Your smoke detector: Know how use: recognize warning noise vs change battery beep. Know how to change battery.
Maryellen R: Use Laminated First Responder Card instead of wasting time and delaying action by riffling through an overstuffed wallet looking for shabby tiny (outdated?) paper insurance cards and relevant numbers.
Front side includes copy of driver’s license, medical and Rx insurance.
Back side lists chronic ailments, allergies, prothesis (like pacemaker) and medicines you take. Primary Care Provider & phone #, Call these people (ph #) in an emergency. Have one card posted over fridge where first responders look for POLST, another in wallet, another in car glove box.
Marcel (MR) Request a Welfare Check(911 if immediate danger, or 311 or 503.823.3333 non emergency line) to check on a neighbor if you are concerned about someone’s welfare, or someone has not been seen or heard from in a while.
Ten Second Triage (TST)
This is for non clinical responders (eg NETs).
TST was invented after the Manchester UK bombing in 2017. See Ref cards below.
START Triage (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) is still out there but is replaced by TST.
TST has no physiological checks; does not have a “dead” category; it allows for the possibility of CPR.
BOTH START and TST are aimed at lay person rescuers; have life saving interventions, intended to be rapid, uses the same colors as START method.
Two-sided reference card from NHS.. (UK National Health Service)
TST Info Side One
TST Info Side Two
The Recovery Position: This was not taught in NET training nor in the START procedure. It is an important part of the CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) training and procedure. Diagram below:
from First Aid for Free
End of report by MeR.
Heat exhaustion | Heat stroke
6/?/2025
Heat stroke is an emergency. Call 911.
NOAA graphic on OregonLive
From weather.gov:
During extremely hot and humid weather, your body's ability to cool itself is challenged. When the body heats too rapidly to cool itself properly, or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration or sweating, body temperatures rise and you or someone you care about may experience a heat-related illness. It is important to know the symptoms of extreme heat exposure and the appropriate responses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a list of warning signs and symptoms of heat illness, and recommended first aid steps. Some of these symptoms and steps are listed on this page:
heat-illness
Important Note!
Using a fan to blow air in someone’s direction may actually make them hotter if heat index temperatures are above the 90s. For more information on all of these heat related illnesses, see the notes on Heat-related Illnesses, from CDC
[LINK]
Balance the Preparation for Impending Bad Stuff with an Optimistic Mind Set
5/8/2025
Emergency Warning Systems for the Portland Area by Ralph Brooks, Forest Park (South) Firewise Neighborhood Leadership, submitted the data below from the May 3, 2025 Skyline Ridge Wildfire Ready Workshop. [Bracketed comments by Helen Chauncey, Far SouthWest NET] Go to: https://collinsview.org/ Scroll down to: Being Prepared! ★ Emergency Alerts for the Portland Area - as of May 2025 [PDF] And press the link to the PDF!
Radio Mapping of Multnomah Village by Tom Boeker, Multnomah NET Team Lead. FRS radio communication is challenging because of valleys and terrain. A relay system involving BEECN volunteers may be an answer.
Recommended viewing on Net Flix: Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror. The 1995 bombing of an Oklahoma City federal building was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in US history.
TOPIC: Balance the Preparation for Impending Bad Stuff with an Optimistic Mind Set
Times are “interesting” at the moment. A lot of things - real impending challenges-personal, global, family, physical etc. — feel outside of our control. How do we prepare and deal with all of these things without having them tyrannize our lives? What skills can we use to prepare for and process impacting events?
SOME TECHNIQUES:
Acknowledge the good things in your life; Tap into gratitude. Keep a gratitude journal.
Look at the situation from a new perspective.
Focus on what you can (and can’t) do.
Control breathing and analyze how you respond to situations.
Say ”for (me)” instead of “to (me).”
Treat yourself.
Keep an open mind and reframe your perspective.
Allow yourself to have a bad day.
Spend time in nature.
List things on a sheet of paper: one side for “things that recharge me”; the other side list “things that drain me”.
Ask helpful questions and talk it over. Create and activate a supportive and positive environment. Get advice from those in and out of your groups for different perspectives.
Helping others changes one’s mindset.
Remind yourself “I have handled difficult challenges before.” Lean on your experience.
Seek Professional help.
DISCUSSION:
FS: Give yourself permission to feel bad, and pull the covers over your head – a physical acknowledgement of stress.
PD: Go out and do something else-any change to your physical self helps reframe.
TB: The looping replay of a decision (“Coulda Woulda Shoulda”) is an indication of the need to explore why we’re having these thoughts.
HC: NETs are NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR – nor are they trained for - the health or safety of the neighborhood. That is the job of the professional First Responders. The NET instructions for After an Emergency Priorities: Be Safe yourself, Ensure that your family is safe, then neighbors’ wellbeing. [From the PBEM NET site: “Understand the role of NET in an emergency or disaster. NETs are not teams of professional first responders. NETs act as a volunteer extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.”
AFTER MEETING DISCUSSION:
Maryellen Read: “RESPONSIBLE” that Helen brought up is a Key Word/Element.
It is the “kireji” cutting word in haiku that changes your perspective/perception of the situation. ...
The topic was focused on a balance between an individual’s preparedness, process for impending and after events and techniques for retaining/regaining a healthy mind set.
“Responsible” seems to cut through all the discussion of control and shoulda woulda coulda contrition with the simple question(s)
“Am I responsible for that person? For that situation?” ...
Is this too simplistic? Is it cathartic? Does it solve anything? Or give an additional effective process for stability? Thoughts?
Marcel Rodriguez: I think that the question of “responsible” helps us move to a net positive from a net negative. If I am not responsible, everything I do is a plus. It is an additive action. ...
If I view myself as responsible for a situation, it is likely that I will use that as a yardstick of the actions that I “shoulda, woulda, coulda” and is more likely to be felt as a negative or as a failure, even if the actions are the same.
An Overview of Burns
4/10/2025
The Legacy Oregon Burn Center (OBC) is the only Burn Center from Seattle to Sacramento.
It includes offshore incidents. A Burn Disaster at OBC is when there are more than 4 patients.
Burns are a very common injury. The survival rate is 97.7%
Sources of Burns
Thermal burns: From flame, scalds, steam, hot gasses.
Flash burns: Exposure to flammable gas or liquid that burns rapidly.
Radiation burns: include sunburns, UV light, welding.
Chemical burns: from caustic chemicals
Friction burns: from rubbing, like from shoes.
Electrical burns: from a live electrical source. Includes cardiac and neurological damage.
What happens when we are burned?
Damage to the protective barrier (skin), including sense of self.
Damage to the ability to regulate temperature.
Loss of fluid and compromised circulation.
Extreme pain. Exposed nerve endings. Almost every burn will swell, exerting more pressure on nerves.
Potential airway damage and compromise.
Hypovolemic Shock because of fluid loss.
Damage to vital organs (including renal failure) observe urine from burn patients closely.
Classification of burns is based on depth
Superficial burns: red skin, minor swelling, no blisters, no break in skin barrier.
Second degree burns: partial thickness damage involves dermis and epidermis. Blisters, swelling, mottled appearance. Relatively painless.
Full thickness burns: All layers of skin involved, sometimes muscles. Dry, hard, leather-like appearance, white waxy, charred. Often little pain.
Complete Burns: Through all tissue and bone.
Burn Severity is a measure of how deep, and how big an area is affected.
Depth of a burn is generally a factor of heat intensity and time.
Depth & Body Surface Area (BSA) are measured in two ways:
One is the “Palmer Method” – The Patient’s palm represents 1% of the BSA.
The other is the “Rule of Nines.”
What is a BAD BURN? A High Risk Burn.
Anything that involves the airways, directly or indirectly.
Any burn involving, face, hands, feet, genitals.
Anything that involves a joint.
Any circumferential burn, partial or full thickness. Swelling comes in from all sides, as the body creates its own tourniquet. This leads to Compartment Syndrome where management may be difficult or threaten the limb.
Any superficial burn greater than 50% BSA.
Any partial thickness burn greater than 15% BSA.
Any full thickness burn.
Any burn on a child or infant.
Treatment Priorities
#1A. Scene and Personal safety: is the situation stable, do you have the right equipment?
#1C. Absolutely stop the burn. Remove the source, cool with water, remove any chemical agent and flush with water for 30 minutes, remove electrical hazards.
#2. Protect the wound. Preserve what skin is left. DO NOT pull off embedded clothes. Use DRY dressings, even putting a sheet over the patient.
#3. Manage Pain. Ibuprofen & acetaminophen stacked. Advanced meds if available. Cover burn with plastic wrap (a lot of burn pain comes from exposure to air). Saran then dry dressing on top.
#4. Manage fluids: Keep patient hydrated, IV if possible. Monitor urine color (keep it clear), output, volume.
#5. Manage Infection: cover burn.
#6. Manage temperature: Keep patient warm.
Dressing Burns: protect wound from contamination and air.
Lay saran LOOSELY!! DO NOT WRAP!! Cover plastic wrap with clean dressing to protect. Can use a cut up. Or sheet pieces. An old T shirt washed and dried in drier, then stored in baggie is a good substitute dressing. If no plastic wrap, use sterile 4x4s, non-fluffy dressings.
Understand that ALL burns will swell.
No creams or ointments or salves on broken skin.
For sunburns after sun aloe gels OK to apply, but not on broken skin.
Lightning Strikes are electrical burns
There are direct lightning strikes and splash over (aka side flash) lightning strike.
Lighting will often will knock out respiration sense, trigger cardiac arrest.
Assess Breath and Circulation.
Call 911.
Use rescue breathing and CPR, AED until the patient’s brain resets to maintain functions.
(Note by M.R: National Weather Service has a great - scary - graphic “Five Ways Lightning Strikes People”
weather.gov/safety/lightning-struck
[LINK].)
Firefighters
A bigger problem with firefighters is toxic inhalation. The off-gasses from burning stuff is toxic, contains cyanide among other toxins, leading to cyanide poisoning. Cyanokit is used as an antidote to cyanide poisoning.
These are Maryellen Read’s notes. All mistakes are hers alone. Comments welcome! (MR)
SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
3/12/2025
For the Good of the NET
Merilee Karr, South Burlingame NET Lead, was on NPR’s Think Out Loud (3/12/2025) discussing the need for more public restrooms to protect us from intestinal diseases like dysentery and antibiotic resistant shigella. Portland health officials report waste-borne illness is rampant among the city's homeless population. Cholera killed more Haitians after the 2010 earthquake than the earthquake itself.
Merilee is the president of Phlush. Years ago the “Portland Loo” was the standard in public restrooms. https://www.phlush.org/
[LINK] .
SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
Contusions, abrasions, lacerations, avulsions, amputations, punctures, and impalements are the most common injuries.
A CONTUSION IS A BRUISE
It indicates a traumatic force and contusions on abdomen or lower back can be a sign of significant internal bleeding.
Considerations:
Go through the “What Happened?” interview.
Elevated heart rate and respiration, skin is pale, cool and clammy.
BIG RED Flag is change in their level of consciousness.
Too much ice on a bruise leads to cold injuries because circulation is impaired.
ABRASIONS ARE SCRAPES from a slide or fall at speed.
They are oozing or weeping wounds with not a lot of blood but they tend to be really dirty.
Considerations:
Always go through the “What Happened?” interview.
Treatment:
Scrub with water on a 4x4 to get grit out.
Use a protective ointment like Vaseline to keep wound from drying out.
Cover area completely with Vaseline and 4x4, then cover that with a dry layer.
Change dressings once a day.
Keep removing pieces of debris that will puss up.
Topical anesthetic ointments, like after sunburn ointment (aloe vera + lidocaine)
can be used for very painful abrasions.
LACERATIONS ARE CUTS OR BREAKS IN THE SKIN
Considerations:
Never ever close laceration in the field. Leave wound open.
They can have significant damage to blood supply and may bleed a lot.
They could contain foreign material and debris.
No Crazy Glue or sutures!
Treatment:
Stop the bleeding. Place well-aimed direct pressure on wound and hold ten minutes.
Try different place for pressure. If it doesn’t work, then apply a tourniquet.
Flush out with direct squeeze of water.
Then apply dry dressing and wrap (with Kelflex/vet tape).
AN AVULSION IS A FLAP OF SKIN OR TISSUE, OR A PARTIAL AMPUTATION
Considerations:
Avulsions may contain contaminants.
They may be non-viable because the blood supply is damaged.
Treatment:
Stop the bleeding.
If possible replace the flap to its normal position.
Apply a dressing.
AMPUTATIONS ARE COMPLETE OR NEAR-COMPLETE REMOVAL OF A BODY PART OR TISSUE
Considerations:
Amputations may bleed excessively or have a brief period of controlled bleeding followed by uncontrolled bleeding.
They WILL BLEED EXCESSIVELY. Use tourniquet.
Treatment:
Control Bleeding. Use rubber band or finger wrap for finger.
Save limb. Transport WITH victim. Wrap limb in damp dressing.
Place in plastic bag, then place that bag in another bag filled with water and ice.
Keep part damp and cool, NOT directly in water or in ice. Keep open end damp and covered.
PUNCTURES include bites, bullet wounds
Considerations:
Punctures may leave a cavernous wound that is difficult to control bleeding.
Especially bites may contain contaminants deep within.
Treatment:
Control bleeding. Use well-aimed direct pressure. Get above wound closer to heart.
Stuff wound with 4x4.
Get it as clean as possible.
Quickly transporting patient to help is a high priority. Send puncture implement with patient.
IMPALEMENT IS A PUNCTURE WITH OBJECT STILL IN
Considerations:
Leave the thing in, if possible because it controls bleeding, but do NOT leave it in if it compromises airway.
Never dig around to remove bullet or object. You will never have a sterile field.
Treatment:
Control bleeding. Use circumferential pressure around object.
Stabilize object.
Be very very careful when moving patient with an object in them.
IN-FIELD PERSPECTIVE AND OBJECTIVES
Keep people alive.
Keep people from bleeding out.
Transport them out to help/hospital as quickly as possible.
Cold Weather
2/12/2025
For the Good of the NET
Window Smasher/ Seatbelt Slasher Tool should be in your car by driver’s seat, NOT in trunk or glovebox, which will be inaccessible because of airbag deployment in a crash.
West Portland Park NET has 5 members now.
HYPOTHERMIA
There is always the potential for cold injury.
Treat all cold subjects intentionally and aggressively.
It is critical first aid. Your patient should never be colder than they are the minute you arrive.
Protection from the elements
Radiation: heat going to nearby (cold) objects without touching them
Evaporation: moisture evaporating from skin takes heat with it
For an OVERHEATING patient, spray water, then fan to cool them down.
Respiration: removes heat through breathing.
Conduction: heat leaves patient to nearby objects by direct touch. A patient lying on the ground needs something UNDER them. A blanket on top is NOT enough.
Water amplifies all these effects
Immersion in water loses heat 25 times faster than in air.
Movement in water increases heat loss 10 times more.
Wet patients are at extreme risk of hypothermia. They should be stripped of wet clothes, socks and redressed in dry clothes.
Assessment of cold injury: Anticipate a cold injury when:
A subject has been outside for multiple hours
Is not moving
Is unprepared for weather (inadequate clothing)
Is wet
Is injured
Try to have the right equipment for responding to cold injured subject
Keep a microfiber towel in your kits.
Instant (reusable) hot pack in Tupperware container.
“Packaging” (= blankets etc) clothing, heat source (Hot water bottles).
Easily consumed calories (hot jello).
Teams should be prepared for hypothermia events.
LOCALIZED COLD INJURIES: Frost Nip, Frostbite and Trench foot
Frost Nip: mild form of frostbite, irritated skin red, or pale.
Prevention: COVER exposed skin to remove cold challenge.
Treatment: allow skin to warm up.
DO NOT rub damaged skin or apply external heat.
Frostbite: Partial or complete freezing of tissue. White, blue or mottled skin feels waxy or hard, reduced feeling in area. Severe Frostbite means significant swelling and pain.
Treatment: requires CONTROLLED rewarming. CANNOT do this in the field.
No heat packs. Do not try to rewarm in the field.
Remove jewelry, put pads between fingers, toes, bulky dressing to protect areas.
Trench Foot: non freezing cold injury extremely painful, pruned pale skin, decreased circulation. Tissue and nerve damage. Caused by prolonged exposure to wet cold.
Prevention: keep feet and socks dry. If boots get wet, change to dry socks. Use plastic bag over feet to keep socks dry in wet boot.
Treatment is long term. Keep feet elevated, dry, warm, protected from injury.
SYSTEMIC COLD INJURIES/HYPOTHERMIA
Reduction of body core temperature below 95°. (Normal body temperature: 98.6°)
Mild hypothermia: 90-95°. Cold, shivering, loss of fine motor skills, decreased judgement. “Stumble Mumble, Fumble.” No change in the level of consciousness. Hot shower, hot tub ok.
Moderate Hypothermia: 86-<90°: Shivering slows down, confusion, irrational behavior, reduced level of consciousness, shunting of blood from extremities to core.
DO NOT DO hot shower or hot tub. Can apply heat pack (PROTECTED by layers of cloths) to groin, armpits
BIGGEST RED FLAG IS CHANGE IN LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
Keep tabs on Team members for signs of hypothermia.
HYPOTHERMIA TREATMENT
Remove cold challenge: insulate and protect from cold, wind, dehydration,
Be very gentle. The moderate/severe hypothermia patient is very fragile. Move them in horizontal position. Carotid pulse may be very faint (2-3 BPM) give it a full 2 minutes.
Make A Burrito: Put a tarp down; then insulating layers on top of it; blankets, sleeping bag, mylar blanket. Wrap patient up in all this. Fill with heat warmer (like Nalgene bottle in sock with hot water) not directly on patient. Put at least two layers above patient and below insulation.
Insulated from ground reduces conduction.
Warm layers and reflective layer protect body heat from radiation.
Wind proof, water proof reduces convection and evaporation.
Packaging retains heat but does not create it.
Get fluids into them. Hot JELLO. Sugar and calories are exactly what is needed.
Calories warm patients, not hot drinks.
The temperature of the drink doesn’t matter so much.
Alcohol has detrimental effect.
Trauma and Hypothermia is an issue:
Hypothermia Patient WITHOUT trauma: mortality about 10%
Hypothermia Patient WITH trauma: mortality is 100%
HYPOTHERMIA ONSET
Immediate (acute) Immersion, or subject has been out for many hours, not been moving, injured, wet.
Chronic: not a single event: Over time the body temperature drops to moderate hypothermia levels.
Subject may be older, and/or have economic or shelter challenges, cognitive and or circulation problems, other health problems.
The #1 Vital sign is a change in the level of consciousness (too hot/too cold)
Check with the back of your hand to check temperature of the belly.
(Hands cold, belly warm = OK)
Keep them warm, dry, hydrated and fueled.
Layer clothes up/down as appropriate for conditions.
Watch for other early signs. Hypothermia appears as a loss of judgement. They may appear to be under the influence of drugs liquor, but they are not.
These are Maryellen Read’s notes. All mistakes are hers alone. Comments welcome
1/8/2025
FIRST WINTER UPDATE for 2025
Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (BTI) granules in pools, bird baths and puddles of water control mosquito larvae. Other BT variants control other pests like armyworm, beetles, flies. It is a naturally occurring soil bacterium, not a poison. Ecologically safe. Available in nurseries and hardware stores.
Sasquatch Hunters died of exposure during their Christmas Eve expedition to find Sasquatch. They were not dressed or equipped for the weather. $6000 of the Skamania County Search and Rescue team’ equipment was stolen after the recovery mission. Community members donated over $73,000 to replace it.
Using Propane?If you refill a propane tank in the cold, it will exhale some gas when it gets warm.
Generators! Extended technical discussion on experiences with generators during power outages.
A generator will power a fridge for 12 hours, a furnace for 6 hours. Understanding grounding the generator is important. The technical discussion involved grounding wiring and what NOT to do, like using a neutral-ground bonding plug (=suicide cord/cable)
How about a Bingo Card instead of a list of New Year’s resolutions?
NET WINTER PREPARATIONS
THIS IS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIG STORM.
What did we learn?
Now is a better time to stock up, fill up on gas, practice using equipment, rather than in the crux (think long lines, reduced stock, tricky travel) of the emergency.
NET winter deployments are wet cold dark.
Personal preparedness.
Work out layers, appropriate outerwear, replace handwarmers and toe warmers.
Check batteries are fresh, powered up, top up power banks.
The most common injury is from falls. Locate the tracking crampons like YakTrak™ snow trax.
Put it all in a spot where you can find it.
Who do you need to check on if power goes out?
Winter Home Preparedness
(Past due!) Turn off those outside taps and insulate them from severe cold.
Check water supplies in unheated areas. Make sure they have headspace to accommodate freezing. Or move them to heated areas.
Deicer or sand next to door.
Snow shovel at the ready (where you don’t have to travel across ice to get it).
Have an arborist look at trees now, when they are not busy.
Large tarps for broken windows or roof damage from trees.
What is your plan if you lose power? Have you actually practiced it?
Have your insurance company phone number and your policy number at the ready.
Vehicles
Keep the tank at least half full at all times. The car is a great place for getting warm.
The car battery is a powerful source to power up your devices. The GooLoo and other small box battery jump starters power banks are safe, handy and you don’t need another car to jump a car battery. Keep them charged up and in the car.
Have a kit with granola bars, light, water, blanket, clothes in the car in case you have to spend the night in it — even in the neighborhood. If it’s icy enough to slide into a ditch, it’s too hazardous to walk home.
Have a container of deicer or sand or kitty litter in passenger compartment. Shake it out to give you something to stand on if you have to get out of car.
Skid School is a Pro Drive Racing School course for low traction driving
www.prodrive.net.
REALLY question if you have to be out there during a severe weather event. You may be competent to drive in ice and snow, but many of the drivers on our roads are not.
Plan ahead, stock up, stay home and cozy.
6/12/2024
NEXT LEVEL TRIAGE
HELP IS ON THE WAY! After the local First Responders (Portland Fire & Rescue, Portland Police, NETs and neighbors) do what they can after a massive area emergency (think Cascadia Subduction Zone Event Earthquake),
next level triage organizations
spring into action. Two are reviewed below.
DMAT == DISASTER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAMS - National Disaster Medical System
“Disaster Medical Assistance Teams provide high-quality rapid-response medical care when public health and medical emergencies overwhelm state, local, tribal, or territorial resources. In the aftermath of natural and technological disasters, acts of terrorism, and during disease outbreaks, DMAT members are on location protecting health and saving lives.
DMAT members are trained to fill a variety of impactful roles, from performing medical triage and emergency care to supporting infusion centers and vaccine sites to decompressing hospital emergency rooms to supporting patient movement and more… to provide medical care and support when it is needed most.”
DMATs perform patient-care functions in a variety of mission scenarios based on the identified standards of care, including but not limited to:
Triage/Pre-Hospital Care
General Emergency Medical Care
General Medical Care
Hospital Decompression: Providing medical care within an existing hospital that has limited staff or is otherwise unable to provide adequate care to the number of people needing medical attention.
Support of Patient Movement
Mass Prophylaxis: Providing vaccinations or taking other actions to support disease control efforts.
AE == AIR MOBILITY COMMAND AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION - The Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation System
AE's mission is to provide time sensitive, mission critical en route care to patients to and between medical treatment facilities, linking casualties to life-saving medical treatment as early as possible in the care continuum.
Care is provided by Air Force medics specially trained to operate within the global AE system. The U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (Air Force Material Command) and Air Education and Training Command provide standardized formal training for aircrew members and patient staging personnel supporting the AE mission.
THE Nationwide MEDICAL RAPID RESPONSE TEAM has a plan for deployment on the first or second day after the major Cascadia Event. They are prepared to deal with 20,000 casualties in the aftermath of any significant event.
THE MOST COMMON INJURY WILL BE GLASS IN THE FEET. A future NET exercise will be first aid techniques for removing glass in the feet.
ASSISTING WITH MEDICATIONS (not administering or prescribing) is the role for the NETs who are not MDs or medically trained. We cannot prescribe or administer medication.
We can advise aspirin for apparent heart attacks CHECK first with individual if they have taken aspirin in the past without side effects, or if they are allergic to it.
We can administer Narcan for overdoses.
We can ASSIST the individual take the prescription medicines they already have. Assist with only packaged (labeled) medicines – not from a container of miscellaneous meds.
The “FIVE RIGHTS” to ensure and check that the medicine is correct:
THE RIGHT DRUG can be confirmed offline with the free App (a mobile PDR)
[ePocrates].
If internet is available, go to
[WebMD]
THE RIGHT PATIENT: Check the label to see for whom the drug has been prescribed.
THE RIGHT DOSE: check label
THE RIGHT ROUTE: How is the drug administered?
THE RIGHT TIME: Ask Individual What time do you normally take this medicine: did you take this medicine today?
CHECK EXPIRATION DATE: Over aged meds may be toxic or less potent.
4/10/2024
POTENTIAL GUIDELINES FOR INTERACTING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
IN A DISASTER
with Marcel Rodriguez
BACKGROUND: THE BIG EMERGENCY TIMELINE
As it applies to all significant large scale emergencies (in chronological order):
PREPAREDNESS TRAINING: NET and community outreach efforts.
IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING: professional first responders, NETs and skilled volunteers; action window to 48 hours after event.
RECOVERY -- LONG TERM EFFORTS: Feeding, sheltering, medical transport, cleanup, sanitation, rebuilding (NGOs, Voluntary Organizations VOAD)
What organizations are in place to do what?
Need guidelines for Communications and coordination of services.
See Addendum below.
NET GUIDELINES
INTERFACE WITH OTHER GROUPS IN A DISASTER.
Recognize that the NET spot in the emergency response is the very narrow (up to 48 hours) after the event. Other organizations have the skills to feed, shelter, transport people. Many groups will be entering the arena. We NETs are not expected (or trained) to do it all.
We ARE uniquely positioned to represent status and needs of our residents.
A PBEM OR OTHER OVERALL VETTING PROCESS WILL NOT HAPPEN
Be aware that not all of these volunteering individuals have the best of intentions.
PBEM authorities not likely to make real time “introductions” to other responding organizations.
See Addendum below.
NET RESPONSIBILITIES
DON’T EXPOSE INFORMATION to unvetted third parties.
Do not use a bulletin board for Lost & Found individuals.
Ask “Who are you looking for?” What is your relationship?”
VERIFY ANY THIRD PARTY with PBEM if possible.
ALWAYS VALIDATE CREDENTIALS (ID) “Show me your ID.” (photo it and the person)
OBSERVE a third party.
DOCUMENT all third parties in staging area
DO NOT VOUCH FOR unvetted third parties.
OPERATE IN A “TRUST BUT VERIFY” MODE.
USE AND TRUST YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT (Spidey Sense). If a person gives you a sketchy vibe, believe it. Tell them to leave.
Alert neighbors, Alert other neighborhoods.
CONSIDERATIONS
NATIONAL VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER (VOAD) are generally OK
[VOAD]
Go to website and see the organizations and what they do. Some will be relevant to our emergency, some not.
These should all be credentialled (ID) which they have no problem presenting.
Be SUPER CAUTIOUS about anyone unwilling or hesitant to sign in or show ID.
(= SKETCHY!)
Be SUPER CAUTIOUS about anyone seeking info that seems unusual or private.
(= SKETCHY!)
These organizations are used to working with other organizations.
Each organization has its specific arena of action.
Red Cross does shelters, Trailers are stashed everywhere. (Locations are “secret”). Have PBEM get Red Cross to tell us what shelters do.
AMR disaster Team for medical needs. “…healthcare expertise, equipment and speed needed to respond to crisis situations.”
[AMR]
Salvation Army “…immediate response and recovery plans unique to the community affected.”
[LINK]
Who does sanitation needs - porta potties, shower, septic? Fuel?
State or County: Oregon Emergency Management OEM set this up for the Clackamas Town Center evacuee refuge during the 2020 wildfires.
[OEM]
It is good to know what we can expect.
Preset a relationship to supply water, porta potties, fuel.
Know that is something to ask for. Get grant list.
The NET that shows up first at the Staging Area is in charge.
NET responsibility window is the first 36-48 hours. Then hand over responsibility to organizations.
The staging Area is the logical meeting place where these organizations’ reps go first for information.
M. Read Notes. Additions and corrections welcome. Respond to NET@collinsview.org
Addendum on the '48 hour Rule'
The “48 hours” is not a PBEM or FEMA “rule” but my opinion on the realistic first line response that NETs could expect to provide as continuous support following a disaster. NETs would certainly continue to have involvement, but I would not expect that most teams would be capable of a continuous, primary response past 36-48 hours. Having participated in many multiple operational period missions, I can tell you that they are exhausting even under the best of conditions. — Marcel
01/10/2024
The South Burlingame Experience Jan. 7 2024 — Jan. 9, 2024
This consoritum note begins with a background report.
According to police, a 70-year-old South Burlingame woman with Alzheimer’s, walked away from her home near Southwest Ruby Terrace sometime between 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan 7, 2024, and 4:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan 8, 2024.
The Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County Search and Rescue, the Search and Rescue team assigned to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, drones, K9s, Multnomah County youth teams and Clackamas County Search and Rescue were also on site with neighborhood volunteers. Neighbors opened up their garage for a center of operations Command Post, which also included slow cookers full of sustenance for returning searchers. The professional searchers communicated by radio, with difficulty. Reams of printed flyers with her picture spread the word.
The South Burlingame NET team (SBNET) was not deployed as a team but individual NETs, like Team Lead Merilee Karr, Communications Specialist Amateur Radio Operator Jim Carleton, and other team members brought NET training skills and experiences to the robust and sustained neighborhood effort.
Apple only allows 32 iPhone users in a single text chain. If you add in Android phone users, that number drops to ~20. This made communication more difficult as there actually were multiple message chains going around to communicate with both iPhone and Android users. One neighbor was part of both chains and was helping share information between the 2 groups. The text messaging among neighbor searchers was only possible because one neighbor knew all the neighbors and was willing to set that up.
People who live in the following neighborhoods: (South Burlingame, Collins View, Marshall Park, Hillsdale, Multnomah, Markham-South Portland, and Arnold Creek) were asked to check their properties for any sign of the woman. However, no instruction was given about how THOROUGHLY a property must be searched.
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024: the Portland Police Bureau was happy to announce that the woman had been found safe. She was found less than one third of a mile from her own home, resting in the basement of a house being remodeled.
Given the length of time she was gone, the cold, windy wet weather, amount of contiguous green space and canyons, it was amazing that she was found safe and alive. Even with that great result, the residual emotional toll on the searchers remains high.
Someone asked the police: “Why isn’t the “SILVER ALERT” program operational? Why couldn’t the “AMBER ALERT” be modified and be used for a “SILVER ALERT?” They didn’t get a clear answer.
Merilee Karr observed: "One hopes the professionals had organized records of search grids, but we amateurs, NET members and neighbors, had some maps, and no search grids. The main thing we learned from this crisis is that we didn’t know what we were doing."
Some Notes from the Jan 10, 2024 SW NET Consortium Discussion
RE: Communications
Always sign your name at the end of your text message.
Save on your phone your neighbors’ phone numbers, and the phone numbers of your NET team members, so the names will appear on text messages.
Keep a pared-down script, keep radio chatter down.
Maintain radio discipline when texting.
Reverse 911 is not very effective because so many people no longer have land lines.
Reverse 911 only has a limited number of pre-set message and “missing person with Alzheimer’s” isn’t one’ of them.
Nextdoor communications and any social media are very useful for awareness, but have limitations. The people posting on Nextdoor did not know, so could not explain, how to search a property etc.
Humanizing the message shared on social media by providing some details on the missing person (Mary loves chocolate, she loves hugs) would help get people involved and more willing to search.
RE: Search
Call 911 to report lost person.
County Sherrif is responsible for Search and Rescue (SAR)
A solid neighborhood network is invaluable.
Deploy searchers with specific assignments (“Go to these specified houses, contact residents, and record and report.”)
Check all shrubbery and outbuildings.
Residents can search their own property and report results.
No searching property without the residents’ permission. If no one is at home, you cannot enter property unless you see someone in danger, then call 911/ first responders.
If a house is under construction, ask neighbor if they know who the owner is and how to contact them to be granted permission to enter, or to see if they could send someone to enter and check.
Security cameras and “Point Last Seen” help focus to search response.
A standard search encompasses 300 meters, about a 100’ diameter circle to start.
Alert TriMet, Airport, and big stores for missing person.
Flag credit card usage.
Record how confident you are that a specific search was thorough.
RE: Lost Person Behavior
People can walk a surprising distance in a short time.
Different categories of lost persons (child, hiker, mental illness, dementia etc.) dictate flight behavior and search strategies.
Most common lost persons are #1 dementia wanderers, #2 vulnerable adult, #3 child.
Denial of how inadequate a care residence or facility is for a dementia patient is common with caregivers. It is very rare that the family members realize that they can’t handle the dementia person.
Paranoia is often part of dementia. Person will remove air tags before wandering.
Applying structure over chaos for an organized response.
For applying search statistics see Lost Person Behavior by Robert J. Koester.
There is a high emotional response toll on searchers.
Emotional resiliency is drained, even after good results.
Stress injuries are formed when outcomes are different from expectations.
Professional SAR teams have emotional resiliency gatherings immediately after search outcomes, then at three weeks and three months after the event.
Potential Role for NETs and Residents
The more organized the better.
A standard NET practice is to write down searchers’ names and phone numbers.
A Bulletin Board of search status records with specific search areas and confidence in the thoroughness of search in that area helps to organize and transmit efforts to succeeding teams.
A Neighborhood Big Map (with house numbers) is essential.
Fliers of lost person and “What you can do” requests engage many residents.
Contact local printing centers (FedEx, etc..) or local places of worship that may have large printers and would be willing to print free-of-charge posters/fliers.
Command Post should be close to “Point Last Seen” place.
Command Post should be in an area that has good cell signal or radio access.
SAR Command Post needs a logistics section comprising bathroom/porta potty facilities, pop up tents, heaters, chairs, soup and beverages.
The Soup Ladies
“Welcome to The SoupLadies.org a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to serving those who serve us in difficult situations. Our Mission is to provide fresh cooked meals expeditiously to support first responders such as police and fire departments, search and rescue teams and military personnel in times of emergencies and disasters….”
Jeremy will book the SoupLady speaker for a Wednesday PBEM NET Zoom meeting.
[soupladies.org LINK]
Report by M. Read, who thanks many others for their valuable contributions to this report. Thanks to All for their contributions to the search experience.
12/13/2023
December Topic: Debris Removal
Announcements from the 12/13/2023 meeting:
Make sure to log in your 2023 NET hours.
Free Course on “Recognizing Seizures” (from Portland NET Bulletin 2023.12.11).
Discussion on avoiding electrocution from downed power lines.
(“STAY AWAY!!” is #1, feet together, shuffle away or get cooked.)
NET Mantra: Safety is always #1 Priority. Corollary: How NETS can assist without getting killed.
Debris Removal using readily available hand tools
WHILE USING HAND TOOLS -
Watch for wires including hidden energized wires, watch other hazards above, leaning, on the ground. Even if the city (PGE?) “shuts off the grid,” solar panels feed directly to energize wires.
Personal Protective Equipment:
Wear a HELMET THAT FITS and stays on your head.
Wear Eye Protection that fits and doesn’t fog up. Try Rx with side protection.
Wear Gloves that fit, protect you and allow dexterity with knots & your tools. “Framer gloves” or cut ¾” off tip of gloves index finger & thumb for dexterity. Sturdier intact gloves for rough debris removal.
Wear Steel Toe boots.
Scene control: adequate lighting, adequate personnel.
Debris Types: Trees, Rocks, Vehicles
STAY AWAY from Utility poles. DO NOT TOUCH; Just mark, protect and report.
Trees WILL come down across roads. CLEAR ONLY WHAT YOU NEED TO GET BY.
Focus on to getting smaller branches out of the way.
The maximum diameter of branches you should try to cut with your hand tools is
6” (six inches).
BE AWARE what your pruning does to the balance of the debris pile. (A trunk with a giant root ball will right itself when relieved of its top branches! DO NOT tackle the big trunk. Just mark “Road Closed” and leave real hazards to the pros.)
Weapons of choice: Choose aggressive open teeth on saw.
FOLDING PRUNING SAW is #1 saw preference.
BOW SAW (Can use 2-person push/pull method).
STRAIGHT SAW (keep firehose over blade while carrying).
CHAINSAWS are SUPER DANGEROUS ‐ Take course first; use saw chaps, sawyer boots, face shield etc.
How to move the bits - stuff you’ve cut. Several clever YouTube clips.
USE PHYSICS: levering/rolling the logs, rope & pole drag. LEVERS are your friend.
Hand tools: flip flop winches, Dolly & Sling, Come-Alongs – cable or pulley.
Vehicle towing:
NEVER in reverse (will fry the engine).
NEVER attached to ball hitch: which will definitely break off and fire back at you.
HIGH LIFT JACK WINCHING: often part of an off-roader’s 4x4 equipment.
Use Tow straps (don’t store energy) not Tow ropes (stretchable, store energy):
to drag trees off road.
Vehicle Winches are dangerous. This is for another class.
#1 is BE SAFE
12/1/2023
New Team Lead for the Collins View · Marshall Park · Riverdale NET
Brenda Cox Nuckton has been elected by unanimous vote to assume the duties of Team Lead for the extended CV-MP-Rd NET as of Dec. 1, 2023! Brenda has been a participating CV NET member for many years, and we welcome her expertise and energy in this new role.
For NET inquiries contact Brenda at: cv.net.team.leader@gmail.com
