Freezing rain is THE WORST, especially on the road. It's easy to lose control of your vehicle on icy pavement, not to mention the increased risk of falling branches and powerlines. Bottom line: use extreme caution if you have to be out. Learn more: weather.gov/safety/winter

La lluvia helada es LO PEOR, especialmente en la carretera. Es fácil perder el control de su vehículo sobre pavimento helado, sin mencionar el mayor riesgo de caída de ramas y cables eléctricos. En pocas palabras: tenga mucho cuidado si tiene que estar afuera. Para más información: weather.gov/safety/winter-spanish

It's almost 60 degrees outside this morning...what do you mean we have an ice storm warning? "Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning" is a good rule of thumb that challenging weather is ahead. (The picture below is from the sunrise this morning.)

Below is the latest info from US National Weather Service Wilmington NC on the incoming ice storm. We have an Ice Storm warning that will go into effect at midnight Friday and continue through Saturday. We can expect rain to begin Thursday evening and continues into Friday. According to the last NWS update, we can expect to see freezing rain begin before the morning commute Friday and transition to some snow before ending Saturday morning. We will also see windy conditions closer to the coast which will add stress to ice-covered trees and power lines.

Now is the time to complete your preparedness efforts including making sure you have resources in case of extended power outages (food, water. flashlights). Also, if you have a generator, make sure you know how to properly use and ventilate it.

(photo credit Chris Alison Carolina Beach Better Together)

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month: Resources for the Emergency Services

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, and it happens in our own communities. While working to stop human trafficking is a year-round effort, this month is an opportunity to build awareness about this heinous crime and learn ways you can help to combat it.

Emergency responders are in a unique position to help due to the many ways they interface with the public. Here are several free resources from trusted sources that can be used to educate responders on recognizing and reporting suspected human trafficking and assisting human trafficking victims.

For all first responders: The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Blue Campaign provides a Victim Identification Pamphlet and a Victim Support Pamphlet for first responders, law enforcement, and health care professionals. These pamphlets are available in several language translations. A First Responder Indicator Card is also available from the Blue Campaign. This is a wallet-sized card to keep as a handy reference on indicators and information on how to report human trafficking.

For fire and EMS: Because EMS workers are often in contact with the most vulnerable members of the public and already have interviewing skills that can help identify likely trafficking victims, the Institute for Family Violence Studies at Florida State University (FSU) developed a self-study course for EMS providers, What EMS Needs to Know about Human Trafficking. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) provides an 11-minute training video for fire and EMS, Human Trafficking Awareness for First Responders.

For law enforcement: The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) provides a 1-day training program for law enforcement personnel, Human Trafficking Awareness Training and DHS’ Blue Campaign provides a 1-hour web-based awareness training. The Blue Campaign publishes a Human Trafficking Response Guide for Campus Law Enforcement and Public Officials and a T-Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide. In 2021, DHS established a new Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT), led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The new Center published a Continued Presence Resource Guide last year, intended to assist federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies in supporting victims of human trafficking and advancing trafficking investigations and prosecutions. The Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) have developed many resources for local law enforcement agencies and victim service providers, including the Human Trafficking Task Force e-Guide, which can assist law enforcement in forming multidisciplinary teams to combat human trafficking.

For emergency and disaster managers: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers two independent study courses through its Emergency Management Institute (EMI): IS-1151: Blue Campaign Disaster Responder Training and IS-1152: Blue Campaign First Responder Training.

You can report suspected human trafficking to local law enforcement or to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. For more information and resources, visit DHS’ Blue Campaign website.
(Source: DHS)

January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, and research suggests firefighters are at higher risk of certain types of cancers when compared to the general population.

January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. This year, several new opportunities and resources are available to educate fire service members about this problem and empower them to take steps toward prevention.

The Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), in partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), provides tools and guidance to develop life-saving protocols for cancer prevention and to support those with a cancer diagnosis within their departments. This month, each week focuses on a specific theme. The FCSN encourages fire departments to hold weekly safety stand downs using the content provided for each week.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has joined the FCSN and the IAFF in recognizing January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. The NVFC provides several resources on its website, including training briefs, recorded webinars, publications such as its 2021 Lavender Ribbon Report Update, and more. The NVFC will conduct a webinar on Jan. 18 at 3:00 p.m. EST, Firefighter Cancer: Actions to Reduce Risks.

Last month, the IAFF announced its partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to help firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel with cancer detection, treatment and prevention. The alliance between ACS and IAFF will make cancer resources more readily available through occupational cancer prevention and patient support programs. Visit the IAFF’s website at IAFF.org/fightcancer to learn more and access cancer screening and prevention resources made available through this new partnership.

The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018 required the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a voluntary registry to track and analyze cancer trends and risk factors in the fire service. Data from this registry can be used to better understand the link between on-the-job exposure to toxicants and cancer, which can direct future research, prevention, and support programs. In response to the 2018 mandate, the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is developing an online National Firefighter Registry (NFR). The National Fire Registry Subcommittee (NFRS) at CDC NIOSH is providing periodic updates on the progress of the NFR, currently estimated to be launched sometime in 2022. Stay tuned and visit the CDC’s National Firefighter Registry page for the most current information.

Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month takes place in January, but any of these resources can be used throughout the year to help reduce the incidence of firefighter occupational cancer.
(Sources: FCSN, NVFC, IAFF, CDC NIOSH)