Session Descriptions
Adult Education Techniques (Presented by: Kathleen Joy, Oregon Volunteers) - Keeping adults engaged in classroom learning takes special skills and abilities on the part of an instructor. In this session, explore principles of adult learning and develop skills in how to: Establish effective learning outcomes, Understand learning styles and how to accommodate them, Learn strategies for opening an effective learning session, Acquire tools for facilitating learning, Use effective questioning strategies, Learn strategies for closing a learning session
Basic Volunteer Management (Presented by: Pam Vick, Clackamas Volunteer Connection) - This workshop will help sharpen your skills in basic volunteer management. Issues such as recruiting and placing volunteers to get the full benefit of their knowledge/skills will be addressed. Supervising volunteers in a positive manner and keeping volunteers engaged will also be included.
Being Prepared For an Emergency Deployment (Presented by: Cleo Howell, CRI) - Cities Readiness Initiative tips on how to prepare one-self to respond to a disaster or other emergency, how to be ready to respond, how to pack, what items are essential, and what to expect when you get to the disaster or emergency area. Experiences in working in disaster areas such as hurricanes in Louisiana and Florida and tornadoes and flooding in the mid-west will highlight the importance of being properly prepared.
Building Bridges (Presented by: Lynda Harvey, Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council) - Lynda will speak to the advantages of taking a comprehensive, strategic and methodical approach to the delivery of volunteer programs, to promote the standardizing and institutionalizing of these programs for the advancement of integration and sustainability.
Care and Treatment of Burn Injuries during a Disaster (Presented by: Kirsten Balding, Oregon Burn Center) - Discuss burn injuries in general including look and size. Covering burn injuries often seen in a disaster, care and treatment of burn injuries on a daily basis and how burns can be cared for - up to 72 hours - during a disaster. Supplies that can be kept in a disaster bag etc.
Community Behavioral Health (Presented by: Judy Olivier, Olivier, Rodman & Associates) - The role of behavioral health services during a large-scale disaster is relatively new. This presentation summarizes current planning for government agencies and how volunteers from a variety of backgrounds can provide an important role in community response. Suggested training and best practices for a behavioral health response/recovery effort will be included in the discussion.
Crowd Management & Perimeter Control for Disaster Scenes (Presented by: Steve Rickeard, Portland Police Bureau) - This presentation will cover how to maintain a perimeter around a disaster scene using the proper personnel and barriers. How to perform Crowd Management and deal with people who want to violate the perimeter or control zones. Proper reporting procedures for perimeter or control zones violators. How to screen/evaluate people entering the control zones or perimeter.
Culturally Specific Populations (Presented by: Stevie Bullock, Multnomah County Emergency Management) - Developing culturally specific communications methods, materials and culturally specific preparedness
Traffic Safety (Presented by: Dustin Ross, ODOT) - Traffic Safety for the Private Citizen First Responder. The basics ranging from safety measures to basic flagging.
Dealing with Difficult People (Presented by: Alice Lasher, Sandy Fire District and Boring Fire District) - As a responder to large-scale incidents you will be on the front line with individuals and communities in duress. This class offers simple strategies on how to ‘de-escalate’ situations you and your team may encounter. It offers only a sampling of the many strategies and tactics that can be gained via other trainings such as: Trauma Intervention, Mentation, Emotional Survival for the Emergency Services Provider, the Bullet Proof Mind, CISM, and many others.
Medical Teams International (Presented by: Paul Bollinger, MPH, Medical Teams International) - This presentation will contain an overview of the disaster response capabilities of Medical Teams International (MTI), a faith based, non-profit, humanitarian aid organization located in Tigard Oregon. How and when MTI responds to a disaster as well as review of recent disaster responses internationally within Asia including Myanmar and locally to the floods in Oregon and SW Washington will be discussed. The presentation will conclude with an overview of one of MTI’s disaster mitigation interventions; our international emergency medical services training program.
Disaster Mental Health: What It Is and What It’s NOT. (Presented by: Mary Schoenfeldt, Everett Office of Emergency Management) - Would you know how to support a victim of a disaster? Would you know when you yourself or a team member is suffering from “Compassion Fatigue”? Do you know the difference between Disaster Mental Health and Therapy? This workshop will answer those and many more questions.
Emergency Animal Shelters (Presented by: Curt Ransom, Humane Society of the United States) - This session is an overview of one common proven method for sheltering animals and their owner/guardians affected by disaster. 63% of American households have at least one pet and the majorities have two or more. It is estimated that 10% of those affected by disaster will need services, and upwards of 7% of those will seek those services with animals as studies have shown that animals are evacuated along with other cherished family members.
Trauma Intervention Program - Citizens Helping Citizens in Crisis. (Presented by: Sharon Lamvik, Trauma Intervention Program) - Trauma Intervention Program recruits, trains and supervises citizen volunteers who respond immediately to calls from emergency responders on a 24-hour, 7-day a week basis. After being called, a “TIP Volunteer” will arrive on scene to guide emotionally injured citizens through the first few hours following a tragic event, providing both emotional and practical support.
Emergency Communications: HAM Radio and FRS Radio Nets (Presented by: Kathleen Reiter, Corbett NERT, ECERT) - When all else fails, HAM radio works! A practical class in how FRS radio networks can interface with HAM radio operations to facilitate communication in an emergency, when normal communication infrastructure fails. Emphasis will be on beginner-level radio use.
Field Assessment & Management of the Pregnant Victim (Presented by: Robert J. Mitchell, MD, Stevens Hospital) - The pregnant victim is overlooked in all training involving disaster medical response and preparedness. Field or austere conditions will cause undue hardship on the victim unless her caregivers are properly educated. She warrants a different medical approach. Emphasis is placed on psychologic, physiologic and nutritional needs of this important and vulnerable population.
Hospital Response & Citizen Corps Assistance (Presented by: Judy Olivier, Olivier, Rodman & Associates) - Hospitals are often the “go-to” place in their community during a large-scale incident. However, if there are not procedures in place to address their specific needs, these medical facilities may become overwhelmed with people seeking relief from psychological symptoms or concern for missing family and loved ones. This presentation looks at current practices in medical facilities to address a potential “surge” in demand for their services that go beyond medical intervention. The role of community volunteer responders will be included in this discussion.
NW Major Earthquake Potential (Presented by: Scott Burns, Portland State University) - Portland is earthquake country. Three different types of earthquakes are possible in Oregon with two creating big threats for Portland. One is movement on local faults in the Portland area like the Portland Hills Fault. The other is the “Big One’ that could generate a magnitude of 9 along the coast and could last three minutes. Portland would be greatly affected by both. Dr. Burns will talk about the sources of these quakes and their past history and future chances.
Survivor Extrication and Patient Transport during a Disaster (Presented by: Kathleen Reiter, Corbett NERT, ECERT) - A practical session describing various methods for the safe rescue and transport of disaster survivors found in debris-filled environments. Topics covered will include rescuer safety; “cribbing” to safely lift heavy debris pinning trapped survivors; possible consequences to survivors trapped for long periods of time; how to help survivors become partners in their own rescue; “creative” alternative methods of transport; and the importance of documentation for any rescue attempt.
Talking to the News Media during Disasters (Presented by: Christie Holmgren, APR, Oregon Public Health Division) - This presentation will provide participants with effective strategies for making the most of interactions with the news media during emergency events. Participants will hear from leaders who dealt with recent large-scale disasters and will learn: How strong emotions make communicating effectively during a crisis challenging, but essential, Emergency risk communication principles that work, How to develop key messages, How to deal with difficult questions from reporters.
The American Red Cross and You (Presented by: Rodney Rogers, American Red Cross) - This class will cover: Disaster preparedness, Evacuation and sheltering, Disaster Action Teams scaling up to a national response, Support Activities, and A place for you!
Useful Spanish Phrases for First Responders (Presented by: Bruce Reiter, Corbett NERT, MCRFPD 14) - An easy-to-understand overview of key Spanish language words and phrases that can help bridge the gap between responders and patients/survivors who do not share a native language. The session will include Hispanic cultural insights and cover both medical and search-and-rescue subjects and situations. Student handouts will include easy-to-read phonetic translations.
Working with Your 211 System/Information & Referral - I&R Partners (Presented by: Laura Kuperstein, 211info & Molly Cunningham, Clackamas County Social Services, 211) - Representatives from the 211 System in the Portland Metro Area will provide an overview of 211 services locally and nationally, with a demo of the 211 resource database comprising governmental and community based organizations. The workshop will include a discussion of coordination among community partners in tracking emerging resources, working together to respond to unmet needs, and examples of 211 responses in previous emergencies/disasters.