Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

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  Bar codes and inventory management

  There are commercial products available but are priced too high for small, rural agencies to purchased. The idea is that the federal government can leverage its position as a purchaser to make available a IM kit that contains bar code labels (or the ability to create them), a printer, scanners, and a virtual storage database. Any small agency, or rather, any agency, can bar code their inventory and used the scanners ...more »

  There are commercial products available but are priced too high for small, rural agencies to purchased. The idea is that the federal government can leverage its position as a purchaser to make available a IM kit that contains bar code labels (or the ability to create them), a printer, scanners, and a virtual storage database. Any small agency, or rather, any agency, can bar code their inventory and used the scanners to scan the inventory into a virtual database. The database can contain such information as: description of item, quantity, location, replacement date, checked out to, etc.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Technology to trickle down to support 1st responders

  With the exception of sensitive items or national security, any advances e.g., blood clotting agents, protective vests, that originates, supports, and are used by the military should be made available for first responders.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Portable sleeping centers

  Retrofit the metal shipping containers (seen on the large boats) in bunk houses. Make sure that they are insulated for the winter or have A/C for the summer. Some closets for storing gear and clothes should be included. These can be sent throughout the country, or purchased, by EOCs that have the need for them. These sleeping centers can be moved around as needed or stay in one location.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Future EOC building design

  One thing, when designing/building a new EOC, is to incorporate space for people to sleep in. For example, think of the bunks that are seen on a submarine. If something like that can be incorporated into the building for EOC personnel to sleep in, it would be great. It gets people away from sleeping the break room or other people's offices. Hospitals have rooms set aside for the physicians to sleep in why can't an ...more »

  One thing, when designing/building a new EOC, is to incorporate space for people to sleep in. For example, think of the bunks that are seen on a submarine. If something like that can be incorporated into the building for EOC personnel to sleep in, it would be great. It gets people away from sleeping the break room or other people's offices. Hospitals have rooms set aside for the physicians to sleep in why can't an EOC.

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  2 comments for Idea: Future EOC building design

  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  AED for LE

  If it is at all possible, consider law enforcement having in the vehicles an automated external defibrillator. With their prior knowledge on first aid and CPR, LE usually arrives before EMS and made need additional tools to save a life.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Future grants scaled to location and work force

  I'll address this from a public health perspective. Through the years, the grant deliverables has reflected a one-size-fits-all approach meaning that public health departments,regardless of location or size of the health department, would be tasked to complete activities identified in the grant. For example, mass prophylaxis planning. Every health department is required to have a plan in place to provide antibiotics ...more »

  I'll address this from a public health perspective. Through the years, the grant deliverables has reflected a one-size-fits-all approach meaning that public health departments,regardless of location or size of the health department, would be tasked to complete activities identified in the grant. For example, mass prophylaxis planning. Every health department is required to have a plan in place to provide antibiotics to the entire community within 48 hours. However, it is since evolved to give antibiotics to as much people as you can within 48 hours. The problem is that this one-size-fits-all approach penalizes the rural and/or small health departments that may have only 3 or 4 employees. They must rely on volunteers for assistance. But in a small county, the volunteer pool is not that large.

  I proposed that all future grants be cognizant of the size of the agencies when they are being written. Therefore, the grants should be broken into 3 sections: large, medium, and small. Professional associations could assist the Feds in crafting them but the idea is that an agency that serves a large population, e.g., Boston, has a large health department and as such can do more. Compare this to Monroe that has a very small population. How can one expect Monroe to do the same activities as Boston but without the staff?

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  State training areas

  Similar to what the military is doing with joint bases, I propose that, when a military base has been decommissioned, that it be given to the State so that the State could have a location to train their first responders. This training area then could be used by Fire, LE, EMS, public health, CERT, etc. In this way, opportunities for training with your partners is facilitated. The State, along with the cities/counties, ...more »

  Similar to what the military is doing with joint bases, I propose that, when a military base has been decommissioned, that it be given to the State so that the State could have a location to train their first responders. This training area then could be used by Fire, LE, EMS, public health, CERT, etc. In this way, opportunities for training with your partners is facilitated. The State, along with the cities/counties, would provide the funding needed to maintain, supply, and employ personnel and the dollars will stay in the State to stimulate the economy. Additionally, staff will not need to leave the state for training.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Rechargeable flashlights

  Every government building should have rechargeable flashlights. These flashlights are the ones that can be plugged into a standard wall plug and as long as they are plugged in, they are in a charged mode. Have these flashlights where only employees have access to them, that is to say, these flashlights should be in the employee's cubicle, office, or breakroom

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Vaccinations

  Consider having mandatory vaccinations for first responders on the premise that vaccinations can reduce infection and absenteeism among workers as well as prevent their co-workers from getting ill. A committee will need to determine what vaccinations are absolutely needed, maybe Health and Human Services, the CDC, or Institute of Medicine could assist on this. For those that have contraindications or religious exemptions, ...more »

  Consider having mandatory vaccinations for first responders on the premise that vaccinations can reduce infection and absenteeism among workers as well as prevent their co-workers from getting ill. A committee will need to determine what vaccinations are absolutely needed, maybe Health and Human Services, the CDC, or Institute of Medicine could assist on this.

  For those that have contraindications or religious exemptions, workarounds will need to be considered such as wearing N-95 masks or telecommuting.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Create the Emergency Management Reserve Corp (EMRC)

  I don't know if there is one currently or in development, but similar to the Medical Reserve Corp, the EMRC will be comprised of current, former EM professionals as well as like-minded individuals who would support EM during emergencies or disasters by volunteering their time and sharing their expertise. In small, rural counties you usually have minimal staffing levels (1 to 3 staff ) during normal business hours; that ...more »

  I don't know if there is one currently or in development, but similar to the Medical Reserve Corp, the EMRC will be comprised of current, former EM professionals as well as like-minded individuals who would support EM during emergencies or disasters by volunteering their time and sharing their expertise. In small, rural counties you usually have minimal staffing levels (1 to 3 staff ) during normal business hours; that in an emergency, these people will be hard-press to efficiently respond. By having an EMRC, vacant slots can be filled by people familiar with emergency management and emergency operations center procedures.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Solar panels on vehicles top charge phones

  Many of the ideas that I have read on this forum has referenced smartphones. While there are obvious limitations to this idea, there are some merits. Basically, it involves placing solar charging panels, storage batteries, identifying placard, and phone docks on emergency response vehicles. The solar panel is located on top of car (think Primus) and the charging station could be located on the back bumper. If someone ...more »

  Many of the ideas that I have read on this forum has referenced smartphones. While there are obvious limitations to this idea, there are some merits. Basically, it involves placing solar charging panels, storage batteries, identifying placard, and phone docks on emergency response vehicles. The solar panel is located on top of car (think Primus) and the charging station could be located on the back bumper.

  If someone happen to forget their phone charger, or if the power is out, then they can go to a vehicle identified with the placard to recharge their smartphone. Different connectors will be needed for the different phones as well as have the standard wall outlet for people who have their wall plugs to plug their phone chargers in.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Donating computers/laptops

  When an agencies computer or laptop gets replaced, consider donating this equipment to another agency. Prior to donation, make sure that any agency-related data is removed, but not any of the software programs e.g. Microsoft Word or Excel. There are many rural or small agencies that could benefit from such a donation. If, by chance, there are federal grant restrictions (or state or local restrictions) against donating ...more »

  When an agencies computer or laptop gets replaced, consider donating this equipment to another agency. Prior to donation, make sure that any agency-related data is removed, but not any of the software programs e.g. Microsoft Word or Excel. There are many rural or small agencies that could benefit from such a donation. If, by chance, there are federal grant restrictions (or state or local restrictions) against donating equipment, please consider removing such language.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Giving blood

  It should be promoted and encourage for everyone, to the extent possible, donate blood. For the purpose of this website, I will propose the idea that agencies involved in response, should give their employees a half-day to donate blood. This half-day should not count against sick leave or vacation time unless it has been determine that the employee abused this practice. This half-day can be scheduled in advanced or ...more »

  It should be promoted and encourage for everyone, to the extent possible, donate blood. For the purpose of this website, I will propose the idea that agencies involved in response, should give their employees a half-day to donate blood. This half-day should not count against sick leave or vacation time unless it has been determine that the employee abused this practice. This half-day can be scheduled in advanced or during lull time in day-to-day operations anytime during the year.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Informational sugar packets

  Sweet'N Low, Splenda, and other producers could include emergency preparedness tips, or other topics, on sugar packets. Maybe add a hyperlink if the reader desired additional information.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Somewhat captured audience

  When you are at a movie theater, often not there are 15 minutes of trailers, fillers, and other information that is previewed before the movie starts. Consider introducing emergency preparedness topics/tidbits for the movie patrons to read. They do not have to be long...approximately 30 seconds or so. For example, inform them to buy extra can goods while at the grocery store, or a reminder to check the batteries in ...more »

  When you are at a movie theater, often not there are 15 minutes of trailers, fillers, and other information that is previewed before the movie starts. Consider introducing emergency preparedness topics/tidbits for the movie patrons to read. They do not have to be long...approximately 30 seconds or so. For example, inform them to buy extra can goods while at the grocery store, or a reminder to check the batteries in the smoke alarms, etc.

  Some public health department created PSAs on respiratory etiquette during the flu season that was shown before the movie started to remind people to cover their cough, sneeze into the crook of their elbow, to wash your hands, and to not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  OCR aztec codes (2D barcodes)

  Consider having OCR aztec codes outside of a building that contains information for the public to use during an emergency. For example, at an identified point of dispensing clinic (POD), create and affix your OCR code outside the door. The code should contain instructions for anyone who has a smartphone to access. For example, when they report to POD, the instructions mayinclude: bring an ID, weight(s) of their children, ...more »

  Consider having OCR aztec codes outside of a building that contains information for the public to use during an emergency. For example, at an identified point of dispensing clinic (POD), create and affix your OCR code outside the door. The code should contain instructions for anyone who has a smartphone to access. For example, when they report to POD, the instructions mayinclude: bring an ID, weight(s) of their children, and any allergic reactions they may have. This is just to name a few examples. Educate the public about these OCR codes prior to an emergency so that they become familiar with them.

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  No Knock Exercises

  For many of us, we exercise our emergency response plans, not only for training, but to modify/update said plans. Disconcerting is the fact, that many of the exercises are announced way in advanced. Consider the proposition that agencies should engage in "no knock exercises". A no-knock exercise is a form of an exercise that my NCOIC's clinic would participate in. Basically, and with no notice, he would create an ...more »

  For many of us, we exercise our emergency response plans, not only for training, but to modify/update said plans. Disconcerting is the fact, that many of the exercises are announced way in advanced. Consider the proposition that agencies should engage in "no knock exercises". A no-knock exercise is a form of an exercise that my NCOIC's clinic would participate in. Basically, and with no notice, he would create an incident e.g., having a rescue dummy simulate a cardiac arrest patient, somewhere in his clinic and announce it. Staff were expected to respond and provide first aid. His belief was that if the staff knew they were in an exercise they would act differently than in a real-world event. It should be consdered that public health should, with no warning, be prepared to set up a point of dispensing with no notice. In this way, they can see how their staff would respond, to see if MOUs/MAAs are sufficient, that the building identified as a POD, can be accessed, as will as determine how long it will take their staff to set up a POD and how staff/volunteers will show up. Public health has been setting up PODs for a long time--for flu clinics, for exercises--all with advanced preparation. Now is the time to see if a POD can be stood up and prepared to receive patients with no notice.

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  Submitted by Community Member 1 year ago

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  Resiliency and Redundancy Through Sharing

  The recession has left many agencies with minimal staffing levels and underutilized office space and equipment. What has not changed is the mission of first responders still continues. It is proposed that agencies consider sharing; loaning; or accepting nominal fees for the use of;resources e.g. laptops, desktops, office space with other agencies. For example, the public health department is open from 8 am to 5 pm, ...more »

  The recession has left many agencies with minimal staffing levels and underutilized office space and equipment. What has not changed is the mission of first responders still continues. It is proposed that agencies consider sharing; loaning; or accepting nominal fees for the use of;resources e.g. laptops, desktops, office space with other agencies. For example, the public health department is open from 8 am to 5 pm, for a total of nine hours. The remaining 15 hours, the building is vacant. When the building is vacant, have the building available for mental health professionals to use, either for free or nominal cost. The idea is to use the building efficiently, to use it for a full 24-hours rather than just the 9 hours. The computer equipment can be used by the mental health staff provided that they connect to a different server. Another example is the partnership between a hospital and public health. The hospital can "give" an examination room for public health to use as a STD clinic. The hospital provides the space and equipment, public health provides the staff. In the end, STD rates will go down, less visits to the ED, and the burden of disease diminishes. If there are barriers in place--policies, past practices, grant restrictions--they should be reviewed and determined if they can be overcome.

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