This is Only an Exercise

CRESA will be participating in WASABE/PACESetter training exercise the next couple days.  Along with partners from Public Health,  Law and Fire Agencies, this training exercise is aimed at improving response efforts in Clark County and throughout the Portland Metro Region.  The severe weather tragedy in Oklahoma yesterday is a reminder to first responders the importance to train, and to test that training, in efforts of improving response to disasters.

We ask everyone to be aware of the training, yet we still ask the public to be aware of their surroundings.   If you have questions regarding the WASABE/PACESetter training exercise, please call our Public Information Phone line at 360-992-9235.  As always if you see something suspicious that is concerning, please do not hesitate in calling 9-1-1.  For more information regarding the WASABE/PACESetter Exercise, please take a moment and read the news release from last week linked here.

ALWAYS HERE!!  ALWAYS READY!! 

WASABE/PACESetter Exericse Testing Area Readiness

The following information is shared as part of a joint news release between Clark County, Clark Public Health and CRESA.

May 15, 2013                                                                                       Find us on Facebook

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Contact:         Don Strick, Clark County Public Health

                        (360) 397-8000 ext. 7307; don.strick@clark.wa.gov

                        Eric Frank, Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency

                        (360) 992-9235; eric.frank@clark.wa.gov

Three-day exercise to test response to simulated bioterrorism attack

Clark County Public Health will be closed on May 23 to participate

Vancouver, WA— If terrorists were to unleash a biological agent such as anthrax in Southwest Washington, how prepared are we to respond? WASABE (Washington State Annual Bioterrorism Exercise), which takes place May 21-23, is designed to test readiness among public agencies and community organizations.

“Public Health has a responsibility to protect public health and safety,” said Marni Storey, Interim Director at Clark County Public Health. “WASABE is an example of how we continue to prepare and train for a wide range of emergencies.”

Exercise participants include:

• Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties;
• local and state public health agencies;
• local and state emergency operations centers;
• hospitals;
• local, state, and federal law enforcement; 
• local fire agencies; 
• and community volunteers.

Day 1 of the exercise will test public health’s ability to identify the agent and the source of exposure. On Day 2, an incident management team will handle the continuing investigation and plan for a medical response. Day 3 will involve setting up a medication center at Clark College and distributing imitation antibiotics. 

News media invited to observe

News media may observe the exercise. For more information, contact Don Strick at (360) 397-8000 ext. 7307 or (360) 518-1731 (cell).

Role of Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA)

CRESA will support first responders and facilitate ordering and delivery of medical supplies for public health agencies in the four-county region. CRESA also will work to provide policy makers with timely and accurate information for decision making.

Additionally, CRESA will support first responders during PACE Setter, an exercise in the Portland metro area scheduled on the same three days as WASABE.

PACE Setter, the Portland Area Capabilities Exercise, will involve people from more than 65 jurisdictions who will react and respond to a simulated bioterrorism attack and other scenarios, with participation in more than 50 venues around the region.

For more information about PACE Setter, contact Kama Simonds at (503) 702-7902.

Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony

The following information is shared from the Clark County Sheriff's Office

The public is invited to a Thursday, May 16, ceremony honoring law enforcement officers who died last year in the line of duty.  The annual ceremony is organized by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and other regional law enforcement agencies.  It is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the plaza at the east end of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver.

Nationwide, 120 officers died in the line of duty last year. Ceremonies across the country will recognize their sacrifice in service to their communities and public safety.  According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, an officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 57 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed on the job.

Arson Awareness Week - Reducing Residential Arson

This year's Arson Awareness Week (May 5-11) focuses on how to “Reducing Residential Arson.”  The goal is to provide communities with tools and strategies to help combat arson in their neighborhoods.  The motivations behind the burning of homes are curiosity, vandalism, concealing another crime, excitement, revenge and insurance fraud or arson for profit.

An estimated 16,800 intentionally set fires in residential buildings occur annually in the United States.  These fires result in an estimated 280 deaths, 775 injuries and over $593 million in property loss each year.

• Five percent of all residential building fires were intentionally set.
• Lighters (22 percent), heat from other open flame or smoking materials (19 percent), and matches (15 percent) were the leading heat sources of intentionally set fires in residential buildings.
• The majority (76 percent) of intentionally set fires in residential buildings occurred in one- or two-family dwellings. An additional 19 percent of fires occurred in multifamily dwellings.
• Forty-one percent of the intentionally set residential fires occurred in vacant buildings.
• Rubbish, trash and waste (8 percent); magazines, newspapers and writing paper (7 percent); and uncontained flammable liquids or gas (6 percent) were the items most often first ignited in intentionally set fires in residential building.
• Statistics showed that 14,717 law enforcement agencies reported 43,412 arsons.
• Arsons involving single occupancy and other residential structures accounted for 29.3 percent (12,720) of the total number of arson offenses.
• Preliminary FBI UCR data from the first six months of 2012 shows an increase in arson offenses for the first time in six years.

Tips to Help Reduce Arson in Your Neighborhood

Photo Courtesy of USFA. FEMA

Missing 86 Year Old in Battle Ground Area

At about 8pm on May 1st, CRESA launched an Emergency Community Notification Message for a missing person in the Battle Ground area.  The information concerning this missing person is listed below:

 

This is an emergency message from CRESA on behalf of Clark County Sheriff’s Office, please don’t hang up.  The Sheriff’s office is asking for help from the public locating a missing endangered person.
 

Betty Kramer is an 86 year old white female.  She was last seen around 25019 NE 239^th Circle about 2 hours ago.  She is 5 foot 1 inch, and has curly white hair.  She is wearing a white and purple polka dotted shirt and dark grey sweat pants.

Please check your out buildings and around your home.

If you have any information on her possible whereabouts please call 911 immediately.  

The message above was sent out via the County ECNS Message system hitting a 3 mile radius.  This system is only able to send messages to traditional land lines and mobile phones IF you have registered your device with the county.  

This messaging system is critical for public safety and we urge everyone to register your mobile device by visiting our website and registering here. 

What Is That In The Sky?

     Here Comes 

As a life long north-westerner this time of year means one thing, time to shed the parka, pack up the galoshes and dig out the sunscreen and Crocs.  With  forecast high temperatures reaching into the mid 80's this weekend it is a good opportunity to revisit some warm weather reminders. 

The first topic I would like to review is water safety.  While everyone is excited to see the warmer weather coming our way, please be aware that even though the temperatures reach into the 80's the water is generally still very cold and running quickly.  According to experts, when bodies are suddenly plunged into the cold water the first hazards are usually panic and shock.  Immersion in cold water can quickly numb the extremities to the point of uselessness.  Cold hands cannot fasten the straps of a life jacket, grasp a lifeline, or hold onto a over-turned boat.  Hypothermia can set in within minutes.

Please ensure the proper use of flotation devices and keep a close eye on swimmers and fellow boaters.  If you do have an emergency on the water call 9-1-1 and know your exact location.

Another topic that is very important to me as a pet owner is the safety of pets left in cars during periods of warmer weather.

The image above shows how hot the inside of your car may become even during mild temperatures.  Though this image is cute and playful please take the message to heart.  Parts of Clark County may get into the mid 80's, which means the inside of your car may be near 140 degrees.  I don't know about you, but I would not leave my dog Jasper in the car if the outside temperature was above 70 degrees.  If 70 degrees is too warm to keep pets in the car please do not consider keeping children in the car unattended.

With that said unpack the barbecue, put up the patio umbrella, fill the cooler, and get out there and enjoy that sun while it lasts.

Come On Out And Get Your Hands Dirty!

As a Downtown Vancouver agency we support efforts to keep the neighborhood clean, welcoming, and well maintained for all residents, businesses, and visitors.  Come on down and show your pride in our beautiful and thriving community by participating in the SOLVE Spring Clean Up.

SOLVE Downtown Vancouver Spring Clean Up

When 
Saturday, 05/04/2013
8:00 AM-12:00 PM

• 
  

  Where

  Turtle Place
  W 7th and Main St.
  Vancouver, WA
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The spring cleanup is a project to pick up trash, clean up planters, and maintain plants in the downtown Vancouver area. We will also be cleaning up graffiti and other markings.Activities include: Litter Pickup and weeding.
  
  
  
  
  
  

There may not be such thing as a free lunch, but coffee, juice, and snacks will be available at the start of the event. 

Hope to see you there............

Suspicious Package Awareness

In light of recent high profile events, we have been asked to remind everyone to dust off your local emergency and facility safety procedures to keep yourselves and your employees safe.

1. Remember, if you see something suspicious, please say something. If the suspicious activity is in-progress, or has evidence of a crime please report it to 9-1-1 immediately.

Most incidents of interrupted terrorism are caught by alert people who are aware of their surroundings. Suspicious activity may include probing questions about security or taking pictures. You can report tips directly to the Washington State Fusion Center at this website location: http://nwwarn.org/alertSignup-Fusion.aspx.

2. To review recommendations surrounding suspicious packages, remind your employees to be aware of the protective actions recommended by the U.S. Postal Service.

If you receive a suspicious letter or package:

· Stop. Don’t handle.
· Isolate it immediately.
· Don’t open, smell, or taste
· Activate your emergency plan.
· Notify your manager.

If you suspect the mail or package contains a bomb (explosive), or radiological, biological, or chemical threat:
· Isolate area immediately.
· Call 9-1-1.
· Wash your hands with soap and water.

3. We have linked many of the official websites with trusted source recommendations on our website at http://www.cresa911.org/emergency/preparedness.php

National Telecommunications Week

April 14-20th has been designated as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.  It is designated as a time when citizens can thank public safety men and women who are the first line of contact of those emergency professionals who respond during times of crisis.  This week allows Americans from across the country to show gratitude to the 9-1-1 call takers, dispatchers, technicians, that maintain radio and emergency phone systems,  communication staff trainers, communications center and other public safety personnel.  This group of unique and dedicated folks work tirelessly, often behind the scenes to help you during emergencies.  

Dispatchers are the conduit between the public, and first responders, as well as the lifeline to those boots on the ground.  It requires considerable patience, and professionalism to calmly transmit to an officer while dealing with an irate or hysterical caller on the phone at the same time.  Information gathering, disseminating information to officers, remembering locations, and continually adjusting priorities, all done every day by dispatchers, is the heart of emergency services.  

The public usually do not see the incredible courage and fortitude dispatching requires.  Most of the time it is looked upon as simple call taking, however many most overlook the emotional and mental toll it takes on the person hearing officers fight for their lives, listening to people being attacked or screams of  folks for help waiting for help to arrive, even sometimes too late. 

Here at CRESA we believe we have some very professional, compassionate folks answering your calls when help is needed.    In recognition of those, a short video was created to thank those here at CRESA for the amazing job they do off and ON the Floor.  Below is a highlighted version of that Video we would like to share with you.  

So if you can, take a moment this week and join us in Thanking all our very dedicated and passionate Telecommunications Staff for all they do, 365 day a year, 24/7!!  This week we salute you!!

Annual Report EMS District 2

THE FOLLOWING PRESS RELEASE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED BY EMS DISTRICT 2 AND IS BEING SHARED BY CRESA911

 2012 EMS DISTRICT #2 ANNUAL REPORT: PERFORMANCE BASED AMBULANCE CONTRACT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE AT A LOW COST

For information contact: Doug Smith-Lee, Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency, (360) 737-1911 ext. 3949,  doug.smith-lee@clark.wa.gov


The 2012 Clark County EMS District #2 Annual Report highlights how over the past 20 years the District has been providing a high performance paramedic ambulance contract for Clark County and the Cities of Battle Ground, La Center, Ridgefield, and Vancouver. As a result to these jurisdictions cooperatively working together, the community enjoys:

•  A high level of clinical care;
•  Some of the most stringent response time standards in the nation; and
• Low cost for ambulance service with no funding from local taxes

Mike Plymale, Chair of the EMS Administrative Board and Dr. Lynn Wittwer, Clark County’s Medical Program Director state, “the 2012 Annual Report clearly shows the District’s paramedic ambulance services contract continues to promote performance based EMS through delivering quality out-of-hospital care at a reasonable cost.”

The EMS Administrative Board is composed of citizen volunteers with expertise in business, finance, law, health care administration and insurance that provide independent oversight of the District’s paramedic ambulance service contract. The Medical Program Director is appointed by State Department of Health and is under contract with the county for oversight of training, certification and patient care provided by all EMS personnel, including the District’s paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

Since 1992, the District’s ambulance contract has implemented a number of clinical innovations. A few of innovations include: Accreditation by the National Academy of Dispatch; high cardiac arrest survival rates; and enhancements in cardiac and stroke care. The ambulance contract has also made significant contributions to the community in over $3 million for first response enhancements.
The 2012 Annual Report outlines system enhancements and performance levels that have kept the District at the forefront as a high performance EMS System. In addition, the Report also shows how the District and EMS providers are working to find new ways to combine resources and gain efficiencies as a result of dwindling public and private funds for EMS and healthcare reform efforts.

Reports are available by clicking these links:
Executive summary
Entire report