Flag Day June 14th

"Red White and Blue" Photo by Jason Hums and Sonja Cajellas

June 14th is Flag Day which is a day to recognize our flag.  I personally have a new found allegiance to see the flag after seeing the flag at Ground Zero after September 11, 2001.  I have realized that in the worst days of our country we are a nation of one and not a nation of cities.   The American flag endures in the worst moments of our country’s history.

On September 11th I responded to the World Trade Center and worked hard to rescue people lost in the collapse of the Twin Towers.  I had been a at many serious jobs in New York City but had never seen the American Flag displayed at a scene.  When I looked up and saw the flag I was deeply moved.  Upon returning home I was impressed to see  a flag on every house in my neighborhood.

To read more about my experiences at Ground Zero after 9/11 go to: http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000452689/The–Downwind-Walk.aspx

This photo was taken by paramedic Jason Hums and Dr. Sonja Calias.

Purchase The Downwind Walk. Read about the humanity of “That Day”.

The Downwind walk is now available on-line at Authorhouse Publications.

Lt. Kanarian’s book tells the EMS story of 9/11 from the perspective of an EMS lieutenant who responded as a urban search and rescue medic. The book contains never before published photos and interviews with significant responders of 9/11.  This book is important in preserving the EMS role in September 11, 2001 as the years pass.  This book should be read  EMT and paramedic students who want to know how to survive a terrorist attack.  This book is also an essential first hand account of 9/11 for use in and Homeland Security Degree Programs.  By reading this book you will gain a first hand account of 9/11 from Ground Zero from eye level.

This book gives you a behind the scenes view of Ground Zero and the after effects from Lt. Kanarian’s view, in his dusty boots.

http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000452690/The–Downwind-Walk.aspx

My Three Best Friends and September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001 I responded to Ground Zero as part of a Urban Search and Rescue Team.  During the events of the day we were exposed to what was  some of the most extreme hazards EMS has ever been faced with. When I speak at EMS conferences around the country providers ask me, “How did you survive in good health when so many providers where killed and continue to die from exposure at Ground Zero?”  There are several reasons I survived and am still healthy. I owe my survival to my training and equipment I was provided.

Being part of NYTF-1 FEMA USAR Team I was afforded the best training and the proper equipment for the response to Ground Zero. we were trained how to operate at the scene of a building collapse and how to work with Haz Mat environment.  we were also provided with filtration masks on the afternoon of September 11, 2001.

During the course of my EMS career we have been trained in the importance of scene safety and body substance isolation (BSI).  This training, equipment and habit of hand washing and protecting ourselves from disease helped preserve our health.

My Three Best Friends

I teach students and EMS providers that my three best friends are time distance and shielding. We learned these principles of safety at the Terrorism Awareness Course that was given at the EMS academy.  By Minimizing your Time exposed to a hazard, maximizing your Distance and using the best Shielding available you can stay safe at Terrorist incidents and Mass Casualty responses.

EMS Week Speaking Event, Ridgewater Community College, Minnesota

Event Link:  EMS Week Speaking Event, Ridgewater Community College, Minnesota

I have the honor of being invited to Ridgewater Community College in Minnesota.  I will be lecturing on the psychological effects of September 11, 2001 and how to deal with stress from Emergency response work.  The seminar is open to EMS, Fire, Police and Mental Health workers.

There are incidents in the news on a monthly basis that push emergency responders in all disciplines to the limit.  PTSD  and cumulative stress bring us down and decrease the effectiveness of responders and agencies.  The people who give their all for the public need to stop and look out for each other.

This seminar is a very successful event and I am pleased to be returning to Minnesota to speak.  I will have copies of my book, The Downwind Walk, available for sale. I will also be presenting a 9/11 photo plaque with the American flag on the background to the event staff to be raffled off.

Urban Search and Rescue

Urban search and rescue (USAR) is a branch of rescue services that prepares to responds to building collapses to rescue entrapped patients.  A USAR team is comprised of rescue specialists, hazardous material experts, search dogs and a cadre of specialists to make up a Task Force to respond to building collapses. The USAR function is responsible for building collapse response such as the Oklahoma City Bombing of the Murrah Federal Building, Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and the September 11, 2001 Attacks on the pentagon and the World Trade Center.

If a disaster event warrants national US&R support, FEMA will deploy the three closest task forces within six hours of notification, and additional teams as necessary. The role of these task forces is to support state and local emergency responders’ efforts to locate victims and manage recovery operations.

Each task force consists of two 31-person teams, four canines, and a comprehensive equipment cache. US&R task force members work in four areas of specialization: search, to find victims trapped after a disaster; rescue, which includes safely digging victims out of tons of collapsed concrete and metal; technical, made up of structural specialists who make rescues safe for the rescuers; and medical, which cares for the victims before and after a rescue.

Today there are 28 national task forces staffed and equipped to conduct round-the-clock search-and-rescue operations following earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, aircraft accidents, hazardous materials spills and catastrophic structure collapses. These task forces, complete with necessary tools and equipment, and required skills and techniques, can be deployed by FEMA for the rescue of victims of structural collapse.

 Related Links

Hurricane Katrina -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Hurricane_Katrina

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/special-reports/katrina.html

Location of FEMA US&R Teams

- http://www.fema.gov/emergency/usr/locations.shtm

References

FEMA, About US&R, Obtained from  http://www.fema.gov/emergency/usr/about.shtm

on April 14, 2012

Now available in E-Book Format!

The Downwind Walk: A USAR Paramedic’s Experiences after the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001 is now available in e-book format.  Click on http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000452689/The–Downwind-Walk.aspx   to purchase this book in E-Book format.

This book is a must read for all emergency responders who want to learn the lessons earned on 9/11.

Book Update

I am pleased with the reaction and feedback to my book, The Downwind Walk.  I am very pleased that EMTs, medics, veterans and the public have been so positive about my book and learning the inside story.  I am contemplating having the book on CD for those who commute can listen to the book on the train or bus.

I am pleased that many EMS Providers have commented that this is the only EMS book about 9/11.  I would appreciate your positive feedback on this blog and on Authorhouse.com where the book is a available.

Purchase The Downwind Walk, the only 9/11 book from the EMS perspective

The Downwind walk is now available on-line at Authorhouse Publications.

Lt. Kanaran’s book tells the EMS story of 9/11 from the perspective of an EMS lieutenant who responded as a urban search and rescue medic. The book contains never before published photos and interviews with significant responders of 9/11.  This book is important in preserving the EMS role in September 11, 2001 as the years pass.  This book should be read  EMT and paramedic students who want to know how to survive a terrorist attack.  This book is also an essential first hand account of 9/11 for use in and Homeland Security Degree Programs.  By reading this book you will gain a first hand account of 9/11 from Ground Zero from eye level.

This book gives you a behind the scenes view of Ground Zero and the after effects from Lt. Kanarian’s view, in his dusty boots.

http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000452690/The–Downwind-Walk.aspx

Article “What I Found Among The Rubble.”

EMS1.com asked me to write an article for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.  Take a minute and read the article and see the stores they collected for 9/11.

http://www.ems1.com/ems-heroes/articles/1120378-September-11-2001-from-the-EMS-perspective/

NEW BOOK! The Downwind Walk: A USAR Paramedics Experiences After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001

With less than one month left before the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 I am pleased to be publishing my book, The Downwind Walk: A USAR Paramedics Experiences after the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.

I will announce on this site when it is available.  I plan on giving half off to subscribers of this blog.

I was working as a EMS supervisor and paramedic on the day the World Trade Center was attacked.  During the rescue efforts I was working hard and did not get any information from the media.  Part of my coping with the stress from 9/11 is finding out more information.  I plan to make a post or two a month and invite readers to comment on the topics and share their experiences.  I reserve the right to print in a blog, article, book or electronic media stories posted on this blog.  I also retain all copyrights to material I post on this site.

I am completing a book entitled, “The Downwind Walk: A paramedics experiences on 9/11.” Please subscribe to be included in my mailing list for the book and this blog.

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Look forward to your comments in the coming month.

SK