Halloween Safety Tips For Kids and Cops

The Graveyard Shift wishes everyone a Happy Halloween! Have fun, but please stay safe. If trick or treating is in your plans this year, please utilize all health and safety precautions, including proper PPE and safe social distancing … and a healthy dose of common sense.

Halloween Safety Tips For Kids

– Avoid costumes that greatly reduce visibility or are too dark for motorists to see. Apply face paint instead. It’s safer than bulky masks.

– Plan the route you and your children will take well in advance. Tell someone else about those plans and what time you’ll return home.

– Stick to well-lit areas.

– Attach reflective tape to costumes.

– Use fire-resistant materials in costumes.

– Carry a flashlight or glow stick, but not a lighted candle. Candles are burn hazards.

– Trick-or-treat in groups, accompanied by at least one adult.

– Attach kid’s names, address, and phone number to their clothes in case they become separated from adults.

– Teach children to exit and enter vehicles from curbside, away from traffic.

– Stay on sidewalks as much as possible, and cross at corners. Do not walk between parked cars. Always look both ways before crossing.

– Children should not eat candy while out, until an adult examines it. Candy should not show signs of improper sealing, punctures, or holes.

– Do not allow children into apartment buildings unless accompanied by an adult, and only visit homes with outside lighting.

– Residents should remove obstacles and trip hazards, such as tools, ladders, and toys from their sidewalks, porches and front yards.

– Keep lighted jack-o-lanterns away from porches or other areas where they could ignite a low-hanging costume.

– Do NOT allow your kids to carry any toy gun as part of their costume, especially those toys that look like the real thing, even if the tips of the barrels are painted orange. The orange color doesn’t show well at night, if at all.

Halloween Safety Tips For Officers

Working as a police officer on Halloween poses special challenges. Think about it. In a world where someone wearing a mask is normally thought to be up to no good, you’re suddenly faced with scores of masked citizens. Kids are out and about darting in and out of traffic. They’re excited and and may not listen as well as they normally would, or should. And practical jokes often go horribly wrong. Needless to say, it can be a wild and trying night for cops.

Here’s a short list of tips for officers working the streets on one of their busiest nights of the year.

1. Stay alert. If it looks wrong, then it probably is.

2. Carry copies of outstanding warrants with you—the people you’ve been unable to locate. This is the one night when the dummies will probably answer the door thinking you’re a trick-or-treater.

3. Carry candy in your patrol car. It’s the perfect time to show kids that you’re really one of the good guys.

4. Watch out for lone costumed adults, or those walking in groups. They’re probably up to no good.

5. Watch out for people tossing things from overpasses. For some reason, Halloween seems to be THE night to bomb police cars with bricks, rocks, and pumpkins.

6. Be alert for kids and adults who wear actual guns as part of their costumes.

7. Park your patrol car and walk for a while. Mingle with the trick-or-treaters. Keep them safe. It also keeps the bad guys guessing your next move. Besides, it’s a good idea to mix things up. Patrol your areas in a different order. Never get into a set routine (this goes for the rest of the year, too).

8. Drive slower than normal. Watch for kids!

9. Keep an eye on the registered sex offenders in your area. They aren’t allowed to pass out candy. They shouldn’t be opening the door for any kids. And they shouldn’t have Halloween decorations displayed in their yard or on the house. Pay them a pre-Halloween visit to remind them of their court-ordered restrictions.

10. I preferred to patrol with my car window down, even in the winter time. Halloween is the only night of the year when I didn’t. Too many flying objects!

11. If possible, have extra officers working the streets on foot, in plain clothes.

12. Bring plenty of extra handcuffs. You’ll probably need them before the night is over.

13. Please, please, please wear your vest!

 

 

And to everyone else …

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The FBI’s Forensic Laboratory: Evidence Collection and Requests for Submissions

The FBI’s forensic laboratory is one of the largest in the world, and its services and capabilities are far-reaching. You name it and they’ve got it. You need it and they can do it.  To sweeten the pot, their services, examinations, testings, and expert courtroom testimonies are free to all FBI field offices, U.S. attorneys, the U.S. military, all other federal agencies, and state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, including those in U.S. territories.

Of course, there are limitations and exceptions. For example, the FBI laboratory does not accept requests for service in civil matters unless the request is from a federal agency. Nor will they accept requests for service from private citizens or non-governmental agencies (private investigators, etc.).

There is a process required for sending evidence to the FBI laboratory for examination/testing, and the procedure is not as simple as mailing Aunt Betty Lou’s annual birthday card. Instead, depending upon the items(s) and their nature, the FBI lab, like all forensic laboratories, has specific guidelines that must be followed.

Per the FBI, all requests for evidence examinations should be in writing, complete with official department letterhead. The request must be addressed to the FBI Laboratory Evidence Management Program, unless otherwise indicated in the Examinations section (see below for examples).

Each request for evidence examinations/testing must contain:

  • ‹‹The submitting contact person’s name, agency, address, and telephone number;
  • ‹‹Previous case-identification numbers, evidence submissions, and communications relating to the case;
  • ‹‹Description of the nature and the basic facts of the case as they pertain to evidence examinations;
  • ‹‹The name(s) of and descriptive data about the individual(s) involved (subject, suspect, victim, or a combination of those categories) and the agency-assigned, case-identification number;
  • The violation associated with the evidence;
  • ‹‹If requested, the need for expedited examination
  • ‹‹Name of the relevant prosecutor’s office or prosecutor assigned, if available;

‹‹A list of the evidence being submitted and a copy of the letter should be included in all containers in which evidence has been shipped to the laboratory. The letter should be placed in a separate envelope within the shipping container.

Other items to be included in an official request:

  • ‹‹What type(s) of examination(s) is/are requested;
  • ‹‹Where the evidence should be returned and where the Laboratory report should be sent—street address and phone number.

Collection and packaging evidence

Packaging and collection methods vary depending upon the type and nature of evidence.

For example:

Anthropological Examinations

Anthropological examinations involve the analysis of skeletal remains (or potential skeletal remains). Laboratory testing can result in the determination, interpretation, or estimation of whether the evidence is skeletal (bone or tooth) versus a material other than bone. ‹Scientists can also determine whether bones are human or non-human, if the bones submitted are from more than one person, and the age of the bones—present day or ancient.

‹‹Biological information obtained from certain bones could indicate age, sex, ancestry, and size (height and weight of the person when alive). ‹‹It’s possible to determine the manner of death if by trauma—projectile, blunt or edged weapon, such as by knife, sword, ax, etc. And, of course, identification of the victim by comparison to medical records and DNA.

 FBI forensic anthropologists are available to assist in the detection and recovery of remains, if needed.

Collection and packaging of anthropological evidence

‹‹Collect bones (or small bone assemblages) individually in paper bags or other breathable material. Aluminum foil may be shaped and formed around burned or fragile bones. Sealed plastic packaging may be acceptable for remains with fresh/wet tissue, an exception to the typical “wet evidence in paper container” rule. ‹‹Include cold packs and/or ‘Biohazard’ stickers. Place stabilizing material inside the container—bubble wrap, etc.– to prevent movement of contents which could damage bone material. ‹‹

Bullet Examinations

A fired bullet can be examined to determine weight, caliber, and rifling characteristics (GRCs). GRCs are the number, width, and direction of twist of the rifling grooves imprinted on a fired bullet as it passes through the barrel of a firearm. Scientists conduct microscopic examinations of submitted bullets to determine if any distinctive marks of value are present. If investigators submit a suspected firearm a comparison is done between a bullet fired from the weapon and the bullet in question. A match determines the that firearm  is indeed the one used in the crime.

If a suspect firearm is not available to submit as evidence (not located, etc.), examiners compare the fired bullet to those in the FBI Laboratory’s GRC database, which could produce a match to a firearm that could have fired the round.

When examining fired bullets, and when comparing them to known samples (bullets test-fired from suspect’s weapon and compared to round found at the scene or inside a body), investigators and/or scientists should record the following information.

  • Caliber/gauge
  • Bullet/slug weight
  • The number of land and grooves
  • Direction of twist
  • Width of  lands
  • Width of grooves
  • Bullet diameter.
  • Composition of bullet.
  • Style.
  • Manufacturer/marketer of bullet/projectile. If applicable, use reference materials such as an ammunition database.
  • Detailed description  of the bullet.
  • Note type and position of cannelures.
  • Note any foreign/extraneous markings—shave marks, flared base, etc.
  • If possible, compare marks on bullets with tests from a firearm or with other bullets.

Click this link to read more about USING LANDS AND GROOVES TO SOLVE MURDERS

Collection and packaging of bullets

‹‹Package bullets to prevent contact with other bullets.

‹‹Hand delivery of bullets is not a requirement. Instead, they can be sent to the FBI lab via Registered Mail through the U.S. Postal Service. Evidence must be packaged separately and identified by date, time, location, collector’s name, case number, and evidence number. It is important to not mark bullets or other firearm-related evidence. Dates, times, location found, evidence collector’s name, case and evidence number must be on the package containing the evidence (bullets).

Bullet v. Ammunition – There is a Difference!

Bullet – an elongated missile of some type (lead, etc.) that’s to be fired from a firearm. A bullet is one part of a complete round of ammunition.

From ATF – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives:

Gun Control Act Definitions

Ammunition

The term “Ammunition” means ammunition or cartridge cases, primers, bullets, or propellant powder designed for use in any firearm.

The term shall not include (a) any shotgun shot or pellet not designed for use as the single, complete projectile load for one shotgun hull or casing, nor (b) any unloaded, non-metallic shotgun hull or casing not having a primer.

ATF image

USPS – Shipping Ammunition

The United States Postal Service prohibits sending live ammunition through the U.S. mail. FYI – Also not allowed to be shipped through U.S. mail are:

And, for fun, here are other items that are prohibited by the USPS:

  • Arsenic
  • Asphalt at or above its flashpoint
  • Bombs of any type
  • Grenades
  • Hydrogen peroxide stabilized, or Hydrogen peroxide aqueous solutions, stabilized with more than 60 percent hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide, in its pure form, is a pale blue liquid. When diluted water (3–6% by weight) its used by consumers as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and as an antiseptic. Concentrated hydrogen peroxide, or “high-test peroxide”; however, decomposes explosively when heated and can and has been used as rocket propellant.

UPS and FedEX accept packages containing ammunition

The following is from the UPS website.

UPS – How to Ship Ammunition (Cartridges, Small Arms) 

UPS accepts for transportation such ammunition as constitutes “cartridges, small arms,” as defined in 49 C.F.R. § 173.59. All other allowable ammunition shipments are accepted only on a contractual basis, and must be prepared under the rules for a fully regulated hazardous material.

To read more, visit the UPS website here.

Biological Material 

The FBI Laboratory provides expertise for conducting examinations on biological evidence needed for the determination of, for example, speciation, identification, relatedness, and designed genetic modifications. These examinations; however, are conducted at FBI-designated partner laboratories. Examples of biological materials that can be examined include:

  • ‹‹Pathogenic microbes (including select agents). ‹‹Non-pathogenic microbes.
  • ‹‹Animals.
  • ‹‹Plants.
  • ‹‹Insects.
  • ‹‹Biological toxins.
  • ‹‹Genetically modified organisms.
  • ‹‹Synthetically produced organisms or biological materials.

Questions, questions, and more questions!

Writers often have questions regarding how death investigators identify victims of disasters—explosions, building collapse, etc.

Another common topic I see from time to time relates to the federal DNA database of convicted felons. Unfortunately, many of the fictional scenes where this information appears is, well, a bit far from reality.

To address these questions and topics it’s probably best to quote directly from the FBI’s Forensic Services to avoid any missteps. I have: however, omitted a bit of information, such as contact phone number, addresses, and a bit of behind the scenes technical material. Still, there’s enough here (below) to help add a ton of realism to your novels.

FBI Disaster Victim Identification

The FBI Laboratory Division maintains a Disaster Victim Identification Team (DVI Team). This team of highly trained experts and their assets are deployed to mass casualty scenes worldwide to assist in the identification of victims. They do so through friction ridge analysis of fingerprints, palm prints, and footprints.

The DVI Team uses specialized postmortem fingerprint recovery techniques. These techniques involve the use of remote automated fingerprint search capabilities (AFIS). The DVI Team also collects postmortem and antemortem fingerprints of victims, and they identify friction ridge skin of the deceased.

Per the FBI – “Deployment of the FBI DVI Team requires consent from the disaster scene medical examiner or coroner, a ranking law enforcement or government official, a representative of the National Transportation Safety Board, or a representative of the U.S. Department of State. Requests for assistance must be made through the nearest FBI field office or the FBI’s Strategic Information and Operations Center.

Federal DNA Database Examinations – Federal Convicted Offender

The FBI’s Federal DNA Database Unit produces DNA profiles from offenders who’ve been convicted of federal offenses, and from Federal arrestees and detainees. Collected DNA is entered into the National DNA Index System and is used for comparison to DNA samples found at crime scenes.

DNA collection kits are provided at no charge to collection agencies. These agencies include the Bureau of Prisons; federal probation districts; Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, and any federal agency that makes federal arrests or detains non- U.S. persons on immigration charges and is required by law to submit DNA samples.

‹‹Samples from the following will be accepted:

  • Individuals identified in 42 U.S.C. 14135 (a)(1)(a). *see below for explanation of 42 U.S.C 14135 (a)(1)(a)
  • Individuals required registering in a sex offender registry identified in the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

‹‹Samples from the following will NOT be accepted

  • Samples given voluntarily by individuals not identified in 42 U.S.C. 14135 (a)(1) (a).
  • Samples used as reference specimens in criminal cases.
DNA Identification – 42 U.S.C. § 14135a (2012)
 

§14135a. Collection and use of DNA identification information from certain Federal offenders(a) Collection of DNA samples(1) From individuals in custody

(A) The Attorney General may, as prescribed by the Attorney General in regulation, collect DNA samples from individuals who are arrested, facing charges, or convicted or from non-United States persons who are detained under the authority of the United States. The Attorney General may delegate this function within the Department of Justice as provided in section 510 of title 28 and may also authorize and direct any other agency of the United States that arrests or detains individuals or supervises individuals facing charges to carry out any function and exercise any power of the Attorney General under this section.

(B) The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall collect a DNA sample from each individual in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons who is, or has been, convicted of a qualifying Federal offense (as determined under subsection (d) of this section) or a qualifying military offense, as determined under section 1565 of title 10.

(2) From individuals on release, parole, or probation

The probation office responsible for the supervision under Federal law of an individual on probation, parole, or supervised release shall collect a DNA sample from each such individual who is, or has been, convicted of a qualifying Federal offense (as determined under subsection (d) of this section) or a qualifying military offense, as determined under section 1565 of title 10.

(3) Individuals already in CODIS

For each individual described in paragraph (1) or (2), if the Combined DNA Index System (in this section referred to as “CODIS”) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation contains a DNA analysis with respect to that individual, or if a DNA sample has been collected from that individual under section 1565 of title 10, the Attorney General, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, or the probation office responsible (as applicable) may (but need not) collect a DNA sample from that individual.

(4) Collection procedures

(A) The Attorney General, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, or the probation office responsible (as applicable) may use or authorize the use of such means as are reasonably necessary to detain, restrain, and collect a DNA sample from an individual who refuses to cooperate in the collection of the sample.

(B) The Attorney General, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, or the probation office, as appropriate, may enter into agreements with units of State or local government or with private entities to provide for the collection of the samples described in paragraph (1) or (2).

(5) Criminal penalty

An individual from whom the collection of a DNA sample is authorized under this subsection who fails to cooperate in the collection of that sample shall be—

(A) guilty of a class A misdemeanor; and

(B) punished in accordance with title 18.

Collection and packaging

‹‹A Request for National DNA Database Entry form (FD-936) must be submitted. Entries must be in legibly written  in blue or black ink and write legibly. A typewriter may also be used to compile the form..

‹‹At least one unique identifying number (Social Security Number, BOP Number, FBI Number, Alien number) for the subject/offender must be present on the FD-936.

‹‹Legible fingerprints must be present on the FD-936 and the fingerprint collector must sign at the bottom of the form. 

‹‹For FTA collection devices (blue collection devices)

Record the subject’s name in the area indicated on the FTA cards contained in the blue buccal collection devices. This name must match the name written on the FD-936.

An FTA card is a chemically treated filter paper designed for the collection of biological samples for subsequent DNA analysis.

‹‹For BODE DNA Collector (gray collection device)

The subject’s name is recorded in the area indicated on the handle base. This name must match the name written on the FD- 936.

‹‹FD-936 forms have a barcode to match the barcode on the buccal collection devices in the kit. Because of this, FD-936 forms cannot be intermixed between buccal collection kits.

‹‹When collection is complete, remember that the tamper evident seal should be secured by removing the backing and sealing it evenly. Do not moisten the envelope seal with saliva to close.

‹‹Once the seal is closed, the kit should not be reopened. If the collector must open the kit after sealing, tape over the seal, and initial and date over the new seal.

*BODE Collector is not to be confused with Jeff Deaver’s book “The Bone Collector.”

Bode Buccal® DNA Collection Systems are devices used for the collection of DNA from buccal samples. To learn more, click here.

Federal DNA Database Buccal DNA Collection Kit

‹‹Complete instructions for the use of the Buccal DNA Collection Kits are located on the back of the FD-936 form. A separate sheet of paper directing proper sampling procedure is also included in the kit.

‹‹When collecting a sample using the Buccal DNA Collection Kit:

  • Wear the gloves provided in the kit.
  • Using the fingerprint ink strip provided in the kit, ink the left and right index fingers of the individual and roll the appropriate index finger in the assigned box on the FD-936, starting with the inward edge of the finger and rolling away from the body.

Sources:

  • Portions of this article are paraphrased excerpts from the FBI Laboratory Division’s handbook, and some are quotes directly from the handbook. Other information is from my personal knowledge and experience.
  • FBI Laboratory Division.
  • ATF – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

More information is on the way!

 

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Dr. Katherine Ramsland: Cops and Cumulative PTSD

 

“Officers who deal with human trauma might not recognize its toll till too late.”

 

KEY POINTS

  • Repeated exposure to trauma can weaken the ability to cope, resulting in cumulative PTSD (CPTSD).
  • Since it’s not linked to a specific incident, CPTSD can go undiagnosed.
  • Educating police officers about CPTSD can inspire preventative treatment that benefits the whole organization.

In the Boston Globe recently, Nicholas DiRobbio described a disabling condition that forced him out of his job as a cop. One day, something just seemed to come over him. Common noises like kids shouting jarred him. He grew scared to leave his house. Some days he sat in his cruiser and screamed. He didn’t recognize himself.

“As a cop, you struggle with your identity,” he told the Globe. “You can’t reform, and you’re broken—you’re not that person and that hero you used to be.” Finally, he quit the force and sought counseling. He knew something was wrong, but he didn’t know what.

DiRobbio learned that he suffered from cumulative post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), or the sum reaction to a build-up of trauma over time. It’s like piling one too many bricks on a scaffold that finally collapses.

The Effects of Cumulative Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD)

“I never anticipated that it feels physical,” he said. “It feels like a weight. You get pressure on the chest area, you feel this heavy burden like a pain, and you feel physically uncomfortable in your own body… I was shaking a lot, uncontrollably… Someone who is a police officer and faced all kinds of stuff, I’m not afraid, but my body wouldn’t physically let me leave the house.”

He describes his experience in Invisible Wounds, insisting it’s not a weakness of character as it’s often portrayed but a process beyond one’s control. Dr. Michelle Beshears, in the Criminal Justice Department at American Military University, agrees. “Cumulative PTSD can be even more dangerous than PTSD caused from a single traumatic event,” she states, “largely because cumulative PTSD is more likely to go unnoticed and untreated. If untreated, officers can become a danger to themselves and others.”

We hear a lot about PTSD but not much about this more nebulous condition. Yet, those on active duty who routinely deal with human trauma are vulnerable to it. Law enforcement is one of the occupations at greatest risk, given how much they’re exposed to conflict, trauma, and death.

“I went to 30 incidents of dead people,” DiRobbio recalled. “I remember every single one of them…. There [are] sights and smells and people crying; that sticks with you.”

Cerel et al. (2018) examined the results from 800 officers who’d completed a survey about their exposure to suicide incidents. Almost all participants (95 percent) had responded to at least one such scene, with an average of 31 over a career. One in five reported a scene that had triggered nightmares, and close to half reported seeing things that had stayed with them. The researchers found a significant association between frequent exposure to suicide and behavioral health consequences, mostly depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders—all signals of potential CPTSD.

Supporting First Responders With CPTSD

This mental health injury appears to be a growing issue for first responders. Valazquez and Herandez (2019) reviewed research on police mental health. “Working as a first responder,” they write, “has been identified as one of the few occupations where individuals are repeatedly placed in high stress and high-risk situations.” Typical coping strategies show a failure within organizations to recognize a developing issue like CPTSD. One of the most persistent barriers to seeking help is the stigma attached.

“It is evident that officers unknowingly advocate negative attitudes about seeking mental health support based on the organizational stigma. Organizational stigma manifests in the way the agency prioritizes officer wellness and provides supportive services.” They argue that for the greater good, organizations must address the stigma directly, diminish its impact, and encourage the use of services.

Among the types of experiences that can negatively affect cops are officer-involved shootings, vehicle pursuits, volatile domestic situations, and witnessing the aftermath of rapes, accidents, suicides, and homicides. Symptoms of CPTSD include intrusive thoughts, sleep or eating disorders, adverse mood shifts, withdrawal from friends and family, agitation, physical deterioration, and disorientation.

However, few departments have effective support in place. It’s no secret that the police culture has traditionally dodged the topic of mental health, an approach that has only added to the rise in depression, CPTSD, and suicidalthoughts among officers. They feel guilty, embarrassed, and ashamed about asking. They think their peers will now view them differently. So, instead of expressing their feelings to relieve the pressure, they withdraw. Although some departments now include critical incident debriefing for this purpose, many do not.

Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) is a peer-support process that aims to erase stigma and encourage seeking help. Watson and Andrews (2018) found that in military populations, this instrument has shown beneficial effects. Studies with TRiM in police departments in the UK are ongoing, but early reports indicate a positive reception.

Ignoring mental health problems in cops won’t erase them. Education, training, and support are needed to ensure the welfare of those who keep us safe.

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References

Beshears, M. (2017, April 3). Police officers face cumulative PTSD. Police 1.https://www.police1.com/health-wellness/articles/police-officers-face-c…

Carlson-Johnson, O., Grant, H., & Lavery, C. (2020). Caring for the guardians—Exploring needed directions and best Practices for police resilience practice and research. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01874

Cerel, J., Jones, B., Brown, M., Weisenhorn, D. A., & Patel, K. (2018). Suicide exposure in law enforcement officers. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12516

Velazquez, E., & Hernandez, M. (2019). Effects of police officer exposure to traumatic experiences and recognizing the stigma associated with police officer mental health: A state-of-the-art review. Policing: An International Journal,42(4), 711-724.

Watson, L., & Andrews, L. (2018). The effect of a Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) program on stigma and barriers to help-seeking in the police. International Journal of Stress Management,25(4), 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1037/str0000071

Velazquez, E., & Hernandez, M. (2019). Effects of police officer exposure to traumatic experiences and recognizing the stigma associated with police officer mental health: A state-of-the-art review. Policing: An International Journal, 42(4), 711-724.

Watson, L., & Andrews, L. (2018). The effect of a Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) program on stigma and barriers to help-seeking in the police. International Journal of Stress Management, 25(4), 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1037/str0000071

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This article originally appeared in the October 18, 2021 of “Psychology Today.” It is published here with the permission of the author, Katherine Ramsland Ph.D.

Cover photo by Katherine Ramsland.

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Katherine Ramsland teaches forensic psychology at DeSales University, where she is the Assistant Provost. She has appeared on more than 200 crime documentaries and magazine shows, is an executive producer of Murder House Flip, and has consulted for CSI, Bones, and The Alienist. The author of more than 1,000 articles and 68 books, including How to Catch a Killer, The Psychology of Death Investigations, and The Mind of a Murderer, she spent five years working with Dennis Rader on his autobiography, Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, The BTK Killer. Dr. Ramsland currently pens the “Shadow-boxing” blog at Psychology Today and teaches seminars to law enforcement.

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Police Officers as Emergency Medical Responders: The Comprehensive Trauma Kit 

Police officers, especially those working patrol assignments, are typically the first officers to respond to emergency situations. Not only are they called to scenes involving criminal activities, they are often the first responders to show up at scenes involving medical emergencies. Therefore, it makes sense that officers would possess, at minimum, a basic knowledge of first aid procedures.

When I attended the police academy part of the curriculum was a mandatory 40-hour First Responder certification course (not to be confused with the broadly-used, generic term “first responder,” meaning police, fire, and EMS personnel). To avoid confusion the name “First Responder” was eventually changed to “Emergency Medical Responder” or “EMR.”

The First Responder certification course offered training in the skills needed to provide emergency medical care, such as patient assessment and care, diagnostic signs, and how to treat life threatening emergencies, such as severe bleeding, seizures, choking, broken bones, and more.

In addition to the First Responder/Emergency Medical Responder certification course, each recruit was required to complete and pass an Adult CPR and Pediatric CPR certification course. The only exemption to the training was to have current CPR certification and a current certification at the First Responder level or higher (EMT, Paramedic, etc.). At the time, I was an EMT and a CPR instructor for both the American Heart Association and Red Cross. I taught taught CPR at law enforcement and jail training academies, and at the Virginia Department of Corrections training academy. I also taught CPR at local hospitals and churches, rescue squads and ambulance services, and fire departments, etc.

Unfortunately, in many areas, if not most, First Responder/Emergency Medical Responder in-service training is not required. Therefore, without refresher courses many of those lifesaving skills and bits of valuable knowledge eventually fade from the minds of officers (If you don’t use it you lose it!).

Fortunately, help has arrived! Yes, the Comprehensive Trauma Kit is just what the doctor ordered. It’s a medical toolbox packed with an assortment of medical supplies designed to help police officers address critical emergencies. The kit is also available for businesses, or anywhere it may be needed.

Some law enforcement agencies in the U.S. have assigned these trauma kits to their officers/deputies.

Each kit contains:

  • First aid supplies
  • A built-in integrated tablet that includes the Mobilize Rescue app
  • The Mobilize Rescue app guides users with on-screen real-time step-by-step instructions
  • Clearly organized and color-coded supplies with alpha-numeric labels that correspond to the instructions in the app
  • OSHA-compliant medical supplies
  • The ability to create a time-stamped summary of actions to share with EMS

Trauma Supplies

4 | SOF-T Wide tourniquet

2 | QuikClot bleeding control dressing

2 | 6″ flat emergency trauma dressing

2 | Hyfin chest seal

2 | Water-Jel universal burn dressing

2 | triangular bandage

2 | 4.5″ sterile conforming stretch gauze

4 | 5″ x 9″ sterile combine ABD pads

2 | 10″ x 30″ sterile multi-trauma dressing

1 | 36″ SAM emergency splint

2 | 4″ elastic wrap bandage

1 | 4″ x 5″ cold compress

1 | adhesive tape 2.5 yd

 

Medical Supplies

1 | CPR face shield with bite block

1 | 81mg chewable aspirin (bottle)

1 | 12mg dissolvable allergy tablets (box)

1 | 15mg Insta-Glucose

2 | emergency space Mylar blanket

1 | portable charger and charging cord

1 | USB charging cube

1 | inspection card

12 | proof seals

2 | bag with biohazard markings

1 | trauma shears

10 | nitrile gloves

1 | user manual and inventory card

 

OSHA-Compliant First Aid Supplies

2 | eye pads

16 | adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)

10 | burn cream packets

10 | triple antibiotic ointment packets

10 | antiseptic wipes

1 | tweezers

10 | hand sanitizer packets

1 | eye wash

1 | first aid guide

 

To view the kit, its contents, and how it can be utilized during a medical emergency, please click on the video below.

 

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Twisted Endings and Plot Tips: When You Hear Hoofbeats, Don’t Expect a Zebra

The story begins with North Carolina farmer Paul A. Plow and his wife standing on the well-weathered front porch of their clapboard-sided home—the house they’ve lived in for the past forty-seven years, the dwelling that saw its last coat of whitewash just prior to the birth of Girly Jean, the oldest of four grown daughters, the one who now teaches third grade at the Boiled Beaver Elementary School.

Paul Plow and his missus stood watching a faint cloud of orange-tinted dust gently rise on the horizon past the last row of tobacco, the line of head-high plants standing precisely one mile from the edge of the side yard where green grass met hard-packed Carolina clay.

They weren’t expecting anyone, especially anyone who was so obviously in a hurry to reach their destination. To top off the mystery, the width of the dust cloud indicated the approach of more than one hard-riding someones or somethings. He’d seen a similar occurrence when the rodeo was in town and their horses busted (his word, not mine) out of their corral. He’d also seen a dust cloud like this one on one of those Nat Geo shows where a pride of lions, while hunting for dinner, chased a herd of wild animals across the plain.

Didn’t matter. The rodeo was not in town nor was he watching television. This was the real deal and it was happening right then.

Too far away to hear hoofbeats or the chatter of riders.

Growing closer and closer and larger and larger, the dust cloud grew in size and showed no signs of slowing.

This was serious. And to top it off, since childhood he’d been plagued with a serious case of Equinophobia, the fear of horses.

The situation was dour. Times ten.

The farmer went for his rifle. Told the wife to go inside.

“Grab the pistol and a few extra rounds. Just in case,” he said. Then he told her to hide in the cellar until he called for her.

It started as a light tapping but quickly grew into a thunderous roar as the dust cloud doubled then tripled in size. From inside the roiling and boiling and billowing floating pillow of airborne soil, the farmer heard snorts and the hard-breathing of hard-running large beasts.

Quarter horses, Paints, or Appaloosa, probably. Maybe some of each. Killers, rapists, and robbers rode a variety. Whatever they could steal.

One thing was certain … if they didn’t soon slow down they’d most surely run smack dab over the house. He wanted to yell or fire a warning shot. Wave. Something.

Anything to get their attention, but onward they came … and hard, hard, hard.

Hoofbeats.

Clippity-clopping at machine gun speed.

Churning.

So close now the farmer felt the dry earth trembling beneath the stone foundation that held the house high enough off the ground to allow Roofus, the family’s three-legged dog, to sleep out of the weather.

Maybe the animals were even larger than he first thought. Morgans, Percherons, Drafts. Hell, the way the earth was shaking … well, it was a crazy idea, but the picture of a large team of crazy Clydesdales came to mind.

Whatever and whomever, somebody meant business.

Time to take cover and prepare for the inevitable.

Suddenly the hoofbeats silenced and the cloud stopped. Its leftovers slowly drifted up and onto the porch. Then the dust settled and standing there before the farmer were … three muscular zebras. No riders. Just three totally and unexpectedly out of place black and white striped zebras.

Needless to say, there are no zebras in North Carolina.

Unforeseen? Yes. Unanticipated? Definitely. Not in the cards? You bet.

Like. A. Bolt. Out. Of. The Blue.

But this article is about plot tip and twisted endings, so what the heck do zebras have to do with writing? Well, I’ve traveled this far outside the box, so before we answer that question let’s first go even further “out there” and examine what zebras have to do with medicine, especially medicine in the U.S. (You’ll see, it’ll come together in a moment).

Zebras and Medicine

Chest pains could indicate cardiac issues. Likewise, those same pains could indicate trouble with the gall bladder, blood clots, etc. Statistically, though, the more likely cause of chest pains is related to the heart.

Therefore, the general rule of thumb is to begin with the more obvious (cardiac, in this case) before moving on to other issues. In other words, if you hear hoofbeats don’t expect a zebra. In other words, we expect the obvious. Then, after ruling out the common cause, well, he trouble could be the unexpected.

When writing fiction, especially a tale with a twisted ending, writers often achieve successful scenes by concocting scenarios that seem typical on the surface (the approaching hoofbeats to conjure-up a mental image of galloping horses). However, when the dust settles, the hero and readers are faced with a surprise, or twist. In the case above, the unexpected twist was the sudden appearance of three zebras.

What we’re talking about is simply another gadget for the writers’ tool kit—base-rate neglect. For example, when a detailed description of something entices us to overlook the statistical reality of a given situation. In our case, the chances of the approaching hoofbeats coming from a group of zebras is practically nonexistent.

As they say in medical school …

When You Hear Hoofbeats, Don’t Expect a Zebra

Unless, of course, the cloud of dust you’ve just written into your story does indeed contain three zebras—The Unexpected!

When the dust in your craftily-devised scene settles, readers will want to hear more about your striped beasts and why they’re now standing at the front door of Paul D. Plow’s ramshackle farmhouse.

What does Paul Plow know that we don’t, if anything?

One thing is for certain, though, we’ll want to turn the page to learn more about the zebras, about Boiled Beaver Elementary School, and if the missus will leave the cellar or decide to move her things down there to escape Paul and his weird phobias. Rumor has it that he’s also afraid of dust and sunlight and moonlight and bees and artichokes and space aliens.

Plot Tips 

  1. Devise ways to make your hero NOT succeed. However, when she does come out on top your reader should be caught off guard as to how the success was achieved.
  2. You want your readers to say, “I should’ve seen seen that coming but didn’t and doggone it, it makes perfect sense. But wow!
  3. Do not trick readers. Give them a reason to believe your twists.
  4. No stereotypes. Be original.
  5. If your hero has a problem, and he should, make it worse so your reader will worry about him/her.
  6. Got to have secrets to help develop suspense.
  7. Use reversals to break the expectations of your readers. Changing directions keeps ’em guessing!
  8. Increase tension by leaving issues unresolved at the end of breaks and chapters.
  9. Place your hero in danger. Send him/her to a bad location where trouble is certain to occur. If the job is too dangerous to accomplish in the rain, then have the scene take place during a hurricane.
  10. Conflict around every corner. Everything’s an issue to overcome—family, friends, the job, that stupid hurricane and … three crazy zebras!

 

 

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