The Fire and Burglar Alarm Monitoring System
Establishes and promotes recognized professional standards for fire agencies.
Find out the current threat level and information on Homeland Security.
Features a three-part plan. It shows you how to prepare, what to do during a disaster, and how to recover.Emergency Preparedness
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
The Park Ridge Fire Department, the Park Ridge Police Department, and the City of Park Ridge developed a CERT program to promote a partnering effort between emergency services and the people they serve. The goal is for emergency personnel to provide training in basic response skills to volunteer members from our neighborhoods, community organizations, and workplaces. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capabilities for their respective areas.
Any questions regarding CERT should be directed to Lieutenant Jeffery Sorensen at: jsorense@parkridgefd.org
Mutual Aid Box Alarm System
MABAS is a mutual aid organization that has been in existence since the late 1960s. Heavily rooted throughout northern Illinois, MABAS includes over 550 member fire departments organized within 46 divisions. MABAS divisions geographically span an area from Lake Michigan to west of Rockford and south through Champaign-Urbana, Douglas County, St. Clair County, and St. Louis. Four Wisconsin divisions also share MABAS with their Illinois counterparts. Interest is also becoming evident from the Iowa, Indiana, and Missouri bordering communities.
MABAS includes over 25,000+ firefighters and daily staffed emergency response units including more than 750 fire stations, 900+ engine companies, 275+ ladder trucks, 600+ ambulances (mostly paramedic capable), 150+ heavy rescue squads, 125+ light rescue squads, and 225+ water tankers. Fire/EMS reserve (back-up) units account for more than 600 additional emergency vehicles.
MABAS also offers specialized operations teams for hazardous materials (HAZMAT), underwater rescue/recovery (DIVE) and above grade/below grade, trench and building collapse rescues aka Technical Rescue Teams (TRT). An additional element of resource are the certified fire investigators which can be "packaged" as teams for larger incidents requiring complicated and time-consuming efforts for any single agency.
MABAS is a unique organization in that every MABAS participant agency has signed the same contract with their 550+ counterpart MABAS agencies. As a MABAS agency, you agree to: standards of operation, incident command, minimal equipment staffing, safety and on-scene terminology. MABAS agencies, regardless of their geopolitical origin, are able to work together seamlessly on any emergency scene. All MABAS agencies operate on a common radio frequency, Interagency Fire Emergency Radio Network (IFERN) and are activated for response through pre-designed "run" cards each participating agency designs and tailors to meet their local risk need. MABAS also provides mutual aid station coverage to a stricken community when their fire/EMS resources are committed to an incident for an extended period.
The stricken community commands MABAS extra alarms and dispatch control is handled through the stricken community's MABAS division dispatch center. Over 850 MABAS extra alarm incidents occur annually throughout the 46 divisions of MABAS. The expansion of mutual aid to a statewide system doesn't require all municipalities and fire districts to join MABAS as a member agency, however, MABAS is a recognized response agency by the State of Illinois as a primary response agency for disasters and other declared emergencies.
On a daily basis, communities face emergencies, which overtax their local fire/EMS and special operations capabilities. Often the "local" crisis doesn't warrant the state's Declaration of Disaster and its accompanying statutory powers. Without a Declaration of Disaster or Declaration of an Emergency, statewide mutual aid cannot be activated, nor are the statutory powers in force for an assisting agency's reimbursement, liability and workmen's compensation coverage. When such cases exist, being a MABAS member agency affords invaluable benefits to a stricken community, regardless of where the community is located.
As a MABAS member agency, every community has the same agreement as the 550 other communities-- all agreeing to send pre-determined resources, without reservation (but always "as available"), to assist a stricken community. Without a formal written mutual aid agreement (such as MABAS), a request for mutual aid assistance becomes a voluntary act, putting the Fire Chief and his employing community who might send the resource, at great risk should equipment be damaged, or if a firefighter is injured or killed in the line of duty.
To become a MABAS Division/agency, all that is required is a resolution or ordinance being enacted by the governing body and signing the MABAS contract. Most MABAS agencies are comprised of a number of geographically co-located municipalities or districts. However, one community can also be its own MABAS division. The City of Chicago is MABAS Division IX (9). Some MABAS divisions have nearly 30 member departments or districts. All it takes is discussion, agreement and political commitment.
The Executive Board of MABAS routinely provides assistance to interest agencies. MABAS will provide any and all information to inquiring agencies including prepared ordinances, resolutions, and the standard contract to communities who are seriously interested.
There is no cost to join MABAS and dues are self-imposed by and at the control of each individual MABAS division. The MABAS Executive Board meets quarterly and functions as a coordinating agency.
Fire Chiefs may inquire about MABAS by contacting: Chief Jay Reardon (Northbrook FD), President, MABAS
CHUG
Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group-CHUG is a group of organizations that have developed a community-wide urgent action plan that is a coordinated effort within the healthcare continuum of care and is integrated with community, state, and federal plans.
The plan was developed to provide access to disaster planning, response and recovery and enable our communities to move efficiently through various levels of healthcare should there be an emergency, disaster, or other urgent event.
The collaborative efforts began in 2001 after the horrific tragedy of 9/11. CHUG was developed as an extension of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital's disaster plan. CHUG organizations include but are not limited to; hospitals, emergency services, public safety, extended healthcare facilities, assisted living and independent living facilities, home health and home care agencies, and transportation providers.
CHUG provides a safe, organized, and efficient process for evacuation, transportation and relocation of vulnerable population. CHUG also offers solutions for providing delivery of vaccines in the event of an infectious disease outbreak.
Avian and Pandemic Flu
Protection measures to help guard against catching the flu are the same for all types of flu.
- Wash you hands frequently with warm water and soap for a minimum of 20 seconds
- Cover your nose and mouth with the inside of your elbow when you sneeze or cough
- Wipe down frequently touched surfaces with a disinfectant
- Use an alcohol based hand disinfectant/sanitizer
- Avoid large crowds
- Stay home when you are sick
- Keep your child(ren) home when they are sick
- Keep yourself healthy through proper diet, sleep and exercise
Ordinary Flu
- Occurs every year during winter
- About 10% of the population will get sick
- On average 36,000 Americans will die from the flu each year
- Children and the elderly are at increased risk
- An annual vaccine is available
- Antiviral drugs are available to help treat the effects of illness
Pandemic Flu
- Has occurred about three times every 100 years
- An estimated 25% of the population will get sick-however due to the nature of the illness approximately 40% of the workforce will miss work due to illness or caring for family members
- Outbreaks usually occur in waves typically months apart
- All ages are at risk of serious illness
- Vaccines will not be available until three to six months following the outbreak
What is Staphylococcus aureus (staph)?
- Staphylococcus aureus (Staf-lo-coc-cus aw-ree-us) is a bacterium that is commonly carried in the nose and on the skin of healthy people. The bacterium is often referred to as "staph." It is estimated that 30 percent of the population carries staph on the skin or in the nose. Methicillin or penicillin and cephalosporins are generally used to treat staph infections. About 1 percent of persons have a type of staph resistant to these antibiotics called methicillin- resistant staph aureus, which is often referred to as MRSA. Other antibiotics must be used to treat MRSA infections. The drug Vancomycin has proven to be the most effective and reliable in these cases, but it is used intravenously and is not effective against MRSA when taken by mouth. Over the past 20 years, MRSA infections have occurred among patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities. However, MRSA infections are becoming more common in otherwise healthy persons who have not had contact with health care personnel or patients. These infections are known as " community- associated MRSA" or CA-MRSA infections.
- Most infections caused by staph are skin infections, such as pimples or boils. Staph skin infections can be red, painful, swollen, or have pus or other drainage. More serious staph infections can also cause pneumonia and infections of the blood and joints.
- Staph can be easily spread by contaminated hands that have not been properly washed. It also can be transmitted by contact with secretions from infected skin lesions, wounds and nasal discharge, and objects and surfaces contaminated with staph. MRSA is not spread easier, but it is more difficult to treat.
- Close skin-to-skin contact; openings in the skin, such as abrasions or cuts; contaminated items or surfaces; and crowded living conditions are some factors linked to the spread of staph or MRSA skin infections among athletes, children, military recruits and correctional facility inmates.
- Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages.
- Follow your health care provider's instructions. Pus from infected wounds can contain staph or MRSA. Keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages or tape can be thrown away with the regular trash.
- Wash your hands. You, your family, and others in close contact should wash hands often with soap and warm water, especially after changing a bandage or touching an infected wound. You can use an alcohol-based hand gel when soap and water are not available.
- Do not share personal items. Avoid sharing personal items, such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage. Wash soiled sheets, towels, and clothes with water and laundry detergent. Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also helps kill bacteria in clothes.
- Talk to your doctor. Tell any health care providers who treat you that you have or had a staph or MRSA skin infection.
- Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand gel.
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
- Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
What does a staph infection look like?
How is staph spread?
If I have staph, or MRSA skin infection, what can I do to prevent others from getting infected?
What to do to prevent staph skin infections
For additional information, direct your browser to the following links:
Center for Disease Controlhttp://www.cdc.gov/
Cook County Department of Public Health
http://www.cookcountypublichealth.org/
Illinois Department of Health
http://www.idph.state.il.us/
Illinois Department of Public Health
535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, Illinois 62761
Phone 217-782-4977
Fax 217-782-3987
TTY 800-547-0466
Questions or Comments
Emergency Operation Plan (EOP)
The objective of preparing emergency plans is to create the capacity for local government to: (1) save the maximum number of lives in the event of a major emergency or disaster, and minimize injuries as well, (2) protect property, (3) preserve functioning civil government, (4) maintain and support economic activities essential for the survival and eventual recovery from the emergency or disaster, and (5) expeditiously return to normal operations.
In the past, emergency and disaster plans were written to deal with the effects of one or more disaster situations. It is now felt that all emergency and disaster situations have certain commonalties. The EOP focuses on developing a comprehensive emergency management system whether natural or technological. The EOP further addresses each phase of emergency management, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The EOP contains a basic document that provides an overview of the entire operations plan and describes the responsibilities of each City Department. Functional annexes for each major governmental responsibility follow the basic document. It is in this section that the "nuts and bolts" of who does what and when is described. It must be stressed that the functional annexes are to serve as guidelines. Department heads and governmental decision-makers may need to make modifications during an actual emergency or disaster. The final portion of the plan contains situational annexes. These annexes outline a comprehensive response to each phase of specific disasters by each major governmental unit.
Any questions regarding EOP should be directed to Lieutenant Derek Decker at: ddecker@parkridgefd.org or Lieutenant Al Portell at : aportell@parkridgefd.org
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