DSHR News ... (January 25, 2012)

Fall-Winter 2011-2012

Winter brings the possibility of storms with high winds, coastal flooding, and heavy snowfalls.  As spring approaches we need to prepare for the possibility of local flooding.  Although the winter to date has not deposited large amounts of snow there may still be copius amounts of snow or rain impacting the area during the late winter or early spring.

We will be planning and scheduling classes in Disaster Assessment, Client Casework, and Shelter Operations in the coming months.  Watch the DAT Training page for updates.

There may be opportunities to respond regionally and nationally in addition to local response.  If this is something that interests you, please make sure that your information in the DSHR website is up-to-date.  The DSHR website has been updated as of 9/29/2011...see below.

IMPORTANT: 

***  10/1/2010 --- All DSHR Members must have a current  Health Status form on file and current deployment dates in the system to be contacted by national for deployment out of the area ***

                       --- All DSHR members will be receiving a Health Status Form by e-mail in April of each year.  Please fill out and return by May 1, so you will be up-to-date.  Our goal is to have all members current every year on May 1.  

***                 --- Social Security numbers are no longer required for new DSHR members and have been removed from all DSHR records ***

Also required for regional and/or national deployment...

*Health Status Record Yearly Update
*DSHR Profile signed yearly
*Current CPR and First Aid Requirements
*New ARC ID Now Available

DSHR Self Service Information:  You can check your DSHR information online by going to https://dshr.redcross.org/Login.aspx.
Once the page is open, if this is your first time, use your name and DSHR ID number for your username and your ID number as the password.  Username ex:  SmithJ_12345  (this is case sensitive).  You will then be prompted to choose a new password...keep it in a safe place as we will not have access to it.  You can view all stored information and you can print a profile page which you can then date & sign and send/bring to the office.  If you have password problems, email Charlie Vose as he can usually reset it for you.  If any information needs updating please contact Charlie Vose at cvose@northeastmassredcross.org or June Beckley at jbeckley@northeastmassredcross.org .

DSHR Self Serve (Updated 1/25/2012)

DSHR Deployment Information:  Annual Health Status Record and Personal Statement of Understanding: Every year, all DSHR members must submit a Health Status Record  to the Chapter's Health Record Reviewer. This should be done well before deployment. The new Health Status Record form may be downloaded from this site and mailed (Please write "Confidential" on the envelope.), or faxed to the office attn: June Beckley, or may be filled out online and sent as an attachment to jbeckley@northeastmassredcross.org.   The form does not need to be signed by a physician. If you are unable to lift and carry the amount of weight indicated on the form, please write in the amount of weight you are able to lift and carry. Also, your DSHR Profile, (a sheet listing contract info, training info, and previous ARC deployment info), must be signed on a yearly basis in order to be deployed out of the Chapter.
 
In addition to the Health Status Record, each member will need to complete a Pre-Assignment Health Questionnaire at the chapter immediately before each deployment. This is to ensure that the health of the member has not changed since the submission of the Health Status Record. 

We are now making new Red Cross ID cards which are required for all local disasters and regional or national deployments. Please call the office for an appointment to get your photograph taken or join us at one of the monthly DAT meetings.
 
Note: Being able to drive a car in the daylight and at night is a baseline criteria for DSHR deployment. If a member is physically unable to drive at night, he or she will not be deployed. 

Did You Know?
All DAT members must now be listed in DSHR.  All DSHR members should have access to the DSHR website where some information can be updated.  Any changes should also be e-mailed to Charlie or June Beckley.  As your other commitments change, you can stay active in the DSHR system, but change your geographic availability.  You can choose to be available to respond ( 1) Only in your local chapter; (2) Only in your state; and (3) Nationally.  Why would you want to be in the DSHR system to respond only locally? You may want to deploy nationally in the future, but would like to get Disaster Response “credit” for participating in a local event. To make sure you’re listed the way you want to be, contact Charlie Vose at cvose@northeastmassredcross.org or June at jbeckley@northeastmassredcross.org..

Hardships:  All disasters are labeled by National with codes that correspond to the hardships that are present for members who are deployed to the disaster. There are 13 codes covering such things as power outage, extreme heat and/or humidity, limited heath care access, air quality, lifting limitations and extreme emotional stress. These codes are assigned for your protection. The hardships could worsen medical conditions, hinder or delay access to necessary medical care or prevent a member from successfully completing the assigned job. The member may select hardship codes that he or she would like included in his or her profile. The Health Reviewer reserves the right to assign certain codes to the member's profile after reviewing the Health Status Record submitted. If a hardship code that appears on a member's profile matches one assigned to a disaster, the member will not be deployed to that specific disaster while the hardship code is in place. Many of the assigned codes are removed later in the disaster. It it is very likely that members will be sleeping on a cot or the floor, in dormitory conditions with little or no privacy during a deployment. If a member is physically unable to do this, the member will not be deployed if the disaster has been given a C-6, Housing Shortages, rating. View the complete list of Hardship Codes and explanations.

Training Requirements:  The training goal is to offer our members the most comprehensive selection of courses for deployment and local disaster work. We believe that the diversity of cross-training in many disciplines not only offers our members the basis for making an informed decision in selecting the area of disaster work they wish to pursue, but also offers back to the Red Cross the most valuable and versatile disaster workers. The needs of Red Cross change quickly during some DROs and you may be asked to change jobs to better meet the needs of our clients. The basic requirements for deployment are described below. Members who have completed all of the steps below will be given first priority in deployment and because they are cross-trained, will be able to respond to more deployment opportunities. There is no cost to the volunteers for the following.
 ■ A successfully completed background check (required to volunteer with the American Red Cross) 
 ■ Adult CPR (recommended to be deployed, must be current within the last year) and First Aid (recommended to be deployed must be current within the last three years) 
 ■ Disaster Services: An Overview...(required to be deployed,)  
 ■ Shelter Ops and Shelter Simulation (required to work in shelters and in feeding) 
 ■ Client Casework Workshop (Family Services course which includes Client Casework, required for deployment in Client Casework)  This course is suggested for HS, MH and COS workers. Client Assistance Cards (CAC) available online. Client Assistance System (CAS) available online.  ARC is now using Client Assitance Cards, credit cards, for all client needs .The Client Assistance System is an online 901 form now being used at many national DRO sites.  If interested in the online coursework, please e-mail Charlie or June. 

■ Disaster Assessment Basics Workshop (required for deployment in Disaster Assessment) This course is suggested for Client Casework.  This course includes an online portion to be taken prior to the classroom part.

To sign up for classes, contact us.  See Disaster Training for current class schedules and information.

Reminders:  In order to get credit in the DSHR System for any new classes you have taken, including CPR and First Aid, please make sure to make a copy of your certificates and mail or bring them into the office, attn: Charlie or June. Copies of certificates for classes taken at our chapter are not needed since they will already be on record locally. However,  please notify us that you have taken the course(s) so that we may update your records. 

Once you have completed the requirements for deployment, it is important that you e-mail your availability for regional and/or national deployment to Charlie or June so that your record can be updated.