ESCA LogoEmergency Services Coordinating Agency

2901 228th St SW, Ste A, Brier, Washington 98036
Phone (425)776-3722        Fax (425)775-7153

 

                                "Who depends on you?" campaign concept by Everett Department of Emergency Management.

 

                                 RACES CERT Leaders "Ham" Tests

Cool "Toys"

(And other useful items)

"Nature of the Beast"

It's true:  Cert Leaders are always looking for better ways to organize their gear and adding new items that would be useful during a disaster.  Sometimes, it's just a fun item that someone found.

This page is dedicated to sharing information on the "toys" and other interesting items that CERT Leaders or CERT students have come across.

Disclaimer:  As always, inclusion on this website is not intended as an endorsement of any item or vendor. 

 

EMERGENCY FOOD

5 Minute Meals - and - Heater Meals

June 2007:  Jamie recently attended a Citizen Corps Conference and had an opportunity to meet with several vendors, including two who make civilian version so MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat). 

Both products can be stored at room temperature has has a shelf-life of 2-5 years.  The products are self-contained and include heating systems that come with each meal.

5 Minute Meals.  These folks opened their products and provided tastes to conference attendees.  The food was easily prepared and both smelled and tasted very good.

For information on the company or its products, go to http://usa.dbspecialtyfoods.com/.  Product sales are currently handled through amazon.com.

Heater Meals.  This company also had their products at the conference, and while they weren't able to provide tastes on-site, they demonstrated how easy it was to heat the meals, and they smelled good.

Heater Meals actually provide a few more meal options.  They have an entree-only meal, and Heater Meals Plus and Heater Meals 3.  The latter two options provide a more complete meal with drinks and snacks or dessert included.

Purchase is done through retailers or directly through the company:  http://www.heatermeals.com/.

 

CERT KIT ITEMS

Rite-in-the-Rain

June 2007:  These products are manufactured locally (Tacoma, WA).  They make a variety notebooks and loose papers with a special coating that doesn't absorb water. 

While the general notebooks are useful, CERT graduates may find CERT forms, notebooks and an operating guide of particular interest. 

Please note that regular ink pens do not write particularly well on this paper.  Pencils work just fine, or you may find that you prefer to purchase the pen they also sell.

For more information, go to http://www.riteintherain.com/ and search on "CERT".

 

Little Hotties

October 2006:  Retailers are bringing these out now.  Having passed them out to some of the Public Works folks last year after a windstorm, I can tell you that they can come in pretty handy when it's cold and you're outside for a long stretch of time.

 

Sani-Wipes

October 2006:  I'm seeing a lot of these coming out in time for the 'flu season.  Prices seem to be a little lower right now, and if you shop around, it's possible to get a box of 30-50 individually wrapped wipes for about $2.50.

These are good items to have for the kits.  They less vulnerable to spills or drying out than bottles of hand sanitizer or the "buckets" of towelettes.  They're also small and can fit easily into pockets and tiny areas in the "go-bags."

 

FIRST AID / MEDICAL ITEMS

Evacu-Aid

March 2007:  The Evacu-Aid is a strong, durable and lightweight stretcher for personnel and patient evacuation.   

The Evacu-Aid has 8 handgrips to allow safe transport by 2 to 4 people.  It weighs less than 2 pounds and unfolds to 72" x 28".  Storage size is 12" x 12" x 2".  

For more information, go to: http://www.quakeproofinc.com/shop_o_matic/

 

Duct Tape Bandages

September 2006:  This item is available in pharmacies and medical supply areas.  These bandages have are in sealed individual wrappers, like "regular" band-aids, and they have the same non-stick pad, but they look like duct tape.  They are also a little bigger than standard-sized band-aids and are advertised as having the "heavy duty durability" of duct tape.

This item is latex-free.

The person who found this item is adding it to his kit as being both "fun and useful."

***

Do you have an item to add to the Cool "Toys" page?  Email Jamie.