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News Archives
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 Emergency Services personnel met with dignitaries who work for the Medical Team for President Umaru Yar’Adua and the State House of Nigeria on June 6th.
The Nigerian delegation was in the United States looking at ambulances they had purchased from AEV, a vendor also used by Guilford County. While in the US, the group wanted to visit with EMS providers in order to review state of the art American emergency services operations. The group was very impressed with the formal protocols, training and operations utilized by Emergency Services and took several sample documents and checklist with them. Additionally, they were amazed at the technology and medical equipment available, commenting that they would like to duplicate Guilford County’s specification on their next order. ES personnel provided an invitation for additional personnel to return to Guilford County for extended learning opportunities. The group included Senior Ambulance Driver Ali Sabo, Nurse Midwife Dige Mamman, Dr. Obilade, and Intensive Care Nurse Sanusi Sani. |
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Guilford County Emergency Services has been requested by the state to assist with the eastern wildland fires through the dispatch of personnel and resources. The Emergency Management Division has deployed staff to assist on the North Carolina office of Emergency Management Incident Management Team. The EMS Division has deployed personnel and apparatus to assist with field operations. - Guilford County Emergency Management, at the request of North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM), has deployed Ron Campbell, Emergency Management Coordinator, to serve on the NCEM Incident Management Team (IMT). The NCEM-IMT is supporting operations at the Hyde County Base Camp which has been activated for the Evans Road Fire in Eastern North Carolina. The deployment began on June 15th and is expected to end on June 21st.
- Guilford County EMS, at the request of NC OEMS and NCEM, deployed (1) paramedic level ambulance to Hyde County to provide medical coverage for firefighting crews. The Guilford crew provided medical stand-by coverage to the Structural Protection Task Force assigned to various areas of the fire for tactical operations; the task force consisted of county fire department staff and the NC Forestry Division. Our crews had an uneventful deployment which began on Wednesday June 11th, and ended Sunday, June 15th at 12:30pm.
For more information on the Wildfire's impacts on the Triad, follow this link. |
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June 9th, 2008: Are You Ready, Guilford? Guilford County has already experienced episodes of severe weather in the past month and the Guilford County Preparedness Committee is reminding residents that preparing now for weather hazards like extreme heat, as well as possible disease outbreaks and other dangerous situations is critically important. June is National Safety Month and this year the National Safety Council (NSC) has included emergency preparedness in its focus on reducing unintentional deaths. Emergency preparedness measures help people and businesses react safely and efficiently when needed. Guilford County has a website devoted to this topic. ReadyGuilford.com has information and planning checklists to help people prepare for themselves, their families, pets and businesses. It includes guidance on creating a home emergency kit, and has a section for individuals with special needs, as well as information on weather and health hazards. In addition, preparedness activities like the upcoming High Point Blood Drive and Preparedness Expo will be highlighted. The website, www.readyguilford.com, is a one-stop-shop for preparedness information in Guilford County. The Guilford County Preparedness Committee was formed in 2007 as a collaborative effort between all of the public service agencies in Guilford County that provide general disaster preparedness information. The committee’s goal is to provide family and business preparedness information that is consistent with the National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency and American Red Cross preparedness standards. Working together, agency representatives participate in events, seminars and training exercises to ensure that the residents of Guilford County are prepared when a disaster strikes. The Guilford County Preparedness Committee includes the following agencies: American Red Cross – Greensboro Chapter American Red Cross – High Point / Thomasville Chapter Greensboro Emergency Management Greensboro Fire Department Greensboro Police Department Guilford County Department of Public Health Guilford County Emergency Management Guilford County Emergency Medical Service Guilford County Emergency Services Guilford County Fire Rescue Council Guilford County Sheriff’s Office High Point Emergency Management High Point Fire Department High Point Police Department
For more information about the Guilford County Preparedness Committee, ReadyGuilford.com or preparing for emergencies, please contact Steve Marks at 641-2278. |
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For information regarding the Eastern North Carolina Wildfires and its impact on the Triad, please follow this link to the Guilford County Department of Public Health’s Media Advisory. In addition, the North Carolina Department of Public Health has created some frequently asked questions regarding the incident which have been copied below.
Q: What is the health threat from wildfire smoke?
A: Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can irritate your eyes or your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. How much and how long you are exposed to the smoke, as well as your age and degree of susceptibility play a role in determining whether or not someone will experience smoke-related health problems. If you are experiencing serious medical problems for any reason, seek medical treatment immediately.
Q: How can I tell if the smoke is affecting my family or me?
A: • Smoke can cause coughing, scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, stinging eyes and runny nose.
• If you have heart or lung disease, smoke might make your symptoms worse.
• People who have heart disease might experience chest pain, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath and fatigue.
• Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in the following ways:
o Inability to breathe normally
o Cough with or without mucus
o Chest discomfort
o Wheezing and shortness of breath
• When smoke levels are high, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms.
Q: How can I protect myself and my family from the harmful effects of smoke?
A: The best thing to do is to limit your exposure to the smoke. Specific strategies to decrease exposure to smoke include staying indoors whenever possible, using air conditioners (air conditioned homes usually have lower air exchange rates than homes that use open windows for ventilation), using mechanical air cleaners, keeping windows closed while driving in a vehicle, and minimizing other sources of air pollution such as smoking tobacco, using wood burning stoves, burning candles or incense and vacuuming.
Q: Will I suffocate in my house?
A: No. The most common call for evacuation during a wildfire is due to the direct threat of the fire, not smoke. Leaving the area of thick smoke may be an option for those who are sensitive to smoke. But it is often difficult to predict the duration, intensity and direction of smoke, making this an unattractive choice to many people. Those without air conditioning must also remember not to become overheated by closing all windows.
Q: Should I wear a dust mask or N95 respirator?
A: N95 respirators and dust masks are masks made of filtering material that fit over the nose and mouth. The filter material will filter out some of the small particles that may be found in smoke, but only if there is a good fit to the wearer’s face. It is also important to know that N95 particulate respirators and dust masks only filter particles, not toxic gases and vapors. Most people will find it difficult to use the respirators and masks correctly for general use. For instance, it is impossible to get a good seal on individuals with facial hair. As a result, the respirator will provide little if any protection, and may offer the wearer a false sense of protection.
Filtering face-piece respirators and masks can make the work of breathing more difficult and can lead to increased breathing rates and heart rates. They can also contribute to heat stress. Because of this, respirator use by those with heart and respiratory diseases can be dangerous, and should only be done under a doctor’s supervision. Even healthy adults may find that the increased effort required for breathing makes it uncomfortable to wear a respirator for more than short periods of time. Decisions on whether to use respirators or masks as personal protection for people who must work outside should be made on a case by case, day by day basis.
Q: What is the difference between an N95 respirator and dust mask? A: In terms of being used by the public for wildfires and for people that have not been trained and fitted to use respirators, the difference between a dust mask and an N95 respirator is not great. N-95 respirators are tested and approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for use in certain work places. N-95 respirators are tested to filter particles efficiently and are likely to filter small particles like those found in smoke, more effectively than dust masks, which are not tested. If an employer requires an employee to wear a respirator, the employee must be trained and fitted to wear a respirator and may only use a NIOSH approved respirator.
Q: Will a wet towel or bandana provide any help?
A: A wet towel or bandana may provide some help but it will be very limited. Since wet towels or bandanas may not be sealed to the face and their capacity to filter very small particles is unknown, they will likely provide little protection. Q: What should I do if I must drive to work?
A: Individuals can reduce the amount of smoke particles in their vehicles by keeping the windows closed and using the air conditioner. The car’s ventilation systems typically remove a portion of the particulate coming in from outside. For best results, individuals may also want to use the re-circulate air feature found in most cars, which will help keep the particulate levels lower.
Q: Our community has an outdoor game scheduled for this evening, should we cancel it?
A: All persons in areas affected by the wildfire smoke are being advised to limit outdoor activity and stay indoors whenever possible to minimize exposure to the smoke. Contact your local emergency management officials for more guidance.
Q: Do air-purifying machines help remove smoke particles inside buildings?
A: Some air cleaners may be effective at reducing indoor particle levels, but most are not effective at removing gases and odors, and also tend to be expensive. Some devices, known as ozone generators, personal ozone devices, “energized oxygen”, “diatomic oxygen”, “activated oxygen” and “pure air” generators are sold as air cleaners, but they are not recommended for use in occupied buildings. Ozone does not remove particles from the air, and would not be effective during smoke events. Ozone itself is toxic and a regulated outside air pollutant. We advise the public to avoid exposure to ozone indoors by not using air cleaners that produce ozone. For additional information consider reviewing the US Environmental Protection Agency document: “Ozone Generators That Are Sold As Air Cleaners” available at www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html
Also, humidifiers or de-humidifiers are not technically air cleaners and will not significantly reduce the amount of particles in the air during a smoke event.
Q: What should I do about closing up my house when it is so hot in there?
A: If you do not have an air conditioner and if it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek alternative shelter by visiting family members or neighbors who have air conditioning. You may also be able to visit an air conditioned location for a few hours such as a mall.
Q: If I have respiratory problems and can’t reach my doctor, where should I go?
A: If you have a medical emergency you should call 911 or go to the hospital emergency room immediately.
Q: I operate a nonresidential building with outside air intakes. Should I close the outside air intakes during a wildfire smoke event?
A: Every nonresidential building has a uniquely designed ventilation system, where any changes even temporary ones, can have an impact on building occupants and indoor air quality. If your building is strictly an office environment it may be wise to cut back or eliminate outside intake into the building during a wildfire smoke event. If the building has labs or special ventilation systems in may not be wise to reduce outside air flow as harmful exposures may be generated by such processes that need ventilation to prevent the build up of chemicals in the building. We recommend you consult with a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning professional or some one who knows your special ventilation needs for guidance on this issue.
Q: Where can I find information about the air quality in the area I live?
A: The NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality provides updated information on outdoor air quality in North Carolina. You can access this information by logging into the following website: http://www.ncair.org/ |
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GREENSBORO – Thousands of Ham Radio operators will be showing off their emergency capabilities the weekend of June 27, 28, and 29.. Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications in emergencies including the California wildfires, Oregon and Michigan storms, tornadoes and other events world-wide. During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio – often called “Ham radio” - was often the ONLY way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer “hams” traveled south to save lives and property. When trouble is brewing, ham radio people are often the first to provide critical information and communications. On the weekend of June 28-29, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with these ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.
This annual event, called "Field Day" is the climax of the week long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. The activities will officially begin at 2 pm on June 28. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards around the country. Their slogan, "Ham radio works when other systems don't! " is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 34,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event.
"We hope that people will come and see for themselves, this is not your grandfather's radio anymore," said Allen Pitts of the ARRL. "The communications networks that ham radio people can quickly create have saved many lives in the past months when other systems failed or were overloaded.”
In the Summerfield Community Park, Guilford County operators will be demonstrating Amateur Radio on June 28-29. They invite the public to come and see ham radio’s new capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes. Other organizations will also be on hand including the Moses Cone MASH Unit with communications and the American Red Cross.
There are 650,000 Amateur Radio licensees in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world. Through the ARRL’s ARES program, ham volunteers provide emergency communications for thousands of state and local emergency response agencies, all for free.
To learn more about Guilford County Amateur Radio Emergency Services see out web site at www.guilfordares.org. For general information about Amateur Radio, go to www.emergency-radio.org. The public is most cordially invited to come, meet and talk with the hams. See what modern Amateur Radio can do. They can even help you get on the air! |
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