JUL-AUG

2009
ALABAMA - FLORIDA - GEORGIA - MISSISSIPPI - TENNESSEE - PUERTO RICO WWW.SERCAP.US

The Commander’s Lead

We are fast approaching the summer season, a season of intense CAP activity. The Cadet Special Activities will
start soon. Flying weather for most of the region improves to the point that we can stress Cadet Orientation
Flights to a higher level than during the winter season. Some wings will ramp up their glider programs. The
SAREX activities pick up during the Spring and Summer. National Cadet Competition this year will be held in
McMinville, Oregon at the site of Evergreen Aviation and the location of the aviation museum. Evergreen Aviation
is one of our relatively new partners and a strong supporter of the cadet program.
With this intense increase in activity level, we must stress performing these activities in a safe manner. When we
approach the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center about a potential search and rescue mission or 1 st Air Force
about a potential disaster relief mission, there is a set of criteria they use in making their decision. We are likely
to obtain approval if one of three conditions are met: 1)save lives, 2)prevent great human suffering, or 3)mitigate significant property
damage. I submit to you that we need a change in our culture toward our safety program. We should embrace all three of the above
criteria and structure our safety culture such that all of our activities 1)save lives, 2)prevent great human suffering and 3)mitigate sig-
nificant property damage.
We have damaged aircraft this fiscal year to the tune of over $690,000. We have a program in effect now to refurbish older aircraft
with some newer avionics as well as other items. Each refurb costs approximately $100,000. Looking at the damage we have incurred
this year in another way, we could have refurbished an additional seven aircraft for the amount of damage we have caused. We must get
our act together and stem the tide of damage.
When you plan your cadet activities this summer, be sure you utilize ORM to evaluate the situation faced and actively plan to mitigate the
potential damage before it occurs. It is our responsibility to send each member home from an activity in at least as good condition as
they were when they reported for the activity.
Have a safe busy summer season.

ORM — Operational Risk Management

Okay, here is a test. Do you know that step three of the ORM six step process is? Do you know what four principals of ORM are? If you don’t
know the answer to these questions then you have some work to do.
CAP leadership has mandated ORM training for everyone working with cadets and cadets themselves to reduce the risks that we are exposed
to during the performance of our missions. ORM formalizes the
steps you need to take to reduce risks by consciously examining the
an activity, identifying the associated risks, and figuring out how to
eliminate the risks. For example, in moving an aircraft out of a
hanger, the risks inherent in the activity are running over or into
some object. Having adequate manpower to include wing walkers in
the move would reduce risk. PowerPoint training and tests for Be-
ginner and Intermediate levels can be found on the NHQ website. Be
proactive and begin working on this training as soon as possible.
 Southeast Region ReCAP JUL-AUG 2009 Page 2

Communication Preparedness
With summertime finally here members start vacations and work on projects that need to be completed around the house. Most
do not consider the safety and security items required for a possible hurricane until one starts brewing in the region.
With the increase of meteorological devices and information given to us by all of the news media, we tend to be complacent until
the storm looks like it is headed our way, knowing the weather Channel, CNN and the local television stations will stay on top of the storm
and get us hyped up only if it looks like it is heading our way.
We have our generators that should be run with a load they will need to power on them at least once a month for 10-15 minutes to
make sure it will be ready when needed. However, a few nights ago, on the HF net I heard one operator state that he has not started his
generator in over six months. What good is that? The heavy monster has sat around taking up space, and if you do not test it, when you
need it – you’ll be in trouble when you need it.
Wait – what about that five-gallon plastic jug that sat right next to it that you filled last June just in case of a storm? Is the fuel
still useable? Has it changed its composition 5%? Even a change of 5% may not be good for the generator. Have any chemicals leached
into the container and into the gas?
At that point, you may start thinking about flashlights, only to find that some do not work. When you open the flashlights, are the
batteries and casing corroded? So, you run out and buy new flashlights with batteries. But wait and think before you run out. When was the
last time you checked the battery in the fire alarms? How about the carbon monoxide sensor? What sensor? The one you probably should
have, but do not!
Now is the time to stop and think about these and other issues around the house. If you are running a generator, even if it is prop-
erly installed or placed outside, when the wind blows the fumes towards the house, there is a chance that the fumes can enter the building.
Are you prepared for that?
Let’s look outside at the antenna(s) – are they in a position where they could become energized by power lines? Is the grounding
system properly attached to the mast(s)? Is the coax cable damaged in any way – and think of the fact that even coax can go bad when left
in the outside environment. Did any moisture get into it or the fittings? Is it time to change it out? While on the cable issue, do you have any
extra fittings in the line? Splices do not help signals from getting through to the antenna.
What about that antenna? If lightening hit in the area and spiked the antenna, is there any visible damage? Do you have a good
lightning arrestor on the coax before it enters the house? Is the grounding on the radio sufficient to handle a spike?
By now, the A-6 team is throwing a lot of questions at me! Where do I stand in the safety of my own family, residence and CAP
corporate radio equipment? I will look at it right now and see what I can do to make it safer, better and more effective.
As this is being written for all and not just A-6, we want you to think about other areas around the house
We want you to take some time and look around your property. There is always something in the building that should be looked at
and corrected. It could be a broken plug at the end of a table lamp, or a frayed extension cord under the desk. If you have one of the old
style dining room lights that extends and retracts, is the outer protective covering frayed?
Hey, wait a minute – A6 is Communications IT and PA, where does all of this safety come in?
Back up and think about what communications encompasses. It is IT and PA all wrapped up into a nice little package to keep you
informed, either by Radio, Computer or Newsletter. (I hope this helps you to be better prepared for yourself, your family, coworkers and
loved ones.)Now what better way to get you ready for the storm that we all hope will not come but to keep you informed.
Lt Col Joel Katz
 Southeast Region ReCAP JUL-AUG 2009 Page 3

Summertime Safety
If you spend time with kids in the summer, you want to keep them safe while providing fun outdoor experiences. Did you know that overex-
posure to the sun and air pollution can pose serious health effects, especially to children? You can take several simple actions to protect
kids — and yourself.
What’s the Problem?
Ozone can be protective or harmful, depending on where it is found in the atmosphere. Ozone is a naturally occurring gas in the upper at-
mosphere (the stratosphere) that protects us from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Several chemicals released over time, however,
have reduced the amount of stratospheric ozone left to protect us. Paying attention to the summer sun is more important than ever. Ozone
at ground-level (the troposphere) is formed from pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, refineries, and other sources. Ground-level
ozone is a primary component of a chemical soup known as "smog." Smog can be particularly high in the summer. Your chances of being
affected by ground-level ozone increase the longer you are active outdoors or the more strenuous the activity.
Health Effects
Overexposure to UV radiation can cause sunburns now, but can also lead to skin cancer, cataracts, and premature aging of the skin. Be-
cause kids spend so much time in the sun, and because even one or two blistering sunburns can double the risk of some skin cancers, pro-
tecting kids from the sun is especially important. Kids and teenagers who are active outdoors—especially those with asthma or other res-
piratory problems—are particularly sensitive to ground-level ozone. Ozone can cause coughing, throat irritation, and pain when taking a
deep breath. It can also reduce lung function, inflame the linings of the lungs, and even trigger asthma attacks the day after ozone levels
are high. Repeated inflammation over time may permanently scar lung tissue.
Actions You Can Take

When the UV Index is "high" or "very high": Limit outdoor activities between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun is most intense.
Seek shade. When possible, conduct activities in a shaded area. Rotate players to allow breaks in the shade.
Apply sunscreen. Twenty minutes before going outside, liberally apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
of at least 15. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
Require hats and sunglasses. Encourage kids to find a hat they like and wear it. Wide brim hats offer the most sun protection. Teach
kids to wear sunglasses with 99 to 100 percent UV-A and UV-B protection.
Encourage t-shirts instead of tank tops.
To find the UV Index, visit EPA's UV Index Web Page – www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html --
Search by zip code for your local UV Index. View a daily UV Index color-coded map of the United States or a daily Index map of 58 specific
monitoring locations. Check local newspapers or listen to local radio and TV weather forecasts.
Source:

www.epa.gov

2009 Southeast Region Staff College

Be Sure and look in the September/October Issue of ReCap for

photos of the SERSC Class of 2009
 Southeast Region ReCAP JUL-AUG 2009 Page 4

Medical
As people flock to the beach you should be aware of marine hazards. The ocean waters may have an influx of jellyfish and Portuguese man of
war. Last year my granddaughter was stung by a jellyfish and told me how painful it could be. Her sting was treated with a product called
Jellyfish Squish administered by the lifeguard. In the past we had to rely on the old fashioned ammonia and water or a baking soda treat-
ment.
In today’s market we can find many different brands such as the Jellyfish Squish previously mentioned. It sprays a lidocaine-based liquid
that can give you some relief in about 30 seconds. Lidocaine counteracts nematocysts, which are hollow pointed, or corkscrew shaped
barbs left by the jellyfish and man of war.
If you are stung by a box jellyfish seek medical help if available. While you are waiting for medical help, flood the area with vinegar and keep
as still as possible. If no medical care is available soak the area and tentacles for 10 minutes or more before attempting to remove them.
For other jellyfish stings, soak or rinse the area in vinegar for 15 to 30 minutes. If you do not have vinegar available, rinse in sea water, or
70% isopropyl alcohol. Do not use fresh water; this will cause the nematocysts to continue to release their toxins. Do not rub the area nor
apply ice or hot water. Remove tentacles and apply Safe Sea Jellyfish After Sting pain relief gel.
From now on I will go to the beach prepared especially if there are no lifeguards available to lend a helping hand. I hope you will do the same.
Be aware, take care,
LtCol Patricia Faunt, CAP
SER Nurse Officer

Tennessee Wing 2009 Compliance Inspection

Tennessee Wing completed their 2009 Compliance Inspection recently and received out- Influenza / Swine Flue Updates
standing results. Out of eighteen inspection areas the Wing received eight ―Highly Suc-
cessful‖ ratings and the other ten were rated ―Successful.‖. Asked about the results, Col
Barry Melton, Tennessee Wing Commander said "I am extremely proud to be associ- Is Swine flue a pandemic in the US?
ated with the Tennessee Wing Staff. The challenge of the CI was met by the staff Do you know what to do if you think you
with a tremendous amount of preparatory time and energy. We spent 18 months in have the flue?
guided preparation to insure our readiness for the CI. The grade of "Highly Suc-
What steps should you take to prevent or
cessful" is a testament to the competence and dedication of the Tennessee Wing
deal with it?
Staff and those unit members who assisted us by supplying information and sug-
gestions prior to the CI team's arrival." Check out the site www.flue.gov for the most
up to date information available and the an-
Congratulations to Tennessee Wing for an Outstanding 2009 CI
swer to these and other questions!

National Staff College 2009

Are you looking for a learning challenge? National Staff College 2009 will be held at Maxwell AFB, AL. 17-Oct-
09 through 23-Oct-09 and draws students from across the United States. This is the premier learning
course in CAP with top drawer instructors and presenters from the USAF and the corporate world. This is an
in-residence course that will expose the student to the corporate leadership of CAP and is a requirement for
advancement to the rank Lieutenant Colonel. Since this course is only taught once a year demand is high and
fills up quickly. If you are interested in attending this years college you need to apply now. Details are avail-
able at HTTP://MEMBERS.GOCIVILAIRPATROL.COM/CAP_UNIVERSITY/LEVEL_V_EXECUTIVE.CFM