Human Concerns Nuggets (2008/09 GUIDE)

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Helping Your Employees Prepare

At Home, At Work and School, On the Road
READY AMERICA (www.ready.gov) is an excellent resource to help your employees prepare their homes and families. The comprehensive information is available online, in print and in video format.

Ready America’s resources are organized in three sections:

  1. Get a kit
  2. Make a plan for your family, school and/or workplace
  3. Be informed

We’ll give you the highlights. Take time soon to visit online to get the details. And, more importantly, make a plan and set aside time with your family to discuss your plans.

Get A Kit
When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Local maps

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
  • Cash or traveler's checks and change
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
  • Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html

Make A Plan
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.

Family Emergency Plan

  • It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
  • Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.
  • Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified.
  • Inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school.
  • Understand issues related to “deciding to stay or to go”

www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/index.html

Be Informed
Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency. However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them. Lot of good information about…

www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/index.html

Are you prepared? The Council for Excellence in Government has come up with a quiz to help determine your RQ -- Readiness Quotient. The RQ is a first of its kind tool for individuals, families and communities to determine and evaluate their readiness.

Get started here

Talk To Your Employees

www.ready.gov/business/talk/index.html

Emergency Pet Preparedness

Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to permanent evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe. The best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared.

Step 1 - Get a Rescue Alert Sticker
This easy-to-use sticker will let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers, and that it includes 1) the types and number of pets in your household; 2) the name of your veterinarian; and 3) your veterinarian's phone number. If you must evacuate with your pets, and if time allows, write "EVACUATED" across the stickers.

To get an emergency pet alert sticker for your home, please fill out our online order form; please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Your local pet supply store may also sell similar stickers.

Step 2 - Arrange a Safe Haven
Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND. Remember, if it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pets. They may become trapped or escape and be exposed to numerous life-threatening hazards. Note that Red Cross disaster shelters will not accept pets because of health and safety regulations, so it is imperative that you have determined where you will bring your pets ahead of time:

  • Contact your veterinarian for a list of preferred boarding kennels and facilities.
  • Ask your local animal shelter if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
  • Identify hotels or motels outside of your immediate area that accept pets.
  • Ask friends and relatives outside your immediate area if they would be willing to take in your pet.

Step 3 - Emergency Supplies and Traveling Kits
Keep an Evac-Pack and supplies handy for your pets. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is. This kit should be clearly labeled and easy to carry. Items to consider keeping in or near your pack include:

  • Pet first-aid kit and guide book (ask your vet what to include, or visit the ASPCA Store to buy one online)
  • 3-7 days' worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food (be sure to rotate every two months)
  • Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
  • Litter or paper toweling
  • Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
  • Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
  • Pet feeding dishes
  • Extra harness and leash (Note: harnesses are recommended for safety and security)
  • Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires (Remember, food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit—otherwise they may go bad or become useless.)
  • Bottled water, at least 7 days' worth for each person and pet (store in a cool, dry place and replace every two months)
  • A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
  • Flashlight
  • Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
  • Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)
  • Especially for cats: Pillowcase or EvackSack, toys, scoopable litter
  • Especially for dogs: Long leash and yard stake, toys and chew toys, a week's worth of cage liner.

You should also have an emergency kit for the human members of the family. Items to include: Batteries, duct tape, flashlight, radio, multi-tool, tarp, rope, permanent marker, spray paint, baby wipes, protective clothing and footwear, extra cash, rescue whistle, important phone numbers, extra medication and copies of medical and insurance information.

Step 4 - Choose “Designated Caregivers”
This step will take considerable time and thought. When choosing a temporary caregiver, consider someone who lives close to your residence. He or she should be someone who is generally home during the day while you are at work or has easy access to your home. A set of keys should be given to this trusted individual. This may work well with neighbors who have pets of their own—you may even swap responsibilities, depending upon who has accessibility.

When selecting a permanent caregiver, you’ll need to consider other criteria. This is a person to whom you are entrusting the care of your pet in the event that something should happen to you. When selecting this "foster parent," consider people who have met your pet and have successfully cared for animals in the past. Be sure to discuss your expectations at length with a permanent caregiver, so he or she understands the responsibility of caring for your pet. Visit the Planned Giving FAQ page for information about pet trusts.

Step 5 - Evacuation Preparation
If you must evacuate your home in a crisis, plan for the worst-case scenario. If you think you may be gone for only a day, assume that you may not be allowed to return for several weeks. When recommendations for evacuation have been announced, follow the instructions of local and state officials. To minimize evacuation time, take these simple steps:

  • Store an emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible.
  • Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Your pet's ID tag should contain his name, telephone number, and any urgent medical needs. Be sure to write your pet's name, your name and contact information on your pet's carrier.
  • The ASPCA recommends microchipping your pet as a more permanent form of identification. A microchip is implanted in the animal's shoulder area, and can be read by scanner at most animal shelters.
  • Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and wander away from home during a crisis.
  • Consider your evacuation route and call ahead to make arrangements for boarding your pet outside of the danger zone at the first sign of disaster.

Step 6 - Geographic and Climatic Considerations
Do you live in an area that is prone to certain natural catastrophes, such as tornadoes, earthquakes or floods? If so, you should plan accordingly.

  • Determine well in advance which rooms offer safe havens. These rooms should be clear of hazards such as windows, flying debris, etc.
  • Choose easy-to-clean areas such as utility rooms, bathrooms, and basements as safe zones.
  • Access to a supply of fresh water is particularly important. In areas that may lose electricity, fill up bathtubs and sinks ahead of time to ensure that you have access to water during a power outage or other crises.
  • In the event of flooding, go to the highest location in your home, or a room that has access to counters or high shelves where your animals can take shelter.

If emergency officials recommend that you stay in your home, it's crucial that you keep your pets with you. Keep your Evac-Pack and supplies close at hand. Your pets may become stressed during the in-house confinement, so you may consider crating them for safety and comfort.

www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_emergency

Disaster Mental Health

David Baldwin Trauma Pages

This page contains most all disaster-related links and materials available at this site. Here, you'll find mental health handouts as well as links to external disaster web sites, disaster mental health guides, and other informative materials useful in assisting disaster victims.

Some disaster victims do need additional attention from a professional therapist, but most will not. Much of the initial mental health disaster response involves two primary goals:

(1) normalizing feelings: reassuring victims that the strange and upsetting feelings they experience after a disaster (as following other traumatic events) are normal -- given what happened -- and (2) helping victims find effective ways of coping with their ongoing stress.

I hope the following handouts will assist in this educational process. At least, on Earth...

The following cache of 14 disaster handouts residing at this site is categorized into material for Adult Victims, Families & Child Victims, and Disaster Workers & their Families.

Two separate sections of external disaster materials follows these 14 handouts: The first, added following the September 2001 terrorist attacks on World Trade Center and the Pentagon, focuses primarily on terrorist attacks. The second section of external disaster materials focuses more generally on disasters. All may be useful, since all address emotional and mental health issues commonly faced by disaster victims.

www.trauma-pages.com/disaster.php

The International Society For Traumatic Stress Studies

ISTSS offers Public Education Pamphlets that provide a readily accessible introduction to important trauma-related issues. The titles below will take you to the text.

www.istss.org/resources/public.cfm

American Red Cross

The award-winning Masters of Disaster® disaster preparedness curriculum teaches children how to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and other emergencies. We are pleased to announce its availability now in customized formats for both families and educators.

The Masters of Disaster® series is an educational tool that will teach youth the importance of preparedness while reducing fear of the unexpected. The goal is to empower youth with the confidence and knowledge to prepare for disasters and help create a culture of preparedness. The lessons are non-threatening, age appropriate and adhere to national education standards. Below are some lessons and activities from Masters of Disaster.

www.redcross.org/disaster/masters/

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association is a medical specialty society recognized world-wide. Its over 38,000 U.S. and international member physicians work together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental disorder, including mental retardation and substance-related disorders. It is the voice and conscience of modern psychiatry. Its vision is a society that has available, accessible quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.

Other Disaster Mental Health Materials
Disaster planning involves many different levels of preparation and utilizes materials from numerous sources. To aid you in the process of obtaining materials that are specific to your needs, we have grouped items in specialized areas that are related to disaster psychiatry.

Resources:

www.psych.org/Resources/DisasterPsychiatry/ResourcesfromOtherOrganizationsAgencies.aspx

Disaster Response Network

American Psychological Association

Fact Sheet

  • APA’s Disaster Response Network (DRN) is a national network of psychologists with training in disaster response who offer volunteer assistance to relief workers, victims, and victim’s families after manmade or natural disasters in the United States and territories.
  • After identifying a need to manage the stress experienced by its relief workers at disaster sites, the American Red Cross entered into a Statement of Understanding with APA to add a disaster mental health function to the services it offers. This agreement led to the establishment of APA’s Disaster Response Network in 1991.
  • DRN members use their professional judgment and training to help disaster victims cope with extremely stressful and often tragic circumstances. Members help problem-solve, make appropriate referrals to community resources, advocate for workers’ and victims’ needs, provide information, and listen. They also focus on providing general emotional support and helping people to marshal their own successful coping skills.
  • We estimate that DRN members have volunteered more than 24,000 days in the past 14 years (approximately $11 million worth of psychologists’ time) helping the American Red Cross.
  • In addition to their work as disaster responders, several DRN members also are American Red Cross instructors, consultants, and American Red Cross state mental health leaders.
  • The DRN has more than 2,500 members nationwide who volunteer primarily through our valued partnership with the American Red Cross. The DRN has an extensive database to track and provide information to these members.
  • Some state DRN programs also have relationships with their local emergency services, such as police and fire departments, to offer assistance.
  • Each DRN member is required to complete two Red-Cross-sanctioned courses: the 3-hour Introduction to Disaster Services course (offered regularly at most local Red Cross chapters), and the one-day Foundations of Disaster Mental Health course. Members also may obtain additional training through outside continuing education courses or graduate-level programs.

Download this factsheet (.pdf)

For more information:
Public Relations and Communications
Practice Directorate
202-336-5898
E-mail: Pracpr@apa.org

Fostering Resilience In Response To Terrorism

The APA Task Force on Promoting Resilience in Response to Terrorism has produced nine fact sheets intended to assist psychologists seeking to foster resilience in a variety of populations, including adults, children, first responders, mental health workers, military families, older adults, people of color, primary care providers, and the seriously mentally ill.

The Task Force chose to address the profession specifically, as the Practice Directorate's Help Center and Road to Resilience materials already provide such excellent information for the public.

The Fostering Resilience in Response to Terrorism Fact Sheets were prepared under the direction of the Task Force and edited by Task Force Co-Chair Dr. Laura Barbanel. The Task Force went beyond its own membership for expertise on particular populations. The work of the Task Force was made possible by the generous support of the American Psychological Foundation.

The production, promotion, and distribution of the fact sheets represent the culmination of a process that began when the APA Board of Directors formed the Task Force in 2002 to develop information on psychological resilience and coping with disasters, and on programs that are most likely to help citizens deal with the stress, anxiety, and fear caused by terrorism.

The fact sheets are available on the APA Web site thanks to a grant from Verizon.

www.apa.org/psychologists/resilience.html

Workplace Emergency Plan

The Federal government offers a range of free educational resources to help employers understand how to develop, implement and maintain a workplace emergency plan that considers the needs of all employees - including those with disabilities. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy's Emergency Preparedness and People with Disabilities Web Page (www.dol.gov/odep/programs/emergency.htm), or the Employment/Emergency Preparedness section of www.DisabilityInfo.gov.

Article: Businesses Must Include Employees with Disabilities When Preparing for Emergencies

Employers' Guide To Including Employees With Disabilities In Emergency Evacuation Plans
By Linda Carter Batiste, J.D., and Beth Loy, Ph.D.

Preface

Introduction
Interest in emergency evacuation planning has increased dramatically since the September 11 terrorist attacks. In turn, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) started receiving more calls from employers requesting information about their legal obligation to develop emergency evacuation plans and how to include employees with disabilities in such plans. This publication addresses these issues.

To read full article, Click Here.

Effective Emergency Preparedness Planning: Addressing the Needs of Employees with Disabilities

Emergency Preparedness Overview
www.dol.gov/odep/programs/emergency.htm

Although Americans enjoy relative security in their everyday lives, the threat of emergencies, such as natural disasters, technological accidents and acts of terrorism, remains. Unfortunately, many people and organizations do not adequately plan for such situations, usually because of fear or lack of knowledge about how to do so.

Emergency planning is just as critical for the workplace as it is for the home. I n recent years, the nation, particularly the federal government, has re-evaluated its approach to emergency preparedness and response. While significant strides have been made, much work remains to be done. Research and anecdotal evidence indicate that such planning, preparedness, response and recovery efforts often overlook the needs and perspectives of people with disabilities.

Employers may be hesitant to recruit or retain people with disabilities due to concerns about securing their safety during an emergency. Often times this concern is misplaced. Simple planning ahead of time will ensure the safety of individuals with disabilities during emergencies.

Job seekers and employees may also have concerns about their safety during an emergency and thus may be reluctant to seek employment or work in certain locations due to a fear of being trapped or of not being accommodated in a dangerous situation. Consequently, emergency preparedness plans that do not include or adequately consider the needs of people with disabilities could hinder equal access to employment.

As federal agency facilities throughout the U.S. continue to improve their emergency preparedness plans, it is vital that they consider the needs of all employees, including those with disabilities.

Legal Considerations
Recognizing that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, should benefit from the same level of safety and security in their communities and work environments, President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13347, Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness, on July 22, 2004. This Executive Order directs the federal government to work together with state, local and tribal governments, as well as private organizations, to appropriately address the safety and security needs of people with disabilities.

In addition to this Executive Order, there are a number of regulations, codes and guidelines that require federal agencies to address emergency preparedness of people with disabilities. For example, federal agencies located in buildings managed by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) must have an Occupant Emergency Plan (OEP) for all employees, with or without disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 can also impact emergency preparedness plans. This law, which applies to the United States Congress, as well as private entities and state and local governments, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment as well as other matters. Providing a reasonable accommodation to an individual with a disability is a central concept under the ADA. Emergency preparedness plans should include people with disabilities, and in order to do so effectively, organizations need to establish a process to fulfill requests from individuals with disabilities for reasonable accommodations they may need in emergency situations. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in federal programs or those receiving federal funds, and in the employment practices of federal agencies and their contractors, has similar implications on federal agencies’ emergency preparedness plans.

State and local anti-discrimination laws provide protections similar to the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA. In addition, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances may impact general access to facilities as well as emergency planning efforts. Provisions of these laws that are inconsistent with federal laws and provide less protection are likely pre-empted; however, state and local laws that provide greater protection or greater access to facilities are not pre-empted. Such guidance applies to private facilities in which the federal government leases space.

For more information on legal considerations relative to federal government emergency planning, see Preparing the Workplace for Everyone, a framework of emergency preparedness guidelines for federal agencies.

Opportunities for Information Gathering
In addition to this legal guidance, there are three key opportunities to obtain disability information that may be critical for emergency purposes:

  1. Before Employment Begins: After a job offer has been made, but before employment commences, all entering employees in the same type of position may be asked disability-related questions, including whether they would require assistance in the event of an emergency and, if so, what type of assistance would be necessary.
  2. On the Job: All employees may be asked to voluntarily self-identify whether they have impairments that would make assistance necessary in the event of an emergency. For those who respond affirmatively, employers may ask what type of assistance they would need.
  3. Employees with Obvious Disabilities: Even if an employer decides not to ask all employees to voluntarily self-identify as needing assistance in an emergency, employees with known disabilities may be asked whether and what type of assistance they may need in an emergency. An employer should not assume that employees with obvious disabilities will always need assistance during an evacuation. However, they should keep in mind that people with cognitive or developmental disabilities may need additional assistance in determining and articulating their needs. Generally, people with disabilities are in the best position to determine their own needs.

It is important to remember that only necessary and appropriate information regarding emergency needs—not irrelevant disability-related information—should be shared with safety and emergency evacuation personnel.

General Considerations
Below are suggestions to keep in mind when developing, implementing and maintaining a workplace emergency plan:

  • Ensure that all phases of emergency management consider the needs of people with disabilities, including varying disabilities (e.g. vision, mobility, developmental, psychiatric, hearing). It is prudent to involve individuals with disabilities at the planning stage in order to ensure that the needs of individuals with disabilities are adequately addressed in the plan.
  • Obtain support and commitment from senior-level management. A plan will only be as good as the financial and personnel resources supporting it.
  • Involve key personnel in emergency management activities. This includes building managers, safety and security personnel, first responders, managers and the disability community. It is also beneficial to work with adjacent businesses and agencies to avoid conflicts regarding evacuation routes and assembly areas.
  • Take into account the building location as well as the flow of employees and visitors on a typical day. It may also be helpful to consider the building occupants. For example, is the building occupied primarily by federal agencies or does it include private sector organizations as well?
  • Define, agree upon and communicate to all necessary staff the steps for evaluating an emergency and taking subsequent action. With regard to shelter-in-place, establish plans that facilitate communication with all staff and visitors, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing or may have communication difficulties.
  • Ensure that necessary procedures, equipment, signage and supports are in place to safely evacuate (or get to safety) all employees. Remember to consider individuals with various types of disabilities. Talk with employees, other employers, community-based organizations and local emergency response personnel to determine the most appropriate solutions for your workplace and employees. Keep in mind that no standards are currently in place for evacuation devices; employers and employees must conduct their own research in this area.
  • Determine appropriate situations for elevator use. Most people are conditioned to avoid elevators during an emergency. However, elevators can be used in certain circumstances. Talk with emergency response personnel to discuss this issue relative to your workplace.
  • Areas of refuge or areas of rescue assistance are a requirement under the ADA, Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards and the International Building Code . Such areas are only necessary in new buildings. Structures with an approved sprinkler system are an exception and do not require an area of refuge.
  • Ensure that all employees and visitors, including those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision, have access to the same information in a detailed and timely manner.
  • Develop a support network of several individuals without disabilities who are willing to assist employees with disabilities in an emergency.

Finally, practice, practice, practice! Practice is an essential component of emergency preparedness. It is impossible to prepare adequately for an emergency without it. Practice regularly, varying the types of drills. Each drill should be conducted as seriously as an actual emergency. Practice provides the opportunity to determine what works and what does not. Planning is an ongoing effort, and plans and associated documents should never be regarded as final or complete. They must be evaluated and updated on a regular basis.

While employers bear much of the responsibility for emergency preparedness planning, employees with disabilities must also take the initiative to ensure their safety. Employees should not assume plans have or will be put in place for them.

Regardless of the circumstances, emergency preparedness plans must be flexible. It is a very real possibility that not everyone who needs assistance in an emergency has self-identified. In addition, there may be instances when an emergency exacerbates existing impairments or creates new ones, affecting an individual’s ability to evacuate. Effective practice helps build flexibility into an agency emergency preparedness plan and improve the safety and security of all employees.

Resources to Assist
Emergency Preparedness and People with Disabilities Web Page
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Web page that includes resources related to workplace emergency preparedness, including Preparing the Workplace for Everyone, a framework of guidelines for federal agencies.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
1 -800-ADA-WORK (1-800-232-9675) (V/TTY)

Free, confidential service from ODEP that provides information on accommodations for people with disabilities and related topics, including guidance on including employees with disabilities in emergency evacuation plans.

Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities
Interagency body established to facilitate coordination and collaboration among multiple federal agencies regarding emergency preparedness plans as they impact the issues unique to individuals with disabilities.

Disability Preparedness Resource Center
Interagency Coordinating Council Web site that provides practical information on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities for people with disabilities, family members, service providers, emergency planners and first responders.

DisabilityInfo.gov
Federal government-sponsored Web portal that provides people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers and others with information about a wide range of disability-related topics, including emergency preparedness.

For more information on specific state access codes, visit the U.S. Access Board Web site.

Resources: Handouts/Tips Sheets

For Employees:

For Managers:

For Responders:

For Children:

For the Professional:

www.eapassn.org/public/pages/index.cfm?pageid=775

EAP Workplace Critical Incident WebSource

Virginia Tech Aftermath Resources
Dr. Steve Albrecht, internationally recognized for his expertise in workplace violence prevention, and the author of "Ticking Bombs: Defusing Violence in the Workplace" offers "Five Things You Can Do as an Organization in the Aftermath of the Virginia Tech Incident".

PaperClip Communications is staffed by a network of educators, student life professionals, professional writers, editors and other publishing professionals to provide student life resources. The following resources were asembled by PaperClip Communications in the wake of the Virginia Tech Incident, most of them, while geared towards campuses, are applicable to any work setting:

The National Center for PTSD has an outstanding resource for providing Psychological First Care with over 15 pages of sample handouts that can be distributed. The link is: www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/manuals/nc_manual_psyfirstaid.html

Security on Campus, Inc., is a non-profit organization whose mission is to prevent violence, substance abuse and other crimes in college and university campus communities across the United States, and to compassionately assist the victims of these crimes. Their comprehensive website provides links and resources for educational institutions, victims and professionals.

Charles Figley PhD is a professor of Social Work and the Director of the Director of the Florida State University Traumatology Institute. He has stasrted a blog in response to the incident at Virignia Tech. To read the blog, go to campustrauma.blogspot.com.

Dr. Figley's website also has useful information and links.

Workplace Critical Incident Resources and Handouts for EAPs

The War in Iraq – Critical Incident Resources for EAPs helping soldiers
Links to resources for Iraqi vets.

Online Disaster Mental Health Resource
The Duke University Medical School Department of Psychiatry has organized an outstanding online Disaster Mental Health resource. The website provides information and a wealth of links to resources for disaster mental health, psychological issues of children affected by disaster and helping families deal with the stress of relocation after a disaster. EA Professionals will want to permanently bookmark this comprehensive reference.

www.eapassn.org/public/pages/index.cfm?pageid=681

Established in 1971, the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) is the world's oldest and largest membership organization for employee assistance professionals, with approximately 5,000 members in the United States and more than 30 other countries. EAPA hosts an annual conference, publishes the Journal of Employee Assistance , and offers training and other resources to enhance the skills and success of its members and the stature of the employee assistance profession.

As the most influential and respected organization in the industry, EAPA is truly the global voice of the employee assistance field.

Emergency Preparedness Initiative (EPI)
A Program of the National Organization on Disability

Compelled by the attacks of September 11, 2001, NOD launched the Emergency Preparedness Initiative (EPI) to ensure that emergency managers address disability concerns and that people with disabilities are included in all levels of emergency preparedness- planning, response, and recovery.

In the first few years of the program, EPI became firmly established within the emergency management industry and disability advocacy organizations. Since then, EPI has remained the nationally recognized leader in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities and special needs. EPI Director Hilary Styron and the rest of the EPI staff are continuing their national outreach, education, and awareness efforts to ensure that people with disabilities take measures to prepare themselves for emergencies; to ensure that preparedness officials across the country are including people with disabilities in the planning, training and exercises, and response activities being undertaken at the community level; and to ensure that people with disabilities are themselves taking an active role in participating alongside preparedness officials before, during, and after an emergency. EPI is proud to have established coalitions and working partnerships amongst the emergency management and first responder community, as well as several disability related organizations and their constituents.

For additional EPI program information, please visit the EPI website at www.nod.org/emergency. If you need further assistance please address inquiries to EPI Director Hilary Styron at epi@nod.org.

The work of NOD's Emergency Preparedness Initiative is made possible through the generous support of the following

www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.ViewPage&PageID=1564

Certifications for Trauma Responders

The Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists (ATSS) has internationally recognized certifications for trauma responders. It is a worldwide membership Association which maintains the highest standards of service and education for those who provide critical emotional care to trauma victims and survivors. ATSS has always endeavored to recognize and support both service providers and the consumers affected by all aspects of trauma in the international setting. ATSS is dedicated to excellence in training, education and experience to ensure that victims of crime, abuse, war, terrorism and disasters receive the most compassionate and effective care as possible.

ATSS offers three distinct international certifications for individuals representing a number of disciplines:

www.atss.info

Family Assistance Foundation

The Family Assistance Foundation, Inc. is an independent non-profit corporation founded in 2000 for the purpose of empowering people following tragedy. Our mission is to support and improve business and industry responses to emergencies and disasters. The Foundation takes a unique, research-based approach to helping organizations successfully meet survivor’s (customers, affected families, employees, any member of the public impacted) needs by coordinating and mobilizing resources during the acute phase of a crisis and beyond. The Foundation’s annual symposium provides member organizations, as well as survivors, the opportunity to share lessons learned and information about how to continually improve response efforts and business practices. Foundation education and training programs support members by monitoring the long-term outcomes of those impacted by tragedy. Promoting awareness and building skills and knowledge for those who are charged with responding are crucial elements of the Foundation’s fully integrated training and support programs for business and industry.

www.fafonline.org/about.php

Taking Shelter from the Storm: Building a Safe Room Inside Your House

This booklet helps homeowners decide how best to protect their families from tornadoes and hurricanes. The document provides designs for in-home, free-standing and underground shelters to protect families from the forces of wind and flying debris. The document also provides construction plans and specifications available in AutoCad and Microstation formats here: www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/saferoom/shplans/.

www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1536

Residential Safe Rooms: Background and Research

A residential safe room is a small, specially designed (“hardened”) room, such as a bathroom or closet, or other space within the house that is intended to provide a place of refuge only for the people who live in the house. In areas subject to extreme-wind events, homeowners should consider building a residential safe room. Wind hazards, such as those associated with tornadoes and hurricanes, vary throughout the United States. The decision to build a safe room will be based largely on the magnitude of the wind hazard in a given area and on the level of risk considered acceptable.

www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1971

 

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