quote:

ORIGINAL: Real0ne

Why are disasters going to becoime an everyday occurance?

quote:

But....could it possibly serve the greater good by keeping the idiot down the street from getting himself or someone else killed or injured by saying "Hehehehe, i'm an electrician" when he's not? Yep.....sure does.

What a national ID with people picked by FEMA, and Directed by FEMA?

Great way to turn an unfortunate situation into a DISASTER.

Oh and promote the coveted national id and rfid chips too while we are at it.

quote:

they had an oil refinery spill in the middle of the flood....now half the town of Coffeyville KS is toxic.

quote:

ORIGINAL: farglebargle

quote:

they had an oil refinery spill in the middle of the flood....now half the town of Coffeyville KS is toxic.

That's not FEMA's problem.

That's not the Localities problem.

That's the refinery's problem. And Tough Shit, that they need to spend the money to clean up their mess.

Boo Fucking Hoo.

quote:

Often, people with good intentions do more harm than good. I can't count the number of times I have stopped at accidents to see if assistance is needed (I am a nurse), and found that someone has already yanked the passengers out of the car and carried them to the side of the road, propped their heads up on cushions, etc. Sure, if the car is on fire, or some IMMEDIATE greater threat is present, this would be understandable, but these have been cases where the injured were safer where they were than being moved.

Professional responders almost never accept bystander assistance, because either it is not needed, and more help would get in the way, but mainly because they have no way to know if the person is in any way qualified to assist. The single time my assistance has been accepted by professionals was on a multiple car wreck where the rescuers were outnumbered by the seriously injured, and the Life Flight crew recognized me from the hospital.

I assisted them by handing supplies, going back and forth to the helicopter for more equipment, setting up IVs, holding the IV bags up while they infused, etc. When they were ready to transport the patients, they asked me hand the IV bag I was holding to a bystander and take some equipment ahead to the helicopter. When I asked the nearest onlooker to hold the IV bag, she jumped back and said "that was more involvement than I wanted to have!" And I told her, "Then you shouldn't have been standing around watching", and made her hold it anyway.

The point being, there is no way in the middle of a disaster to tell who will be helpful, and who will just get in the way, or worse yet, cause more harm.

quote:

ORIGINAL: farglebargle

And considering the PROVEN lack of judgment in determining those qualifications, why would anyone think the Feds are capable of properly running this program?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alumbrado

quote:

ORIGINAL: farglebargle

And considering the PROVEN lack of judgment in determining those qualifications, why would anyone think the Feds are capable of properly running this program?

What are you babbling about now?
Has your tin foil hat told you that you are better qualified and should push EMTs, paramedics, and even doctors out of the way at the next accident you see?

quote:

ORIGINAL: SirHedonicsslave

NEWSFLASH: It's not just the State's that issue certs for EMT's and Paramedics......there is a National Registry as well, and many states have gone to the National Registry certs. Why? Because they want to provide a continuity in training from state to state, thereby making it easier for a Paramedic from one state to be able to work effectively with one from another state if the need should arise. It also makes it easier for folks in EMS to transfer certifications from state to state if they move.

quote:

ORIGINAL: farglebargle

quote:

ORIGINAL: SirHedonicsslave

Ok....while I don't agree with the lady having to play "cat and mouse" to get needed supplies to people in a much faster manner....i do agree with the idea of having ID's for first response workers.
Why?
I spent years working in EMS....i have literally had to yell "WE NEED TO CLEAR A PATH" and physically move people to get our equipment in and out of a scene.....people would come up and want to help....all good and fine, until there is no room left for the folks that are working the scene to get through. I understand people wanting to help, but when you're talking about a disaster the size of the WTC.....you need the trained folks in there doing what they do....and not having to worry about someone else getting hurt because they don't know what they're doing. If people want to volunteer, join the Red Cross, go get the training before the disaster occurs....then they can be in the big middle of it.
The issue in Katrina....granted, folks who had genuine concern and wanted to help were trying to get in.....but so were people just wanting to loot or "see" for themselves.....which means added work for those trying to do the jobs they were trained to do. I had friends called to go down and help....they were getting shot at......they're trying to protect themselves, they didn't need innocent bystanders they would have to protect as well while trying to do their work.

I know it sounds harsh and cold to say "Where are your papers", but there are ways people can volunteer to help without training, but without being "on the scene". Most "disasters" have some kind of central supply location.....volunteer there....ask if there is anything needed....if you have a pickup, offer to relay supplies or go pick things up.....if there is a Red Cross station there, go ask them if they need help....it may be something as simple as making sandwiches...but believe me, it can be an absolute Godsend to the folks out there in crisis or the ones working. I worked a HazMat call once, where a convenience store owner went to the officers that were blockading the area and handed them a couple cases of pop and water and a few dozen sandwiches and chips and a local pizza place brought in a dozen large pizzas....after 6 hours of being out there waiting for something to happen, believe me it was a welcome sight to all of us.

You know what? Since the BOY SCOUTS *COULD HAVE* organized a better response to Katrina than the Feds, did, I'll still suggest that this does nothing but enrich those companies providing the ID, Database, etc...

Remember that. The BOY SCOUTS are better able to deal with a disaster than the Federal Government. Why shouldn't we just give our tax dollars to the Scouts instead of FEMA?

( Well, yeah, I know about the homophobic thing... )