Safety Prep Guide

two thousand eleven

SAFETY+PREPSpecial supplement published by the Kent Reporter, Renton Reporter, Auburn Reporter, and Covington/Maple Valley/Black Diamond Reporter

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BY DENNIS BOX

[email protected]

A cardiopulmonary resuscitation class may be one of the most important few hours in a person’s life. It may be the gi� of life.

Capt. John Keizer, who is in charge of emergency medical training for the Kent Regional Fire Au-thority, said cardiopulmo-nary resuscitation or CPR administered by a citizen is one of the most critical factors in the survival of a person whose heart stops beating.

“Citizen CPR doubles the chances a patient will survive,” Keizer said. “� ere is nothing an EMT (emergency medical technician) can do that has that much impact. We have to start with a surviv-able patient.”

Keizer is passionate about bringing the gi� of life - CPR training - to everyone and constantly improving the techniques within the � re authority.

� e captain said there are a number of miscon-ceptions concerning cur-rent CPR techniques.

According to Keizer, giving CPR with hands only or chest compres-sions only without pro-viding any breaths is for people who have not taken any classes or had any training.

“It’s just a basic mea-sure,” Keizer said. “It is not American Heart As-sociation recommended procedure.”

� e best measure is for everyone to take a CPR class and to continue to take them.

Keizer said he has asked former class members who gave CPR in an emergency situation to return to class, describe the experi-ence and give advice to students.

“Every one of them has said the same thing,” Keizer said. “Go back to the classes again and again until you are comfortable.”

Keizer said in the area covered by the Kent Re-gional Fire Authority there are more than “100 CPR events each year.”

� e � re authority o� ers CPR classes on the second Saturday of every month and a � rst-aid class is also o� ered.

Keizer noted when a CPR emer-gency oc-curs, “It gets very real in hurry when someone goes down.”

CPR techniques have been re� ned over the

years. Keizer said one of the most important issues to emphasize are chest

compres-sions.

“More time spent on pushing on the chest increases the likeli-hood the patient will be saved,” Keizer said.

Chest compres-sions help circulate blood and increase oxygen in the system, which is critical for

survival.� e issue with admin-

istering breaths, accord-

ing to Keizer, is it can be “tricky opening an airway on an unconscious patient. It is a technique that needs to be taught in a class.”

For chest compressions, Keizer said the new em-phasis is to “push (down) 2 inches and to allow full recoil.” � e rate is also essential, which is 100 per minute.

Keizer noted this brings up another issue, fatigue for the person administer-ing CPR.

“� at is why calling 911 is very important,” Keizer said.

� e guidelines for breathing is to administer two breaths.

“Not too much,” Keizer said. “� ere should only be a little chest rise, then stop.”

The gift of life: CPR

[ more CPR page 3 ]

“Citizen CPR doubles the chances a patient will survive. There is nothing an EMT can do that has that much impact.”

Capt. John Keizer,Kent Regional Fire Authority

2011 Safety Preparedness Guide 3

›› CPR/FIRST AID CLASSESKENT FIRE DEPARTMENTThe Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority offers a combined adult CPR and first aid class. The CPR portion of the class is taught in the morning and can be taken as a stand alone class. The afternoon is devoted to the first aid portion of the class. While you can take the CPR class separate of the first aid class, you cannot take first aid without also taking CPR.

CPR/FIRST AID CLASSESDecember 10

First aid/adult CPR

Fire Station 73

26512 Military Road S. (West Hill of Kent)

Deadline to register - Dec. 7

COST Heartsaver CPR - $25

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Heartsaver CPR and first aid - $45

9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Contact: 253-856-5200

MAPLE VALLEY FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY

CPR/AED CLASSNov. 28

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Station 81, 22225 SE 231st, Maple Valley

COST $25

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Deadline to register is 4p.m. Nov. 28.

Payments cam be made at the administrative office at Station 80, 23775 SE 264th St.

Contact: 425-432-0200.

TUKWILA FIRE DEPARTMENT

CPR CLASSESThe Tukwila Fire Department offers CPR classes quarterly.

Call 206-575-4404 in January for the 2012 schedule.

Valley Regional Fire Authority

CPR can increase the chances of survival significantly when started immediately by a bystander.

The Valley Regional Fire Authority offers adult, child and infant CPR training.

CPR CLASSESValley Regional Fire Authority offers CPR classes the first Wednesday of each month (excluding July, August and December), from

Time: 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Location: Station 31, 1101 D St. NE

Contact: 253-288-5800

COSTThere is a $20 fee for this class and preregistration is required.

The minimum number of students for the class will be 10; the maximum will be 25.

The class is subject to being rescheduled if less than the minimum number of students register, or you can request a refund.

Visit the Community Programs page on our website for more information and the registration form.

http://www.vrfa.org/Community.asp?PageType=CPR

Mail registration form and fee to:

Valley Regional Fire Authority

1101 D St NE, Auburn, WA 98002

American Red CrossThe Seattle chapter of the American Red Cross offers first aid classes and CPR training. Go to http://www.seattleredcross.org/ for information.

� e captain said if there are too many breaths given too fast, the air will go into the person’s stomach, which causes vomiting.

An unconscious person who vomits runs the risk of aspirating material into the lungs, which can also be fatal.

� e guideline is to give two breaths and that is it. Don’t keep trying. Spend the time on the chest.

Keizer said another issue is “� ere is no pulse check. We don’t care if the heart is beating. We care if it is beating e� ectively.”

KEIZER’S CPR NOTES TO KNOW• If a person is unconscious, do CPR. • If person is unconscious and not

breathing normally, do CPR. About 50 percent of the people who collapse and their heart stops beating will continue to breath. O� en the breathing is slow and noisy, which is known as agonal respira-tion. � at is why it is so important to begin CPR, even if the person appears to be breathing.

• Once CPR is started, only stop when an emergency medical technician arrives and tells you to stop. Many times the EMT will need to set up equipment and CPR needs to continue.

• CPR can be stopped when there are signs it is successful. � e person’s eyes

open and breathing begins, but make sure it is not agonal respiration.

• CPR can be stopped when the person administering it is too tired.

Keizer said another device that dra-matically improves survival chances are AEDs or automated external de� brillator. � e sooner the AEDs are used the more likely it will work.

AEDs have been placed in all of the Kent School District schools and many of the city of Kent buildings, including City Hall, police department, golf course, and city shops.

� e devices are safe and easy to use. Once you turn the AED on it gives in-structions on what to do.

� e use of AEDs are also part of the CPR class.

Reach Dennis Box at [email protected] or 253-872-6600 ext. 5050.To comment on this story go to www.kentreporter.com.

[ CPR from page 2]

LIFE SAVING

BY DEAN A. RADFORD

[email protected]

Valley Medical Center will stand at the center of the medical recovery from any disaster – big or small, natural or manmade – that hits Renton and the rest of South King County.

To keep itself prepared and up-to-date on the potential dangers, Valley Medical an-nually assesses the risks from earthquakes, chemical exposure in the industrial area, mass casualties and accidents at Sea-Tac Airport and local freeways.

� e assessment in recent years consid-ered the heightened possibility of � ooding of the Green River. An agreement was worked out to transfer the as-risk infants at Pediatric Interim Care Center in Kent to Valley Medical Center if � ooding threat-ened the center. Flooded mortuaries need a plan, too.

Valley Medical updates or modi� es its emergency-response plan yearly to re� ect new risks and regularly tests its plan.

“� ere is virtually nothing we can’t handle,” said Paul S. Hayes, Valley’s execu-tive vice president.

� at ability was enhanced when voters in the hospital district in 2005 approved an Emergency Medical and Hospital Ser-vices Levy. � e levy led to strengthening emergency services in the district and the

construction of the state-of-art emergency-services center – the South Tower – that’s the key to the medical center’s disaster response.

Valley Medical also shares its property-tax revenue with local � re departments and � re districts for their emergency response.

Valley Medical’s emergency program is well-equipped and sta� ed by personnel

who go to national training and bring back the expertise they’ve learned, Hayes said.

Valley Medical Center itself has to stand up to nature’s wrath, too.

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Renton CERT training� e City of Renton’s Community Emer-

gency Response Team (CERT) academy is taught by � re department personnel and local experts. � ere is a charge. For more information about CERT or to register for classes, call 425-430-7041 or visit www.rentonwa.gov and click on the recreation division and then on cybersignup.org.

School seismic upgrades� e Renton School District, through the

support of the community, has rebuilt all 13 of its elementary schools during the past 17 years, which involves complying with current code requirements for earthquake resistance, according to Randy Matheson, the district’s spokesman.

Modernization of Honey Dew Elemen-tary School, Dimmitt Middle School and Renton Stadium has included extensive earthquake retro� tting.

� e upgrades included:• Adding walls, braces and struts.• Strengthening existing walls, including

adding reinforcement within existing ma-sonry walls and placing new walls adjacent to existing ones, then connecting them.

• Strengthening existing roofs, including adding plywood and upgrading the con-

nections between the roofs and walls.

Emergency numbers• Emergency Management: 425-430-

7000• Code RED Emergency Notifi cation

System: Sign up by phone at 425-430-7000, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to request a registration form by mail.

• Renton E-Alert: E-Alert is a free email and digital subscription service that allows the public to subscribe to topics of inter-est and receive instant automated email noti� cation whenever the city posts new information on its website. Sign up at the city’s website, rentonwa.gov.

• Th e City of Renton will post updates on its website – rentonwa.gov – on key city services that are a� ected by a storm or disaster.

• Th e City of Renton has an Emergency Response Plan in place to provide for recovery a� er a disaster; however, these plans take time to implement and individu-als and families need to develop a degree of self-reliance for the � rst 72 hours. � at’s why the city encourages citizens to have their own disaster plan. Help is available at the city’s website under emergency preparedness.

Rich Roodman, CEO of Valley Medical Center, stands on the roof of the medical center’s South Tower that houses its Emergency Department. A landing pad for helicopters plays a key role in getting patients to the hospital today and would provide a key link to ferry supplies in and out in a disaster. DEAN A.RADFORD, Renton Reporter

[ more VALLEY page 5 ]

RENTON EMERGENCY INFORMATION

Valley Medical plays critical role in disaster



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New buildings on the medical center’s campus are designed to withstand major quakes; the original hospital opened in 1969 proved to be “solid as a rock” in the Nisqually quake of 2001.

There’s a lifeline on top of the South Tower, a helipad, that would allow the hospital to fly in critical supplies if the transportation system was unusable and Valley became an “island.” It’s also critical to moving patients to and from the hospital in a disaster or at any time.

There is enough food and medical sup-plies on hand to keep the medical center running for four days, without interrup-tion, Hayes said. Backup generators can provide power for up to two weeks; they’ve been used in the past, including in 1998 when Valley’s new power plant failed for a short time after it was started.

Valley also brought together other hospitals in the region, including Auburn Regional Medical Center and Highline Hospital, to plan how hospitals could communicate and cooperate with each

other in a disaster, Hayes said. That co-operation could include sharing medical supplies, staff and medical records – and transferring patients between hospitals to provide care.

Valley Medical Center is part of the King County Health Care Coalition, a partner-ship of healthcare disciplines, including hospitals and skilled nursing centers, that will “work as a team” to respond to an emergency, Hayes said.

“If something overwhelming happens in this region, we have a coordinated response plan and a coordinated recovery plan,” he said.

Valley Medical officials would manage a disaster response from an incident com-mand center, equipped with the technol-ogy and tools necessary to respond to any disaster, Hayes said.

Initially, the hospital would check for damage to its facilities, then start marshal-ing its employees to care for the injured. Hayes could get pressed into service – he’s a registered nurse. Valley’s primary-care clin-ics are also part of the response plan.

If necessary, the hospital could use the South Tower garage as a place to treat vic-tims of a major chemical spill.

The hospital could provide shelter tem-porarily, too, but Hayes said Valley Medi-cal’s primary mission is to provide medical care. Like other emergency responders, he urges families and businesses to have an emergency plan in place so they can shelter safely in place for several days.

[ Valley from page 4]

Paul Hayes, executive vice president of Valley Medical Center, demonstrates a decontamination unit at the medical center’s Emergency Department. DEan a. raDforD, Renton Reporter

Hospital buildings can withstand major earthquake


InformatIon on the Web

noaawww.noaa.orgNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

CLIff maSScliffmass.blogspot.com/The Cliff Mass weather blog of the Pacific Northwest

3 days, 3 wayswww.3days3ways.orgLearn tips and access checklists and resources for preparing for emergencies and disasters.

take Winter by Stormwww.takewinterbystorm.orgInformation for getting prepared and staying informed when bad weather strikes.

american red Crosswww.seattleredcross.org/In a disaster, the American Red Cross responds with food, shelter and hope.

regional Public Information networkwww.rpin.orgOne-stop resources for news alerts from more than 75 government, transportation, utility, health and emergency response agencies serving citizens in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

King County regional flood Preparednesswww.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan.aspx

State Department of transportationwww.wsdot.wa.govInformation about road closures, weather problems and real-time alerts

CITY SERVICESKENTKent Emergency Management: 253-856-4440www.choosekent.comCodeRED Emergency Notification System (reverse 911): sign up online at www.kentCodeRED.comCodeRED Emergency Notification System: Sign up by phone at 253-856-4440, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to request a registration form by mail.

RENTONEmergency Management: 425-430-7000CodeRED Emergency Notification System (reverse 911): sign up online at rentonwa.gov (click on Emergencies tab)Code RED Emergency Notification System: Sign up by phone at 425-430-7000, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to request a registration form by mail.

AUBURNEmergency Management: 253-876-1925E-mail: [email protected]: www.auburnwa.gov/disasterAuburn Alert: (register for telephone or email alerts) www.auburnwa.gov/Emergency/disaster/Auburn_Alert.asp

BLACK DIAMONDEmergency: 253-631-1012 Website: www.ci.blackdiamond.wa.us/emerg_manag.html

COVINGTONEmergency Preparedness:http://www.covingtonwa.gov/city_departments/publicworks/emergencymanagement.html.

Sign up for e-alerts, get emergency updates: www.ci.covington.wa.us

MAPLE VALLEYEmergency Information at:http://www.maplevalleywa.gov/.

TUKWILAEmergency Services: 206-971-8740Website: www.ci.tukwila.wa.us/ has information about the Howard Hanson Dam repairs under Emergency Management.Emergency information can be found on Public Access Channel 21 and AM 1640.

REGIONAL SERVICESKing County Flood Warning Systemwww.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding/warning-system.aspxLook up real-time river levels and flow data for the Snoqualmie River, Tolt River, Skykomish River, Raging River, Issaquah Creek, Cedar River, Green River, and White River and learn what local flooding homeowners might expect at different flood phases based on past flood events. This site also links to alerts and warnings from the National Weather service and provides maps of rivers and creeks.

King County Flood Warning Center206-296-4535 or 800-768-7932

King County Flood Warning Information line206-296-8200 or 800-945-9263

Regional Public Information Networkwww.rpin.org

Sewage Overflowswww.kingcounty.gov/SewageSpills

Metro Transit disruptionswww.kingcounty.gov/metro

King County Road Alertwww.kingcounty.gov/roadalert

King County Road Alertshttp://gismaps.kingcounty.gov/roadalert/

Hazardous Waste Disposal (home or business)206-296-4692www.govlink.org/hazwaste

Public Schools Emergency Communications Systemhttp://www.schoolreport.org/

FEDERAL SERVICESNational Flood Insurance Program888-379-9531www.floodsmart.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov (Click on Flooding)

National Weather Service Northwest River Forecast Centerwww.nwrfc.noaa.gov/

TRAVEL FORECASTSSeaTac Airporthttp://www.portseattle.org/sea-tac/Pages/default.aspx

Mountain pass reportswww.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/

Washington state travel alertswww.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/default.aspx

TRAVEL INFORMATION Dial 511• Puget Sound traffic conditions


BY STEVE HUNTER

[email protected]

Kent city o� cials have decided to keep the sandbags along the Green River until spring 2012 even though the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced in Sep-tember that it once again can operate the Howard Hanson Dam at full capacity. Crews have completed most of the repairs at the � ood-control dam a� er a 2009 storm damaged an abutment next to the dam.

“We plan to leave them through winter because by the time we had a contract in place to re-move them they would be working through the rainy season,” said Mike Mactutis, city environmental engineering manager.

Kent o� cials met with representatives from King County, Auburn and Tukwila before making the call to leave the sand-bags alone until spring.

“It was a joint decision by all the agen-cies,” Mactutis said. “We agreed to leave them for one more winter rather than re-move them in the middle of � ood season.”

It’s going to cost the city an estimated $3 million to remove the sandbags and the project could take up to two months, said John Hodgson, city chief administrative o� cer.

� e city still must � gure out how to pay for a contractor to remove the sandbags.

“We plan to work with the other cities

and the county to � nd funds so it will not be such a burden for each city,” Hodgson said.

King County paid for the installation of the sandbags in the fall of 2009 through its King County Flood Control District. Kent received $2.59 million from the county to place nearly 17,000 sandbags along 12 miles of levees.

� e sandbags increased the height of the levees to provide more � ood protec-

tion while the dam was under repair in case a major rainstorm struck the river. No major storms have hit the area since the rainstorm of January

2009 that damaged the abutment next to the dam.

But while King County paid for the plac-ing of the sandbags, part of its agreement with the cities was the cities would have to pay for the removal of the bags, Hodgson said.

� e sandbags weigh about 3,200 pounds each and cover much of the Green River Trail, a popular bicycling and walking trail. City o� cials also expect that repairs might need to be made to the paved trail because of damage from the sandbags.

A contractor or contractors will bring in trucks to remove the sandbags and then � nd places to dump the sand.

Reach Steve Hunter at [email protected] or 253-872-6600 ext. 5052.To comment on this story go to www.ken-treporter.com.

Kent sandbags to stay put until spring

GREENRIVER

Darby Cole of Kent rides up the Green River trail in the fall. The Army Corps of Engineers can operate the Howard Hanson Dam at full capacity but sandbags will remain until spring. CHARLES CORTES, Kent Reporter

The city estimates removal of the sandbags will cost about $3 million and take about two months

BY SARAH KEHOE

[email protected]

As winter weather approaches, city of Kent sta� would like residents to know about emergency response systems avail-able to them.

� e city and King County each have phone and email messaging systems available for the public to sign up for. People on the list receive messages from the county and city warning communi-ties about emergencies including storms, high tra� c, tornados and � ooding.

“� ese are great systems to have because people can be prepared or act quickly in response to an emergency in their area,” said Michelle Wilmot, com-

munity and public a� airs for the city. “We really encourage people to sign up for these because they can be alerted to situ-ations wherever they are.”

� e city has Code Red, a reverse 911 network their emergency management division uses to notify people of impend-ing emergencies. Prerecorded messages hit the number or email given by a resi-dent when they sign up at kentcodered.com.

“What it allows us to do is make tens of thousands of calls per minute,” Wilmot said. “We’ve used it before in a � ooding event and got a great response from the users.”

Residents battling tra� c or worried about impending snow, can sign up to

receive email noti� cations about road conditions at drivekent.com.

“� is is a handy system providing people notice of road closures, tra� c and construction,” Wilmot said. “We can’t mail a letter to everyone in the city every time something’s going on so we use our website and these resources a lot.”

� e county has a similar system called Regional Public Information Network, which alerts users to road conditions all across the county. Residents can sign up for it at rpin.org.

“It is more regional in nature than our system, so it is especially good for commuters to have,” Wilmot said. “A cool feature it has, it that when it comes across your email, the subject line has the name of the road being discussed in it.”

Another system covering all of King County is metro.kingcounty.gov/. � is network shoots email or phone mes-sengers to its users to alert them about emergency situations happening within the county.

“People should know that these system’s don’t abuse their customers,” Wilmot said. “Messages are sent out only when there is a serious emergency and when people give out their information, it is con� dential, so there is no need to

worry about any spam.”In addition to these resources, the city

updates their website to inform residents of emergencies occurring around the area. � ere is a city of Kent Compre-hensive Emergency Management Plan, intended to provide a framework for responses during disasters of any kind.

“Residents should know that in many cases, it is okay to call 911,” Wilmot said. “You don’t have to wait for a life or death situation to call, you can call during an emergency.”

Examples of applicable situations include a major tra� c accident, a tree falling onto a home and a person in a neighborhood that seems suspicious.

“It’s always better to be safe than sorry,” Wilmot said. “An emergency never hap-pens at a convenient time, so it’s impor-tant to use all the resources you can to prevent one.”

For more information, visit www.kentwa.gov/ or call city sta� at 253-856-5200.

Reach Sarah Kehoe at [email protected] or 253-872-6600 ext. 5056.To comment on this story go to www.ken-treporter.com.

Getting prepared for an emergencyKent, county preparedness systems available

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Don’t Forget Your Petsin an Emergency Situation!

• Microchips: Th e biggest lesson learned for pet owners from Hurricane Katrina was that pets with microchips had a much higher return rate to owners than pets without them. Microchip your pets!

• Rescue alert stickers placed by your front door alerts rescuers of how many pets are inside. Th ese stickers can be obtained from the ASPCA, and will increase the likelihood of your pets being rescued.

• Have carriers and leashes readily available for all your pets. If evacuation is needed, pets won’t be able to share these items.

• Do you have designated caregivers for your pets in case you need to leave for a family emergency? Don’t forget to leave them with written authorization for medical treatment while you are gone.

• Make sure to have evacuation routes from the home planned out for your pets, just as you have for other family members. Remember pets can’t climb down evacuation ladders so 2nd story or higher apartments can be a problem, and need special consideration for pet evacuations.

• Th e loss of electricity and subsequent heat can be fatal for birds and reptiles. Either have backup electricity and heat sources available, or a warm place you can take your pets if you loose electricity.

BY TJ MARTINELL

[email protected]

In preparation for this winter, Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety has been train-ing more candidates for their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). � is week 25 people graduated from the pro-gram, with a total of 300 current members.

CERT is a program designed to train vol-unteers in the community who can assist in the event of an emergency.

According to Janine Johnson, much of the emphasis this year has been on local disasters which can occur in Maple Valley.

“We can have the smallest thing be a disaster,” she said.

As a part of the training, they have brought in trees, branches, and 19 patients playing victims so the CERT students can learn how to response appropriately.

With the recent change in seismic activ-ity at Mount Rainier, they are also discuss-ing the possibility of an eruption.

“We’re starting to talk a little bit more about Mount Rainier,” said Johnson. For example, they are taught what type of masks to use, how to properly clean up ash without the use of a vacuum cleaner, which can catch on � re.

Other natural disaster issues included � ooding and how to clear out storm drains.

CERT is a seven-class program. Each class begins with an hour power point presentation. � ese in class lessons cover a

variety of topics, such as medical emergen-cies. � e students learn how to control bleeding and shock. � en, they go out to three separate stations and put the lessons into practice.

According to Johnson, there are two levels of CERT members. � e highest is an emergency worker, who is registered to work with FEMA a� er the completion of additional classes. � ey are required to attend a certain number of drills a year and participate in community events.

A regular CERT worker responds within the parameters of their neighborhood. � ey contact their assigned leader and give a report in the number of injured within their vicinity.

Johnson stated that though their role is limited, it is extremely valuable when co-ordinating with other emergency response teams.

“� ey’re going to report on their neigh-borhoods so we have a better idea of what’s going on in the community,” she said. “We’re very involved with CERT and giving them constant education and keeping them in the loop. By having knowledge as power and knowing what to do keeps people from panicking.”

Reach TJ Martinell at [email protected] or 425-432-1209 ext. 5052.To comment on this story go to www.mapl-evalleyreporter.com.


IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, KNOW HOW TO BE NOTIFIED IN AUBURN

Auburn Alert/Code RedIn the event of an emergency, the City can call you with important emergency information. The system can also send email and text message alerts. Sign up at www.auburnwa.gov or call 253-876-1925.

Emergency email notificationSign up at www.auburnwa.gov

Auburn Community Radio (AM 1700)

Auburn Government Access TelevisionComcast channel 21

City of Auburn website www.auburnwa.gov/disaster

Follow us on Twitter @auburnupdates

Like Us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/auburnwawww.facebook.com/AuburnEM

Regional Public Information Network (RPIN) Sign up to recieve email or text messages from local and regional agencies at www.rpin.org

Battery powered NOAA Weather Radio Can be purchased at most stores that sell electronics

Local television and radio stations

(cut out this list and keep with your emergency information)

539250

Being ready for the worst is the best planMaple Valley Fire and Life Safety trains volunteers

The Maple Valley CERT program prepares students for a disaster in all conditions and times of the day and night. Courtesy photo

BY SARAH KEHOE

[email protected]

� e Kent School District sta� have several emer-gency practices in place to ensure students are safe this year.

Traditional exercises required for each school include earthquake, � re and lockdown drills.

“It depends on the school, but usually earth-quake drills are practiced twice a year, with � re and lockdown drills once a year,” said Mike Halliday, a district spokesman.

Earthquake drills involve helping the kids � nd safe places to duck under and educating them on what typically occurs during a

quake. A � re alarm goes o� during a � re drill and the kids practice getting into a single � le line, exiting the building and going to a meeting place.

“Teachers then give a head count to ensure all their students are there,” Halliday said. “If there were to be an actual � re, we would evacuate the kids and notify emergency personnel.”

During lockdown drills, the kids go into a locked classroom and teachers close the blinds.

“� ere are a few di� erent reasons we ask a school to lockdown,” Halliday said.” Sometimes it is a situation occurring inside the school, but we also lockdown if we hear that police are looking

for a suspicious person around the area of the school. We would rather be conservative by having a lockdown prematurely than to risk a child’s safety.”

District sta� post infor-mation regarding school procedures on their website during extreme winter weather, such as snow, rain storms or power outages. Parents can go to www.kent.k12.wa.us/, to deter-mine if their child’s school will be closed or starting late.

Once that information is given, the superintendent and other administrators must decide if the schools will close, if the district o� ce and schools will close or if the schools will start late.

School safety in practice


BY ROBERT WHALE

[email protected]

� e earthquake struck about 10 a.m. on a gloomy, rainy Saturday, kicking buildings o� their founda-tions, cutting gas lines and sending bits of masonry tumbling down to the streets below.

On A Street Southeast in Auburn, a group gathered at one home to � nd the injured occupants and haul them outside. Others wait-ed at a hastily constructed triage area outside to assess the extent of their injuries and provide them as much help as they could.

Pulled from the wreck-age, a dazed Eric Johnson, face smeared with blood, howled over to his wife, Diana, in shock and uncon-scious from a head injury and resting under a blanket. “Are you all right, Diana?

Diana, talk to me!”OK, the blood was fake

and the injured were only acting, but the skills em-ployed by the latest group to graduate from Auburn’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training were real.

Among the students were Rick Engler and his wife, Mary Rogan, a West Hill couple in training to be chaplains. � ey are part of a group of more than 300 people who have taken advantage of the 5-year-old Auburn program, tailored like all CERT programs to give the average person the basic skills necessary to respond to disasters or emergencies in their neigh-borhoods.

“It was a very interesting class,” said Engler. “You can read your book and stu� , but when you get out and do it you can seek more of

what it’s really like.” “And it shows you what

you don’t know,” Rogan added.

In cities across the na-tion, Kent and Renton among them, thousands of adults are learning the same lessons from the Federal Emergency Management Agency manual: how to handle extinguishers and snu� out � res; what to do around chemical leaks; how to triage the injured; how to administer � rst aid; how to read gas and water meters; and how to get people out of collapsed buildings.

Each session combines a lecture with hands-on practical activities. A� er listening to Kelly Williams, public information o� cer for the Valley Regional Fire Authority, talk about � res and � re extinguishers, for instance, students trot out to the parking lot and take

turns snu� ng out carefully controlled � res, under the trained eye of a � re� ghter from the Valley Regional Fire Authority.

Sarah Miller, Auburn’s emergency management coordinator, said she prefers to stress the hands-on stu� because “most adults learn that way.”

“� e � rst thing we go on is this assumption that there are no 911 calls because a disaster has happened,” Miller said. “We teach them to treat life-threatening injuries… � ey � gure out who they can help, and of those they can help who needs help most urgently. We do light search-and-rescue where we teach them how to search a building. We teach them to build supports so they can li� heavy objects o� of people. � ey go out and do a round-robin through all the di� erent medical stations. � ey practice how to move people safely. And some-where in there they do their cribbing. � ey’ll use lumber and build these boxes and li� a heavy object.”

A� er students graduate, their names are entered on an email list so they all get training informa-tion, updates on volunteer opportunities and actual disaster situations that may be coming. � ey are also entered into Auburn’s Code Red System, which allows emergency personnel to call all of them at once should their help be needed.

Students learn from the start that they are responsible for them-selves, their households and their neighborhoods, in that order. And if they are at work when disaster hits, it’s themselves, their co-workers, and last the neighborhood where they do business.

� e CERT program began in the early 1980s in Los Angeles when city lead-ers realized that ordinary people, not � rst responders, were the ones doing most of the rescuing during and a� er disasters.

“A disaster researcher found that a� er urban earthquakes, 95 percent of the people who are rescued are rescued by other vic-tims,” Miller said. “� ey’re not rescued by professional responders because those folks are overwhelmed.”

Realizing that many people wanted to help, Los Angeles’ leaders asked themselves, “Why not give those people some basic training?” � us was ad-opted the standard FEMA curriculum, and CERT was on its way. � e program proved so e� ective that the � rst Bush administration adopted it nationwide as part of the Citizen’s Corps Council. Today, it is the linchpin of citizen disaster involvement.

Kent’s CERT program predates Auburn’s by seven years, said program coordi-nator Kimberly Behymer.

“We now have more than 1,100 folks who have taken our training,” Behymer said. “When we o� er the program, we o� er two ses-sion at a time. We have an a� ernoon and an evening session. � e a� ernoon session is tailored to the business community and the retirement community. � e evening session is all of that, but the main focus is citizens.”

“� e CERT program is what we call an all-hazard program in that we don’t focus on one particular disaster. So, in our program we talk about all of the disasters that are potential in this area, such as earth-quakes, windstorms, � ood-ing, snow storms, those

kind of typical events,” Behymer said.

Renton’s CERT program has been o� ered “on and o� ” for about six ears, said Mindy Mattson, Renton’s emergency management coordinator. � e Renton CERT academy has trained more than 400 people, including citizens and em-ployees of local businesses. � ose academy graduates will be critical in a disaster response when the 40 or so � re� ghters typically on duty are answering other emergency calls.

Relying on the natural, altruistic human impulse and the di� erent skills sets of the students, Miller launched Auburn’s program in 2006.

“Most people are good-hearted — they see some-body who needs help, they help. � ey don’t go, ‘Oh, we’ll wait, we’ll just watch and wait until somebody comes along,” Miller said.

Classes meet three times a year.

“Anybody can � nish this class,” Miller said. “Every-body just does what their own limits are. Everybody who takes the class � nishes the class, if they want to. It’s a great class, it really is. We give people basic skills and the basic disaster prepared-ness idea on how to get themselves ready.”

Getting ready for a disaster when it strikes

➠Emergency Preparedness 1. Make a plan by writing a to-do list a. Make a printed list of emergency contacts b. Know the risks associated with particular hazardous events (flooding, landslide, earthquake, drought, tsunami) c. Know your disaster preparedness resources (state, county, city)

“Preparing in advance will ensure that family members and animals will have what they need in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.”

-Pete von Reichbauer, King County Metropolitan Councilmember

➠Build a kit…a. Build a home kit: Water, food, items for shelter &

warmth, first aid, communication, sanitation, personal hygiene

b. Build a car kit: Jack, spare tire, first aid kit, drinking

water, small supply of food,rain poncho

c. Build a pet kit: pet carrier, extra leash, water and dry pet food

d. Build a personal kit: prescription medicines, infant supplies,corrective vision aids

➠Get Involved… a. Follow the news b. Take an emergency training course c. Talk with friends & neighbors

For More InformationPlease Visit:

King County Office ofEmergency Management

kingcounty.gov/safety/prepareToll Free: 800-523-5044

3days3ways.org

Paul Lancelle tends to Diana Johnson playing a woman knocked unconscious during a CERT test in Auburn. ROBERT WHALE, Auburn Reporter

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FREEESTIMATES

CITY OF COVINGTON CONTACT INFORMATION

Operations & Maintenance 253-638-1110After Hours Dispatch 253-296-8100Police/Fire Emergencies 9-1-1 Non-Emergency 206-296-3311

The City of Covington Public Works Department works hard to keep residents safe and sound during the winter storm season. If you experience issues such as downed trees, flooded roadways, etc. please call one of the numbers listed below.

City of Covington16720 SE 271st St #100

Covington, WA 98042(253) 638-1110

www.CovingtonWA.gov540949

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EmergencySeasonIs Here

Snow•

Flooding•

High Winds•

BE PREPARED.

Check www.maplevalleywa.govfor updates, e-mail alerts

and more.

T H E C I T Y O F

Maple Valley

It is not a question of if, but when

an emergency will occur.Covington Water District staff has extensive emergency management/response training and we exercise an all-hazards approach on

an ongoing basis. For tips on being prepared at home, please visit our website at

covingtonwater.com or contact our Customer Service department at 253-631-0565.

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“Quality work at affordable prices”All Contract Work•

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Documents

Safety Prep Guide