September-October 2007
TECHNICAL QUIZ (answers at the end of the newsletter)
A. True or False: According to 49CFR, the cylinder redesignation “3AL” may only appear above the SP/E marking?
B. Which aluminum cylinders are authorized by DOT to be eddy current tested?
C. From where can you get a copy of current US Special Permits?
D. From where can you get a copy of Special Permits for authorized foreign cylinders?
E. Are SP6498 cylinders with a 1 inch opening and a beveled base authorized for continued service in the United States?
DEMA
It is just around the corner. DEMA will again be in Orlando, Florida, 31 October to 3 November 2007 and PSI/PCI will again be there in strength not only with our very popular booth, but also with a full spectrum of courses including at least two full VCI programs, Eddy Current and Valve Repair courses, and PSI/PCI Instructor Training programs to authorize you to teach the Eddy Current and Valve Repair Technician courses. And, of course, we will be again hosting our very popular Instructor Breakfast. The Instructor Breakfast will be at the PSI/PCI hotel (Residence Inn Orlando Sea World/International Center, 11000 Westwood Boulevard Orlando, FL 32821) on Thursday morning from 0730-0900. You don’t want to miss this one.
There will also be Instructor Qualification Courses for those of you who desire to teach the Eddy Current Technician and Valve Repair Technician courses. These will be held Friday night, 2 October 2007, at the PSI/PCI hotel (Residence Inn, Sea World) and will be consecutive so that you can attend both. We don’t yet know the rooms or the exact time but we will let you know at the Instructor Breakfast. As a prerequisite, you MUST attend the regular class during DEMA for each IQC you intend to attend. No exceptions. The cost for each of instructor qualifying course is $300 and that includes your attendance at the prerequisite course(s).
We will also be conducting a full spectrum of PSI/PCI courses for the general public, including a Spanish VCI course. The full schedule of other PSI/PCI courses is posted on our web site www.psicylinders.com.
IT IS PSI/PCI POLICY…
… that each of us teach AT LEAST the material in the VCI Core Program (2005). This material cannot be taught in fewer than 6 hours and for most of us it takes about 8 hours. You do have the latitude to ADD material to the core course and to rearrange the order in which the material is presented. You DO NOT have the authority to delete material. Even if you are only teaching SCUBA divers you must still cover SCBA inspection. Conversely, if you are teaching only fire fighters you must still cover solid wall cylinders. If you are advertising PSI/PCI training and are teaching a significantly shortened course and are not covering all required material you are in violation of standards.
We developed the Core program to both help you and to insure that all PSI/PCI students receive at least a minimum amount of information. You can use the presentation as is from you computer and projector or you can print out the slides and make overhead projector overlays (ugh). But please do not try to teach this program using only a whiteboard or blackboard or to teach from only handouts – you are just boring students to death.
I CAN NOW PROVE THE NEWSLETTER IS NOT BEING READ
I have often wondered just how many are really reading the newsletter. As we said before, we think that the answer is not many. So we contrived a test. In the last newsletter we snuck in this phrase:
“(For those of you who have read the newsletter this far we have a special reward. For the months of July and August 2007, if you will (1) register your students via the forms downloaded from the web site; (2) pay on-line by credit card; and (3) enter the phrase “Instructor Statuses” “immediately after the words VCI/VCIR” on the top line you will receive a $5 discount per new student you register -- that is $35 instead of the normal $40. This is a 12.5% savings just because you actually read the newsletter).”
Do you want to know how many instructors took advantage of this generous offer? Two -- Gaylin Gates and Don Kinney. We can think of only two reasons why those who taught courses in July and August did not take advantage of this opportunity to increase their profits.
The first is that money, apparently, does not mean anything. Perhaps there is no perceived value in reducing business costs? Perhaps PSI/PCI courses are so lucrative that saving an added $5 per student is not worth the effort? If PSI/PCI courses are this lucrative, perhaps PSI/PCI should share in this largess by raising our rates for certifications and materials?
The second reason is, of course, that you did not know about it because you did not read the newsletter – or at least did not read it carefully.
I will tell you now that there is no such hidden offer in this newsletter. However, there may well be one in selected future editions. Keep you eyes open.
THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
It is not often that we get to congratulate one of our own for selflessly saving the life of another. With this issue we are able to extend our heartiest congratulations to Ed Kasten. (PSI/PCI #003). That handsome young boy in the picture at left owes his life to the timely intervention of two American Red Cross trained persons, one for recovering him from the bottom of a swimming pool and the other, Ed, for administering highly effective CPR. Successful CPR is closely linked to the timeliness of its administration. Ed was exactly where he needed to be when his skills were required – a true hero.
We have printed the full American Red Cross article at the end of this letter. Please read it. It is heartwarming.
CGA 540 VALVES
There have been a number of failures of the CGA 540 valve which is used on many oxygen storage cylinders. The problem is that it is splitting at the forging seam. We have been advised that there is a pending recall of these valves, although no recall has yet been issued.
As PSI/PCI instructors we can promote ourselves and PSI/PCI in our community by helping agencies and organizations that are using oxygen cylinders to determine if theirs is a CGA 540 valve and to apprise them of the potential problem.
INDICATE THE CLASS DATE WHEN PAYING FOR CLASSES
PSI / PCI instructors are doing a great job using the online payment system for classes! We need your assistance in aligning payments with classes by including the date of the class you are paying for in the comments section of the online order so we know which class to pay for. Several classes are taught within days of each other with payments submitted in advance with no date of class listed…..please post the date!
TECHNICAL QUIZ ANSWERS
Ed Kasten has been volunteering for the Red Cross for 39 years, nine of which have been with the Mile High Chapter. He has volunteered from Puerto Rico to Hawaii and many places in between, noting the differences and the diverse populations served through-out the years. His Red Cross experience started in 1964 when he became a Junior Lifeguard through Red Cross certification. Three years later he became a Senior Lifeguard and finally in 1969 a Water Safety Instructor. Currently Ed’s experience serves the Mile High Chapter and the community. He volunteers as an instructor trainer for the Red Cross and utilizes his Water Safety skills managing two community pools. Throughout the years Ed has entered the pool to assist distressed or active drowning swimmers many times. However this experience was particularly meaningful, perhaps due to the animated personality of Cole, the 6 year old boy rescued.
Ed was working at the Pradera Community Center helping 16 year old lifeguard, Jessie Thompson, teach a beginning swim class. The swim group was split up, half with Ed and the other half floating in the shallow end of the pool with Jessie. Cole the rambunctious boy suddenly was not in sight. Jessie asked his grandmother sitting on the pool deck if she had seen Cole. After a response of no Jessie dove underwater looking for the boy. She saw him submersed near the brown line marking the deep-end. Jessie took action pulling Cole out of the water and onto the warm cement. Noticing that he was not breathing she tilted his head hoping to open his airway and gave one rescue breath after yelling to Ed for help. Ed, having just finished teaching his group of children, swam over to the unconscious boy whose clammy skin was a tint of blue. With an irregular pulse and an obstructive airway filled with water (repertory distress), Ed began a series of 5-2 chest compressions to breathe ratio on the child. “Come on Cole, we need you” were the words Ed repeated over and over while trying to pump the water out of his body. After a minute and a half of chest compressions and encouraging words, Cole started to respond with labored breathing. Ed turned Cole on his side to the recovery position hoping the boy would continue to gain strength. For the next minute and a half Ed kept talking, offering firm, and encouraging words, while watching each of Cole’s subtle movements. The Fire Department arrived, and Ed stepped aside for the Emergency Personal to continue caring for the boy. Jessie and Ed heard a loud cry from Cole at the top of the stairs while exiting the pool area. The greatest sound they had ever heard! As Cole left for the hospital, in the rescue team ambulance, with the EMS team, he began to flail and kick moving all four limbs which brought a sigh of relief to Ed Kasten and Jessie Thompson.
Cole’s fearlessness and determination persevered as he returned to swim class the very next day. Since the incident Ed Kasten has been working with Cole one on one in order to overcome his slight fear of swimming, especially in places where he can’t reach the bottom. Cole’s favorite parts about swimming are the various animals he can pretend to be. His favorite is to swim like a frog, showing whoever will listen how he “ribbit-ribbits” and hops around whether in the pool or on dry land. As for Ed, he continues to volunteer for the Red Cross, to work at community pools and approaches forty years of service in Red Cross Water Safety.
PSI, Inc. 16932 Woodinville-Redmond Rd., Ste A-210, Woodinville, WA 98072Phone: 425-398-4300 FAX: 425-482-0160
Email: Home Page: http://www.psicylinders.com