Grand Haven CERT Meeting -- October 9, 2019
M. Leigh Jackson & Mike Wright • October 22, 2019
Meeting called to order by Chip
Howden at 2:09 PM.
- Members present: 17
Grand Haven Community demographics for purposes of discussions:
- Population: ~4,600.
- Homes: ~1,800.
Guest Speakers: Palm Coast Fire Department
- Eric Robinson-Firefighter/Paramedic
A firefighter in Palm Coast for 8 years, Eric has certified over 400 citizens in CPR. He is a pediatric, advanced life support instructor, part of the public education team, and team leader of the department’s Critical Incident Stress Management team. In 2017, he received the Emergency Medical Services Commendation Medal. - Patrick Juliano, M.P.A., Firefighter/Paramedic,
& Fire Public Information Officer
In 2013, Juliano was named, “Career Firefighter of the Year” - Meeting
Format: Speaker Eric Robinson initiated the presentation by asking
thought-provoking questions such as, where are we now, identification of
problem areas and learning something new.
Summary of Topics and Discussions Presented by Speakers
- Discussion of past Grand Haven Cert Team Disaster
Activations
• The last activation was ten or more years ago.
•After Hurricane Mathew, GH Cert had no communications network.
•2019 Installation of Communication Infrastructure and Documented protocols. - Discussion concerning Grand Haven Demographics
•Identify residents with limited mobility.
•Identify residence requiring special services such as, air conditioning, oxygen, medications, etc. - Discussion concerning the Triage Process
Triage is the systematic process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. The objective is to divide patients into those who cannot be helped, those in critical condition who need immediate transport to an emergency center, and those with less serious injuries.
Step 1: Stop, Look, Listen, and Think
Step 2: Conduct voice triage
Step 3: Start where you stand; follow
Step 4: Evaluate each survivor and tag and label as many victims as quickly as possible
Step 5: Treat “I” survivors immediately
Step 6: Document triage results - Discussion concerning encountering and
observation of a victims
•If someone appears to be unconscious or unresponsive, begin by asking in a loud voice if he/she is okay.
•Check pulse (on neck not wrist.)
•Check breathing by tilting the head back, looking, and feeling for breaths.
•Control of excessive bleeding
•Arterial bleeding: bleeding from artery pumping out in spurts
•Venous bleeding: bleeding from vein characterized by oozing or running of dark colored blood.
•If necessary place the victim in a ” Recovery Position” in order to keep airway open. - Triage
Levels and Color Coding -- The color-coded tagging method to categorize
disaster victims in the field has been almost universally adopted and
incorporated into existing triage systems. Upon completion of the initial assessment, each patient is labeled
according to patient’s name, assessment findings, and identified according
to his/her need for medical treatment and transport from the emergency scene.
The fire Department suggests that we use the colored tags that are universally
recognized by first responders.
•Black Triage Tag: Patients who are either dead or who have such extensive injuries that they cannot be saved with the limited resources available.
•Red Triage Tag: Patients whose lives are in immediate danger and who require immediate treatment.
•Yellow Tag Triage: Patients whose lives are not in immediate danger, but who will require urgent, not immediate, medical care.
•Green Triage Tag: Patients with minor injuries who will eventually require treatment - Contact the incident command center by radio and report needs for onsite medical treatment. Arrange transport for others from the emergency scene.
- Discussion concerning transportation of victims
•Walking wounded and generally, ambulatory qualify for relocation to the Incident Command Center area or other designated locations.
•Two Cert members are to remain on site with the seriously injured until higher levels of professional care arrive. - Discussion of Search and Rescue and the GH team
rule that a CERT member will never be left alone during a Search and Rescue
assignment.
The Fire Department policy states that if two department members are working as a team, they can separate as long as they are in voice or visual contact with each other. Eric Robinson described such a situation as follows: “Two people moving around in the swimming pool area of the Community Center who remain in voice and visual contact would not be considered to be alone”. - If additional teams are needed in a specific area, contact Incident Command to request a dispatch of an additional team.
- Discussion concerning checking a pulse over carotid artery: place your index and middle fingers on the neck to the side of your windpipe. When you feel a rhythmical throbbing of the arteries as blood is propelled through the artery. If you wish to determine the heart rate look at your watch, and count the number of beats in 10 seconds. Multiply this number by 6 to get your heart rate per minute. CERT members checked their own pulse with this method during the meeting.
- Discussion
Concerning Treat for Shock
Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting sufficient blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do not get enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly. Many organs can be damaged because of shock
•Rapid and shallow breathing
•Capillary refill of greater than 2 seconds
•Failure to follow simple commands such as, “Squeeze my hand.” - Discussion
Concerning Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest
•Heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked.
•Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating as a whole.
•Without CPR the survival rate the victim’s goes down 10% per minute.
•Do not stop compressions for more than 10 seconds until relieved or professionals arrive. - Discussion of Future Deployment and
Procedures ( If Encountered)
Attempt to learn and amend protocols based on past performances, simulated training, virtual reality, and multi-disciplinary mock disaster drills - Discussion
of Supplemental Command Center Locations
•Creekside or North Entrance Guard House
•South Entrance Guard House
•Wild Oaks Dog Park near entrance - Discussion
of First Aid Kit Items
•All member kits should be stocked with similar items
•Gloves Purchase - bulk Medium and Large
•Emergency blanket for burns and to regulate temperature
•Masks – purchase in bulk Medium and Large
•Roller Gauze- purchase in bulk Medium and Large
•Large bandages for chest wounds, abdominal wounds and to cover and protect organs
•Consider adding Tourniquets to first aid kits
•Command Center First Kit- needs additional supplies
•Old bag in Command Center appear to have adequate supplies for team training. - Discussion
concerning Tourniquets
•If you put a gloved hand on a wound and the bleeding will not stop, it is time for a Tourniquet.
•Tourniquets are placed about 2 inches higher than the wound. Vessels will retract.
•Tighten until the blood stops. Check for no pulse below the Tourniquet.
•Once installed the tourniquet is never loosened and only removed by medical professionals.
•Mark a “T” on the victims forehead and record the time near it. - Impalement
Injury
•Stabilize object in wound
•Never remove the object unless it blocks breathing
•Victim should not be moved, unless it his/her life is threatened by the object
•Eye Injury: Stabilize with roller gauze and wrap both eyes (eyes tend to move together). - Discussion
of downed power line(s)
•Do not approach
•Contact ICC - Discussion
Approaching Propane Tanks
•Approach with caution
•Smell around the area. Propane gas has no odor.
•Propane companies add a harmless chemical - mercaptan- to give it its distinctive “rotten egg” smell.
•Turn off valve. - Future Training Discussion – Master the Basics
and Periodic updates
•Set up a series of medical treatment stations and roll play activities using interactive medical procedure stations and scenarios.
•Consider future training on using Tourniquets and adding this device to first aid kits
November Annual member Luncheon
- Hold the date: Wednesday, November 13, 2019.
Adjournment: 3:30 PM