"I pledge to do my part to foster a safe environment during all CAP activities, to be a responsible steward of all CAP resources and to fully prepare myself for the challenging missions that serve America."

Telephones for use during power failures

Radio Shack telephones has been supplied to the Red Cross and Salvation Army offices in Arlington, VA for use during power failures.

The individual receiving the telephones at each office was reminded that in the event of an electrical power outage, their regular telephones (PBX Systems), which require electrical power, would probably not operate.

In the event of a power outage, the ordinary telephone given to each office could then be used to establish one working telephone within their office, by connecting this telephone to the telephone wall jack now connected to the office facsimile machine.

If the normal telephone service is still operating, the new telephone could be used to make outgoing calls, and receive incoming calls on what is normally used as the office facsimile telephone number. During a power outage, the facsimile machine would not be working in any event.

Each telephone was attached to a 25-foot telephone extension cord to allow the telephone to be moved away from the facsimile machine or into a nearby room. One orange flashlight was also supplied with each telephone to assists in locating the facsimile telephone line wall jack during a power outage.

For forum members wishing to consider this type of assistance for their own clients, a description of the materials furnished each office is set forth below:

One Radio Shack Trim Telephone (R/S No. 4303222 White),

One 25-foot Modular, 4-pin Telephone Line Cord (R/S No. 2790336),

One In-line Coupler (R/A No. 2790013),

One Modular Telephone Plug Adapter (R/S No. 2790018), and

One orange 2 D-cell flashlight.

If you do not have a fax line that is not on your in house phone system you should locate the incoming phone lines and split one off to a jack in an area where you can access it easily in case of power outage.

A simple solution for short power outages is to have a UPS on your phone system. (Only good on small systems. This will keep you alive for about a half hour or so)

Another thing to keep in mind is the newer technology of cell phones. On in building amplifier systems you may not have a signal deep inside of buildings so go to a window, or come up to ground level to attempt a call.

One last suggestion; if you have flashlights make sure you have a spare set of batteries. Change out the batteries on an annual basis and put the spares in, then replace the spares. I date all of my batteries when I place them in service by putting the date on the battery itself using a Sharpie marker. If you have a rechargeable flashlight, pull it off of charge and run it down on a monthly basis. It is better to find out it fails in a test than when you need it!

Swine Flu precautions:

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?

First and most important: wash your hands.
Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Maj. Michael F Thompson
Commander 286th Comp. SQ.

Safety Briefing power point presentation given at the Wing Staff meeting 17 May 08
The topic was 101 Critical Days of Summer & Operation CAPSAFE.

101 Critical Days of Summer.ppt
Operation_CAPSafe.ppt

This course is REQUIRED for all safety officers. Please be certain that all current squadron safety officers have taken the course.

I would like a note from either the current SE or the squadron commander with the completion date for each SE's course. This includes any officer who had previously completed the AFIADL course as these records are not part of the member's training record on e-Services and there is no way for me to know if you/they have taken it or not.

For Your Attention,

Col Letteer is proud to announce the activation of the CAP Safety Specialty Track Training on the Safety web site at http://level2.cap.gov/visitors/programs/safety/basic_safety_course/

The on-line Basic Safety Course and Test replace the Air Force Institute for Advanced Distributed Learning (AFIADL) Course 02170, Civil Air Patrol Safety Officer Course. Those who have already completed the old AFIADL course do not have to complete the new on-line course.

Look for the Senior and Master Safety courses on-line in the near future. Also, the revised CAPR 62-1 and CAPP 217 are now posted at www.cap.gov/pubs

Power Outage and General Emergencies

Earthquake Myth

Do small earthquakes keep big ones from happening?

According to the state of California Earthquake Myth page, That's not true!

Each magnitude level represents about 30 times more energy released. It takes 30 magnitude 3s to equal the energy released in a magnitude 4, 900 magnitude 3s to equal a magnitude 5 … and 729 billion magnitude 3s to equal a single magnitude 9. So while a small quake may temporarily ease stress on a fault line, it does not prevent a large temblor.

Visit the Earthquake page to learn more!

Air Force website to allow better planning with regards to military air operations and general aviation safety

Air Combat Command officials at Langley AFB, Va., currently are reaching out to private civilian pilots by publicizing a Web site designed to prevent mid-air collisions with military aircraft.
    The Web site, called www.seeandavoid.org , allows users to locate their flight path and determine how they can avoid flying through military operating areas.
    Although it's legal for private pilots to fly through military operating air space, it's risky and often costly, said Lt. Col. Ned Linch, the 12th Air Force flight safety chief. "When I first started flying the F-16 (Fighting Falcon), I had a few near-misses with some light civil [airplanes], so when I got my masters degree, I did a lot of projects on mid-air collision avoidance," he said.
    Col. Linch said when a private pilot enters military air space, all training must cease until the civilian aircraft departs the training area. This costs money in fuel because re-setting a training scene takes time. It also robs Air Force pilots of valued training hours. Therefore, Defense Department officials give tips on the site about when and where military aircraft fly, their maneuvers and tips to avoid a mid-air collision. All military operating areas and routes in the United States are marked.
    "It's important for us to get the word out," Col. Linch said. "One: where the air space is, and, two: let them know that, yes, it's legal [to fly through]; however, you are creating a safety issue -- and a training issue as well."
    Most air-space conflicts can be avoided by simply planning a route properly, he said. "With [Global Positioning Systems], it's easy just to go direct [to your destination]," the colonel said. But going direct sometimes is not the best option. "We're trying to help guys learn how to navigate special-use air space."
    The "See and Avoid" Web site makes that possible.

    Another purpose of the site helps military pilots understand and communicate to private pilots. "We're all using and sharing the same air space," said Col. Kelly Fletcher, the ACC deputy director of flying safety. "Sometimes [private pilots] don't fully understand our needs and sometime we don't understand theirs. So this is a way to have that communication."
    Perhaps the best advantage of the Web site is that users need not consult multiple sources or Web sites to plan a route, Col. Fletcher said. "It's easy to use and everything is in one place," he said. "Instead of each base having their own site, this is a single central place all pilots can go to."
    In addition to military operating areas and routes, the site also pinpoints where past near- misses and mid-air collisions have occurred. This highlights areas more prone to accidents.
    "It builds an awareness and understanding," Col. Fletcher said. "If I'm going through or by a military operating area that has a high volume of basic flying training, I probably need to be aware because it's a high concentration of a lot of aircraft coming in and out and moving around there."

John Brendel, Capt, CAP

Deputy Director of Safety – Aviation

Safety Always In Hot Weather
July 2007
We are in the midst of a heat wave!
Obvious isn’t it? It’s not so obvious you’re getting dehydrated and are on the verge of Heat exhaustion or worse, Heat stroke.

If you believe someone is suffering from overexposure to heat, immediately seek medical care. Until help arrives, you should move the victim to a shaded area; remove any excess clothing; wet and fan the body; and elevate the legs and buttocks.

During the 2007 Scott AFB Air Show expect it to be hot. Most of you will be wearing BDU’s. They are hot. You all should have a canteen and web belt or a Camel Back. Make sure it is filled with fresh water. Use sunscreen. You don’t want to suffer from sunburn, or any other sun or heat related problems.

Basic Information

CAPP 217 - Specialty Track Study Guide - Safety Officer is your guide for what you need to do in order to progress within the career track. The same as all other CAP career tracks, you first earn a "Technician" rating, then "Senior," and finally "Master."

For promotion to Capt, you must have achieved a Technician rating in at least one career track.

For promotion to MAJ, you need a Senior rating in any career track.

For promotion to Lt. Col, you need a Master rating.

Help

Your best source of information for how to achieve you career goals are your squadron's Professional Development Officer and you Wing Safety Officer. You'll find much of it online, so you need to be comfortable accessing the Internet. Many required tests are found online as well. Also you can visit the Civil Air Patrol National website and look at the Civil Air Patrol Safety Management Book, where you'll find most forms as well.

How to do it

Do not get frustrated by the path placed before you. Take one thing at a time, as you learn what you need to do. Remember - if you devote yourself to it you can do it, and there are plenty of other Safety Officers who will help you along the way.

This is a private Website, Not an Official WebSite & does not reflect the views or opinions of the U.S. Air Force, Civil Air Patrol or any of its subordinate units or members.

LINKS OR REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM SUCH SOURCES. PER CAPR 110-1.