Emergency Vehicle Kit

You never know when you are going to be in or come upon an emergency situation.  For that reason it is important that you have a first aid/survival kit in your car and ready to go at all time...because you never know when you're going to need it.

The big question is often, what do I put in it?  Or, what should I have in my car?

• Seatbelt Cutter / Window Punch - These are sold separately and as a single unit.  Considering there is a great possibility of needing both for the same emergency, get the single unit!  Unlike the rest of your emergency kit, this item should not be kept in your trunk.  This item should be kept in the center console of your vehicle...where you can easily access it if you need to cut your own seatbelt to get out of your vehicle.

• Charged Cell-Phone - Generally, this item is kept on your person, not in your emergency bag.  However, it is important to make sure that it is well-charged, if not fully-charged, when you get in the car.  Battery life in your cell phone could mean the life or death difference of contacting 911 in an emergency.

• First Aid Kit - Your first aid kit should contain band-aids, gauze pads, adhesive tape, and antibacterial spray/ointment.  If you would stop to help a vehicle on the side of the road, you might also want to include a few pairs of latex gloves and a CPR mask so that you can safely provide assistance to others.

• Fire Extinguisher - The chance of using an extinguisher on your own vehicle is probably a little on the slim side.  But, it could happen.  Or you might need it for another person's vehicle.  Any extinguisher should be rated for Class B or Class C fires.  

• Flashlight - You should have a flashlight and extra batteries in your kit.  To ensure that your flashlight will work in various situations, it should be waterproof.

• Reflectors - To keep yourself safe while changing a tire or to keep others from crashing into an accident, you should set up triangle reflectors.  Safety officers recommend placing 3 triangles about 35-50 feet apart so that motorists have warning they are approaching an emergency prior to being on top of it...giving them time to slow down.

• Blanket - Although many people might only think to put a blanket in their personal winter emergency vehicle kit in case they got stuck on the side of the road, it can be useful during summer months as well.

These are must haves for any first responder to have in their personal vehicle in case they come upon an accident.  If you are looking to pack your personal emergency kit, you should also include a non-perishable food item (like protein bars), water, jumper cables, tire sealant, and a tire gauge.

C.O.P.S. - Concerns of Police Survivors

Although it's not something that is talked about, every police officer knows that each and every day they go to work it could be the last day that they get to see their family.  Statistically, every 53 hours a police officer is killed in the line of duty.  That is a little over 150 police officers a year that leave behind a family.

C.O.P.S. knows that it isn't just the officer who is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, the families they leave behind do too.  Because of this, C.O.P.S. was founded in 1984, with the purpose of providing resources to help the families of the fallen to rebuild their lives.

The founding organization consisted of 110 members in a small local chapter.  Today,

C.O.P.S. has over 50 chapters nationwide and is comprised of over 15,000 families.  Members include spouses, children, siblings, significant others, and co-workers of those killed in the line of duty.  Together, these local chapters offer peer support groups, national counseling programs, kids/teen programs (such as outward bound experiences and summer camps), scholarships, and assistance in attaining death benefits.

C.O.P.S. also offers extensive training opportunities for local police departments.  This training gives them the tools to best handle situations such as death notifications and assisting the family.

Bob Johnson's Computer Stuff is proud to be a supporter of C.O.P.S.  We work directly with police officers every day and we firmly believe that your families should be greatly assisted should they have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Those interested in donating can contact their local chapter or donate online to the national organization.

National Police Week 2013

Next week is National Police Week begins next week.  This event began back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy officially made May 15th Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day to remember fallen officers from around the nation.  The week in which this memorial day falls has been since designated as Police Week.  

Presently, tens of thousands of officers from around the world and families of fallen officers visit Washington D.C. during police week to participate in events that centered around honoring officers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.  There are honorary events such as the memorial service and candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Memorial, which last year drew in nearly 40,000 viewers.  There are also support group meetings for family's who are dealing with the loss of a loved one.  There are also activities in place to raise money for fantastic organizations such as National Peace Officers' Memorial Fund and C.O.P.S.  


Along with the national events that take place in Washington D.C., many departments throughout the United States put on smaller Police Week events in their city.  Local events here in Dover, Delaware are being hosted by the USAF 436th Security Forces Squadron.  They are going to include:

Saturday May 11th, 2013Opening Ceremonies (State LEO Memorial on the Mall--Dover, DE)

Statewide Law Enforcement Parade (Dover PD to State LEO Memorial)

Law Enforcement Field Day (Show off Patrol Cars, Recruitment, Police Demos, and family and friends field day--The Greens Dover, DE adjacent to the capital)

Monday May 13th, 2013Trip to D.C. For the Official NLEOM Candlelight Vigil (Washington, D.C.)

Tuesday May 14th, 2013Police Week Golf Tournament (Eagle's Nest Golf Course--Dover AFB)
$45.00 entrance fee (team golf)

Wednesday May 15, 2013Law Enforcement Fitness Challenge (Obstacle course--Dover AFB)
$10 per person entrance fee (4 person teams)

Run in Remembrance (A mile for every LEO killed since 15 May 2012-present--Dover AFB)--Donations only.

Thursday May 16, 2013Law Enforcement Handgun Marksmen Competition (Walking Dead themed course of fire--Dover AFB CATM Firing Range)
$10 per person (Singles)
$20 per team (Doubles)

Friday May 17, 2013Closing Ceremonies
Retreat/DSP Pipes and Drums (Dover AFB Headquarters Flag pole)
4 p.m.

Law Enforcement Ball (Statewide--Dover Downs)
Rollins Center Ball room
7 p.m. To Midnight
$45 tickets (Black Tie)

Proceeds from all local events are being donated to C.O.P.S.http://www.nationalcops.org/

The Cost of Fire...and How to Bring it Down!

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the cost of fire fighting has gone up monumentally over the course of the last thirty years.  Even with numbers being adjusted for general inflation, the cost of fire is 38% higher in 2010 than it was in 1980.

It is estimated that fire costs about $328 billion per year.  That number covers everything from economic loss (such as property damage), to human loss (such as loss of life, medical care, or pain and suffering), to the actual cost of preventing fire (such as fire departments and equipment).  A significant bulk of the costs stem from prevention.

That should leave every fire department questioning what they can do to help their department save money.  So, how can you save money?  And how can you help other departments save money too?

Turnouts
Companies like Fire Dog Services deal in donated turnout gear.  Working with a company like this allows you to acquire newer gear for your department, keeping you up to date with safety regulations, even if you don't quite have the funding to do so.  Donating your older gear to Fire Dog Services can greatly impact the budget of smaller less funded departments!

Fire Equipment
Any fire department will tell you that one of their biggest expenses is their trucks and pumpers.  New vehicles are expensive, but frequent repairs on aging vehicles isn't always much cheaper.  As an alternative to buying a brand new truck, look at a company like Adirondack Fire Equipment.  They buy and sell well-conditioned used emergency service vehicles.  You can assist in the funding of your new vehicle by selling your old one, or upgrade to a newer vehicle by purchasing used.

Technology
When it comes to buying rugged computer equipment most departments deal with a moment of sticker-shock.  By looking to purchase refurbished Panasonic Toughbooks, you can essentially outfit your entire fleet for the cost of purchasing one new unit.

Grants
One of the most underused forms of funding purchases for emergency service agencies is grant funding.  Grants are essentially free funding to assist smaller, financially needy departments with the ability to get the newer equipment that they so desperately need.  And grants are available for practically everything....training, tools, apparatus, turnouts, hoses, and the list goes on-and-on.  Grant writing services are even available for those who aren't quite sure if they can properly write up a grant!

Protect Your Department From Hackers

As a government agency your department is at an excessively large risk to the damage that can be caused byRedbull quickly typing random jargon on their keyboard; most hacks actually come in a much more discreet form, viruses.
hackers.  By now you've probably read, or at least browsed the headline, of an article or two about foreign governments and radical groups attempting to gain access to various American infrastructures to either cripple their systems or gather sensitive information.  It's not quite as dramatic as the movies make it seem, with computer obsessed techies chugging

It is important that your department take the appropriate steps to deter the chance of your department falling vulnerable to their attacks.  There are a few simple steps you can take to keep your department safe.

1. Secure Your Network:  You need to do this at home and at your department!  Having an unsecured wireless network is the equivalent of leaving your front door wide open when you aren't home...it's an easy way for criminals to just walk right in unnoticed!  Locating an unsecured network can be done by looking for wifi on a smartphone or driving around with a laptop.  Once they find one, it's not too difficult to access the information you have on any computer on your network.  All of this can be prevented simply by applying a password to your network!  If you don't know how, call your internet provider or your local computer dealer or repair service to come out and help you secure it!
2. Passwords: There are two major password recommendations for your safety (for these passwords we are referring to opening your computer, accessing your online banking, or your email account).  The first is to have a strong password, which can be created by using a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols in every password.  The second is a bit more of a hassle, but it is recommended that you change your password around every 90 days.
3. Be Cautious of Email:  Obviously all email is not bad.  But if an email address, name, or subject line seems suspicious, do yourself a favor and just delete it.  Don't even open it first!  Just put it straight in the trash!  If you do open all of your emails, be extra cautious with attachments.  If you aren't expecting a .zip file from someone, chances are it's a pretty bad idea to open it.  While we're at it, the "you have to see this video/photo/article/etc" emails are generally also virus laden. 

If you'd like more tips, check out A Hacker's Tips To Stay Safe Online.  Who better to give tips than a reformed security-breaching hacker?

Binder E-Z Lift

It is no secret that our country is getting larger and that more and more of our population is becoming overweight, obese, and morbidly obese.  The issues that come with being a significantly larger size aren't just limited to the overweight person, their weight can also greatly affect a first responder who needs to come to their emergency aid.

When dealing with and handling obese persons, there is a great risk of lifting injury to the first responder.  To help combat this problem, there is the Binder E-Z Lift.  The Binder E-Z Lift is a non-mechanical apparatus designed to assist patients with non-traumatic injuries.

What makes the Binder E-Z Lift a wise investment for every department?

• Reduces first responder lifting injuries
• Reduces patient injuries, as there is no need to put pressure on arms or shoulders
• Allows for non-invasive "team" lifting, handles allow up to six lifters 
• Eliminates the need for invasive body-to-body contact required to lift a larger person
• Compact, portable and only three pounds
• Easy to attach
• Comes in two sizes (expandable from 34" to 82" chest)
• Polypropylene webbing is exceptionally sturdy and will not stretch
• Nylon fabric rated to support over 500 pounds

To learn more about this product, check out the following video

Binder EZ Lift Commercial from Megan Westvig on Vimeo.

Social Media & Your Department

There are many jobs where your job in a position of authority causes you to give up a little bit of your personal life.  It's always been pretty true, as officers have always been expected to maintain a certain moral code both on- and off-duty.  However, as our lives have become immersed in social media the line of what constitutes as private is becoming significantly more and more blurred.

Officers post comments and pictures about things they are doing on-duty and off-duty to places such as Facebook and Twitter.  And all too often you can look at the news and read about an officer who has been placed on administrative leave or fired for something they posted online.  Why?  What they post privately has the ability to affect not only their reputation but the reputation of their entire department as well.

The Social Media and Internet in Law Enforcement (SMILE) Conference reviewed several issues that relate directly to officers and social media....specifically steps that can be taken to ensure that officers stay out of trouble.

1.  Develop a Departmental Policy - Clearly outline acceptable/unacceptable online behaviors and have a set course of action to deal with with online behavioral issues.  Continuously modify your departmental policy as technology changes.

2.  Keep Up To Date With The Technology - Technology and social media advances are continuously evolving.  It is important to keep up to date with these changes.  If you are not technology savvy, it is recommended that you enlist the support of a younger more tech-savvy officer to help you out.

3.  Create a Training Plan - Teach officers how to keep their personal lives private.  Go above and beyond giving them a set of rules to follow; teach them that these guidelines are too keep them out of trouble and in a job.  It's about keeping them from making a mistake that will possibly cost them their career.  Many people are not aware of the reach of social media...or the fact that once something is on the internet it's there forever.  Teach your officers so that they aren't an uneducated victim of the dangers of social media.

4.  Teach Social Media Ethics - It goes without saying that police officers have their own sense of humor that the general public might not always find funny.  A prime example: trophy photos.  Will you and your fellow cop buddies find an arrest photo like the one pictured funny? Maybe.  Will your civilian friends find the same photo funny?  Maybe not....they might even find it offensive.  And that is when the trouble starts.  Definitely do not share trophy photos on your social media pages!