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What makes EPAP work? We all do, according to the ingenious structure of the Emergency Preparedness Action Plan. This has been honed over the years to become a model of emergency planning for 55+ communities in the Pass area. If we have an earthquake or other obvious disaster, EPAP volunteers report to their District Command Posts and begin their work. When a non-obvious emergency presents itself, the EPAP executive team alerts the lead district EPAP coordinators in each group of three Companion Districts, who in turn alert their Companion Districts, Zone Captains, and the rest of their District teams. The district EPAP coordinators have the primary responsibility for EPAP operations within their District. With support from their District Delegates, they set up their Command Post (often in their driveways) to manage all emergency activities in their Districts. District zone captains maintain a vital link between the residents in their neighborhood zone and the EPAP Coordinator. In an emergency, Zone Captains verify the status of the residents in their zones, and report back to their EPAP Coordinator and medical rescue team. District medical rescue team respond to the injured, as determined by Zone Captains and EPAP coordinators, provide first aid, assess the severity of the injuries, and recommend necessary actions as appropriate. District EPAP Program Managers maintain a computer database for each district, with names, addresses and other information provided by residents. This information is held, and updated whenever residents move in or out, by the EPAP Information Management Unit. In an emergency, seven management units are activated within the EPAP organization by the Incident Commander. They are: public information, communications, medical, EPAP patrol, information management, coordination, and animal rescue group. Each of these units and groups has its own team and responsibilities in case of an emergency. So, what do you do? When you go on vacation, let your Zone Captain know, and in a community-wide emergency or drill, affix your yellow response card in a front-facing window for your zone captain to see, indicating that you are okay and do not need assistance. Every single person in the EPAP organization is a trained volunteer. Specific duties and responsibilities of all personnel listed here can be found on the Sun Lakes website, sunlakescc.com. If you are interested in becoming an EPAP volunteer, contact your district EPAP coordinator or call the Emergency Operations Center at (951) 524-3126. How EPAP Works For Sun Lakes Due to the enormous success of First-Aid classes that were held earlier this year, EPAP is offering six more training sessions in August, September, and October. Each class will be limited to 10 participants, and will cover bleeding, choking, use of splints, etc. The emphasis is on basic first-aid, and there is no written test (CPR and AED will not be included.) There are two types of classes — one six hour class offered on Wednesdays, or two three hour classes offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the EPAP Operations Center in the Maintenance Building. "We want to make people more comfortable to help each other, neighbor to neighbor," said MarySue Caron, RN, EPAP's Associate Director of Medical Rescue Teams. "We need more volunteers for our District MRTs, and we want residents to understand that nurses and doctors are not the only ones who can help in emergencies." Classes are taught by Certified American Red Cross Instructor and Sun Lakes Resident Linda Myers-Kalb, RN. Class fees are $5 for materials payable to Sun Lakes CC and $20 for class and certificate payable to Linda Myers-Kalb. You must register in advance for the classes. Please contact Linda Myers-Kalb at (951) 529-9087. The class schedule is as follows: 1. Tues./Thurs., Aug. 6 & Aug. 8, 2 to 5 pm: Must attend classes on both days 2. Wed., Aug. 21, 9 am to 3:30 pm: One-day session, 30 min. lunch break 3. Tues./Thurs., Sept. 3 & Sept. 5, 2 to 5 pm: Must attend classes on both days 4. Wed., Sept. 18, 9 am to 3:30 pm: One-day session, 30 min. lunch break 5. Tues./Thurs,, Oct. 8 and Oct. 10, 2 to 5 pm: Must attend classes on both days 6. Wed., Oct. 23, 9 am to 3:30 pm: One-day session, 30 min. lunch break ADDITIONAL FIRST AID CLASSES | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | AUGUST 2019 | 7

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