From the Commander

We are on our way to implementing the vision for our Flotilla -- to help every member provide “Value-added through SMART Leadership”. A member provides value-added whenever he/she is able and motivated to help achieve the goals of the Flotilla. Our FSOs are actively communicating our vision and implementing programs that build trust and confidence in our leadership and help establish an environment where all members enjoy participating in Flotilla activities with a sense of joy, self-esteem, and achievement.

Making SMART leadership a reality requires every member to actively contribute to each of the following elements:

Motivate – increase opportunities for achievement, recognition, responsibility and advancement.

Acknowledge – recognize members for their contributions.

Realistic – set attainable goals and provide resources to achieve them.

Teamwork – inspire members to work together to
achieve goals.

You can do this by selecting one or more of the following goals and asking yourself, how can I contribute to these activities? As a minimum, you can provide feedback to help us make midcourse corrections and measure progress toward these objectives.

Identifying and developing dynamic funding sources that support the requirements of our mission programs.

Developing a dynamic system that recognizes member desires, and that has the flexibility to quickly design the required missions and related competencies.

Focusing human, financial and training resources on missions that have the most impact to our members.

Developing a dynamic recruiting and retention system that anticipates organizational needs; has the agility and flexibility to quickly provide the capacity and competencies required in a constantly changing environment; and that fosters member satisfaction through fellowship and appropriate rewards.

Providing each member a continuum of training and professional experiences that are linked to strategic objectives and desired Auxiliary competencies.

Expanding a timely, internal and external communications capability that serves the Auxiliary, the Coast Guard, and the public.

Finally, I want to review the progress of the following major activities:

Diana Floyd organized our first fellowship event for the year; a total of twenty five people (members, spouses and friends) attended this activity. We are already looking forward to next month’s outing.

Thanks to Lou Magyar, FSO/MT and contributing instructors, we have an excellent Member Training program in place that will help us qualify boat crew, coxswains and telecommunications operators in an effective and efficient way.

Your assistance to Jim Sleichert has been invaluable in helping us complete the relocation from the Nokomis Moorings. The shed has already been moved to the Training Center.

The team of Henry Reynolds and Art Sperling, with support from others, is in the process of relocating and building our new radio facility.

Judi Bidwick, FSO/OP needs the active participation of all coxswains to fill the schedule for safety patrols and operational training (OT) missions. Let’s make a serious effort to actively support our Operations program.

The DSC Tracking and Navigation System (DSC-TNS) was presented to a group of 36 members at the DTRAIN conference in Orlando. We are now ready to deploy this system within our Division and other Divisions in the District.

As always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Juan C. Hernandez
Flotilla Commander

Hypothermia - Yes it is possible in Florida

Hypothermia At A Glance

Hypothermia can be defined as a core body temperature less than 95 F. Shivering is one way the body generates heat to combat falling temperatures. Brain function decreases as body temperature falls; this happens gradually and may go unnoticed. Immersion in water hastens hypothermia, and a few minutes in chilly or cold water may be fatal, At low body temperatures, the heart's electrical system may become irritable and cause a fatal heart rhythm. The body looses 25 % of its heat in the water.
Progressive hypothermia can occur during long exposures in relatively warm, tropical waters. After all, water with temperatures of 80° F is still nearly 18° F below your body temperature. Cold water is normally considered anything below 75°F for swimming and diving. This is why most people think that they can not suffer from hypothermia when swimming in a warm climate area.

What are the signs and symptoms of hypothermia?

The body starts to slow as the temperature drops. Aside from the cold that is felt and the shivering that may occur, mental function is most affected initially. A particular danger of hypothermia is that it develops gradually, and since it affects thinking and reasoning, it may go unnoticed. Initial hunger and nausea will give way to apathy as the core body temperature drops. This is followed by confusion, lethargy, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, and coma. Often the affected person will lie down, fall asleep, and die. In some cases, the patient will paradoxically remove their clothes just before this occurs. The decrease in brain function occurs in direct relationship to the decrease in body temperature (the colder the body, the less the brain function).

Brain function stops at a core temperature of 68 F (20 C). The heart is subject to abnormal electrical rhythms as hypothermia progresses. Ventricular fibrillation, a disorganized rhythm in which the heart is unable to pump, may occur at core temperatures below 82.4 F (28 C). This is one type of cardiac arrest.

One axiom that continues to be followed in emergency medical care is that a patient is not dead until they are "warm and dead. " Vital signs like breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure may be difficult to detect in a severely hypothermic patient, and often efforts are made to try prolonged resuscitation until the patient is warmed. Occasional stories are reported in the press about patients, especially children, who have been resuscitated from severe hypothermia due to immersion in cold water.

How is hypothermia treated?

Care for the hypothermic victim begins when the person is found. First aid should be initiated. The person should be removed from the cold environment and placed in a warm shelter away from the wind. Wet clothing should be removed and replaced with a warm, dry covering including head covering. Emergency medical services should be activated (call 911 if available) as soon as possible. The victim's breathing should be monitored, and if it becomes dangerously slow or stops, CPR should be initiated.

Rough handling or jerking of the patient should be minimized if the person is lethargic or unconscious. This may cause an irritable heart to develop electrical abnormalities such as ventricular fibrillation.

Rewarming should be started by applying warm compresses to the chest, neck, and groin. Hot water should not be used. Because there may be associated frostbite, direct heat should not be applied to the body. Instead, warm blankets and body to body contact may be needed as a first aid measure. The severity of hypothermia and the person’s mental status and ability to function will determine what further treatment is necessary. Passive rewarming with warm clothing in a warm environment may be all that is required for a conscious person who is shivering. Active rewarming may be considered for those who are colder, showing signs of confusion, or have other medical conditions that need attention. Warmed intravenous fluids, warming blankets, and warmed humidified air may be provided in the hospital.

(Note: A part of this article comes from Webmd.)

Arthur Sperling, HS EMT
Flotilla 86, Venice

Fellowship Chair

I have good new and bad news to report.

The good news:

I am happy to report we had a great response to our Fellowship Luncheon. I would like to thank all the Skippers who offered their boats for this outing Juan Hernandez, Jim Sleichert, Richard Putnam and Henry Reynolds. We had thirty- one people signed up and a place on a boat for all those who wished to go by boat.

The bad news:

The weather did not cooperate and we traveled by car.

But fowl weather could not dampen our spirits or our fun because of the great company we had and a very good restaurant.

February’s Fellowship plans will be announced soon.

Diana Floyd,
Fellowship Chair

February,2009

U.S.C.G. AUXILIARY, FLOTILLA 86, MINUTES JANUARY 6, 2009

Commander Juan Hernandez called the meeting to order at 1930 with 25 members and guests Frederick Verrichio who is transferring to our flotilla; Jim Henry of Michigan; Bruce Chamberlain, Sackets Harbor, NY; new members Mary Wagner and Hillary Crook and prospective member Sidney Motchan and Wayne Olsen.

Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation followed.

FC Juan Hernandez:

*Reallocation of money for the new radio station and swapping tower at Nokomis. A motion was made to reallocate $500. The motion was seconded and after discussion all voted in favor of the reallocation.

*Report from LTJG Sanders on coordination of transition from Nokomis station.

*Allocation of funds for moving shed. A motion was made, seconded and their being no discussion all voted in favor.

*A Sexual Harassment Workshop will be scheduled

*The DTRAIN conference is this weekend. The ISC 210 course will be offered.

*Judi Bidwick will be taking new photos of officers tonight

*TCT and Operations workshops will be scheduled soon.

*Presentations will be made for the Sailing Squadron and Power Squadron on January 14.

*Judi Bidwick spoke on the new demonstration VE lifejackets. These are not suitable to wear on board a boat but are for demonstration purposes for VE and PA officers.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: A motion was made and seconded to accept the December Minutes as they are written in the Fore and Aft. All voted in favor.>

INSERVICE:   Judi Bidwick spoke on Operations. She is scheduling Operations, TCT and Sexual Harassment workshops. She showed everyone the demonstration lifejackets. Judi reminded staff to complete their 5132 and 7030 promptly and within 30 days. If a patrol is cancelled coxswain or boat owner must mark the 5132 cancelled and send it to St. Petersburg.

Lou Magyar reviewed his agenda for Member Training for the upcoming year. We no longer will concentrate on only training for boat crew but will do full operational training for everyone. We have five members who need to requalify for crew and five for coxswain this year. Lou announced that there will be an 8 hour TCT at Flotilla 84 on February 28. He will need to know who is going to attend. Lunch will be provided for about $4-5. The SC&E course has been delayed until the beginning of April. Members must have basic plotting knowledge to take this course which will be provided during operational training. March 11 is the GPS course for the public and our members. Lou stated specialty courses will be offered beginning in February starting with Seamanship (either Monday or Tuesday AM). In reference to Telecommunication (TCO) performance qualification standards (PQS) if a member attends MT they will be able to qualify for the TCO PQS. Lou reminded all the first Operational Training will be held at Marine Max this Thursday 0830 to 1200.

Art Sperling discussed his plans for EMS training for the upcoming year. This will be scheduled in conjunction with Operational Training (MT). Art will be standardizing first aid kits for the boats.   Art also informed members that it is possible he will hold a First Responder Class (40 hours).

FINANCE REPORT: Janet Heijens presented the upcoming budget. A motion was made and seconded to accept the budget. After discussion all members present voted to accept.

STAFF REPORTS: Staff reports appear in the current Fore and Aft.

FSO-AN/NS: Joseph Floyd reviewed Ed Stebner's report of 2008 ATON checking. Joe will be setting up a plan for a refresher course for aid verifiers.

FSO-IS: Harry Bruno announced that the ATON category is now entitled NS -Navigation Systems. He thanked all the members for getting their forms to him in a timely manner. He stated he entered 900 forms for a total of 18,500 hours for Flotilla 86.

FSO-MS: J.D.Harrison stated he will be concentrating on the AWW program this year.

FSO-PA: Al Bidwick thanked everyone for their help. He asked that members assist in spreading the word about our PE classes.

FSO-PB Judi Bidwick stated the directory has been emailed to all members. The Newsletter is online. She reminded members that anyone can submit an article for the Newsletter. If you don't have a computer let her know and she will arrange for you to receive a copy.

FSO-PE: Ruth Bruno said we registered 30 students for the BS&S class and will have registration for the Weekend Navigator Wednesday evening 1/7.

FSO-RBS> Janet Heijens is looking for members to assist in distributing materials.

FSO-VE Patrick Wheeler spoke as AFSO-VE. He announced that we have the 2009 decals. He and Rick Odato will hold a class for new VE members in February.

MENTOR: Patrick Wheeler has signed up eleven mentors at the last meeting. He has six new members who will need mentors and he will be getting people to work together. Anyone interested in mentoring please let him know.

FELLOWSHIP Diana Floyd reviewed plans for lunch boat trips. The first outing will be Wednesday, January 21 and we plan to go south to Rum Bay or Johnny Leverock's. Those interested in going aboard or driving please email her and let her know you plan to go. More information will follow.

Mary Wagner was sworn in as a new member of Flotilla 86
AWARDS:

3 yr certification coxswain: Lou Magyar

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2130.

Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Bruno, Secretary

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