(As seen in the Summer Edition of the Tulsa Partners Newsletter)
MmmHmmm….that’s right – it’s JULY!! Summer is definitely here everyone (just in case the fabulous heat we’ve all been experiencing wasn’t clue enough for you!). So what have YOU been doing with your Summer so far? Been to the pool? Water Park? Taken a nice family vacation? Well, just in case you’ve been busy juggling kids/vacations/pets/work and all that goes into that mix, let’s see if we can recap some of the treasures that have appeared out there in www-World.
In the News
Of course, first up would be progress on the BP Oil Spill crisis in the Gulf. As many of you know, there is a wealth of information being offered through all means of media resources with photos, interviews, and opinions galore. Just a few –
Interesting bit of trivia…Three of every four oil and gas lobbyists who represent oil and gas companies previously worked in the federal government, a proportion that far exceeds the usual revolving-door standards on Capitol Hill, a Washington Post analysis shows.
The effects of this crisis spread far and wide, encompassing many different groups of individuals, families and businesses. This article talks about the large number of Vietnamese shrimpers that operate in the Gulf – some 20,000! – and how they are facing uncertainty once again. First Hurricane Katrina, now the Oil Spill.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has gone public with criticism of BP’s refusal to respond to a claim submitted by the state of Louisiana for assistance in addressing the mental health component of this crisis. NAMI has submitted a letter to BP’s Chief Operating Officer supporting Louisiana’s concern for the mental health well-being of the communities involved. Because of the compounded effects of Hurricane Katrina and Rita and now the oil spill crisis, there is grave concern of increased rates of severe depression, suicide rates, domestic violence and issues. .
This looks rather interesting…a Timeline of the Oil Spill. Picture timeline provides highlights of items of interest from the explosion (April 20th) through current news. As of this writing, the last item on the timeline is dated July 20th.
And of course I would be remiss if I didn’t include information from BP itself in this collection. Their home page provides several items of information, updates and additional links to the ongoing response. An interesting one to check out is the link to the Claims page – providing information on current claims statistics and the process to file a claim.
Extreme Heat
We all know it’s hot, right? And we’re all taking all the necessary precautions, right? So just what does “necessary precautions” mean to you? And just what is “Extreme Heat”?
Definition
FEMA offers several articles on Extreme Heat – including definitions of Heat Terms. Always good to know just what the weather service and media is talking about.
One term that tends to come up this time of year is the Heat Index…just in case you need something to make you feel even hotter! But like it or not, it’s something that must be factored into our considerations in activities for the day.
Outdoor Activity
Just a few of the recommendations from our partners at FEMA include: Limit outdoor activity and exposure to the sun if possible, Stay indoors during the hottest portion of the day. If outdoors, use the buddy system and take frequent breaks. Be sure to visit the link to get more great tips!
Some other great tips are also available from The American Red Cross, The CDC, and the National Weather Service.
Children
First and foremost…NEVER leave a child in a car when it’s hot outside. And it doesn’t even have to be all that hot! The National Weather Service offers a timeline video of how the air inside a vehicle is heated during moderate temperatures (just 80degrees!) over a period of 60 minutes. Additionally, be sure to check a child’s car seat, and/or seat belt buckle to ensure they aren’t too hot to the touch. That tender skin will burn very easily! And did you know that dark dashboard surfaces of a car can reach temperatures of 180-200degrees?
It’s important to remember that Hypothermia Deaths are not confined to the hot summer months. They can also occur in Spring and Fall months. According to a recent study titled Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Vehicles published in the magazine “Pediatrics” (author Jan Null, CCM), there have been 24 hyperthermia deaths of children in vehicles in 2010. There are a number of additional and enlightening statistics provided including: statistics for 2009 and 2010 as well as 1998-2010 totals; circumstances (between 1998-2009 51% were forgotten by caregiver); ages (1998-2009 more than half were under age of 2); and more.
And let’s not forget the playgrounds that our children frequent. While there are some great advances in the development and use of playground surfaces that are both “cushier” and more heat resistant…many surfaces simply hold in the heat and create a risk for kiddos…especially if they are barefoot. Oh! And what about the slides and other metal surfaces (merry-go-rounds, monkey bars, etc)? Major heat retention and potentially dangerous to that delicate skin! An article from Cincinnati just a couple of weeks ago talked about finding ground temperatures near 148 degrees and a metal slide whose temperature registered at OVER 200 degrees! Studies show that skin can suffer 3rd degree burns with one second of contact at 160 degrees. Bottom line? Common sense. If it’s hot outside and your children are heading to the playground (either public or backyard folks!), be sure to check the surfaces before they start climbing, and inform them of the dangers of playing on hot surfaces.
Pets
We’ve all see ‘em…the cute little doggie sticking his nose out the crack in the window, or perhaps barking at passers-by protecting “his turf”. What’s your first thought? Ohhhh….how cute! Or is it more like “Poor pupper! All alone in that car!” Well, the truth is, pets can be just as vulnerable as children when left in cars. And possibly more easily forgotten (Oh…I’ll just be in the store for a few minutes!). Again – do not leave your pets unattended in the car for any length of time. You never know when you might be delayed by some unforeseen situation in the store/post office/tag office/etc. This PSA from Petfinder is a great reminder to share with your fellow pet parents!
Check out these Summer Care Tips for You and Your Pets from our partners at the Humane Society. A nice overview reminding us of some very easy things to do to keep our pets free from harm!
And not just pets…think all animals. Extreme conditions can cause stress on the hardiest of animals. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently reported that 2,000 head of cattle have perished in the extreme heat conditions present in that state. While some deaths (a few hundred) are expected due to heat conditions, this represents a much higher number than normal.
Additionally
Needing some cool places to hang out? Try: Neighborhood/Community Pools, Libraries, Community Centers, Indoor Malls, and perhaps established Cooling Stations (as broadcast by local media resources).
If you have a family member, friend or neighbor who does not have access to cooling methods (air conditioning or fans), please remember to check on them. Many health conditions can also increase someone’s vulnerability to the effects of heat – make sure to stay in contact with those in your circle that would fall into this category. If you need to locate other resources for someone more vulnerable during times of extreme heat, you could also contact your local 2-1-1 and visit with a caseworker there to see if there are other resources in your area.
Little Bit of Everything
For our Partners involved in planning and preparedness with medical facilities, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a Hospital Evacuation Decision Guide. This guide is designed to provide hospital evacuation decision teams with organized and systematic guidance on how to consider the many factors that bear on the decision to order an evacuation, and assist decision teams in identifying some of the special situations, often overlooked, that may exist in their facility or geographic area that could affect the decision to evacuate.
To bury, or not to bury…power lines that is. One of the struggles after a large windstorm or ice storm is that of power restoration due to downed power lines. There are of course proponents on both sides of the house on that discussion. FEMA’s Best Practices site offers one success story from South Dakota…nice read!
Those in the Emergency Management field are always looking for new networking opportunities. Sharing and collaborating on ideas and planning projects is always a win-win situation. Why reinvent the wheel or beat your head against a wall when facing a difficult project when there is a wealth of knowledge out there and just a click away? A new site that I just recently heard about is the Comprehensive Emergency Management Research Network (CEMR Network).
There is more and more discussion of meeting the needs of those with Functional Needs in the Emergency Management/Disaster Response community. Be sure to catch up on some of the latest discussions that are looking at Planning, Sheltering and other ADA Compliance topics.
Recently, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 5266 (National Commission on Children and Disasters Reauthorization Act of 2010) extending the National Commission on Children and Disasters for two more years. The bill now requires Senate approval.
Save the Children reports that almost five years after Hurricane Katrina, the vast majority of states are still not fully prepared to protect children after disasters. The 2010 Report shows that 38 states have not fully met the four recommended standards to adopt by all states for protecting children, including plans for evacuation, reunification with families and evacuation for special needs kids at child care facilities, as well as evacuation plans at schools.
And in Closing
Just read a story about an unemployed paramedic who was working part time as a pizza delivery guy. Goes to make a delivery, finds a man in distress at that address, helps the customer, and is now being offered jobs with a local hospital and fire department.
Right place, right time, definitely right reward.
Just goes to prove you never know when you’ll need that vital training. Are you trained? If yes…Good job! If no…tsk tsk tsk. Easy to do, and might just make the difference to someone you love someday! Think about it.
Until Next Time –
Be Aware ~ Be Informed ~ Be Safe
Woody
Ripple Effects 
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