Production Medics News

Cal EMA Considers "Cover-Up" a Success

2011-12-08T01:45:00.000-08:00

~Over 8.6 Million Individuals "drop, cover and hold on" for California ShakeOut~

See the article here

MATHER - The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) today joined more than 8.5 million Californians in the Great California ShakeOut - the nation's largest earthquake preparedness exercise. At 10:20 a.m. registered participants dropped beneath desks, tables and other nearby surfaces, simulating the actions they would take to protect themselves from falling debris during an actual quake.

In Northridge, Cal EMA Acting Secretary Mike Dayton joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Target Corporation for the ShakeOut.

"The Great California ShakeOut is an opportunity for Californians to learn and practice the actions critical to protecting themselves when the ground starts to shake," said Dayton. "Knowing what to do if you are driving, in a theater, a stadium or a retail store as well as at home, at work or at school can mean the difference between life and death."

Acting Secretary Dayton also attended a community collaborative table-top exercise for nonprofit and faith-based organizations sponsored by San Francisco Community Agencies Responding to Disaster (SF Card) as well as a communications drill conducted by the Chinatown Disaster Response Team.

"I commend every Californian who registered for and participated in today's exercise," said Dayton. "I urge those who were unable to participate to conduct a drill of their own and practice 'drop, cover and hold on' periodically throughout the year so that it becomes second nature."

Participation in the Great California ShakeOut, as well as the events in Northridge and San Francisco are among several initiatives taken recently by Cal EMA to enhance preparedness for earthquakes and other emergencies.

Earlier this week, Cal EMA, in partnership with the American Red Cross, released a new video showing viewers how to survive an earthquake and prepare an emergency kit.

On September 30, Cal EMA in cooperation with the Department of General Services, Division of the State Architect; California Department of Education and the California Seismic Safety Commission unveiled an updated Guide and Checklist for Nonstructural Earthquake Hazards in California Schools. The publication provides school administrators with guidance on how to reduce the risk of injury from light fixtures, ceiling systems, furnishings and other objects.

In August, Cal EMA teamed with the Seismic Safety Commission and the California Earthquake Authority to launch "Totally Unprepared," a year-long public education campaign which uses video, social media and mobile applications to help Californians understand the earthquake risk they face and motivate them to prepare.

"Protecting lives, property and the environment is a top priority of Cal EMA," said Dayton. "Even though National Preparedness Month and this year's Great California ShakeOut are over, we are committed to working with our partners in government, the scientific community, volunteers and the private sector to help California become better prepared for the next emergency."

For more information about how you can be better prepared for disaster, visit www.calema.ca.gov.

FEMA Launches first time in history National Tests

2011-10-31T01:17:00.000-07:00

The test will take place on Wednesday, November 9th at 2:00 pm eastern standard time, and will be the first time this system, which is often tested and used by officials at the local level, will be tested across the entire country.

The national Emergency Alert System is an alert and warning system can be activated by the President, if needed, to provide information to the American public during emergencies. NOAA’s National Weather Service, governors, and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts. The test is an important exercise in ensuring that the system is effective in communicating critical information to the public in the event of a real national emergency. It is a critical communications tool that can provide alerts, warning and information rapidly across multiple television and radio platforms.

See the whole story here >> http://blog.fema.gov/2011/10/help-us-spread-word-on-november-9-this.html

California Great Shake Out October 20th 2011

2011-10-09T16:18:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, October 20th at 10:20 a.m.* millions of people will participate in the 2011 Great California ShakeOut!

In 2010, more than 7.9 million Californians practiced Drop, Cover, and Hold On to practice how they will protect themselves during earthquakes, and increased their overall preparedness. Join us in 2011!

* You can hold your drill at any other time or day that fits your schedule.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO http://www.shakeout.org/

S.E.M.S Training Proves It's Weight In Gold

2011-08-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Long awaited and overdue for this industry is Specific Training Addressing our industry and all that is
From staffing to set-up, Special Events Medical Services (SEMS) prepares EMS personnel to properly plan for and manage medical response at any type of special event in their community. This concise, highly interactive continuing education course consists of the SEMS textbook and online course.

Since no two special events are alike; SEMS covers the basic principles to apply when planning for and working at any type of special event, including:

--Pre planning
--First aid station planning and set-up
--Communications
--Safety concerns
--Mass-casualty considerations

Chapters on specific types of events include weather and outdoor events, stadium and mega-events, equestrian events and rodeos, and extreme and combat sports events.

The SEMS online course walks students through the process of creating an emergency medical response plan and implementing it during a special event. An access code for the SEMS online course is printed on the inside front cover of this textbook. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a Course Completion Certificate from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and 4 hours of CECBEMS continuing education credits.

Providing standby services for special events requires specialized knowledge and skills beyond initial EMS training. With special events medical services training, new and seasoned EMS personnel alike can ensure a timely and appropriate medical response regardless of the special event size or type.

Again Production Medics E.M.S makes it a point to have all personnel certified within a set specific time. While this course is NOT required by and recognized agency or organization within California our focus on improvement has always been one of training.

Trained Crowd Managers

2011-08-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

PRODUCTION MEDICS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE ITS NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SUPERVISORS!

The Trained Crowd Manager course is intended to train candidates who will serve, in accordance with NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, as crowd managers within large public assembly venues. he IAAM Crowd Manager Curriculum Project was originally organized in 1997 to address requirements for assembly occupancies put forward with the addition of crowd manager and crowd manager supervisor in the 1994 Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association(NFPA 101).

The goal of this project was to create a training program for crowd managers and crowd manager supervisors that will provide a means for venue managers to meet their obligations under NFPA code.

Role and responsibilities of the crowd manager
Understanding hazards that can endanger public assembly
Understanding and managing crowds
Introduction to fire safety and fire safety equipment
Understanding methods of evacuation and movement
Historical case-study analysis
Assessment and verification

With possible law looming in the distance PRODUCTION MEDICS again sets the standard by having all of its lead personnel go through.

Production Medics get its Approved Continuing Training Provider Number!

2011-08-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that Production Medics E.M.S has received its own
approved continuing education training Provider number. This is just one more way we can provide to our employees CE (Continuing Education) credits in house.
This is one more way we bring value to our employees.

See us and other providers here

Could the accident been prevented in anyway?

2011-08-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana's lieutenant governor opened a memorial service for five people killed in a weekend stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair with a prayer expressing thanks for those who rushed to help immediately after high winds toppled stage rigging.

By Darron Cummings, AP
Friends of Alina Bigjohny comfort each other during a memorial service at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis on Monday,
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By Darron Cummings, AP
Friends of Alina Bigjohny comfort each other during a memorial service at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis on Monday,

Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman told about 500 people gathered for the service at the fairgrounds' Free Stage that the people who rushed to help "set aside their personal concerns and moved toward the accident and not away" to help the injured Saturday.

She said that selfless spirit "is and will continue to be the silver lining in times of disaster."

BLOG: Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles 'moved' by heroism
The stage was lined with bouquets of sunflowers while many in the audience sobbed or hugged each other.

"We come today with hearts that are broken, but hearts that are full," Gov. Mitch Daniels told the crowd, pausing at times during his remarks after being visibly moved. "Our hearts are with you. My heart is full for those who acted in courageous ways. … There was a hero every ten feet on Saturday night."

After remarks, the names of the five victims were read aloud, followed by the singing of "Amazing Grace."

Tearful mourners cried as they took their seats for the memorial at the fairground's Free Stage, surrounded by flags fluttering at half-staff. The fairground was scheduled to reopen after being closed on Sunday.

On Sunday, officials began the sobering task of trying to explain the accident, which also injured 45 others.

Daniels blamed the collapse mostly on "fluke" wind gusts that came ahead of a powerful storm.

"I'm not clear how anyone could have foreseen a sudden, highly localized blast of wind," Daniels said.

Some questioned why fair officials and state police didn't take ominous weather warnings more seriously and order an evacuation before the storm hit.

"They should have told people to get out, but they didn't," said Jay Kizer, 35, of Whiteland, who was in attendance.

State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten said the early indication was that the "isolated significant wind gust" took authorities and event coordinators by surprise, since the storm was still about 30 minutes away.

Dan McCarthy, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis, said the agency issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 8:39 p.m. Saturday.

Wind gusts as high as 77 mph were reported just west of Indianapolis.

Six minutes later, Bob Richards, programming director for a local radio station, told fans at the Sugarland concert that severe weather was moving into the area. Unless the weather became worse, he said, the concert would go on. He announced instructions on where to seek shelter.

Some left. Most stayed.

Kaylee McCracken, 14, of Greenwood was among those in front of the stage.

"They said it might rain and the concert might be delayed," McCracken said Sunday. "They didn't say anything like a tornado is coming or that we had to leave right away."

While Richards was on stage, the fair's executive director, Cindy Hoye, and state police were deciding how to evacuate the audience, "but they never had a chance to make that announcement," state fair spokesman Andy Klotz said Sunday.

About four minutes later, the gust blasted through, and the stage collapsed. An estimated 12,000 people were waiting to see the country band.

McCarthy said it is not unusual for high winds to precede a storm like the one that rolled through central Indiana Saturday night.

The Indiana State Police are heading the probe that could take weeks or months. The state Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the structure of the stage.

The owner of the company that provided the rigging, Mid-America Sound of Greenfield, said it is launching its own inquiry.

Four of the victims died at the scene: Alina Bigjohny, 23, of Fort Wayne; Christina Santiago, 29, of Chicago; Tammy Vandam, 42, of Wanatah; and 49-year-old Glenn Goodrich of Indianapolis. Nathan Byrd, a 51-year-old stagehand from Indianapolis who was atop the rigging when it fell, died overnight.

Santiago managed programming for the Lesbian Community Care Project at Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago and was named to the Windy City Times' "30 Under 30" list in 2007.

Jamal M. Edwards, the center's president and CEO, said she was one of the organization's "brightest stars" and worked to improve the lives of women, especially those who were lesbian, bisexual and transgender. Santiago attended the concert with her partner, Alisha Brennon, who was severely injured, Edwards said.

Bigjohny had been recently hired to teach seventh grade in Muncie, The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne reported.

"She was funny, spontaneous. She was just amazing," said Danielle Stoy, who attended Manchester College with Bigjohny. She said Bigjohny attended the concert with another friend, Jennifer Haskell, who also was critically injured.

Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland sent a statement to The Associated Press through her marketing manager, saying she watched video of the collapse on the news "in horror."

"I am so moved," she said. "Moved by the grief of those families who lost loved ones. Moved by the pain of those who were injured and the fear of their families. Moved by the great heroism as I watched so many brave Indianapolis fans actually run toward the stage to try and help lift and rescue those injured. Moved by the quickness and organization of the emergency workers who set up the triage and tended to the injured."

Evans also reports for The Indianapolis Star.

Contributing: Jon Murray of The Indianapolis Star; the Associated Press

S.E.M.S What is it?

2011-08-14T00:27:00.000-07:00

Everything we do at Production Medics E.M.S is always looking toward innovation.
The industry we service is special events. That is why we look toward having each and every one of our employees certified in SEMS. (Special Event Medical Service) this is a certificate course that is available as a online course and even though California or the EMS community has mandated this training in anyway, given the industry we service it just makes sense.

For information regarding this and other courses that are available please contact us today.