Miami Beach Police Department

July 2017

MBPD Newsletter

Prepare Your Family for a Disaster Plan Ahead

Because your family may not be together when a disaster strikes it is important to create a plan in advance. It is also essential to have a disaster supplies kit that includes basic items from your home that you may need in case of emergency. Your plan should include: How you will get to a safe place How you will contact each other How you will get back together What you will do in different situations Start preparing for an emergency or disaster before anything happens. You should find reliable information sources, warning systems and alert systems in advance. Family communication is very important.  Meet with family members and consider both people and pets.  We recommend using our family emergency plan resource, which collects all vital information in one place in wallet-size cards you can carry with you.  It is also critical to check to determine school and workplace plans so you know how to communicate with family members who may be in school or at work best when an emergency hits. You may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You will probably not have time to search for the supplies you need or shop for them.  A disaster supplies kit is simply a collection of basic items you may need in the event of an emergency. Assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency so you can survive on your own after an emergency.   DHS/FEMA provides a guide to prepare your kit, which can be tailored to meet the needs of individual family health and related concerns.  One key: store food, water and other supplies to last for at least 72 hours. Although local officials and relief workers will be around after a disaster, they cannot reach everyone immediately. Your help may arrive in hours or it might take days. Electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages. Basic Disaster Supplies Kit A basic emergency supply kit should include the following recommended items: 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 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 Whistle to signal for help Dust mask to help filter contaminated air, and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Manual can opener for food Local maps Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger Recommended Supplies List (PDF) Additional Emergency Supplies Once you have gathered the supplies for a basic emergency kit, you may want to consider adding the following items: Prescription medications and glasses Infant formula and diapers Pet food and extra water for your pet Cash or traveler's checks and change Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit - EFFAK (PDF - 977Kb) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or free information from this web site (See Publications) 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 Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils Paper and pencil Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children First Aid Kit In any emergency a family member or you may suffer an injury. If you have these basic first aid supplies you are better prepared to help your loved ones when they are hurt. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. You may consider taking a first aid class, but simply having the following things can help you stop bleeding, prevent infection and assist in decontamination: Two pairs of latex or other sterile gloves if you are allergic to latex Sterile dressings to stop bleeding Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes Antibiotic ointment Burn ointment Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant Thermometer Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies Non-prescription drugs: Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever Anti-diarrhea medication Antacid Laxative Other first aid supplies: Scissors Tweezers Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant Make an Emergency Plan Prepare yourself and your family for a disaster by making an emergency plan. Download the Family Communication Plan for Parents and Kids (PDF - 1.2 Mb), print the pages and fill them in offline. Your emergency planning should also address the care of pets, aiding family members with access and functional needs and safely shutting off utilities. For more information click here.  To become aware of warning systems and signals watch the video below or click here.

Set Up Your Medical ID It Can Save Your Life

Set up your Medical ID in the Health app on your iPhone Use Medical ID to save your important health information. Medical ID helps first responders access your critical medical information from the Lock screen, without needing your passcode.   Your Medical ID provides medical information about you that may be important in an emergency, like allergies and medical conditions as well as who to contact in case of an emergency. You can create your Medical ID in the Health app that can be accessed without unlocking your iPhone. Set up your Medical IDTo make your important health information accessible in case of an emergency, follow the steps below: Create your Medical ID: Open Health and tap Medical ID > Edit.  Enter your emergency contacts and health information like your birth date, height, and blood type. Turn on Show When Locked to make your Medical ID available from the Lock screen. In an emergency, this gives people who want to help some important information, like the emergency contacts that you've entered. When you're finished, tap Done. Make an emergency call and access Medical IDIf an iPhone has a Medical ID, you can view emergency medical information on the device or make an emergency call. To view the Medical ID, open the Health app and tap Medical ID. If the iPhone is locked, follow these steps: Press the Home button. Tap Emergency. On the Emergency call screen, you can make a call or tap Medical ID to see emergency medical information stored on the device.

Officer of the Month Congratulations to Officer Tino Serrano who was awarded Officer of the Month for May 2017.

Civilian of the Month Congratulations to P.S.S. Ned Hanna who was awarded Civilian of the Month for May 2017.

Detective of the Month Congratulations to Detective Richard Corton who was awarded Detective of the Month for May 2017.

MBPD Testing Your Knowledge When walking to your car, what should you always carry in case you need a weapon or diversion? Your wallet Select Your driver's license Select Your keys Select Your cellphone Select Which of these techniques are suggested target hardening ideas? Having thorny bushes growing up to, but not covering any windows Select Having peep holes on all entry doors Select Having an alarm system Select All of the above Select Answers The answer is: Your keys When walking to your car, even in your driveway, you should always have your keys in your hand, in case you need a diversion or a weapon.  All of the above "Target Hardening" is a way of making your house an undesirable option for criminals. Such a tactic reduces vulnerabilities to your home, even in the absence of identified threats.  Other target hardening tactics include:1.  Post signage that your home is guarded via a reputable alarm company. If a criminal sees that your home is alarmed and the one next door is not, they are more likely to hit the home that is not alarmed. 2.  Ensure that the exterior of your home is well illuminated, especially at night. Lighting should illuminate the exterior property and not necessarily the home in isolation. 3.  Ensure that possible entry points into your home (doors and windows) are not hidden from view via fencing or shrubbery.

Crime Tip Jogging Safety

Jogging Safety Many joggers think that because they do not carry large sums of money with them as they jog, they are not likely candidates for an attack. Unfortunately, that’s not true. When running, you should always be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to protect yourself. It’s easy to become so focused on your run that you stop paying attention to what’s happening around you. When you’re preoccupied, you make yourself an easy target for an attacker or thief. Follow these tips for ensuring that your jogs are rewarding and safe: Recruit a friend. Runners in pairs or groups are less appealing targets. Jog in a familiar area but vary your routes. Changing the route you take will prevent someone from noting your schedule or movements. Avoid jogging in secluded areas or at night. If you do run after dark, do so in well-lit and populated areas and consider buying reflective running gear or a runner’s light so that you’re highly visible to traffic. Face oncoming traffic. Carry your phone and your ID. If you suspect you’re being followed, call the police immediately and find a safe place to wait for them to arrive. Wear bright colored clothing to improve your visibility. Carry a whistle or shrill alarm to summon help if needed. Jog in open spaces, away from bushes or alcoves where someone could hide. Take a key with you when you jog. Don’t leave your house unlocked.

First Responder Games Winners Congratulations!