Iowa Red Cross develops manual for emergency workers

Two Iowa Red Cross volunteers have developed a one thousand page “how to” manual to help emergency response workers prepare for disaster. Peter Teahen is the funeral home director from Cedar Rapids who co-authored the manual. He says there are some very specific chapters with broad detail.It took Teahen and Lisa La Due four-and-a-half years to write the manual. Then, he approached Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids about establishing a National Mass Fatalities Institute. He says that’s been in the process for the last year and a half. Ironically, the final papers for the Institute were signed the morning of September 11th.He’s now developing a teacher’s manual and student materials to match the huge one thousand page volume.Teahen has helped in the response to over 30 national disasters, including the September 11 attack on New York City.