No. 230 March 2002
FEDERAL ELECTRONIC TITLES For our purposes, “Title” signifies the title of a federal source of information, and “Electronic” means online, i.e. on the website of a Federal agency, but this simplicity ends quickly. (1) If you search the Internet, with any of several search engines, you will find electronic titles. If you do a subject search in the FirstGov web site ((URL), you will find electronic titles. (2) If you go to the “Electronic Publications List” found at: http://www.gl.iit.edu/govdocs/internet/internetpubs.html which is the Government Documents web site at Illinois Institute of Technology, you will find a cumulative list of federally issued list of electronic titles. This site lists each title by issuing Agency and its SUDOC (Superintendent of Documents) Class Number. The agency listing would supplement any prior search of the agency’s website, and the SUDOC listing could possibly identify the electronic existence of an otherwise inaccessible paper publication. (3) The Printing Act of 1895 marked the first issue of the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (in paper) identifying and publicizing (the) paper Federal publications from 1895 to the present time. In 1995/96, 100 years later, the Government Printing Office (GPO) created Browse Electronic Titles (BET), which, in July 2000 was renamed New Electronic Titles (NET). The NET is a weekly list of the new electronic titles which are now disseminated solely online as part of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). Yet, what is not announced is that a NET title may have a paper version, yet to be found, which may be significant for a researcher. The titles that first appear in NET will be archived in the NET Archive (URL). (4) There can be “fugitive” electronic titles found in an (4) Agency’s website not included in the FDLP or the NET. Since all four electronic titles resources have strengths and limitations, the researcher must learn, the simplicity of searching for an electronic title seems to be gone. Yet, these four easily accessible resources for identifying electronic titles are useful for beginning a search.
FIRE STATISTICS A hot topic with so few sources. Surprisingly, the Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2000, 120th edition (C 3.134:2000) has only four tables of a few statistics about fire statistics. Table No. 135 includes Deaths caused by fire, and Nos. 377, 378, 279 cover fire caused property loss and civilian deaths. The compilers of the Statistical Abstract did not include a major compilation issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Published since 1978, fire data comes from the National Fire Incident Reporting System, the NFPA annual survey of fire departments, the Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Fire in the United States 1989-1998, Twelfth Edition issued in August 2001, is 260 pages of data in seven chapters covering fire incidences, injuries, property loss, and deaths. There are data tables, about 130 (data) graphs, and narrative information about age, sex, property loss and damage, and fire circumstances. There are state level profiles and national data as well as a special topics chapter for children, adults, and aged-related data accessible by a 7-page subject index. The current edition is available as PDF file on the U.S. Fire Administration website at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/usfapubs/pubs_display.cfm?p_id=397. As of 2002, this electronic title has been included in the Federal Depository Library Program under Item No. 216-A-2 with the PURL (Persistent Uniform Resource Locator) http://purl.access.gop.gov/GPO/LPS16395. The 9th to 11 editions are also available at the National Fire Data Center Publications web site (http://www.usfa.fema.gov/nfdc/reports.htm ) as are other fire data/information titles. The National Fire Data Center site is a noteworthy supplement to the Statistical Abstract.
AMERICA’S NATIONAL WARNING SYSTEM 2002 On September 11, 2001, when terrorists used airplanes to destroy the World Trade Center Buildings, damage the Pentagon, and almost do similar damage in western Pennsylvania, there was no warning. There was no warning, because there wasn’t anyone “on guard”. There was a warning system but it was not designed for terrorism (see next article). In reaction, President Bush created the Office of Homeland Security. On March 12, 2002, the Office of Homeland Security issued a press release Gov. Ridge Announces Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020312-1.htm. The Attorney General will open 45-day comment period for all government officials, law enforcement officers, and the American public to review a proposed warning system. Ninety days after the conclusion of the comment period, the Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Homeland Security will present a final warning system to the President for approval. The Attorney General will develop a system for conveying any of Five Threat Conditions and relevant Protective Measures information to Federal, State, and Local officials, and the private sector. The Threat Conditions can be declared for the entire nation, or for a specific geographic area, functional or industrial sector. Each of the (proposed) five color-coded levels of risk of terrorist attack includes a set of Protective Measures. The levels are (1) Low Condition, Green signifies low risk, (2) Guarded Condition, Blue signifies general risk, (3) Elevated Condition, Yellow signifies significant risk, (4) High Condition, Orange signifies high risk, and (5) Severe Condition, Red signifies severe risk. This Press Release includes an email address through which comments may be submitted directly to the Attorney General’s Office. This new warning system is the latest version of America’s warning systems. They all began with Paul Revere and his light(s) warning the colonists of the arrival of British Troops.
AMERICA’S ALERT SYSTEMS HISTORY The history of America’s warning systems started when President Harry Truman established the CONELRAD (Control of Electromagnetic Radiation) communication system in 1951. This was the first national alerting system. The President’s Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization issued Leaflet No. 6 CONELRAD 640 [or] 1240 on your radio in 1960 (Pr 34.758:6). CONELRAD was America’s solution to any communists’ threats of interference with governmental emergency communication. (Communist Penetration of Radio Facilities, CONELRAD –Communications, Part 1, Hearings…August 23, 24, 1960, Y 4.Un1/2:C73/116/pt 1., Depository item 1026, and Part 2 was issued in 1961 as [87th Congress] House Report 1283, Depository Item 1008-A). The CONELRAD system used two radio frequencies to allow the President to address the American public in event of war, war threats, or grave national emergencies from 1951 to 1963. In 1964 the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) replaced the CONELRAD system. January 1964 is the date of the first edition of Basic Emergency Broadcast System Plan, (SUDOC NO.) and then the 1st revision, effective August 4, 1967 was issued jointly by the Civil Defense Office (D 119.8/3:E-4.1, Depository Item 320-B-3) and the Federal Communications Commission (CC 1.2:Em3/3/967, Item 285). The old superseded editions of the Code of Federal Regulations Title 47, Part 11, Emergency Broadcast System, from 1964 through 1994 will describe the content and operations of the EBS system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) replaced the Emergency Broadcast System in 1995. The EAS was designed as a joint government industry message system, to keep up with the technological advances in radios, wireless phones, television cable, satellites, and NOAA weather radio, EAS will allow the President to speak to the American public in time of a national emergency. In the “Emergency Broadcast System, Final Rule” Federal Register v. 59, No. 248, December 28, 1994, pages 67090-67103, the EAS replaces the EBS effective January 27, 1995. In “Emergency Broadcast/Alert System, Final Rule” Federal Register, v. 60, No. 214 November 11, 1995, pages 55996-56000 provides information about the new features and requirements of the EAS. The “Emergency Alert System (EAS)”, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, Parts 0, 11, 73, and 76, 2001 Edition, (AE 2.106/3:47/P.0-19/2001) and read Saving Lives, With an All-Hazard Warning Network issued in December 1999, by the Department of Agriculture, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the United States Department of Commerce provides information about the current National Warning System which will be complemented or replaced by President Bush’s new Homeland Security Advisory System. To sign-up for the electronic newsletter and learn how one may link up with the EAS, visit the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Facts web page “The Emergency Alert System (EAS)” http://www.fcc.gov/cib/consumerfacts/eas.html.
FIREFIGHTERS DEATHS Historically Hollywood and the film industry have brought to the public awareness that law enforcement officers die in the line of duty. Firefighters whether in the heart of Brooklyn or in the mountains of Montana also have an equally hazardous occupation and die in the line of duty. In 2001 there were 441 firefighters who died while on-duty. 383 firefighters died in the World Trade Center disaster and 98 died elsewhere in the U.S. Annual firefighter fatality data for 1977 to 2001 is found in the United State Fire Administration's 2001 press USFA Releases Preliminary Firefighter Fatality Statistics for 2001 (http://www.usfa.fema.gov/about/press/02-004.htm). The data shows a low of 75 deaths in 1992 and a high of 157 in 1977. In each of the 18 of those 24 years (1977-2000) over 100 firefighters died, and in only six of the years did under 100 died. Two drowned during a water rescue, 14 died in wildfire related incidents, 2 in a mid-air collision while flying to fight wildfires, etc. Annual fatality data 1977 to 2000 found in the United State Fire Administration's 2001 press USFA Releases Preliminary Firefighter Fatality Statistics for 2001 (http://www.usfa.fema.gov/about/press/02-004.htm) shows a low of 75 deaths in 1992 and a high of 157 in 1977. In each of the 18 of those 24 years (1977-2000) over 100 firefighters died, and in only six of the years did under 100 die.
SOME PATCHES OF MEDICAL DISTINCTION Did you know that for those people, in the United States, born before 1971
received a smallpox "patch of distinction" AKA vaccination? The smallpox patch, which Doctors stopped administering in
1971, would be “found” on the upper arm or leg. It was actually a small round (piece) of scar tissue from the
doctor’s having scratched the skin with a needle (or sharp instrument) and left some smallpox vaccine to be absorbed into the body.
technology has created new medical transdermal patches to administer drugs through the skin’s surface. The Patches, Pumps
and Timed Release: New Ways to Deliver Drugs by Marian Segal at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/consumer/CON00112.html
tells us that some drugs that have the right properties to penetrate the skin and are potent enough to be effective at low doses
can be delivered transdermally (through the skin) are now administered through Skin Patches. Scopolamine Patch was the first
transdermal patch approved by the FDA in 1979 (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/698_surg.html). The Scopolamine
patch was approved in December 1979 to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness, and again on
Oct. 27, 1997, for the additional indication of preventing nausea and vomiting during or after surgery. For women,
“Skin Patch Replaces Testosterone” found at http://www.fda.gov/fdac/departs/196_upd.html is patch that can be placed
on a variety of body sites to boost testosterone levels. Approved by the FDA on September 29, 1995 it is known as
New Androderm (Testosterone Transdermal System). It also relieves symptoms of both primary hypogonadism (disorders of
the testes) and secondary hypogonadism (disorders of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus area of the brain). Information
on the “Diabetes Patch” is being researched as explained in “Overcoming Juvenile Diabetes With a Little Planning and
High-Tech Tools” FDA Consumer V. 34, No. 4, July-August 2000 pages 28-is found at
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/400_diab.html. Liboderm is the remedy for “Shingles: An Unwelcome Encore”
by Evelyn Zamula in FDA Consumer, V. 35, No. 3, May-June, 2001 http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/301_pox.html
is another remarkable patch. Most everyone knows about the nicotine patch, nicotine transdermal system developed as a
tobacco withdrawal aid and has been available since 1992. This patch provides nicotine through the skin and prevents
style continued damage to the lungs. For details, see Which Nicotine Replacement Product Appeals to You? , the second article
on the FDA web page at http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1997/797_smoke.html. There is now a contraceptive patch,
styleOrtho Erva and the FDA Approves First Hormonal Contraceptive Skin Patch, FDA Talk Paper T01-58, dated November
20, 2001 found at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2001/ANS01119.html.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE CELL PHONE USE POLICY On March 1, 2002 the General Services Administration issued GSA
Bulletin FMR B-2 “Motor Vehicle Management” in the Notices Section of the Federal Register, V. 67, No. 41, March 2, 2002,
page 9543-9544 (AE 2.106:67/41). The Bulletin is intended for the “Heads of Federal Agencies” and presents “9 points
and Attachment A” addressing the “Use of Hand-held Wireless Phones while Driving Motor Vehicles Owned or Leased
by the Federal Government”. The Bulletin is effective as of March 1, 2002 and is in effect until specifically cancelled. The
points include specific use and liability policies, reference to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration accidents
statistics and phone use studies publications. “Attachment A-Cellular Phone Safe Driving Tips”, which is worth reading,
is a “little bit of common sense” for those who don’t have any. The GSA also plans to use future Bulletins to keep the
agencies abreast of current research and information related to the use of phones or any other devices while driving.
This GSA Bulletin FMR Bulletin B-2 (Wireless Phone Use in U.S. Government Vehicles), dated March 4, 2002 is also on the
GSA web site at http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/content/news_content.jsp?contentOID=120630&contentType=1003&PMVP=1&S=1
April 27, 2002
http://www.nku.edu/~yannarella/news0203.html