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ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Well, I used to be an EMT in the USCG and I remember most of it.
I am Red Cross certified in Adult CPR.

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ORIGINAL: FullCircle

I’m an amateur doctor does that count?

(and an amateur speller)

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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.

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ORIGINAL: Real0ne

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ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Well, I used to be an EMT in the USCG and I remember most of it.
I am Red Cross certified in Adult CPR.

wanna bet that - that does not mean you are qualified to help in a "disater"?

quote:

ORIGINAL: FullCircle

I’m an amateur doctor does that count?

(and an amateur speller)

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

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ORIGINAL: Real0ne

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Well, I used to be an EMT in the USCG and I remember most of it.
I am Red Cross certified in Adult CPR.

wanna bet that - that does not mean you are qualified to help in a "disater"?

RealOne, as a former member of the USCG I'm more "qualified" to help in a disaster than some desk jockey in FEMA.
They'd probably piss their pants if they heard gunfire and let (them) take over when someone is bleeding like a stuffed pig from arterial bleeding.

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ORIGINAL: kisshou

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ORIGINAL: FullCircle

I’m an amateur doctor does that count?

(and an amateur speller)

I like to play patient does that count?

quote:

ORIGINAL: FullCircle

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ORIGINAL: kisshou

quote:

ORIGINAL: FullCircle

I’m an amateur doctor does that count?

(and an amateur speller)

I like to play patient does that count?

Let’s get cracking on this full medical work up them.

*breathes on stethoscope to warm it up*


(edited for spelling irregularities)

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ORIGINAL: SirHedonicsslave

While I agree that the whole Katrina response was a disaster in itself.....and FEMA is just a joke for the most part.... doing nothing isn't going to solve the problem.

I see that these cards MIGHT put QUALIFIED people on the front lines during a disaster as well as keeping people back that are just going to add to the chaos.  I have trained in disaster response.....and one of the things they stress is to try to avoid adding chaos to the chaos.  It would be nice for the people having to decide who can go in and who can't to have something that says the person is what he/she says.  

Does it hold the potential to line someone's pockets? yep....as does anything else the government does.  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. 

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and FEMA is just a joke for the most part

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one of the things they stress is to try to avoid adding chaos to the chaos.

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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.

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ORIGINAL: SirHedonicsslave

While I agree that the whole Katrina response was a disaster in itself.....and FEMA is just a joke for the most part.... doing nothing isn't going to solve the problem.

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ORIGINAL: Archer

Disater Site worker is a fairly new certification.
OK lets look at the facts
Fact there have been several lawsuits against cities, employers, etc because the workers were not adiquetly trained an or equiped to do the job they were doing.
WTC post 9/11 asbestos and silica lawsuits anyone remember those??????

It's the same as any other OSHA training (One I am schedueled to be taking the Train the Trainer course for next year) It is a matter of making sure that the folks working in those areas recognize the dangers and know how to protect themselves from those dangers. The certification will help Government and companies defend against lawsuits based on "They didn't tell me I had to wear a respirator, hardhat, safety glasses, etc" and now I'm disabled. Disaster sites tend to have uncontroled hazardous chemicals (toxic soup at Katrina) if you have not been trained you may not know what the dangers are/ could be and thus protect yourself.

The Disaster Site Worker Class is about how to work safely in an area where destruction has made it unlikely that all the normal everyday safety measures are going to be enough to keep you alive and unhurt. The class cost a very small amount, and is available to everyone who wants to pay the money. Certificatio to teach the class costs only a little more and then you can teach the class to your heart's content, so groups like Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Etc can send one person to get the Train the Trainer, and they can train everyone in the group at cost.
Basic course is 16 hours training, the Train the Trainer course is about a week long.

Funny that some of the same folks all upset that the WTC responders didn't have the training and equipment to protect themselves are complaining about the fact that the Government is starting to require training, before letting folks wander into a distaster area.