August 31, 2006 Table of Contents 1. NASEMSO Annual Meeting Mini-Presentation Application Deadline is September 7

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1 August 31, 2006 Table of Contents 1. NASEMSO Annual Meeting Mini-Presentation Application Deadline is September 7 2. SAFECOM is Developing a Statewide Interoperability Planning Guide, NASEMSO Participates 3. NEMSIS Software Developers Meeting Covered Many Topics 4. Application Period for FY 2006 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program Closes September AHRQ Releases Issue Brief on Mass Prophylaxis 6. FEMA Issues New Recovery Strategies for Mass Sheltering and Housing Assistance Program and Debris Removal Operations 7. FEMA Issues Interim Policy on Temporary Housing Donations 8. Model Communities Web Page Has Been Updated 9. Anthrax in Children Difficult to Detect and Treat, New Report Finds 10. Alaska Training and Certification Coordinator Requests Assistance from NASEMSO Members 11. AAP Issues Second Edition of the Family Readiness Kit 12. NHTSA Releases Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Resource Guide 13. CEPIN Receives Course Approval from DHS 14. DHS Provides Homeland Security Digital Library 15. New DOT Rule Requires Automakers to Tell Consumers if New Vehicles Are Equipped with Event Data Recorders 16. NH EMS Director Marries 17. Upcoming Events 1. NASEMSO Annual Meeting Mini-Presentation Application Deadline is September 7 The application deadline for mini-presentations at the NASEMSO Annual Meeting has been extended to Sept. 7, The meeting is scheduled for Oct. 1-6, 2006, in Charleston, W.Va. Mini-presentations include up to 15-minutes of podium time on Friday morning of the conference to share remarks with colleagues about successful state EMS office programs and activities. To apply for a spot on the agenda, your proposed presentation title, your name, title and state, and a 100-word description of the session to Sharon Kelly at info@nasemso.org. 2. SAFECOM Is Developing a Statewide Interoperability Planning Guide, NASEMSO Participates SAFECOM is in the process of developing a Statewide Interoperability Strategic Planning Guide. A draft has been developed and is in the review stage. NASEMSO Project Advisor Kevin McGinnis is participating on the SAFECOM committee responsible for the project. Contact Kevin at mcginnis@nasemso.org for the draft guide or to provide comments. 3. NEMSIS Software Developers Meeting Covered Many Topics The NEMSIS Technical Assistance Center (TAC) and various members from the software developers and EMS community met in Clearwater, Fla., on Aug. 26, 2006, for the Annual Software Developers Meeting. Many topics were presented and discussed during the session. Topics included: an update on

2 the TAC, software compliance, the national EMS database, status of states, and more. Feedback on the meeting was positive. Therefore, the NEMSIS TAC will make every effort to continue the event. Presentations have been published on the NEMSIS Web site at 4. Application Period for FY 2006 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program Closes September 15 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking applications for the fiscal year 2006 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). This program will provide more than $32 million in equipment to first responders in selected rural and smaller communities who are typically not eligible for funding through the department s Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant program. The application period for the CEDAP will close on Sept. 15, For more information, visit 5. AHRQ Releases Issue Brief on Mass Prophylaxis The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released Bioterrorism and Health System Preparedness Issue Brief Number 10, titled Mass Prophylaxis: Building Blocks for Community Preparedness. The brief examines the health care system s ability to administer mass prophylaxis and explains elements typically found within local mass prophylaxis plans. It gives local communities the information and capability to respond to public health emergencies in real time. For more information, visit 6. FEMA Issues New Recovery Strategies for Mass Sheltering and Housing Assistance Program and Debris Removal Operations To improve the quality, speed and accountability of federal disaster support to state and local partners, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued recovery strategies addressing two key areas of disaster operations. The Mass Sheltering and Housing Assistance and Debris Removal Operations strategies reflect important lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, and outline a clear and manageable framework for guiding federal and state operational responses during the 2006 hurricane season and beyond. Learn more at 7. FEMA Issues Interim Policy on Temporary Housing Donations On Aug. 15, 2006, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued an interim policy on temporary housing unit donations. The purpose of the policy is to establish criteria for permanently donating FEMA-purchased temporary housing units to states, local governments and voluntary organizations. A copy of the interim policy may be downloaded at 8. Model Communities Web Page Has Been Updated The Model Communities Web site has been updated. The new page is at a new location. If you are linking to this site from your Web site, please change the link to 9. Anthrax in Children Difficult to Detect and Treat, New Report Finds Difficulties in diagnosing anthrax may lead to dangerous delays in caring for children infected with this often-deadly disease, according to a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Treating pediatric anthrax also is a special challenge because most currently recommended therapies have not been widely used to treat children with the disease. Since anthrax exposure occurs rarely in the United States and most of the recent cases have been naturally occurring, clinicians may not have first-hand knowledge about the disease and might have difficulty diagnosing it. Additionally,

3 symptoms of pediatric anthrax can be confused easily with those of more common illnesses. For more information, visit Alaska Training and Certification Coordinator Requests Assistance from NASEMSO Members The Alaska EMS Unit has received a request for certification as an EMS service from a search and rescue agency. The normal equipment list for ambulance services is not applicable to an agency that has no transport vehicle and must carry their equipment over rugged terrain to the patient s location. If any member has a minimum equipment list for non-transport (preferably ALS) EMS agencies, Alaska s agency would like to see it. Any information can be ed to Mike Branum, training and certification coordinator, Alaska EMS, at Michael_Branum@health.state.ak.us. 11. AAP Issues Second Edition of the Family Readiness Kit The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released the Family Readiness Kit, Second Edition. The kit is for parents to use at home to help their families prepare for most kinds of disasters. The kit includes a booklet that addresses different types of disasters and simple steps for preparing for them. Information on how to help build neighborhood cooperation in times of an impending disaster and a list of community and national resources also are included. In addition, the kit includes a safety readiness guide, a child identification card, and fact sheets on different types of disasters. To download a copy of the kit, visit NHTSA Releases Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Resource Guide The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Resource Guide for highway safety professionals and others who are proactive in developing or directing bicycle and pedestrian safety programs at the state or community level. Copies of the guide are available at CEPIN Receives Course Approval from DHS The Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) has received approval from the Department of Homeland Security s (DHS) Office of Grants and Training for its Emergency Responders and the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community: Taking the First Steps to Disaster Preparedness curriculum. The training is designed to encourage networking, preparation and communication between emergency responders and deaf and hard-of-hearing people prior to disaster situations. CEPIN partnered with four centers to develop this unique training curriculum: NVRC, Deaf, Inc., DCARA and CSD. Visit for more information. 14. DHS Provides Homeland Security Digital Library The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is providing the Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL) to homeland security officials, researchers, educators and students in an effort to further advance national research and policy development. The library is described as the nation s premier collection of homeland security policy, strategy and organizational documents. Key features include: thousands of key, selected homeland security documents; full-text advanced search in hundreds of subject categories; direct links to important U.S. policy documents; online databases and journals; cutting edge thesis and research reports; and breaking news stories. Homeland security policy planners, strategists, researchers, scholars, managers and first responders are invited to visit the HSDL at and register for an individual account. The HSDL currently is being offered to federal, state and local government officials, research and academic institutions, and the U.S. military. While the HSDL is not available to the public, it is being made as widely available as possible to those who need access to its contents.

4 15. New DOT Rule Requires Automakers to Tell Consumers if New Vehicles Are Equipped with Event Data Recorders Automakers will be required, for the first time ever, to tell new car buyers if an Event Data Recorder (EDR) has been installed under a new rule issued on Aug. 21, 2006, by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). EDRs are electronic devices that capture crash data in the few seconds before, during and after a crash. EDRs do not capture any data unless there is a collision that is severe enough to cause the airbag to deploy. While automakers are not required to install EDRs, approximately 64 percent of the model year 2005 passenger vehicles came equipped with the device. This new rule will not require automakers to install EDRs if they are not already doing so. The rule may be seen at pdf. 16. NH State EMS Director Marries Sue Prentiss, state EMS director for New Hampshire, and Christian Simon were married on Aug. 12, 2006, in West Bath, N.H., the White Mountains region of the Granite State. Mr. Simon is a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Lebanon, N.H. Sue reports that they used to work together in the same firehouse more than 12 years ago. NASEMSO sends best wishes to Sue. 17. Upcoming Events (** denotes event is newly added) Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference and Expo, September 6-8, 2006, Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, GA. Information is available from 17 th Annual State of the States in Head Injury Meeting: Economics, Ethics, & Enlightenment, September 6-9, 2006, Wyndham Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD. Information is available from IOM Dissemination Workshop: Pediatric Emergency Care and Emergency Care in Rural Areas, September 7, 2006, Primary Children s Medical Center Multipurpose Room, Salt Lake City, UT. Information is available from ASTHO Annual Meeting, September 12-15, 2006, Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit Ethical and Legal Consideration in Mitigating Pandemic Disease Workshop, September 19-20, 2006, hosted by IOM s Forum on Microbial Threats, Keck Center, National Academies, Washington, DC. Information is available at NAEMT Annual Meeting, September 25-29, 2006, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Information is available at EMS Expo, September 25-29, 2006, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Information is available at Program Evaluation in EMS & EMSC : NEDARC Workshop, September 27-29, 2006, Hawthorn Suites San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel, San Antonio, TX. For more information, visit NASEMSO 2006 Annual meeting, Octoer 3-6, 2006, Embassy Suites, Charleston, WV. Information is available at

5 FMD Summit, October 10-11, Information is available from Karen Cannon at IOM Dissemination Workshop: Workforce Issues and Operations/IT Issues, October 27, 2006, Northwestern Memorial Hospital Pritzker Auditorium, Chicago, IL. Information is available from IOM Dissemination Workshop: EMS and Disaster Preparedness, November 2, 2006, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA. Information is available from *National Native American EMS Association Annual Educational Conference, November 6-10, 2006, Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV. Information is available at Transportation Disaster Response Family Assistance: NTSB Training Course, November 14-16, 2006, NTSB Academy, Ashburn, VA. Information is available at Traffic Incident Management & Planned Special Events, November 29-December 1, 2006, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Hotel, Newport Beach, CA. For more information, visit IOM Dissemination Workshop: Capstone Workshop, December 11, 2006, NAS Building, Washington, DC. Information is available from **NEDARC s Advanced Statistical Analysis for EMS and EMSC Workshop, January 10-12, 2007, Salt Lake City, UT. Information is available at NASEMSO Staff Contacts Elizabeth B. Armstrong, CAE, MAM / Executive Director (703) ext. 7 - armstrong@nasemso.org Melissa M. Trumbull / Program Manager (703) ext. 3 trumbull@nasemso.org Sharon Kelly / Executive Assistant (703) ext. 2 - kelly@nasemso.org Dawn M. Shiley-Danzeisen / Washington Update Editor (703) ext. 3 - dshiley@asmii.net 201 Park Washington Court Falls Church VA Phone: (703) Fax: (703) Website: The Washington Update is supported by a cooperative agreement between NASEMSO and NHTSA s EMS Division. Feel free to share this publication with your colleagues.

6 NASEMSO Washington Update is published two times a month by for association members and partners. Comments should be directed to the editor, Dawn M. Shiley at dshiley@asmii.net. Cordially, Dawn M. Shiley-Danzeisen Marketing & Communications Director NASEMSO 201 Park Washington Court Falls Church, VA Phone: Fax: dshiley@asmii.net Website:

October 15, Table of Contents

October 15, Table of Contents October 15, 2007 Table of Contents 1. NHTSA Releases National Education Standards for Review 2. National Response Framework Review Deadline Extended to Oct. 22 3. Robert Bass Receives ACEP Award 4. TOPOFF