Halbrook Associates.com

What am I doing with Halbrook Associates?

I have recently had a few conversations with friends regarding this web presence.  The common theme revolves around my intent.  Folks are confused because the site has a formal business look and feel, but I do not appear to be selling anything.  There are no advertisements, or tip jars which are common tools used to make websites similar to this profitable.   They wonder if I am building a consulting firm, or a business.  The simple truth is that this site doesn't make money.  I suppose it could at some point, but that is not the intent today.  

If I'm not trying to make money, and im not doing consulting work then why do I put so much effort into this site and what am I trying to do.  The truth is that this site is an experiment, and a constantly changing learning experience.  The concepts surrounding social media have evolved and changed over the years.  These changes have allowed low cost avenues to engage in a very powerful conversation.  I hope that you enjoy your time in the dialog.

Auto Extrication lifting the dash

We have put a lot of energy into automobile extrication lately.  Jump over to www.JFD39.com to check out the pictures of the Extreme Extrication class that Johnston hosted last week.

Remembering Phil Aye

Phill Aye: Someone you should know

 

I wanted to take a moment to tell you about a friend of mine who recently passed away. 

 

I met Phillip Aye for the first time when I was involved in the Civil Air Patrol.  During the early 2000’s the Iowa wing was very involved in cadet programs.  We had started hosting encampment activities at Camp Dodge which is the local National Guard facility.  Phil and his wife Regina were active in these events.  The two of them drove for hours with a car full of teenage cadets to participate in these week long programs.  Spending this much time with Phil it was easy to see why the cadets idealized him.  

Phil was larger than life.  He was a warrior, a true sheep dog in that particular analogy of society.  Phil served in the army with the 82^nd airborne division.  He loved serving his country and only separated from the service after he survived a significant parachute failure.  Phil was a fire arms instructor, a tach officer, a great logistics officer, and a wonderful program deliverer for these events.  Phil captivated the cadets with his stories of success and failure.  He taught life lessons, and was a powerful mentor and father figure for many.  Phil pushed himself very hard.  He always wanted the best for everyone around him. 

As our careers and activities in CAP evolved we all became active staff members of the National Blue Beret Activity conducted during the EAA’s Air Venture air show in Oshkosh Wisconsin.  This program is unique in that its roots lay with the Iowa wing (Then North Central Region) Special Service Corps.  At one time the “Beret’s” were an elite unit of Search and Rescue/Disaster Relief volunteers who tackled particularly challenging assignments.  Phil’s background and demeanor proved to be the ideal mix for this program’s youth to look up to.  Phil spent as much as three weeks a year setting up, and helping with the operation of this unique National Special Activity. 

To be honest it had been a few years since I had spoken with Phil and Regina.  Fortunately during this summer’s trip to Oshkosh I stopped by the Blue Beret Compound.  I think we spent an hour chatting about old times.  During that visit I learned that Phil had gotten sick, and had needed to go to the hospital for treatment.  Unfortunately Phil’s recovery was short lived.  During his drive home to Kansas Phil became so Ill that he stopped in St. Louis.  Phil was admitted to the hospital, and aggressively treated.  For weeks on end hundreds of friends monitored Phil’s status on the caring bridge website.  Watching as Phil hung on and fought for life.  On more than one occasion the situation looked bleak, but Phil’s drive and fight kept him alive.

Finally after almost two months in the hospital, more than 6 chest tubes, countless medications, and prayers Phil passed on.  This loss is tragic, and a shock to everyone whose life he touched.

Phil will be buried this Friday November 16^th

 

I wish that there was some way that I could help show just how many lives that this man touched, and the positive impact that he has had on so many.

The CPR Metronome on the Lifepak 15

The latest generation of heart monitors has included a metronome with voice prompts to ensure that CPR is being conducted at an ideal rate and rhythm.  the new LP-15 is no different.  Here is a video of the CPR feature in action

This monitor was provided to the JFD for evaluation.  At the time of this post the dept has not decided to make a purchase

Lp-15 Part III (the defibrillator cable)

Anyone who has run with the Lifepak-12 for any length of time knows that the attachment between the monitor and the cable for the defibrillator patches has had some problems.  Medtronic went so far as to create a black protective lip around the connection point.  The picture below shows the LP-12 as it is in service today.  

As the designers re-worked their monitor they fortified this particular attachment point.  The pictures below show the beefed up new design.  

In order to remove the plug you need to push the grey button, then slide the plug out.  The picture below shows the back side of the plug.

This new plug is a great improvement over the LP-12.  Not that you would want to, but this cable is strong enough that you can pick up the monitor by simply snagging the wire.  

Zombie Bread

As you know Chris recently put together a disaster kit.  This kit contains at least a week's food and water.  Adding the non-perishable food from his pantry, and his family is good for at least two weeks.  Chris calls his kit a Hurricane kit, but since we focus on a multi hazard approach we like to reference the outlandish disaster movies that entertain us.  With this humor in mind we plan for Godzilla attacks, and Zombie's walking the earth.  If you plan with these outlandish scenarios in mind you should be set for your everyday incidents.  With this in mind lets look at Chris' disaster bread recipe.  

    I wanted to be able to live and enjoy the days after a hurricane so I looked for easy ways to make bread.  I found a bread recipe that calls for only 4 ingredients.  It was great bread, but it took 24 hrs to make.  Now I found a recipe for bread that only calls for 3 ingredients.  The zombie wars are coming.  When that day happens, I'll be eating zombie bread.  (this was originally called potjie bread in Africa)

Zombie Bread (Known as Potjie Bread in Africa, it is named after the potjie, which is similar in function to a Dutch oven and is used to bake the bread in the African bush)

Ingredients:
Self rising floor
Beer
Salt

Instructions:
Find some self rising flour.  Since most grocery stores will be ransacked in the first days of the Zombie outbreak, turn to the pantry's of private homes.  As people think it is hard to make something with flour, it will be the last stable food consumed.  The same goes for salt and warm beer.  Look for the really, really cheap stuff.  Pick the cockroaches and maggots out of the flour.  Baking kills most microbes so don't sweat the added protein.  Add a pinch of salt and stir in some warm beer until you have what looks like a bread dough.  Put it straight into an oven and bake until done.  No oven?  I can recommend a dutch oven or flat rock in a fire place with a low fire.  Look for 375-475 degree baking temps.  The resulting bread will have a texture somewhere between that of bread and buttermilk biscuits.  Flavor to taste with Rosemary or garlic mixed in the dough if available.  Be forewarned though, the smell of baking bread may attract Zombies.

Hurricane Bread (known as Artisan Bread or No Knead Dutch Oven Bread, except in the aftermath of a hurricane)

Ingredients:
1.5 cups warm water
1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix water yeast and salt together.  Stir in Flour.  Cover and let sit for 12-24 hours.  Turn the resulting sponge out on a heavily floured surface and fold onto itself adding flour until the dough is less wet and sticky.  Form the dough into balls and place on a towel covered with flour.  Sprinkle dough balls with more four and cover with towel.  Start the fire (or oven).  Bake at 475 degrees  in dutch oven or another similar cast iron roasting pan. 


What else is in my kit?  Wine and cheese, of course!

Wishing a good meal when the Zombies attack!

-Chris.

Mounting Brackets for the Lifepak-15

EMS internet celebrity Greg Friese asked us about mounting the lifepak-15 demo unit that our fire department is currently checking out.  Considering how your heart monitor will mount in your ambulance is very important.  A few years ago I worked for an ambulance service that upgraded from the Lifepak-5 to the Zoll M series monitor.  During that transition we had to remove the hard mounts because they would no longer secure the new defibrillators, and the service did not purchase new mounts.  We were left securing the monitor to the CPR seat with a seat belt.  This is by no means an ideal situation.  This example shows that when you are considering the purchase of a new heart monitor you need to consider the ancillary expenses associated with the purchase.  

When I first saw the Lifepak 15 I noticed that the monitor maintained the same basic shape of the LP-12.  Because of this consistency I am happy to report that our monitor mounts work.  Both the LP-12, and the LP-15 fit in the legacy mounting brackets.  

A few hints for your disaster kit

In the last few months I have had a number of folks ask me about disaster kits.  People want to know specifics about what should be included, and how much should be stored.  I recently had a great exchange with Chris Ludwig.  Chris has an emergency response background, and he recently moved into hurricane country.  As a part of this move he has needed to re-define his kit.  Here are a few ideas from Chris' kit.

The rest of my food boxes go like this:
Hand crank emergency radio with light and cellphone charger, hand crank lantern with cellphone charger, AAA power LED lanterns and flashlights. 
Huge box of AAA batteries
Water Bob 100 gallon drinking water storage system.  http://www.waterbob.com/Welcome.do  
5 gallons of bottled water in kitchen pantry
Peanut butter and Jelly
Nutella
Crackers
Summer Sausage
Hard Salami
Canned meats: Ham, sausage, tuna, etc...
Non-perishable Swiss Knight cheese
Canned fruits
Canned soups
Dry Soups
Macaroni and Cheese
Wine
Ground Coffee
Scone Mix - only requires water
Matches
Camp Stove and white gas.  Stove also burns unleaded gasoline
Stainless camping cook set
8" Lodge Dutch Camp Oven
First Aid Kit
Camp water filer
Bug spray
Sun block
Work Gloves
Sun hat
In garage:  Charcoal grill and a few bags of charcoal

Bread making materials will be available when needed in my pantry.

-Chris.

A closer look at the Lifepak 15

A year ago we brought you some pictures of the newest heart monitor in the EMS arena.  These pictures were spontaneous shots of the monitor at the annual Iowa EMS Association conference.  Today the Johnston Fire Department has a demo unit.  Last night I had the chance to play with this new monitor.  We will take the next few blog posts to show you some of the features, and capabilities of the LP-15.  

If you have specific questions we will try to get you the info that you ask for.