The month of March has been a busy one for training.

As stated in the previous article, I was an instructor in Lansing for T.E.A.M. School. Then on March 11 and 12 I attended Amber Alert Training. This was very interesting training reviewing case studies of missing children and the techniques in finding them.

This week I am at Lansing again for the 19th Annual Michigan Traffic Safety Summit. There were many general and breakout sessions concerning a variety of enforcement, education, and engineering information and techniques for traffic safety.

Information concerning elderly, teen and distracted drivers, and alcohol and drugs were presented. I participated with bicycle safety and child passenger safety. This was a very informative week.

The last segment this month for Do 1 Thing finishes off the theme of Sheltering: Make a “go bag” for emergency sheltering. Emergency shelters will be opened when people are displaced from their homes. In most areas, emergency shelters are operated by the American Red Cross.

At the Red Cross Shelter:

 

 Red Cross will provide

• A cot to sleep on

• Meals and bottled water

• A nurse for basic medical care

• Information about the disaster from public officials

 

You may need to bring 

• Pillow and blanket

• Your own medication and medical supplies (or a list of what you are taking, dosage, and Dr’s names)

• Identification

• Change of clothes

• Cards or magazines

• Comfort items

 

Not allowed at the shelter

• Weapons or alcohol

• Pets (except for service animals)

 

Part of the TEAM curriculum is a class from EMD/HS. In these four classes (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and high school) we inform the students to make a go bag. Each family should have an individual bag, along with a family kit, which may include family documents, house and car papers, etc. Don’t forget an emergency kit for the car (for inclement weather) and for your pets. If your pets aren’t allowed at a shelter, a friend or family member may need to shelter them. A go bag for these precious animals may have everything the sitter may need.The STEP program I teach for 5th grade students includes not only the lesson, but we give the students a bag with a flashlight, extra batteries, a whistle, and an emergency warming blanket. This program is a great success for these 5th graders as they are given the responsibility to inform the family of this.

As always, let’s be prepared to move on a moment’s notice in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Rob Herbstreith is a Michigan State Police trooper. Questions or comments can be emailed to TrooperRob53@yahoo.com