Are You Prepared For a Disaster?

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and hazards that may impact their area. Basic disaster response skills are taught in the areas of fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Upcoming Class

For more information visit http://www.ci.bothell.wa.us/dept/fd/publiced/cert.html

Week 1:
March 7, 2007 (Wednesday 6pm-9pm) - Disaster Preparedness
We will address local hazards and identify important steps participants and their families should take before, during and after a disaster.

Week 2:
March 14, 2007 (Wednesday 6pm-9pm) - Disaster Medical – Part 1
Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding and shock. Learn the principals of triage and how to conduct triage evaluations.

Week 3:
March 21, 2007 (Wednesday 6pm-9pm) – Disaster Medical – Part 2
Learn how to evaluate a patient and perform a head-to-toe assessment.

Week 4:
March 28, 2007 (Wednesday 6pm-9pm) – Triage Night
Participants will practice the principles of triage and basic first aid as learned in previous class.
real fire.

Week 5:
April 4, 2007 (Wednesday 6pm-9pm) – Fire Suppression
This class explains fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards and fire suppression strategies. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher, when to use them and practice extinguishing a real fire.

Week 6:
April 11, 2007 (Wednesday 6pm-9pm) – Light Search and Rescue
Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques, and most importantly rescuer safety.

Week 7:
April 18, 2007 (Wednesday 6pm-9pm) - Disaster Psychology
Learn common signs and symptoms experienced by the disaster victim and/or worker. Explore how to organize a CERT team including management principles and the need for clear documentation.

Week 8:
April 25, 2007 (Wednesday 6pm-9pm) - Course Review and Disaster Simulation
Participants review their answers to a take-home exam. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to practice the skills they've learned during a disaster simulation.

To register, please contact Kirsten Clemens (425) 489-3364 or kirsten.clemens@ci.bothell.wa.us

8 Tips to Help You Protect Yourself From ATM Theft

Get in the habit of using the same ATM machine for your transactions. Become familiar with it and be able to recognize changes to the machine.

Use ATM machines inside banks rather than on the street (where they're easier for thieves to access).

If you're visiting an unfamiliar ATM machine that is not inside a bank, examine it carefully for devices. Card or cash trapping devices need to be glued or taped to the card reader or cash dispenser. Look for 'extra' cameras beyond the basic and generally obvious ATM security camera.

Never rely on the help of strangers to retrieve a confiscated card.

Never use an ATM machine when other people are lingering.

Report confiscated cards immediately. If you can, don't leave the machine. Instead call the bank from the ATM where your card was taken using a cell phone.

Don't use ATM machines with extra signage or warnings posted on the machine.

Never follow a link in a supposed bank email notice. If you are wondering if your bank has really contacted you via email, then close the email and directly type your bank's web site address into your browser. Visit your account and look for update notices directly on your account or bank's website. The email is almost always a phishing scam.

From www.ScamBusters.org

What To Do If You Are a Victim of Identity Theft

1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before open any new accounts.
2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit (found on the FTC web site, see below) when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
3. File your complaint with the FTC. You may print a copy of your complaint to provide important standardized information for your police report..
4. File a report with your local police or police in the community where the identity theft took place. Give the police a copy of your FTC ID Theft complaint form. Get a copy of the police report (or, at least, the police report number).

See more on the Federal Trade Commission web site at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ .

Guard Against Identity Theft

At our regular BlockWatch meeting on January 17 Officer Kevin Cays from the Bothell Police Department presented a "top ten list" of ways to prevent identity theft:

1. Guard your mail. Deposit outgoing mail at the post office. Get a locking mailbox.

2. Shred, tear or cut up papers with personal information, charge receipts,
bank statements, expired credit cards and credit offers.

3. Do not leave personal information in your vehicle.

4. Keep personal information in your home in a safe place.

5. Do not give out personal information over the phone. Limit the personal information you give out to anyone at one time.

6. Reduce the number of cards you carry.

7. Carefully review your credit card bills for any unauthorized charges.

8. Pay attention to billing cycles and call the creditors right away if something doesn't look right.

9. Be aware of skimming devices on ATM machines, as well as individuals attempting to observe you entering your pin numbers.

10. Get a copy of your credit report at least once a year and check for errors.
http://www.annualcreditreport.com/

Information about identity theft is also available on the Bothell Police Department web site:
http://www.ci.bothell.wa.us/dept/pd/crimeprevention/IdentityTheft.html