3. Injury photos to the doctor. Suppose you’re in a situation where you can’t get to help and they can’t get to you, and someone’s sick or injured. If there are visible signs or symptoms, your phonecam can relay these to medical personnel who can walk you through whatever treatment is possible where you are.

4. Damage documentation for insurance. In mass catastrophes, it’ll be days or longer before even the first insurance adjusters get there to file claims on your behalf. Photo all the damage you can in case some of it gets repaired or cleaned up before your agent arrives.

5. Report suspicious activity. Are you part of a neighborhood watch group? If you see suspicious activity, you can upload pictures of suspects and the situation to the Police immediately.

6. “Here’s the landmark I’m near.” In an emergency, gathering with the family at a “rendezvous point” is one of the most critical steps you’ll take. If you don’t have a fixed meeting place, you can send pictures of where and what you’re near so the others can find you. This also works well if you’re lost and/or injured in the wilderness and you need to relay pictures of landmarks so Search and Rescue teams can find you.

7. “Meet us at this landmark.” If you have a fixed rendezvous point and you want to relay the info to others, send a pic you already have on file, so others will know where to meet. Take these file photos while compiling your family emergency plan.

8. Photo shopping list. If you’re about to stock your pantry in anticipation of an emergency, such as if you’re planning on sheltering-in-place during a hurricane, take a picture of your pantry as a quick way to list things you need from the store.

9. Driving directions. If you’re trying to tell others where a certain location is, such as an emergency shelter, you can send them a picture by picture set of driving directions. This is another good thing to create while putting your family reaction plan together.

10. “Meet this person.” Let’s say your family had to evacuate, and they know the address they’re supposed to head to, but not everyone has met the family emergency contact person. Send them a picture of the person they’re supposed to meet, or you can send your contact person some pictures of the people heading their way.

11. Last minute property inventory. Just as you’d photo the family in anticipation of an emergency, you should do the same with your property. If you’re about to evacuate, snap some quick shots of your property to include any new purchases not included in your last full home inventory, and to show the current condition of your property in general.

12. “Adventure” journal. Who says every potential disaster situation has to be a total disaster? One way to look at it is as an adventure. Take some pictures to record what you do, the places you go during evacuation, people you meet along the way, etc.

13. Situational severity. In a large-scale emergency, first responders will be spread thin and overworked. They might not have anyone to send to get you out of a partly-flooded neighborhood, or to help put out a tiny grass fire. However, the situation might actually be worse than they understand, and you might need some serious help. Sending a picture of just how bad the situation is might help.

14. Quick text messaging. Time is critical in an emergency and so are communications. You might not have enough time to punch in a text message, and the lines might not be open long enough for a conversation. If that’s the case, write a note on paper, take a picture, and send that.

15. Minor traffic mishap documentation. If you have a minor fender-bender while evacuating, and there are no injuries and no one’s car needs to be towed, most jurisdictions will tell you to “swap info and move along.” If that’s the case (always call 911 to ask and make sure), take photos of the vehicular damage, people involved, witnesses at the scene (and their car tag numbers), and if your phone has video, take video of others involved in the accident to show their injuries (or lack thereof).

16. Wallet backup. Just as you’d photograph family members and property, take pictures of your wallet’s contents (or important documents) in order to record numbers, and show that cards actually are or were in your possession. Be very careful when storing or transmitting these pictures as the info is very sensitive and can be used for identity theft!

17. Inclement weather reporting. If you’re the first one to see the funnel cloud, heavy hail, or a river starting to overflow, sending a picture in to the weather service or proper authorities is undeniable and rapid proof that severe weather or other emergency is occurring.

18. First Responder intel. The more first responders know about the true nature of a collapsed house, an auto accident, a fire in progress, or any other emergency, the more rapid and appropriate a reaction they can make.

19. Missing persons report. Send picture of picture. Let’s say a family member goes missing. In addition to the last minute photos you took, you could also send a picture of a photograph you might have in your purse or wallet. This will save a lot of time for you and the authorities.

20. Relay property damage to or from neighbors. Suppose your neighborhood was heavily damaged in a disaster. Whoever goes home first, either you or your neighbors, could photograph neighborhood and home damage and relay the info to the other.

21. Help insurance adjusters find your property. After a devastating incident, street signs will be gone, house numbers won’t be visible, etc. Take current pictures of landmarks or any kind of unique damage near or at your property. This will make it easier for your insurance adjuster to find you.

22. Copy the bulletin boards. If you’re in an emergency shelter, and there’s an info bulletin board, you might need a lot of the info posted, but not have time to write or anything to write with or on. Take a picture!

23. Bus, subway, or city map info. If you’re anywhere you’re not familiar with and you have any sort of posted map, take a picture of it to refer to later if you get lost.

24. Document your route. When traveling to a new area, and either others will be following later, or you want to be sure you can find your way back, be sure to take pictures along the way of landmarks at turns you make, forks in the road, etc.

25. Record medicines or food brand needs. If you have to relay information about your medications to a doctor, or if you have special dietary needs and need to send information regarding certain product or food brands to an outside person or service, then a picture really is worth a thousand words.

26. Remember parking spot locations. Don’t trust your memory, trust a picture. Take a quick pic of where you left your vehicle either in a lot or in a parking deck.

27. Pic of engine problems for mechanic. Should you break down on the road and your vehicle shows outward signs of engine problems such as steam shooting from a certain hose, or liquids dripping from a place on the engine, send a pic to a mechanic who may be able to talk you through a quick fix to get you back on the road.

28. Business or service function and/or hours. Just as you’d photograph a map, you might want to copy posted business hours or listed service functions (and pricing) for later review and recall. This is also a good way to report price gouging on the road.

29. Allowable child custodian. If you can’t get to your kids who are at school or some other function, relay a picture of the person who is coming in your stead to pick them up. Send this picture to both the school or function, and to your child (if they have their own phonecam).

30. Relay info on injured or hospitalized people. You might be in a position to send pictures to people looking for loved ones or vice-versa.

31. Remember your hotel room. Whenever you get a hotel room, take a picture so you can find your way back. Photo not only the room number on the door, but the name of the motel and adjacent buildings for reference.

32. ID your evac gear. As with all your belongings, take a picture to prove ownership. One situation where this might come in handy is with petty theft in emergency shelters. It’s actually a rare occurrence, but it’s best to be ready to prove things are yours.

33. Photo scavenger hunt. If you’ve settled down a bit, say at your emergency shelter or temporary stopover, you’ll need something to entertain the kids. Give them a short list of things they should take a picture of. First one to take all the listed pictures wins!

34. Identify the close-up. Another entertainment idea is to take a really close up picture of something while the kids aren’t looking, and have them figure out what it is.

35. Document your whereabouts during civil unrest. Another remote possibility, but since these things do happen, it’s best to be ready. Let’s say you’re in a location where looting is occurring, or rioting about to happen. You can either help the Police by secretively taking pictures of the perpetrators (not really recommended for safety reasons), or you can take pictures as you’re leaving the area to document the fact that you weren’t part of the trouble.

36. ID the rescue team. If a rescuer is picking up your child or pet, you want to photo the rescuer (and the child or pet) and the vehicle they used. Get their name tag in the picture as well as registration numbers on helicopters, vehicle tags numbers, or names of boats.

37. Document your cleanup efforts. It may be a while before your insurance adjuster can arrive. Take pictures of the damage as you found it, and steps you took during cleanup. Regarding insurance or recovery grants, NOTHING beats documentation!

38. Document your repair or cleanup expenditures. If you buy goods or supplies, rent equipment, or hire a service, in addition to keeping your receipts, be sure to photograph the goods acquired, the equipment being used, or the service being performed (also photo the people involved where possible).

39. Transmit property item pics to retrieval companies. Some scenarios will see you unable to return home. Some companies are trained and equipped to go into these areas to help people gather certain belongings. Having property photos stored on your phone will allow you to send pictures of specific property items you’d like retrieved.

40. Document location / status of fellow evacuees. Authorities will not only want to know who is injured, dead, or missing, but they’ll want to know who is okay and where they are. Taking pictures of those you meet along with way whether it’s during an evacuation, or of people at your emergency shelter, will help ID the living and well.

41. Bridge the language barrier. A picture is worth a thousand words. Ever try to find the restroom in a foreign country and you didn’t know the proper phrase? Imagine how guests in our country would feel in emergency situations where they needed much more than a restroom and didn’t know how to ask. Pictures would make that process a hundred times easier, whether you’re trying to understand their needs, or relay yours to them.

42. Transmit road conditions. Let’s say after a hurricane, you’re one of the first families returning to a damaged area, and you’re taking back roads. Authorities (or others following you later) might not have had a chance to check every avenue of return. If there’s damage that needs to be reported, or no damage at all (which should also be reported), sending a picture can relay tons of information, especially if a roadway has received damage and road crews need to know what kind of damage and its extent.

43. Relay traffic conditions. If family or group members are separated, or heading in different directions, you might need to pass along traffic conditions or the info from traffic warning signs.

44. Crime scene evidence. Many times, people have returned from an evacuation to a home that was undamaged during the event, but later looted. Since the Police might not be able to show up right away, go ahead and take “crime scene” photos (for both Police and insurance) just as you’d photograph your property if it was damaged in the event.

45. Too much info on the screen to copy? Shoot it. Should the TV flash some pertinent information on the screen and you don’t have time to write it down, or should you have a lot of text on a computer screen and you can’t print it out, take a picture for later review.

46. Positive ID to or from your doctor and/or pharmacy. Medical needs are a very real probability during an emergency. Since you can’t get to your doctor in person, and they might be phoning in a prescription to a pharmacy that doesn’t know either of you, use your phone to verify your identity to your doctor, and your doctor can relay the picture to the pharmacy so they’ll know who’s coming to get the meds.

47. Emergency supply information. Suppose a developing emergency has caught you low on goods or gear and you send different people to different locations to help stock up. If supplies are low, these family members may need to send a picture of the types or brands of items available so you can make educated purchase decisions.

48. Picture file of “Last Minute List” items and shutdown. Though everyone should keep a “bugout kit” packed and ready to go, there will be items which cannot duplicated and/or packed in advance. In addition to creating a written “Last Minute List,” create a photo file showing all the items you want to take with you (and their location) and things you should do to shut down and secure the house before leaving.

49. Evac atlas. Create your own “evac travel atlas” of emergency assets available along your probable evacuation routes. This might include lodging, ATM locations, hospital emergency rooms, etc. Travel the routes and take photos, or draw your own maps and shoot that.

50. Photo reaction plan for the reading disabled. If a family member suffers from any reading disability, such as Dyslexia, using photos is a must. Create a photo file that will relay your entire emergency plan without using text.

51. Since InfoQuest always does more than expected, here’s a bonus idea. Your camera phone can relay pictures of structural damage to a structural engineer who can tell you how to shore up certain walls, where safe spots might be, where hidden dangers might be, etc., as your Search and Rescue team looks through a collapsed building for survivors.

These are just some of the many ways a camera phone can be used to help in an emergency. Take a look around at your family and your current threats, needs, and assets and look at ways you can put your phonecam to use. Better yet, look at the things you can do so that your phonecam isn’t needed at all!

About the author: Paul Purcell is an Atlanta-based security analyst and preparedness consultant with over twenty years risk management and preparedness experience. He is a partner and active member of the 1-800-PREPARE, LLC. advisory committee, and he’s also the author of the comprehensive family disaster preparedness manual Disaster Prep 101. More information on Paul and his book can be found at http://www.disasterprep101.com/ or http://www.1800prepare.com/. (Copyright 2007 – Paul Purcell. Permission is granted to reprint this article provided author’s info and all portions remain intact.)

(Note: One of the many benefits carried by this article is that it provides a useful topic for first responders who routinely speak to civilian groups. For similar topics, please get a copy of “Disaster Prep 101.”)

Categories
Uncategorized

Welcome to our 1-800-PREPARE Blog

Welcome to the 1-800-PREPARE blog. We truly hope you find the information here valuable.  We plan on have many experts from across different segments of the preparedness and safety world blog here. Please send us your comments, questions, ideas and also let us know what information you would like to see here.

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