News In Brief

REMM updates Web Site for health care providers

The Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM) Web site was significantly updated in August (www.remm.nlm.gov/whatsnew.htm).

Among the new content, but not the only additions or revisions, are the following:

• The New York City Department of Health “ Field Guide for Health and Safety Officers: Radiological Incidents,” a tool for local planners and first responders.
• REMM’s Prototype for Hospital Orders for radiation injury admission.
• Significant updates to the Protective Actions Guides page reflecting the ongoing updates to the Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
• A link to an important new video explaining operational tactics for the first 100 minutes after an outdoor radiological explosive device.
• Guidance on liquid countermeasures for children and other prescribing information.
• A major update to the content on the Nuclear Power Plant page.
• A complete redrafting of the radiation Labels and Placards page.
• A major update to the Planners page, including reorganized references to the National Response Framework.
• A link to an important new document about Electromagnetic Pulse included on the REMM Nuclear Detonation page.
• A link to very important new reference from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Coleman CN, Koerner JF) about www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27473694 using biodosimetry following a large-scale radiation incident included on the REMM Biodosimetry references page.
• An update to the retrospective assessment of dose information on the Software Tools page.
• An update of HHS information including TRACIE (Technical Resources, Assistance Center and Information Exchange).
• New links to a complete set of IOM (National Academies) monographs on “Crisis Standards of Care” on the REMM Crisis Standards of Care page. Questions may be referred to [email protected], or go to https://www.remm.nlm.gov.

DOT stresses need for safety updates on railroads

A report released in August by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) states that “there is still a need for railroads to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) as quickly and as safely as possible.” “PTC,” according to the report “is the single, most important railroad safety development in more than a century. Simply put: It prevents many accidents caused by human error and saves lives.”

A major reason for the delay in making the revision is a lack of funds. In 2008, Congress had mandated the implementation of PTC on certain railroad lines where railroads transport poisonous-by-inhalation or toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials on any line where a railroad provides regularly scheduled passenger service by Dec. 31, 2015. Congress had extended that deadline to at least Dec. 31, 2018. The agencies are urging that railroads implement the revisions as much before the Congress deadline as possible. The DOT-FRA status update report is at http://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L18325#p1_z5_gD.

LINE-OF-DUTY DEATHS

August 11. Safety Officer Paul Price Sr., 63, Audubon (NJ) Fire Department: likely cardiac event.

August 13. Firefighter Justin Beebe, 26, United States Forest Service–Lolo National Forest, Missoula, MT: struck by a dead tree during firefighting efforts on the Strawberry Fire at Great Basin National Park in Nevada.

August 21. Wildland Operator Ian Howard, 36, USFS Plumas National Forest-Beckwourth Ranger District, Quincy, CA: cause to be reported.

August 24. Assistant Chief Todd L. Hartlein, 49, Matthews (MO) Volunteer Fire Department: fatal medical emergency.

August 27. Firefighter Keith Lane, 53, Oceanside (NY) Fire Department: apparent heart attack.

August 27. Firefighter James Shelifoe Jr., 23, Beartown Fire Department, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Baraga, MI: vehicle accident involving fire apparatus; under investigation.

August 27. Firefighter Alan Swartz, 25, Beartown Fire Department, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Baraga, MI: vehicle accident involving fire apparatus; under investigation.

August 28. District Chief Spencer J. Chauvin, 36, St. John the Baptist Parish Office of Fire Services, LaPlace, LA: killed by a charter bus that crashed into an accident scene.

September 7. Firefighter Colby Slaughter, 36, Wink (TX) Volunteer Fire Department: injuries sustained in a crash involving the fire apparatus he was driving.

September 9. Firefighter Eric C. Gustafson, 40, Meridian (MS) Fire Department: injuries sustained in a crash involving the fire truck he was driving.

September 11. Firefighter Lowell Satterwhite, 68, Dakota City (NE) Fire Department: apparent heart attack.

September 16. Chief Engineer Daniel P. McCann, III, 53, Manasquan (NJ) Hook & Ladder Company 1: possible heart attack; autopsy pending.

Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database