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SARNews.com - November 2009 Newsletter

An official publication of Emergency Response International

Published by dbS Productions LLC

In this issue:

Our Brain’s Cognitive Map: Use It or Lose It

Neuropsychologists in Canada have described a new disorder called “developmental topographical disorientation,” in which a person is unable to build a cognitive map in their brain, specifically in the hippocampus, which is also associated with Alzheimer's disease. The cognitive map is what allows us to navigate our surroundings by learning spatial relationships between landmarks. An article in The Walrus, a Canadian magazine, poses an intriguing question about how our changing society and new technologies, such as GPS, could affect our navigational strategies. If we let the GPS unit it our cars and cell phones do all of our work for us, our brains may lose the ability to build the cognitive map that enables us to find our way on our own. - Global Impositioning Systems - The Walrus

New Digital Map - Beta Available from USGS

As the "Digital Map - Beta" evolves, the USGS will add historical versions of the topographic maps and will incorporate other data layers including hydrography and contours. Some advantages of using the USGS digital map include:

The map, and interactive user tools, are available in a free download from the USGS Store. For more information on the digital map – beta and other maps, user’s guide and link to the store go here http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map/index.html.

MyTopo Terrain Navigator Resource

Trade in your old Terrain Navigator CDs for a single DVD disc. MyTopo is offering DVDs – with the latest software and updated topo maps - for $25 per state.

MyTopo website

Lost Person Behavior Instructors Begin Teaching and 2010 Train the Trainer Dates Set

Students in the first two Lost Person Behavior train the trainer courses held in August are already training others in where to look for lost persons. The 4-day course, materials and additional resources such as topo maps for map problems, have prepared new instructors to teach dozens of search managers from Canada and the US to Iceland and the UK . In addition, trained instructors have access to a great network of highly qualified and experienced peers for support and information sharing. The 2010 train the trainer workshop is scheduled for August 9 – 13, 2010 in St. George, Virginia . If there is interest in hosting a Lost Person Train the Trainer in another location, please contact us. To catch a glimpse of the training in action and to read a review of the course, go to http://evdogs.org/?p=738. For more information about the 2010 LPB Train the Trainer go to www.dbs-sar.com.

Children Should Be a Priority in Disasters

The National Commission on Children and Disasters and FEMA Children’s Working Group have released recommendations on caring for the needs of children during disasters. Areas of need include emergency management, mental health, medical services, case management, child care, shelter and housing, and schools. Although there are standards and measures in place for other vulnerable populations such as the elderly and people with disabilities, and even pets and service animals, this is the first step toward creating a system that meets the specific needs of children during disasters. The interim report is available online at http://www.childrenanddisasters.acf.hhs.gov/.

Cultural Learning for First Responders Is Available Online

The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health has launched a free cultural competency e-learning program, “The Cultural Competency Curriculum for Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Response.” The program helps first responders, social workers and disaster mental health workers provide culturally and linguistically competent care and services during disasters. For more information, please visit www.thinkculturalhealth.org.

How to Make Your Emergency Vehicle Visible and Conspicuous

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) have released a report on best practices in emergency vehicle visibility and conspicuity, including retro reflective striping and chevrons, high-visibility paint, built-in passive light, and other reflectors for law enforcement patrol vehicles, fire apparatus, ambulances and other EMS vehicles, and motorcycles. The study includes photos of emergency vehicles with various patterns and reflectors as examples. For more details on this study and other emergency vehicle safety projects go to www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/research/safety/vehicle.shtm.

FEMA Offers Email News Updates

FEMA has announced a free e-mail subscription service that delivers news updates and disaster-related information, such as:

After signing up, you are directed to a webpage where you may select from many options the information and alerts you wish to receive. Sign up at www.fema.gov/plan/getupdates.shtm.

Master’s Degree Program in Homeland Security Is Accepting Applications

The Center for Homeland Defense and Security and DHS offer an 18-month master’s degree program in homeland security at no cost to eligible senior and fast rising local, state, tribal and federal officials with significant responsibilities in homeland security and related disciplines. The course is a combination of online classes and a total of 12 weeks resident study at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Eastern Management Development Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. All travel and tuition expenses are paid for eligible participants. The next deadline for application to the master’s degree program for the spring-summer 2010 cohorts is December 1, 2009. More information and applications are available at www.chds.us/?masters/apply.

Learn How to Tie Knots for SAR … Online

The Website Animated Knots by Grog shows many knots for various types of activities, included SAR. Click on an image and watch step by step how to create the knot.

Animated Search & Rescue knots by Grog

Heading out for a Hike? Tell Someone Where You Are Going at TrailNote.com

Easy to use (we tried it) and a pretty low impact way to let your family and friends know where you are headed, when you expect to be back and when to start worrying if you are overdue. Given recent arguments on the ethics and practicality of charging for search and rescue incidents, this free “online safety system” appears simple and potentially cost-effective.

Read more at Associated Content.

Trailnote website

Emergency Information Tools Available Free on emicus.com

Find out the latest status of disasters and weather conditions affecting your community, including weather alerts, member reports, and news from other sources (such as the NOAA). Share information on the disaster using your iPhone, SMS, or direct on the site. Build a preparedness plan for your family and register personal contacts to let them know you are OK. Find local resources in the time of crisis. These free tools are available on emicus.com – “community powered emergency information.”

Michigan SAR Teams: Get Listed!

An effort spearheaded by Kent County Search and Rescue is underway to complete a database of all SAR teams in Michigan, including wilderness, K9, Tech or CERT. To get listed go to http://bit.ly/SARTEAMS.

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