JUNE 2012

9-1-1 Day at the Zoo!

MARC’s Public Safety Department and Prepare Metro KC will participate in a special event on Saturday,
Aug. 11, 2012, at the Kansas City Zoo. The event will recognize the efforts of regional telecommunicators and their families and further education efforts on the proper use of 9-1-1.

Each $10 ticket includes zoo admission, your choice of a 9-1-1 visor or cap, and $10 in “Zoo Bucks,” which can be used like cash for purchases at the zoo. You may register on the MARC Public Safety website or by calling 816-701-8330. Keep an eye out for more detailed information in the next few weeks.

Advanced registration is required. Please register online or call
(816) 701-8330.

Featured course

Recognizing Excited Delirium • July 26, 8:30–11:30 a.m.

Excited delirium is a term used to describe an individual in police custody who shows some combination of agitation, violence, bizarre behavior, insensitivity to pain, elevated body temperature or increased strength.

Police used to physically neutralize and restrain an out-of-control subject before putting him or her in a police car. But the way first responders handle erratic subjects is changing as we learn more about this potentially deadly condition. Most instances of excited delirium are true medical emergencies, and it is important to have EMS on scene to quickly administer sedatives, if necessary. Individuals experiencing an excited delirium episode should be closely monitored to make sure they do not go into sudden cardiac or respiratory arrest.

Join us for this four-hour session with Sergeant Fred Farris of the Lenexa Police Department. Farris has more than 21 years experience in law enforcement. He currently oversees the department's taser and less-lethal projectile programs. For the last five years, Farris has been involved with the National Institute of Justice where he sits on technical work groups for Minimal Force Options, Excited Delirium Syndrome, and SWAT Equipment and Technology.  Register now»  

You will learn:

• The role of communications, law enforcement and medical personnel when handling a subject experiencing excited delirium.
  
• About the predisposing factors and behavioral cues associated with sudden death.
• What makes a situation involving a subject experiencing excited delirium so dangerous.

PSAP Error Report Submission Contest

MARC Public Safety is conducting its annual PSAP error report submission contest throughout the month of June. This contest is more than a friendly competition. It is also an opportunity to help clean up the region's 9-1-1 database and map data — which could make your job easier and help your agency provide faster response times to the citizens in your community.

Contest Rules:

• Contest runs from June 1 through June 30.
• You may only submit errors identified during the course of handling a 9-1-1 call.
• You may enter all database or map errors using Info Manager on a 9-1-1 workstation, or follow your agency's procedure for submitting errors.
• This is a competition among PSAPs and winners will be decided on the highest percentage of valid error reports submitted, based on standard monthly call volume.
• The top three PSAPs will each win a prize. The lead agency will receive the traveling trophy and a picture will be placed in the perpetual plaque in the 9–1–1 training center for a year.

Questions?

Contact Saralyn Hayes at 816/701-8314

Professional Development Series

Kirkwood City Council Shooting • Aug. 23, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

On February 7, 2008, Charles Thornton, a lifelong resident of Meacham Park, Mo., went on a shooting rampage at Kirkwood City Hall. The shooting, which took place during a public meeting, left six people dead, including the gunman, and two others injured.

On Aug. 23, MARC’s regional public safety communications program will host a session detailing the events leading up to the shooting, 9-1-1 calls and law enforcement response to the incident. Actual audio from the event will be played during this session to facilitate discussion about the complexities of handling an emotional and dangerous incident.

This session will be led by Dan Rowden, assistant director of the St. Charles County, Mo. Department of Dispatch and Alarm. He currently leads an organization of 25 employees who provide 9–1–1 and communications services for 11 fire agencies and a county-wide ambulance service, serving a population of approximately 300,000. Dan has served with the department since 1998.   Register now»  

Miami County Emergency Medical Services Day

On Saturday, May 19, Miami County Emergency Medical Services held its annual Emergency Medical Services Day at the Miami County Medical Center.

Although the event was festive, it truly was a learning opportunity for parents and their children. Residents had the opportunity to learn about local emergency service entities, meet the men and women who serve Miami County every day, and learn about the services they provide. The Paola Police Department and Paola Fire Department had officers on site to mingle with the crowd. Children could even pretend to be local heroes. Paola’s big red truck was open for children to sit in the driver’s seat and try on Firefighter Mark Dozier’s helmet. Miami County EMS also opened up the back of an ambulance to teach children how to save lives in the “Teddy Bear Clinic.”

Inside the Medical Center were booths with coloring books, stickers and displays for families to learn about animal care during an emergency and poison control. Johnson County Emergency Communications Shift Supervisor Rhonda Sweeney was present to teach children about the proper use of 9-1-1 and residents could also receive free glucose and cholesterol screenings.

In addition to sharing information about these vital services, Miami County EMS partnered with local stores to provide lunch to guests at no charge. Casey’s General Store, Tyson Foods, Sonic and Miami County EMS all pitched in to provide hot dogs, chips and soda.

Public safety managers learn from Joplin tornado response after one-year anniversary

Local public safety managers had the opportunity to commemorate and learn about the response to the Joplin tornado during a Professional Development Series session hosted at the Mid-America Regional Council offices on
May 24.

April Tarrant, director of Jasper County 9-1-1, addressed the challenges her communication center faced in responding to the disaster and the huge increase in calls for assistance. In Tarrant’s presentation she reported that when the tornado first touched the ground it was an F2. By the time it reached Joplin it had increased in severity to an F4 and when it reached St. John’s Hospital it was declared an F5. This led to 45 minutes of chaos for her team, but it was also an opportunity for team members to demonstrate their preparation and serve the community they call home.

In addition to describing how Jasper County 9-1-1 was able to address the community’s needs during this time of crisis, Tarrant discussed the importance of managing her employees’ personal needs and the hope and inspiration in the community as businesses returned and homes were rebuilt. Tarrant reported that nearly 80 percent of the community has been rebuilt since the event, and 5 percent of all business construction has been for new businesses.

Elizabeth Pearson, Mo-TERT coordinator and director of the Carroll County Communication Center, also spoke about the support Mo-TERT provided.

15th Annual Telecommunicators Appreciation Celebration
and Outstanding Performance Awards

The 15th Annual Telecommunicators Appreciation Celebration was held at the DoubleTree in Overland Park on Friday, April 13, with more than 340 registered attendees.

To view photos of this year’s celebration, please click here.

9-1-1 dispatchers and calltakers save countless lives and make the regional community safer through their cooperative efforts with police, fire and EMS professionals. The Telecommunicators Appreciation Celebration was an opportunity for the community as a whole to say thank you to these individuals for their acts of valor and service.

This year the Mid-America Regional Council was pleased to present the fourth annual Outstanding Performance Awards. This program was a success thanks to all of those individuals who took the time to submit a nomination to thank and show appreciation for the hard work of their personnel.

2012 Outstanding Performance Award Winners:

Everyday Hero

• Master Deputy Alison Anderson, Johnson County Sheriff's Office
• Krystal Thompson, Sugar Creek Police Department

Outstanding Individual Performance in a Critical Incident

• Michael Sadrakula, Lenexa Police Department
• Ryan Thompson, Miami County Sheriff's Office
• Marsha Bradley, Kansas City, Mo., Police Department
• Master Deputy Christopher Mills, Johnson County Sheriff's Office

Outstanding Team Performance in a Critical Incident

• Kim Mawhiney and Joy Wisner, Raytown Police Department
• Shawn Roetman, MacKenzie Rivers, and Cory Lammers, Platte County Sheriff's Office
• Debbie Henson and Ryan Thompson, Miami County Sheriff's Office
• Michelle Stirnaman and Jamie Deterding, Kansas City, Mo., Police Department

Outstanding Supervisory Performance

• Debbie Henson, Miami County Sheriff's Office

Outstanding Past Performance

• Michael Sadrakula, Lenexa Police Department

Lifetime Achievement

• Steve Davidson, Johnson County Sheriff's Office

Upcoming Training Opportunities

June 26: Compassion Fatigue

July 10: 9–1–1 Customer Service

July 17: Call Interrogation

July 19: Refresher GeoLynx

July 24: 9–1–1 Equipment & TTY Training

July 26: Recognizing Excited Delirium

Aug. 1: 9-1-1 Liability

Aug. 9: Mo-TERT Basic Awareness For Deployment

Aug. 13-17: Basic Telecommunicator Training

See a complete list of upcoming
9-1-1 training opportunities and GTI courses included in the 9-1-1 training consortium membership.

Special Events and Trainings

Aug. 11: 9-1-1 Day at the Zoo

Aug. 23: PDS — Kirkwood City Council Shooting

Maintenance Services

In nonemergency situations, you may email maintenance requests or questions to 911techs@marc.org.

If your issue requires immediate attention, or if you think it might, please call 816/421-2911 any time day or night.

Remember, it is important to reboot your 9-1-1 workstations at least once each week, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m.–5 p.m., when a MARC communications technician is available should you experience any problems. This will automatically update the GeoLynx map data on your workstation.

PSAP Managers Forum

The PSAP Managers Forum is an excellent resource for managers and supervisors to share and exchange ideas, concerns and suggestions.

Have a story you want to share?

Email Paul Lampe or call 816/701-8366.