SALF: Pre-EMS White Paper I.

Overview Due to the increased awareness of emergency preparedness, it is particularly important for all citizens, especially elected officials to take part in President Bushs initiative in safeguarding our communities. That is why the Save A Life Foundation (SALF) has taken it upon itself to distribute a survey to over 1,500 mayors nationwide. The key areas of this survey dealt with emergency preparedness Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), training costs, along with the possible integration of Life Supporting First Aid (LSFA) within our drivers education system. The White Paper Committee consists of doctors, fire and rescue personnel, mayors and other political figures from around the country that participated in the survey. Each member provided his or her professional opinion on these important issues which serve as a foundation in understanding; where we are, where we are going and where we need to be in dealing with emergency preparedness. Section II and III of this White Paper disclose all of the statistical findings of our survey. We at SALF are overwhelmed with the response we received to the survey. It is an honor to present our findings, which will play a key role in the on-going development of tailoring communitys emergency response plans. II. Data Response In Section A each survey has been documented and the opinions for each question are represented in the following responses: 88% of responders feel that there is something lacking in the present day course or programs addressing Pre-EMS training. 80% of responders feel that federal and state agencies are best equipped to fund and implement a citizen based Pre-EMS department. 93% of responders feel that state representatives and senators should support legislation and initiatives that include Pre-EMS training.

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91% of responders feel that Pre-EMS trained citizens should coordinate with CERT teams in municipalities across the U.S. 91% of responders feel that the community is the best way to promote preEMS participation. 90% of responders feel that the schools role is to provide Pre-EMS education to its students, faculty members and ALL school related personnel. 79% of responders feel that schools should be designated gathering points for supplies and medical aid during disasters. 91% of responders feel that Corporate America has a responsibility to provide their employees with Pre-EMS training. 82% of responders feel that basic emergency preparedness accountability standards should be set for all communities with defined roles for all members of a community. 91% of responders feel that LSFA would be a good fit in the drivers education programs here in the U.S. much like the way the drivers education programs in Japan have done since 1995. 82% of responders feel that if LSFA was integrated into drivers education in the U.S., refresher courses should be incorporated into each license renewal.

Based on the 11-question survey many conclusions can be drawn from the data received. These are the findings: There is something lacking in the present day courses and programs regarding Pre-EMS that needs to be addressed. Responders feel that federal and state agencies are best equipped to fund and implement a citizen based pre-EMS department while state representatives and senators should support legislation and initiatives that include Pre-EMS training. Pre-EMS trained citizens should coordinate with CERT teams in municipalities across the U.S. in order to fine-tune their relationships. The best way to promote Pre-EMS programs/participation is by having active participation from each community.

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The schools role should be to provide Pre-EMS education to its students faculty members and all school related personnel, and LSFA needs to be integrated into the drivers education system.

III Written Response Section B of the White Paper consists of three questions that coincide with Section A. However, Section B responses are written to provide a detailed summary of possible solutions/resolutions that will help in determining standards for the issues that surround emergency preparedness. 50% of the responders feel that Pre-EMS training should not exceed $50.00 and that individual fees should vary for different demographic areas. 37% of the responders feel that the most effective promotional forms of legislation are as follows: a. Make it a requirement for all High School graduates to receive emergency preparedness and LSFA training. b. Make it a requirement that in order to receive a drivers license, each person needs to receive emergency preparedness and LSFA training. c. State or federal legislation, i.e., tax incentive plans for those corporations/individuals trained in emergency preparedness and LSFA training. 65% of all responders feel that Corporate Americas role in this initiative is to provide free, in-house emergency preparedness and lifesupport training for all employees.

Based on the handwritten questions in Section B of the survey our findings are as follows: Responders feel that Pre-EMS training should not exceed $50.00 and that individual fees should vary for different demographic areas. Responders also feel that the most effective promotional forms of legislation are to make it a requirement for all High School graduates and potential drivers to receive emergency preparedness and LSFA training in order to receive their diploma or license. A final form of legislation will deal with state and federal agencies, i.e., tax incentive plans for those corporations/individuals trained in emergency preparedness and LSFA training.

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Corporate Americas role in this initiative is to provide free, in-house emergency preparedness and life-support training for all employees which hopefully those employees will then take that information into their homes and communities.

White Paper Committee Members

Ken Alderson Chief Jay Reardon Hon. Fred Brereton Dr. Peter Safar Dr. Henry Heimlich Arnie Duncan Raymond Beaudry Cyd Gejewski Pat Hickey Harold Nelson Bill Jaconetti Hon. Irv Bock Clay Slagle Walter Dudycz Dick Stipher John Donleavey Chief Craig Haigh Hon. Ralph Conner Hon. Frank Meredith Dr. Mark Mitchell Hon. Rita Mullins Larry Matkaitis Gery Chico Dr. Paula Willoughby Hon. Roger Claar Dr. Jeff Schwartz Dr. Michael Colvard

IV SALF History SALF is a national nonprofit organization, which was Founded in 1993 after the death of Carol Spizzirris daughter who bled to death because of police officer's lack of training in life supporting first aid skills. A year later Carol passed a state mandate and federal appropriation bill for police and firefighters to be trained, which lead to Dr. Peter Safar (Father of CPR) and Dr. Henry Heimlich (Heimlich Maneuver) approaching her to train the masses in LSFA skills. At an October 2001 meeting of the US Conference of Mayors, the Founder and President of SALF Carol Spizzirri, was allowed to give testimony before that organization. The part of her testimony included in the white paper submitted by the US Conference of Mayors to Tom Ridge is as follows: Effective preparedness efforts require significant community involvement, and community representatives should be involved in the development of emergency response plans. The public should also be educated in basic lifesaving techniques so that bystanders can provide assistance to those injured until help arrives. SALF is an affiliate of FEMA/Citizen Corps, and allied member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). SALF trains volunteers, children and adults as "PreEMS providers" to take immediate action for those who are injured or ill until EMS arrives. SALF is funded by the Illinois Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and has trained over 600,000 children for free, with supplemental income from adult "for a fee training" and our "Adopt A School" program. Our programs have a proven 97% retention level after three months and a 57% attitude change in a student's willingness and confidence to help during an emergency.