Texas HazMat's Blog

A MESSAGE FROM THE UNITED STATES ACTING ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR REGARDING THE H1N1 FLU

More links to gain information

Washington DC- In an effort to send a common message the USFA is working with Department of Homeland Security Office of Health Leadership and other Federal partners (FICEMS) to issue an EMS, Medical First Responder and 9-1-1 specific guidance document to the Nation’s first responders. This is a dynamic process and we will provide additional information as soon as we receive the appropriate agency(s) approval. In addition to the CDC… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 30, 2009 at 12:17pm — 4 Comments

FYI: The National Library of Medicine has several new web pages on swine flu

Dear WISER Users:

FYI, the National Library of Medicine has several new web pages on swine flu:

Swine Flu

http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/swineflu.html

Comprehensive resource for health professionals on Federal Response, International Resources, Genetic Sequence Information, PubMed Searches, Veterinary Resources and Información en Español

Swine Flu - MedlinePlus

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/swineflu.html

Information for the general… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 28, 2009 at 10:28pm — No Comments

HOW TO: Track Swine Flu Online

There are few things in this world that cannot be easily replaced, repaired, or regained. Our health and the health of the ones we love falls into this category. The best thing we can do to protect our health, above medication or rest, is prevention.

This week, news broke of a new and fatal swine flu on the Mexico-U.S. border. It has quickly turned into a growing outbreak and possible pandemic. Knowing about these important and growing cases is vital to public health. Fortunately,… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 27, 2009 at 12:43pm — 2 Comments

How swine flu spreads in humans

April 24, 2009

A new strain of influenza is infecting people in Mexico and the United States and may have killed up to 60 people in Mexico, global health officials said today.

The CDC has analyzed samples of the H1N1 virus from some of the U.S. patients, all of whom have recovered, and said it is a never-before-seen mixture of viruses from swine, birds and humans.

A new strain of influenza is infecting people in Mexico and the United States and may have killed… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 26, 2009 at 10:13pm — No Comments

What You need to know about Swine Flue

Introduction:-- A new strain of swine flu that has killed as many as 81 and sickened more than 1,324 in Mexico has spread to the United States and is raising fears of a possible pandemic. Learn more about the disease and why it is causing concern among health officials.

What is it: -- Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs first isolated in swine in 1930, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness is caused by four different type A influenza… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 26, 2009 at 3:25pm — 1 Comment

Human Swine Influenza Investigation * 20 cases in the United States * so far

April 26, 2009 12:45 ET

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. The current U.S. case count is provided below.

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection State # of laboratory

confirmed cases

California 7 cases

Kansas 2 cases

New York City 8 cases

Ohio 1 case

Texas 2 cases

TOTAL… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 26, 2009 at 1:53pm — No Comments

Swine Influenza and You Q&A

What is swine flu?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs but it’s possible for swine flu viruses to spread from person to person also.

Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?

In late March and early… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 25, 2009 at 8:38am — 2 Comments

Mass-Casualty Response: The Vital First Few Minutes

By Steven Cotter, BS, NREMT-P

In a large mass-casualty event, the actions taken by the first-arriving crew in its first five minutes on scene will often mean the difference between a poorly run scene that risks poor patient outcomes and a well-run scene that gives victims their best chance for survival.

There are many facets to responding to a mass-casualty event. There is the initial scene assessment and setup, triage, movement of patients to casualty collection points,… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 24, 2009 at 4:42pm — No Comments

Emergency Services Sector Training Resources

This month, FireEngineering.com’s “Roundtable” posted responses to the question of how funding cutbacks affect training budgets. Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel from a mix of departments offered ideas and solutions on how to maintain training despite constrained resources. Their ideas included no-cost solutions such as awareness training acquired through on-duty walkthroughs of high-hazard occupancies, and setting up a National Fire Protection Association apparatus driver obstacle… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 24, 2009 at 4:35pm — No Comments

All-Hazard CPG 101

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 presents Emergency Services Sector (ESS) and homeland security managers with recommendations on how to develop a viable all-hazard Emergency Operations Plan. Considered the foundation for state and local planning in the United States, the guidance explains how to form a planning team, write and maintain the plan, and execute the plan.

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 24, 2009 at 4:34pm — No Comments

Sleep Deprivation Hazards

Numerous health and medical sources indicate that sleep deprivation must be considered among the threats to the well-being, safety, and security of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel. Sleep-loss-related fatigue degrades performance, productivity, and safety, as well as health and fitness. Medical and performance specialists generally agree that adequate daily sleep is needed for individuals to function optimally, maintain good health, and avoid the risks resulting from an altered state… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 24, 2009 at 4:32pm — No Comments

Supreme Court Limits Car Searches After Arrests

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has ruled that police need a warrant to search the vehicle of someone they have arrested if the person is locked up in a patrol cruiser and poses no safety threat to officers.

The court’s 5-4 decision Tuesday effectively limits the authority of police to search a vehicle immediately after the arrest of a suspect.

Justice John Paul Stevens said in the majority opinion that if a car’s passenger compartment is not within reach of a suspect who… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 23, 2009 at 4:53pm — 1 Comment

Swine Influenza (Flu)

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu do occasionally occur. Most commonly, human cases of swine influenza happen in people with direct exposure to pigs. In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but since… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 23, 2009 at 12:43pm — No Comments

Anthrax Q & A: Vaccination

Is there a vaccination for anthrax? A protective vaccine has been developed for anthrax; however, it is primarily given to military personnel. Vaccination is recommended only for those at high risk, such as workers in research laboratories that handle anthrax bacteria routinely. The combination of 60 days antibiotics plus 3 doses of vaccine used in post exposure prophylaxis are very effective in preventing anthrax disease from occurring after an exposure.

Is the anthrax vaccine… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 23, 2009 at 12:34pm — No Comments

Training Opportunity: Disaster Medicine 201: Post-Earthquake Medical Challenges in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

May 7-8, 2009, Memphis, TN. This class is a big-picture overview of medical issues related to the earthquake threat in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. It was developed through the cooperation of CUSEC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The class is presented with the invaluable assistance of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The primary instructors are doctors with extensive backgrounds in emergency and disaster medicine. The class is intended for all… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 23, 2009 at 12:32pm — No Comments

Explosion on August 28, 2008 in Institue WV - CSB Report

The following message is from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Washington DC

In Preliminary Findings, CSB Investigators Report Bayer CropScience Explosion Was Caused by Runaway Chemical Reaction; Cite Significant Lapses in Process Safety, Outdated Operating Procedures

Institute, West Virginia, April 23, 2009 - A large explosion and fire that took the lives of two workers at the Bayer CropScience (Bayer) plant last August was caused by a thermal runaway reaction during the… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on April 23, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Hazmat crews responding to a mysterious white powder @ the TDBanknorth processing center in Lewiston

LEWISTON - A HazMat team has determined that the mysterious white power found in an envelope at a TD Banknorth processing center early Thursday morning is not a dangerous protein-based poison, such as anthrax. The powder, which was tested on-scene twice, will be sent to a lab in Augusta for further testing to positively identify what it is. Safety officials expect to learn the results within 24 to 48 hours.

Added by Texas HazMat on April 23, 2009 at 12:28pm — No Comments

Emergency Services Interactive Simulators

While I was searching around I found this FREE simulator looks good for free.

http://www.firesimulator.com/

Added by Texas HazMat on April 10, 2009 at 2:03pm — 2 Comments

Preventing Hazards in the Use of Water Spray (Fog) Streams to Prevent or Control Ignition of Flammable Atmospheres

NIOSH ALERT: July 1985

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 85-112

WARNING!

Fire departments and teams responding to incidents involving flammable gas or vapor mixtures are cautioned that the use of water spray (fog) streams to prevent ignition or control flame propagation may be extremely dangerous:

Significant fires or explosions can occur despite the use of water spray. Under certain conditions, the use of water spray may in fact increase the severity of such fires… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on March 25, 2008 at 4:09pm — 2 Comments

Mercury Spill Control 101

Beads, vapor characteristics make step-wise cleanup vital

Since the early 1990s, U.S. environmental regulations have eliminated the development of mercury as a new product. Despite these changes targeting mercury use, alternatives have been slow to develop, and in cases such as precision measurement devices are not possible. As a result, mercury has been mined through reclamation and recycling processes.

Consumers can still find mercury in high-pressure sodium lamps, fluorescent… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on March 21, 2008 at 12:13pm — No Comments

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