Forensic: August 2009 Archives

DNA Lady is a Coalition Member of NPM

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). DNA Lady New Jersey office has registered as a coalition member of the NPM. NPM is sponsored by FEMA's Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Advertising Council and is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. The more prepared the public is, the stronger our emergency response team will be. DNA Lady in New Jersey is a single resource for an agency requiring identification of victims and their families through the collection of DNA samples to matching or create a genetic profile. DNA Lady obtained certification from the US Department of Labor in the Incident Command System (ICS) 200.  This two day course covered the ICS organization, basic terminology and common responsibilities.

Everyone in the community has a role to play when it comes to preparing for and responding to the next disaster, whether an act of god, such as severe weather, or an act of terrorism.

FEMA's Ready Campaign asks families and businesses to do 3 things to participate in the National Preparedness Month:

• Prepare a Basic Emergency Supply Kit
• Create a Family Emergency Plan
• Know what types of Emergencies may happen in your area

The contents of the Basic Emergency Supply Kit should include:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food (don't forget your pet's food as well)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit - include prescription medication and dosage information
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, hygiene products, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities (good time to find out the source of all your utilities)
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps

• Cell phone with chargers (have emergency contact numbers programmed ahead of time and label ICE)
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
• DNA Child Safety Identification - a genetic profile of your children and family members will expedite any post-accident identification processes
• Cash or traveler's checks and change
• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper - When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
• Fire Extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Give this list to your children, and have them create the kit and put it in a safe place. Involving the children gives them a sense of control if an emergency arises - they know they have done something to prepare for an emergency. Make it an end of summer project. Host a CSI party (Child Safety Identification), where your local DNA collections expert collects and creates a genetic profile of the entire family.Let your local DNA expert, provide a key document to be a part of your Emergency Response Kit. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also recommends that parents and/or legal guardians have a DNA profile of their children, in case of emergency. DNA profiles are the gold standard in human identification, today.

Family Emergency Plan

• Identify an out-of town contact.It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. (during 9/11, many will remember that we could not contact local family in New York and New Jersey, but could easily make a call out to the Midwest or South Atlantic)
• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone.
• Teach family members how to use text messaging. Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
• Subscribe to alert services. Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. For example, know the url of your local town's emergency response system - you can sign up ahead of time for messages.
• Emergency Messaging

Planning to Stay or Go

Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the first important decision is whether you stay where you are or evacuate. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and available information, including what you are learning here, to determine if there is an immediate danger. In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for information or official instruction as it becomes available.

Emergency Information

Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call, or emergency workers may go door-to-door - make sure they are fully identified before you open your door.

DNA Lady is a community based DNA collections facility. Our DNA tests are performed by an AABB, CAP, CLIA, ASCLD, NYSDOH, FQS-I/ISO IEC 17025 accredited laboratory. All tests are performed twice for accuracy and reliability.  Results are reviewed by a Ph.d and notarized. Email the DNA Lady if you have any questions regarding DNA collections.