Didn't know this about 9-11

AFTER FLIGHT 77 HIT THE PENTAGON ON 9/11, THE FOLLOWING HAPPENED

A chaplain, who happened to be assigned to the Pentagon, told of an incident that happened right after Flight 77 hit the Pentagon on 9/11. A daycare facility inside the Pentagon had many children, including infants who were in heavy cribs. The daycare supervisor, looking at all the children they needed to evacuate, was in a panic over what they could do. There were many children, mostly toddlers, as well as the infants that would need to be taken out with the cribs. There was no time to try to bundle them into carriers and strollers. Just then a young Marine came running into the center and asked what they needed.  After hearing what the center director was trying to do, he ran back out into the hallway and disappeared. The director thought, "Well, here we are, on our own." About 2 minutes later, that Marine returned with 40 other Marines in tow. Each of them grabbed a crib with a child, and the rest started gathering up toddlers. The director and her staff then helped them take all the children out of the center and down toward the park near the Potomac. Once they got about 3/4 of a mile outside the building, the Marines stopped in the park, and then did a fabulous thing - they formed a circle with the cribs, which were quite sturdy and heavy, like the covered wagons in the Old West. Inside this circle of cribs, they put the toddlers, to keep them from wandering off. Outside this circle were the 40 Marines, forming a perimeter around the children and waiting for instructions.

There they remained until the parents could be notified and come get their children. The chaplain then said, "I don't think any of us saw nor heard of this on any of the news stories of the day. It was an incredible story of our men there.” There wasn't a dry eye in the room. The thought of those Marines and what they did and how fast they reacted; could we expect any less from them? It was one of the most touching stories from the Pentagon.

It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag. If you care to offer the smallest token of recognition and appreciation for the military, please pass this on and pray for our men and women, who have served and are currently serving our country, and pray for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Remembering 9/11

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By Terry Orr

We shall never forget

We shall keep this day,

We shall keep the events and the tears

In our minds, our memory and our hearts

and take them with us as we carry on.

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This was the one of the first images I saw that morning – just after my wife called to tell what was going on and to find a TV.  I came around the corner and we were in shock as that second plane flew into the tower.

Over the past few days, I have been thinking about this article and what to write about that might be different and worthy of your time. 

Lots of folks have written, spoken and shared their emotions, facts (as they know them) about the events leading up to and after the attack.  My Google search on “Putting 9/11 into perspective” yielded 27.3 million hits in 0.27 seconds.  As you can imagine, these cover the entire spectrum.

Connecting some of the dots that got us to September 11, 2001.

In 1998 while supporting a customer in hosting a large defense conference, one of the presenters gave a briefing on the topic on “Terrorism”.  He was from one of the defense training organization and this was his area of expertise – he was really well versed and interesting speaker.  He mentioned two possible dates for a significant event in America – 411 and 911. Sure wish I still had my copy of the presentation.

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In October 1983 I was serving about the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Lebanon.  We had spent several weeks conducting wide variety activity in support of the Multi-National Peace Keeping Forces operations.  A week or so prior to October 23^rd, I had flown ashore to coordinate and help some of the Marine intell folks.  Shortly afterwards, we sailed into Naples, Italy for some much deserved down time.  Early Sunday morning, I was awaked at a friend’s home to the news of the Marine Barracks attack. That afternoon, we departed and returned to our station off the Lebanon coast.  This was my first exposure to terrorism – and the loss of friends as a result.

US Marine Barracks 
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The attack, which killed 241 American servicemen (220 Marines, 16 Navy personnel, and 3 Army soldiers), was the deadliest single-day death toll for the Marines since the World War II battle of Iwo Jima and the deadliest for the U.S. military since the 1968 Tet offensive in Vietnam. The suicide truck bombing, along with a similar bombing that day that killed 58 French paratroopers, was perpetrated by the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah (“Party of God”), which was created, supported, and directed by Iran.

The bombing led to the February 1984 withdrawal from Lebanon of the Multinational Force (MNF), a peacekeeping contingent composed of American, British, French and Italian troops, that had been deployed to stabilize Lebanon after the September 14, 1982, assassination of Lebanese President-elect Bashir Gemayel by a Lebanese faction aligned with Syria. Although the United States had mounted two previous successful peacekeeping operations in Lebanon in 1958 and earlier in 1982 (to facilitate the evacuation of P.L.O. forces from Beirut that had been defeated by Israel), the ignominious end of the MNF intervention brought disastrous consequences.

The failure of the peacekeeping mission led to renewed fighting between Lebanese factions and the ascendancy of Hezbollah, backed by Iran and Syria. Moreover, the Marine barracks bombing, which was the deadliest terrorist attack against Americans before the 9/11 attacks, later inspired Osama bin Laden, who viewed the United States as a “paper tiger” because of its rapid withdrawal of peacekeeping forces from Lebanon and Somalia after suffering casualties. Al Qaeda members were later dispatched to Hezbollah training camps in Lebanon, according to the 9/11 Commission Report (p. 68). This assistance is believed to have significantly boosted al-Qaeda’s killing power, which dramatically increased by the end of the decade. Al-Qaeda’s 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania killed 224 people, including 12 Americans, and wounded more than 5,000 people in simultaneous operations that used huge truck bombs similar those used in past Hezbollah operations.

Terrorists and terrorism cannot be eliminated any more than we can rid the world of disease. There will always be those who will resort to force against innocent men, women and children in pursuit of political (or ideological) goals. ~ Richard N. Haass

Indeed terrorism is not anything new, we have a very long list of historical events dating back thousands of years ago.  What we have not done well is learning from our past and finding ways to effectively deal with the subject.  Carrying the biggest stick is not always the right solution.

In closing, Clark Kent Ervin, Special to CNN, writes:

“What we need, then, as everyone agrees, is "perspective." But, putting terrorism in perspective shouldn’t mean all but forgetting about it if few - or, for that matter, no - people are killed. It should mean doing everything within our power to reduce our vulnerability to terrorism and to limit terrorists' ability to attack again, while recognizing that we can never be 100% safe and that, one day, terrorists will strike again.”

We look forward to reading your comments, thoughts and ideas. ~ The Team

References and Links:

http://www.911-remember.com/

http://www.politicususa.com/remembering-911-and-putting-it-in-perspective.html

http://opinion.inquirer.net/11297/911-in-perspective

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/01/putting-terrorism-in-perspective/

http://www.wanttoknow.info/9-11cover-up

http://www.timelineofterrorism.com/

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

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Diane Forrest, RN

In nursing school, one of the first things we learned was how to perform CPR, and we became certified. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the most basic form of life saving techniques.  While it only takes a few minutes to learn how to perform it accurately, the benefits are immeasurable.

I have a friend who owns a bowling center.  He has had some heart problems, and some of the people who bowl in weekly leagues are older and have also suffered from heart conditions.  I recently asked him if he knew how to perform CPR.  He stated that he has never had a class.  I asked if his sons, who work with him, or other co-workers were certified in the life saving technique, but he said they weren't certified either.  I called the local chapter for the Red Cross where he lives, and they will come to his business and teach a class instructing all who attend.

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CPR alone is unlikely to restart the heart; its main purpose is to restore partial flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart. The objective is to delay tissue death and to extend the brief window of opportunity for a successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage.  This action may not only prevent brain damage due to lack of oxygen, but it also allows the heart to better receive shock treatment once medical professionals arrive.

If you happen to come across a person who is unconscious, the first thing you do is shake them, ask “are you ok?" If there is no response, you either yell out for help, or call 911.

Then you check for a pulse. To do this, you place two fingers on the midline of their neck.  Then move your fingers to the side to locate a pulse.

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If you do not feel a pulse, begin chest compressions.

To begin chest compressions you take your finger, and locate the ribcage.  You follow the ribcage up to the center of the chest.

When you reach the center. You will be at the xiphoid process.  A small flat bone that is very fragile.

Place 2 fingers over the xiphoid process, and leave them there until you place the palm of your second hand beside your fingers.  This will allow you to locate the proper location to place your hand, and prevent breaking the xiphoid process.

Once you place the palm of your hand on the chest, raise your fingers up, and then place the other hand (the one with the fingers covering the xiphoid process) on top of the hand on the chest, interlocking your fingers.

Position yourself so that your shoulders are directly over the center of the victim's chest.

Begin compressions, pushing down 11/2 to 2 inches.

Begin counting to 30 like this:  One, and Two and three and etc.  This should be done so that the rate will equal to 100 beats per minute.

Following the cycle of 30 compressions, take two breaths and blow into the victims’ mouth.

Tilt the head back and lift the chin. Pinch nose and cover the mouth with yours and blow until you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths. Each breath should take 1 second.

Repeat chest compressions.

After 5 cycles, check again for a pulse, then resume with breaths, then compressions.

To watch CPR in action, click on this site:  http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/quickcpr.html

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While video is very useful, nothing takes the place of actually performing CPR in front of a Certified Instructor.  Make time to visit your local Red Cross or check with your community hospital for classes.  Learning CPR can help you save a life.

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Remembering that Tuesday Morning...

We Remember 9/11

As we begin preparing for the 10 year anniversary of the horrible day in 2001 – many of us will recall where we were, what we were doing and how we first heard about the events that Tuesday morning.

Today, we begin sharing information that may not have made the news, papers, or the various documentaries, movies, or video clips.

(from a recent email)

Release No. 08-07-11

Aug. 26, 2011

9/11: Retired AF surgeon recalls Pentagon post-attack response

by G. W. Pomeroy

Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (AFRNS) -- The Air Force surgeon who led the medical response after the Pentagon attack 10 years ago said a couple of readiness firsts in the months before mitigated what could have been a much worse outcome.

Retired Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Paul K. Carlton Jr., one of several Airmen awarded the Airman's Medal for lifesaving contributions on Sept. 11, 2001, was the Air Force surgeon general when American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon.

Scores of people were injured, trapped or both. Before he made his way to the triage area where medics from all services would gather to treat and send off victims in ambulances, the senior Air Force medic waded through fire, smoke and chest-high debris looking for victims.

"The clock was ticking," he later told People Magazine. "I thought, 'If we wait for normal rescuers, we won't have anyone alive.'"

At first he thought it had been a terrorist bomb. "But then I saw the landing gear. It was on the ground in the alley between the B and C rings. When I saw it there, not only did I realize an airplane had struck the Pentagon but it was clear that the plane had come through the E, D, and C rings to get there."

He wasn't thinking about it at the time but the tragedy was replete with ironies. First of all, Carlton's office wasn't in the Pentagon. It was across town at Bolling AFB, D.C. The fact that he was there when the plane hit was a coincidence. But the biggest irony - if not saving grace -- was that he had approved what was apparently the first mass casualty exercises at U.S. military headquarters ever earlier in the year.

The origin of the May 2001 exercise was a stairwell conversation in February between Carlton and now-retired Col. John Baxter, who was the Air Force's Flight Medicine Clinic commander in the Pentagon at the time.

Baxter suggested a mass casualty exercise. Carlton, a long-time proponent of preparing for disasters in unlikely places, was intrigued. As they were trying to come up with a scenario, their conversation was interrupted by a jet after taking off from nearby Reagan National Airport.

"We had to stop talking because the jet noise was so high," Carlton said. "Then we resumed our conversation."

Baxter suggested the idea of an aircraft hitting the Pentagon. He did not suggest wild-eyed terrorists bent on murder. In fact, Baxter's idea was mundane compared to the reality of what was to come.

"'Why don't we have an airplane hit a bunch of birds, lose an engine, do a VMC rollover (which means one engine is out and the flying speed is not enough to prevent the airplane from rolling over on its back), and hit the Pentagon?'" Carlton said, repeating Baxter's suggestion.

"I thought it was a great idea," Carlton said. The tabletop exercise, developed by Baxter and approved by Carlton, included the Army's DiLorenzo Tricare Health Clinic and the Air Force Flight Medicine Clinic, both housed within the Pentagon. Representatives from Arlington County Emergency Medical Services and various agencies also participated.

Carlton said they "did not do very well on the exercise" and set a "get well" date for Sept 1. Even so, Col. James Geiling, then-commander of the DTHC, later said this exercise prepared them well to respond to the Pentagon attack on 9/11. For example, the Air Force Flight Medicine Clinic retooled its trauma packs. Staffers from both clinics were issued special blue vests labeled "physician," "nurse," or "EMT," to allow for easy identification.

The "get well" exercise in early August was a mass casualty exercise that involved a practice evacuation and treatment of wounded. Retired Gen. Lance Lord, then-assistant vice chief of staff of the Air Force, was a participant. He later told Air Force Space Command News Service: "[It was] purely a coincidence, the scenario for that exercise included a plane hitting the building." Lord also said that on 9/11, "our assembly points were fresh in our minds" thanks to this practice.

There was one more irony.

When he became Air Force surgeon general in October 1999, Carlton chose two cities to work on for mass casualty management: Washington D.C. and New York City. Prior to 9/11 he had lectured on the topic to the New York City Council of Hospitals and the Washington Hospital District.

Carlton said that like many folks directly involved that day, it was difficult for him to talk about for quite a while. His Airman's Medal citation, which focuses on the very beginning of his September 11, offers insight as to why.

"General Carlton entered a room filled with chest high debris," according to his Airman's Medal citation. "Although half the room was engulfed in flames and smoke filled, General Carlton and several other rescuers located a trapped victim who was stuck under some fallen debris. The men could see the trapped victim, but could not quite reach the man. One of the rescuers cleared the debris while General Carlton tried to pull the victim free.

"He then placed a water-soaked tee shirt on the victim's face to aid his breathing. The victim was roused, and realizing the imminent danger they were all facing, rolled to his left far enough for General Carlton to grab him. They were then able to move the victim to safety. All the while, the room continued to rain fire and debris on General Carlton and the others.

"As the fire intensified and moved closer in the room, General Carlton continued to sweep the room for other victims. There was a loud noise, the flaming ceiling began to fall and one of the rescuers shouted for all to leave the area. As the metal caging in the ceiling gave way, General Carlton helped the others to escape the burning room."

Today Carlton is director of Innovation and Preparedness for The Health Science Center at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He has consulted on homeland security and disaster response for many organizations, most recently the destroyed medical center in Joplin, Mo.

Ten years after the Pentagon attack, Carlton is optimistic but cautious. "We have faced a determined foe that has shown us repeatedly that life has no meaning, and used a weapon we did not expect him to use," he said. "Our enemy out-thought us! We can never let that happen again!"

He also kept the blue vest. "It's a reminder that we live day-to-day."

First Aid for Children

Teaching First Aid for Children

Here are some first aid practices to teach your children.

Bandages: One of the simplest and most essential first aid for kids that they need very often is how to tie a bandage. Kids keep on falling and getting themselves hurt. So teach them how to tie a bandage to the wounded area. Firstly it is important to clean the area with water. Then, using a cotton swab, antiseptic should be applied. Applying an antiseptic is very important as bacteria and other germs gain access to the body through the wound. So it is good to clean the wound first. In case you don't have an antiseptic, use an anti-bacterial soap. If the wound is small, a band-aid will do, but if it is a big wound, you will need a gauze.

Insect Bites: Another wound that children routinely get is insect bites. So while teaching first aid for children, this also should be included in the curriculum. In case of an insect bite, it is important to clean the bite with antiseptic and water. Again, insect bites leave the skin open, so an anti-bacterial is a must. Insects often function as vectors - they act as carriers of the germs of various diseases. Hence the use of soap is recommended. Apply ice to the wound for around 20 minutes. In case of spider bites, use antibiotic creams to avert the risk of infection.

Nosebleeds: Nosebleeds are another common occurrence with children. Luckily treating nosebleeds is very simple and quite within the scope of children. In case of a nosebleed, make sure that you lean forward and pinch the bottom part of your nose. Do not lean backwards as the blood might enter your wind pipe through your nose, causing complications. Lean forward and pinch the nose till the bleeding stops. Typically, the bleeding will stop within 10 minutes as the blood will clot. Pinching the nose will stop the loss of blood.

Burns: There are often chances that children might come in contact with some hot substances and suffer minor burns. So you can teach them how to deal with minor burns. The way is to cool the burn by holding the wounded part under a cold water stream. Then apply a pain relieving ointment on the burn.

Rashes: Small children may have allergies to a lot of things and might develop rashes on contact. There are various creams available based on the type of rash such as calamine lotion and zinc oxide ointment.

Quiz

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/quizzes/l/bl_firstaid_qz.htm