The American Flag

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

I was somewhat disappointed not to see more flags displayed on July 4th this year.  This year is the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001.  I would have expected to see more flags up. In my neighborhood I saw my flag and one other on my block.

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.

I would ask you to display your flag on September 11, 2011 and through the night to show respect for those lost on 9/11 and support for the rescuers who worked through the night to rescue lost victims.

This photo was taken by paramedic Jason Hums.

Please remember a flag left out at night has to be lighted.  I would appreciate your support and remembrance.

Safety Rules to Live By and Stay Alive By

Through the years I have used these rules and applied them to incidents in the news and professional journals. I have found these rules to stand up to scrutiny and would like to share them with you so you may stay safe and share them with your students and co-workers.

• Upwind for fumes; upgrade for fluid hazards
• Staging distance 1,500 feet for explosives
• No radio transmissions for bombs or suspicious packages
• Rule of Thumb – If you can’t cover the scene with your thumb, you’re too close
  • Partially devastated buildings – beware of 2nd bomb
  • Stage 2-3 times the height of the building to be outside the collapse zone
  • Reassess your safety frequently
  • Look for secondary attack/event
  • Think of public safety personnel as a Target
  • May want to delegate lookout

Use Time, Distance and Shielding to stay alive !

Lessons Learned from September 11, 2001, Mass Casualty Management

As the 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001 nears we must ask ourselves, “What can we learn from this disaster?”   From a  Mass Casualty Incident perspective we can learn that we must always evaluate safety and expect the next evolution in the unfolding disaster or Terrorist Attack.  B y continually re-evaluating the scene we watch for the outward signs of terrorism and hazards that threaten public safety personnel.

I am posting my lecture on MCI management and Terrorism for EMS.  Feel free to share the lecture document and use it in CME.  I have included the SAFETY FIRST 5 Ts method of MCI management that works.  SAFETY FIRST 5 Ts is a great system for high performance t mass casualty incidents (MCIs).  Feel free to post your question sin the comments area.

One step closer to closure

Yesterday US Special Forces and elements of the CIA killed Osama Bin Laden.  When I got a text message today I was in disbelief.  After watching CNN and NY Channel 5 for  a few hours I was pleased to know that the architect of the September 11, 2001 attacks and many other terrorist attacks had been neutralized.

I do not feel that his death makes up for the loss of rescuers and civilians on 9/11, not to mention the on-going sense of loss that we live with each year when our loved ones are missed at birthdays, graduations and weddings.  However, I have felt a huge oad taken off my back and I felt a sense of relief.

Many days while writing my book, The Downwind Walk, I wondered if  the 9/11 story was still of interest to people or had the window of interest passed.  Today I am re-affirmed in the fact that we are all still living with the memories and this is a historical event that is a piece of our American History.  Stay tuned for the books publication.  Back to the computer for me.  Let me finish a few details and edit some items.  Stay safe. Remember, Time, Distance and Shielding are our 3 best friends.

Perspective on September 11, 2001

For a long time I have been trying to gain perspective on the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 and the loss of life at Ground Zero.  I have realized there are several stages of dealing with a catastrophic disaster like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina or the Earthquake in Japan

Here are the 4 stages I have experienced:

1) Buckling Up

2) Self-Care and Preservation

3) Distance from the Event

4) Perspective

The Buckling up stage is where we make a decision to go into harms way and rescue our coworkers, friends and patients we serve. This is where we make a conscious decision to leave the safety of our lives and go Downwind to help.

The Self-Care and Preservation phase is when you realize that the system is devastated and you and your teammates have to provide ordinary things like showers, food, tools and create a new system for dealing with the incident.  This was experienced at the World Trade Center because of the devastation to the infra-structure and leadership.  (The very tower used for NYPD and FDNY Communications in Manhattan was on the World Trade Center.)  This also includes re-assessing your health and seeking the right care after this type of exposure.

The Distance from Event stage is when we try to resume our normal lives and tell ourselves  “I can move past this.  No big deal.” A we have been walking away from 9/11 looking down at the ground we now realize the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 is ahead of us.

The Perspective Phase is when we look back and are able to make some reflections on the experience and what it means, “What have we learned?”   “What can we share with the next generation of EMS responders? “

I look forward to the upcoming months and sharing these experiences with the new generation of EMS Providers.  I would like you to be prepared for the next “Big One.”

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.

In a future post I will detail my rules To Live and Survive By for MCI response.

Why tell the story of September 11, 2001?

When I talk to EMT’s and paramedics about September 11, 2001 they ask me, “why do you want to talk about “That Day.  I am trying to forget it.” I look at the experience that EMT’s and paramedics gained from 9/11 and how rapidly it is being lost as providers retire.  They say those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat history. By telling what I experienced and the lessons we learned I hope to pass on the experience so EMT’s and paramedics can BUILD on the experience we gained and not have to start from jump street next time terrorism attacks our country.  In my next post I will tell you about my three best friends that helped me survive the 9/11 at Ground Zero.

The Downwind Walk: The experiences of a paramedic on 9/11

With less than six months left before the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 I wanted to start this blog and share some experiences from 9/11.  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.

Look forward to your input in the coming months.

SK