DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness Newsletter
January 2012
Table of Contents

LMS Banner
Upcoming Courses

Bookmark the Learning Center for the upcoming courses schedule with dates and locations as they become available: http://delvalle.bphc.org. 

HICS

 

This 3.5 hour course provides a practical overview of HICS, best practices, lessons learned from experience, and illustrates how planning efforts are interlinked...

 

 BDLS Logo

Basic Disaster Life Support (BDLS) NEW Course!

January 25, 2011

BDLS� develops a commonality of approach and language in the health care community, improving the care and coordination of response in Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) disasters and public health emergencies. This course also includes the health care professional's role in the public health and incident management systems, community mental health, and special needs of underserved and vulnerable populations...

 

PER211
Various Dates
This 2-day FEMA funded course uses adult and pediatric simulators to equip first responders and first receivers with the skills needed during a CBRNE event. The program addresses environmental, protective issues for emergency personnel and the public, basic decontamination, transportation procedures and patient treatment using RAPID Care...

 

 Operational Level Response to HazMat/WMD Incidents

Operational Level Response to HazMat/WMD Incidents 

NEW Course!
Various Dates
The National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC) developed this course as part of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium's curricula to improve the abilities of jurisdictions to combat domestic terrorism. This course was developed by TEEX to provide emergency responders with a practical learning experience that will provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent the spread of hazardous materials and WMD agents during a terrorist incident...

 

MRC Logo
Various Dates

Learn what it means to be a Boston MRC volunteer! Orientation prepares you to volunteer in an emergency or at a special event such as the Boston Marathon. Successful completion of this course enables you to take advanced MRC training programs.

 

The DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness is a program of Boston EMS, a Bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission. The Institute is funded through federal grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information regarding DelValle Institute funding, visit the Learning Center at http://delvalle.bphc.org. Please visit the course(s) of interest for more information on target audiences.

Message from the Director

Dear Colleagues,

 

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season and a great start to the new year. I would like to take this opportunity to briefly review 2011 and our plans for 2012. In 2011, the DelValle Institute staff worked diligently to develop and deliver new programs and resources. This included the DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness Learning Center, this newsletter, an online Continuity of Operations Planning course, the Managing Mass Fatalities Seminar, and the Operation Falcon II functional exercise.

 

We are pleased to share that well over 2,600 participants attended over 100 DelValle programs. Additionally, there have been 30,000 visits to the DelValle Learning Center in the five months since the launch in August 2011. Your continued commitment to strengthening emergency preparedness led to a 30 percent increase in the number of participants attending our programs in 2011 versus 2010.

 

I would like to also take this opportunity to thank all of our stakeholders who worked with us to identify and develop new classroom-based courses that you can expect to see in 2012. This includes:

  • Shelter Operations and Functional Needs Support Services (FNSS)
  • Emergency Planning for the Diverse Needs of the Community
  • Metro Boston Patient Tracking System Administration
  • And Much More...

In 2012, the DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness at Boston EMS will offer a number of programs to facilitate the exchange of lessons learned and approaches to addressing challenges in emergency preparedness. We look forward to the opportunity to continue providing you with new and exciting programming in 2012.

 

Respectfully,

  

S. Atyia Martin

Director, DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness

Boston Emergency Medical Services

A Bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission

[email protected]   

 Shared Successes

Japanese PFA

The DelValle Institute Hosts "Strengthening Psychological First Aid: Learning from the Haitian and Japanese Earthquakes"

 

On December 5, 2011, the DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness at Boston EMS hosted 17 Japanese medical responders from the Japanese Disaster Medical Action Team. The team consisted of doctors, nurses, public health specialists and social workers who have been working in the tsunami impacted area. Many of the team members were themselves personally impacted by the tsunami. Additionally, more than 30 metro Boston regional stakeholders attended the program which was comprised of two components.

 

The first part of the program consisted of the basic elements of Psychological First Aid (PFA), and provided an overview of PFA, initial distress caused by traumatic events, and offered strategies for how to navigate through the recovery process.

 

The second program component consisted of a question and answer session with Japanese medical responders as well as individuals involved in mental health response to the Haiti earthquake.

 

During the Q&A session, a number of engaging questions were asked such as:

 

How are the elderly coping with the disaster, since the elderly are a significant component of the Japanese population?

One of the responders noted that the elders are resilient, teaching others how to be courageous. They have been through tsunamis before and realize that life will go on. Arrangements have been made for their care and for them to receive weekly packages of medications and food if required.

 

Was Psychological First Aid (PFA) for first responders available before the tsunami?

Japan had no formal program of PFA for first responders, but as a result of this disaster, they are now working to incorporate such training and establish a formal PFA program for first responders. Many firefighters were killed by the tsunami when they stayed behind to try and close the levee gates against the tsunami wave. Their actions have had a deep personal impact on other first responders.

 

The Psychological First Aid training was conducted by a team from the Boston Medical Center, Center for Multicultural Mental Health. S. Atyia Martin, Director of the DelValle Institute, facilitated the Q&A session.

Emergency Preparedness News and Updates

EPNewsTwo important briefs - a summary of the impact of disasters on communities during 2011 and new FEMA guidance on strengthening community resiliency moving forward:

 

Grants Training in Boston, MA - January 30-31, 2012

Boston Emergency Medical Services and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grants workshop in Boston, January 30-31, 2012. This training is for grant seekers across all disciplines. Tuition is $425 and includes all materials: workbook and accompanying 420MB resource CD that's packed full of tools and more than 200 sample grant proposals. Seating is limited; online reservations are necessary. To register, click here or visit:

http://grantwritingusa.com/grants-training/grant-writing-workshops/boston-massachusetts-january-2012.html?utm_source=host&utm_medium=email&utm_content=bottom&utm_campaign=boston-massachusetts-january-2012

 

Boston Mayor's Office of Emergency Management Offers Shelter Operations Training and Simulation from the American Red Cross

The Metro Boston Homeland Security Region (MBHSR) is hosting a Shelter Operations Training and Simulation course on January 19, 2012. This course is facilitated by the American Red Cross and is designed to give participants an overview of the policies and procedures for setting up, running and closing a shelter during a disaster. MBHSR stakeholders can register at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZNH8SDH

 

Confirming What We Knew - 2011 Was a Costly, Catastrophic Year

The U.S. was hit by 12 separate weather and climate disasters that cost at least $1B in damages in 2011. This breaks the record of nine, set in 2008. Read more about the specific events and costs at http://www.Disasters2011 

 

A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action

New FEMA guidance issued on December 20, 2011

"A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action" presents a foundation for increasing individual preparedness and engaging with members of the community as collaborative resources to enhance the resiliency and security of our nation through a Whole Community approach. The document is intended to promote greater understanding of the approach and to provide a strategic framework to guide all members of the emergency management community as they determine how to integrate Whole Community into emergency preparedness activities. Read more here: http://www.fema.whole community approach

Partners

The Institute has great partners in emergency preparedness trainings for public health and healthcare providers in Massachusetts: 

Additionally, we leverage the knowledge and expertise of programs in Boston EMS and Boston Public Health Commission:  


                                                                                                                                   
DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness
785 Albany Street
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 343-1370
(617) 343-1121 Fax

Boston EMS, the provider of emergency medical services for the City of Boston, is committed to compassionately delivering excellent pre-hospital care and to protecting the safety and health of the public. The DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness is a program of Boston EMS, a Bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission. 

 

EMS BPHC Logos