This week on Mitigation Journal:
A review of the NFA program Command and Control of Target Hazards and the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control "Courage to be Safe" program and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

In the news: Rochester EMT saves City Police Officer, Ryan White Act and the loss of emergency provisions, and Medtronic/Physio-Control gets an injunction from the FDA.

In our preparedness section we'll take a look at Storm Ready program from the National Weather Service...visit www.noaa.gov...and getting ready for National Preparedness Month, September 2008. Mitigation Journal is a supporter of NPM and will be presenting various preparedness tips for professional responders and the public. Visit www.ready.gov

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By phone: 585-672-7844 or by email at mitigationjournal@gmail.com

This week on Mitigation Journal The All Hazards Podcast:
Call the Mitigation Journal Voice Mail line: (585) 672-7844
New Email address, too: mitigationjournal@gmail.com

Fuel issues demand attention: Fuel costs are reaching farther than just prices at the pump...consider the possibility that you may not be able to get fuel at all or only on a limited basis. How will this impact the ability of your service? How will this effect your personnel availability to respond or be called back to work when needed?
We also have to consider the average citizen stockpile of fuel, use of unapproved alternate fuels and the related hazards to responders.

We'll find out a bit more about the Ricin Guy...talk about ricin exposure and the signs and symptoms of ricin intoxication.

Last week I talked about the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing...I was reminded this week that March 25, 1995 was the anniversary of the Tokyo subway sarin nerve agent attack. Special thanks to MJ listener, Tom for keeping me on my toes.

In a related story, a 14-year old girl commits suicide by creating poison gas...a blood agent, hydrogen sulphide. H2S is a blood agent, similar to Cyanide.

Both these events underscore the need for us to be aware that the Consumer-Level Hazardous Materials Events are deadly...can be intentional or accidental...but deadly.

First off, the Ricin guy (the guy who had ricin, weapons in a LosVagas hotel) is out of the hospital...after treatment for ricin exposure...and has been placed under arrest for possession of biological agents. This is the story first reported in Mitigation Journal back in February...The media reported that finding ricin in the hotel was "not an act of terrorism"...The tune has changed just a bit with this guys arrest. This story is the first to two I Told You So's this week.
 
A Johns Hopkins study is looking at psychological impact changes when the terrorism alert level changes. Good study, just looking in the wrong direction. We should be focused on the Cry Wolf phenomenon and dealing with Optimism Bias.

A new (old) way of identifying risk/threat to a location. University of Arizona researchers have come up with a benchmark vulnerability study that looks at three dimensions of risk...social aspects, natural hazards and construction of the city and infrastructure. This is one of the best approaches to threat assessments...but it is not new...Looking at the social, environmental and geographical features of a given location are the basis for the All-Hazards approach.

I Told You So number two: Botox is bad...no kidding. Newsweek reports that new testing on Botox and Myobloc can migrate from the injection site and cause death. Botox is botox and neurotoxin is neurotoxin.

April 19 marks the 13th anniversary of the Murrah Federal Building / Oklahoma City bombing. The deadliest act of domestic terrorism in our history. Lessons learned? You decide.

This edition is all about our local EMS conference...A.K.A the STEP Conference. Now in its fourteenth year, this conference is the single best attended educational program in the Region.

Today I'll be providing a review of some of the sessions, interviews with speakers and vendors...if you couldn't make it this year, you'll get a feeling for what you missed!

There was so much to do this weekend...I spoke with a number of providers at the STEP conference, but ran out of time to get them all on the show. If we talked at the conference, please tune in next week...I'll have your interview up then.

Check out STEP on the WEB at www.stepems.org
Looking for a change in your EMS career? Check out Canandaigua Emergency Squad...Job opening for EMS Sergeant. www.canandaiguaems.org

Here it is! My top products list from EMS Today 2008. Categories are Education and Training, Provider Safety, Infection Control, Patient Care, and Disaster Management.

In the Education/Training Category the top pick is Jones and Bartlett Publishers for their new on-line test prep, EMS skill manual, and Firefighter skills text. Contact Larry Newell, Executive VP of Jones and Bartlett Learning lnewell@jbpub.com or the web www.jbpub.com

In the Provider Safety section, Dan White from All-Med/Alliance Medical took the top spot for several provider safety items...from head to toe...the best protection. You can get all of Dan's info at his Paramedic Blog at http://phillydan.spaces.live.com/

In the area of infection control Union Springs Pharmaceuticals, the makers of MyClyns protective spray get the high marks! Special thanks to Jim Elliot and Joel Ivers...find them at www.myclyns.com

My top pick in patient care products was the Ready-Heat blanket by TechTrade. Contact Ted Bart ted@techtradellc.com and www.techtradellc.com

The best product in Disaster Management goes to Reeves and the emergency shelters...you can find them at www.reevesEMS.com or contact Lynn at lpiacentini@reevesemes.com

In the Operation Section I thought the Controlled Access Product Dispenser hit the mark. Visit www.ucapit.com

Don't forget...all my photos and some typed notes will be posted on our Mitigation Journal blog at www.mitigationjournal.blogspot.com

Live from Baltimore, EMS Today 2008 coverage! Today I'll review just a few of the products I've seen.
On my "best" list for today are:
I Am Responding emergency responder tracking software, MyClyns Personal Protective Spray, and the Glide Scope Ranger by Averathon Medical.
More reviews and conference updates in the next update on Mitigation Journal.

Remember to check out the Mitigation Journal Blog for pictures from Baltimore. I'll be posting a written summary and product reviews there, too.

The EMS Today officially kicks off today! In this session I'll review the opening ceremonies and the EMS Today "Game Show",  Is it time to turn off the lights and siren,  and Controversies in EMS : Technology in Assessment.

Don't forget to check out the Mitigation Journal Blog for updated photos from the conference and around the area.

Here is the update from day two of the National ALS Core Content pre-conference session. My commentary is included.

Please join us for daily updates, reviews and interviews from JEMS EMS Today 2008.

Welcome to this Special Edition of Mitigation Journal - "live" from the opening of EMS Today in Baltimore!

Today I'll open with a review of day-one of the National EMS Core Content Refresher Workshop. This is the first time I've attended a pre-conference program like this and I didn't know what I was in for. This  first of a two-day session being presented by Paul Werfel, David Gurchiek, and Art Romano just flew by and I had a hard time consolidating my notes to do the podcast.

This review will cover Ethics, Infectious Disease, Pediatric Assessment, Trauma, and geriatric care. I'll follow up in the next posting with day-two topics and a full session summary as well as coverage of the special evening session 'Clinical Controversies: Technology in Assessment'.

We'll also be doing a "whats new" from the exhibit floor and interviews with conference participants.

Special welcome to new Mitigation Journal listeners Dale, Steve, and Christina! Thanks for joining us.
Do you like what you hear on Mitigation Journal? Why not post a review on iTunes?

Today I'll focus on upcoming EMS conferences; the Rochester STEP Conference here at home and the EMS Today conference in Baltimore. Mitigation Journal will be podcasting updates, session reviews, "live" interviews with manufactures and attendees. Join us on the podcast and blog for daily updates!

Todays commentary is on gas/fuel prices. With fuel approaching $4.00/gal I asking how prepared emergency services are to deal with situations when fuel in limited or not available.

We'll also talk about how seasonal flu has closed schools in Hong Kong and NY. Is closing schools and businesses a solid tactic for dealing with flu or disease outbreak?

FEMA releases the "Rehab" document...the FEMA version of NFPA 1581. Its 174 pages long and I'm in the process of review. You can get a copy at www.usfa.dhs.gov.

And...Storms in Atlanta, crane collapse in NYC make the case for all hazards planning and the Rule of Outcomes.

Check out the Mitigation Journal Blog at www.mitigationjournal.blogspot.com and view all my news items. They are available as a page at http://www.google.com/reader/shared/00031638008421988721 (and there's a feed too)