For this month’s BEC email, details are provided on two community emergency notification services provided by Alachua County Emergency Management and the Gainesville Police Department. If interested, the tools listed below provide a way to receive notifications from our local governments.

Alachua County Emergency Management’s CodeRed

• Registration: https://cne.coderedweb.com/Default.aspx?groupid=uWlIYoZr6NR5PDhTmgA1EQ==
• Alert Types: choice of county/community emergency notifications, general notifications and severe weather warnings
• Methods: voice call, text message and/or email
• Notes: If providing a UF work location, enter the 911 street address and confirm location with CodeRed’s mapping feature. CodeRed allows each subscriber to enter up to two telephone numbers. The system provides the option of either creating an account which allows for future editing or simply submitting your contact information without creating an account.
• Mobile App: Both an Android and IPhone app are available (http://www.ecnetwork.com/mobile/getitnow.html)

Gainesville Police Department’s TipSoft

• Registration: http://www.gainesvillepd.org/WhatYouCanDo/Reporting.aspx
• Alert Types: choice of crime alerts, emergency alerts and traffic alerts for the City of Gainesville
• Methods: email and/or text message

These systems can be useful in your role as a BEC and for receiving information regarding your home if you live within the City of Gainesville and/or Alachua County. The weather warning feature of CodeRed is another direct method for receiving severe weather warnings, especially on your mobile device.

Thanks
-Kenneth

Kenneth Allen | Emergency Manager
University of Florida | Environmental Health & Safety
352-392-1591|kallen@ehs.ufl.edu
www.ehs.ufl.edu/programs/em/ 

Each day of this week focusses on a different hazard. If you are interested, a detailed review of the daily hazard along with additional preparedness information is available from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (2013 Severe Weather Awareness Guide).

For more direct information, the Severe Weather Preparedness section of UF’s Emergency Management website has recently been updated and enhanced. It now contains information on our local weather hazards, including “what to know” and “what to do” points for each type of event.

A critical component of severe weather preparedness is having a method for receiving watch and warning information. A NOAA weather radio remains one of the best sources for automated warning notification. Once a watch or warning is issued, the sites below can be helpful in gathering additional information and details regarding the message:

• National Weather Service/Google Maps Radar Site (customizable with the menu at the top of the page and map controls on the right of the page)
• National Weather Service-Jacksonville Watch/Warning Page
• Google Public Alerts Page (zoomed to campus area)

If you have not taken the online BEC training for local weather hazards, presented by the National Weather Service-Jacksonville, this month is a great opportunity to do so. The approximately hour-long session details potential severe weather threats which could impact the UF campus and surrounding areas. The course can be located in the MyUFL training section (MyUFL > My Self Service > Training and Development > Request Training Enrollment). Course number is “EHS825” and the online session can be taken by anyone at UF.

Thanks,
-Kenneth

Kenneth Allen | Emergency Manager
University of Florida | Environmental Health & Safety
352-392-1591|kallen@ehs.ufl.edu
www.ehs.ufl.edu/programs/em/

If your area is considering the purchase of an AED, follow these steps.

1. Contact Todd Morrone, UF Environmental Health & Safety, to discuss AED needs and deployment in your specific area. (352-392-1591 or tmorrone@ehs.ufl.edu)
2. Initiate the request by submitting the AED form with building location and contact information and email to
   Student Health Care Center Director, Dr. Phillip Barkley, and
   EH&S Director, Dr. William Properzio, along with a copy to
   Todd Morrone.
3. Use category code “42172101” when purchasing the device.
4. Once AED unit arrives, complete the AED form from Step 2 and submit it to EH&S Director, Dr. William Properzio, and Todd Morrone. This will register the device with the EH&S.
5. Establish and maintain a departmental quality assurance program as defined on the registration form.
   Note: UF requires the designation of a responsible contact person(s), who is/are responsible for the registration, the quality assurance program, and obtaining the appropriate training**.
6. Submit any future AED changes on the AED form in Step 2 to EH&S Director, Dr. William Properzio, and Todd Morrone.

If your area currently has an AED:

• Ensure device is registered with UF (http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/programs/hazard_ergo/aed_locations/).
  If not registered, contact Todd Morrone, UF Environmental Health & Safety (352-392-1591 or tmorrone@ehs.ufl.edu).
• Continue quality assurance program.
  At a minimum the program should include
  1) monthly device/date inventory check,
  2) twice per year notification to department employees in the building regarding AED availability and
  3) training** for responsible contacts every two years.

**Appropriate training includes CPR/AED Certification which usually requires renewal every 2 years.

 If the AED in your area is used during a response:

• Secure AED device (do not remove the battery).
• Contact Todd Morrone, UF Environmental Health & Safety, (352-392-1591 or tmorrone@ehs.ufl.edu).
  The unit might need to be temporarily removed from service.
• Follow AED manufacturer’s steps to return device to use.

For additional information or questions regarding AEDs, please contact Todd Morrone at 352-392-1591 or tmorrone@ehs.ufl.edu. AED procedures are outlined on the EH&S AED web page.

Thanks,
-Kenneth

Kenneth Allen | Emergency Manager
University of Florida | Environmental Health & Safety
352-392-1591|kallen@ehs.ufl.edu
www.ehs.ufl.edu/programs/em/