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Social Media to the Rescue - Exercise 24

On September 24, 2010, a major earthquake will trigger an oil spill off the coast of Southern California, damaging critical infrastructure and driving residents from their homes.  Or at least, that’s the premise of Exercise 24, an experiment to test the power of social media and online collaboration to assemble resources in a crisis.  Exercise 24 is being organized by San Diego State University’s Immersive Visualization Center, known as the Viz Center.  The Viz Center is involved in humanitarian assistance disaster relief for groups like the U.S. Navy and the use of Cloud Computing, mobile devices, and open-source software to assist decision-makers and the public (http://www.inrelief.org).  Exercise 24 aims “to explore collaborative solutions to emergency response, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and environmental impact challenges associated with a major earthquake.”  The idea is to see how national and international authorities, organizations and citizens would react to such an event in southern California – who and what they would send and how they would communicate with the boots on the ground.  Exercise 24 is seeking participants.  The invite is open to municipal, state, federal, and tribal governments and organizations, non-government organizations, education centers, faith-based groups, volunteer groups, businesses, and individuals.  Any costs would be paid by the participants themselves.

 

If you’re interested in participating in or observing Exercise 24 on September 24, go to InRelief.org (https://sites.google.com/a/inrelief.org/24/).
WISER

How can you respond to a chemical spill if you don’t know what chemical you’re dealing with?  A website and mobile app developed by the National Library of Medicine helps first responders identify hazardous substances and properly treat victims – and themselves.  The Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) offers a substance database to look up the effects of a substance if you already know what it is, and another database that guides users to look for telltale details including physical properties of the substance, signs/symptoms from exposure and Department of Transportation placard.  WISER includes data updates from the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), Radiation Event Medical Management, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acute Exposure Guideline Levels. 

Improved Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
A new, leaner and lighter Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is almost a reality.  The new design includes a soft back frame and first stage regulator (developed by Mine Safety Appliance), as well as a significantly slimmer cylinder array from Vulcore Industrial.  The project is funded through a contract between the Science and Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
 
Representatives of DHS and the IAFF attended an operational assessment of the new, leaner version in May at the Prince George’s County (MD) Fire and EMS Training Academy in Cheltenham, MD.  Firefighters from the National Capital Region - Prince George’s County, MD, Montgomery County, MD, Fairfax County, VA and Washington, D.C. - donned the prototype SCBA while executing training exercises including a window bailout and wire entanglement.  The new SCBA holds 45 minutes of air supply, operates at 4500 psi, weighs less than current SCBA in the marketplace, has a profile of 2.5 inches, compared to current versions at more than 9 inches and will be compatible with current filling stations.  Feedback from the first responders who wore the gear during exercises will be used to address identified issues.  The new and improved SCBA is scheduled for commercial release in late 2011.  For more information about the new SCBA, email RTech@dhs.gov.
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