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With holiday shopping in full swing, you might want to consider presents and stocking stuffers that could save lives during emergencies.

Gifts such as NOAA Weather Alert radios, flashlights and first-aid kits can help friends and family prepare for disasters, while smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers will make their homes safer.

A vehicle preparedness kit is easy to assemble. A backpack or rubber tub can be stocked with items such as a flashlight, extra batteries, blankets, jumper cables, first aid kit, windshield scraper, small shovel, water bottles and some non-perishable snack foods.

Fire safety and prevention gift ideas, such as foldable ladders for second-story emergency escapes and flameless scented candles, are also great gift ideas.

Most preparedness and safety gift items can be found in hardware and department stores. For additional information on emergency preparedness, visit the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.  The OSFM website, www.sfm.illinois.gov, offers more information about fire safety.





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Forty volunteers completed a 16-hour Ground Search and Rescue training course on the weekend of October 20-21, 2012.  Training began at the ILEAS (Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System) classroom facility in Urbana and then moved to Homer Lake in SE Champaign County.  The training was conducted by Illinois Search and Rescue Council certified instructors, from the McLean County EMA Search and Rescue Team and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office / Search and Rescue Team.  The training included an overview of SAR fundamentals, lost person behavior, SAR operations in the field, and search crew field operations both during daylight and at night.  Champaign County EMA, the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, the Cornbelt Fire Protection District Dive Team, and the Homer Fire Dept. assisted in the training.

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Approximately 50 people attended the first team meeting for the Champaign County Search and Rescue Team on Saturday, August 25, 2012.  Command Staff from the Search and Rescue Division of the McLean County Emergency Management Agency gave a classroom presentation of Search and Rescue principles.  Members were then invited outside to view and better understand several types of equipment used on a search deployment. Exhibits included the McLean County SAR Team trailer, Champaign County EMA Command Post vehicle, Champaign CERT trailer, ITECS communications trailer, Sheriff’s Office ATV and other equipment.

The team will next meet on Friday, September 14, 2012 and Saturday, September 15, 2012 (members should attend ONE of the two identical sessions), for a three-hour course on Search and Rescue Initial Operations (SARIO).

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Champaign County EMA and local ESDA organizations closely monitored severe storm activity on Thursday, August 16.  Several storm spotters were out for a short period of time.  Illinois climatologist Jim Angel says the Champaign-Urbana area received 1.82" of rain on Thursday, by far the highest amount received this year.  No significant reports of damage were received.
 


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Champaign County EMA participated in Playing It Safe, the annual family safety fair sponsored by Carle and Safe Kids Champaign County.  The event took place on Saturday, June 9, at the Champaign County Fairgrounds.  The day featured more than 40 activities and exhibits that focused on safety awareness for the entire family.


  1. Rantoul "Spring Fling"
  2. ITTF Generator Training
  3. ARES Storm Spotter Safety Class
  4. Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon

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