TOPS

Another early morning but so worth it. Today we had a demonstration from the TOPS canine division showing us the dogs searching for drugs, and a demo of the dogs in attack mode too. (I wouldn't mess with these beasts, they are pretty vicious and found every drug planted so its lose lose naughty people!) It was Mary's birthday today, 21 again! and also changeover day from our host families so we moved up to Crystal Lake now.

I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our hosts for the last week, we have had a wonderful time and we look forward to seeing you all again.

Kids With Guns

Well it had to happen, the GSE Team finally were allowed to a police range. the place - Buffalo Grove PD, the time - well it was early & its the excuse we are all using if any of our shots missed the target! It's now I realise I only have 1 pic on my camera of us at the range...and its of me looking very american (both gun & gut!)

The Fireboat

In addition to our busy morning, we spent the afternoon visiting the Fireboat on Lake Michigan. Looks like a pretty good job if you enjoy fishing, but we reckon it could be pretty long shifts otherwise! We also saw the OEM centre, which is also home to the 911 dispatch for Chicago. Its pretty big & busy too, as you can imagine. That evening was the first GSE alumni meeting which had a range of past GSE teams who all said the same theing - GSE is GREAT, get your names down for furture visits!

Fireman Sam....I Mean Roger!!

Finally the GSE team have found their way out of the local pubs & are back to blogging duties!!! We went to the Chicago Fire Training Academy today and were given a fantastic tour by our guide John. We saw a number of the training facilities, including the smoke house and where it is rumoured that the Chicago fire started. After the academy, we went to Firehouse 42 inside the Loop where Roger felt the need to dress up (Must be the nightclub dancing Rog....sure it wasn't as a stripper??) Then lunch at Portillos - a Chicago institution so we are told, Italian Beef & Sausage was the order of the day.

Marge, Martha, Marcia

Well it is Glenview but it isn't the Fire Department. Here we are stood in the ER Ambulance Bay at Glenview Hospital.
The three ladies above delivered an interesting and broad presentation on Emergency Preparedness within the Hospital. Discussions included the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS, of medical supplies) and Pandemic Flu. There was a breakdown of the structures they fit within at a local level, state wide and nationally.
Marge, Martha and Marcia had collective responsibility spanning from the overall hospital preparedness, liaison with partners (inc training and exercising) and of course management of the ER. There was no George Clooney in this one but 3 very knowledgeable ladies. We hope to send them some info on cascade messaging via SMS, Email and new technologies as they embark on this. They used high technology dummies to test med students. They also ran a major exercise involving mass casualties and self presenters... something we are all too aware may occur in a CBRN type incident. Again, lots more than what we have noted but drop us an email if you want to know more.

Hostess with the mostest

A big thanks from Roger to his GSE Family in week 1. Mark, Terry and Family.
The team will surely be adding their own thank yous to everyone including the drivers, families, and Denny who has been our rock.... taking us to cool places together with Mark.

Cheers guys!

Couldn't organise a....... in a brewery

Enjoying our meal with St Charles and Batavia Rotary Club

Here the team enjoy a bit of R&R spending the evening at Paytons Roundhouse.

Micro brewery fanatics form an orderly queue... chocolate beer, pizza beer. This was a good evening. We also met up with some oldfriends and were winded and dined by the hospitable St Charles Rotary Club. They shouted a lavish meal and some of the team partied until the early hours to a live band. A magician got us in for free saving 60 dollars. good man.