The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2008 - Couplings Fall-Winter Newsletter �uu�lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllliu�� 4 ""'�ii�lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllui��°"' """�ii�IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVii�""" iuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuillllll IIIIu�, utl Iu�. mll Iu, u IiVll�lm. .uulll�l IIV� CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillillillillillillilliillillillillillilliillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillililI Tower 1 . . . Reporting for Duty! By Tom Kiurski It isn't very often that we get a new Some things that Livonia has done to received $600,000 in grant money for fire truck, with price tags running into help reduce accidents include large the purchase of the truck. Livonia was the hundreds of thousands. But in amounts of reflective striping on our responsible only for the remaining 2008, Livonia Fire & Rescue took apparatus, more visible lighting from amount, which was a little less than delivery of a new American LaFrance all angles and not responding with a $200,000. Not a bad deal anyway aerial tower...Tower 1. The apparatus full "lights and siren" response to calls you look at it. Our apparatus division is quite spectacular, but the story of that are minor in nature, such as has been busy getting the truck ready how we got the truck is worthy of note. outdoor dumpster fires and trash. for the road, and training on this piece of apparatus is going on. This truck This shiny red beauty was actually the can reach 100 feet in the air with its The truck it replaced is an 85 foot demo model for American LaFrance, ladder, and can pump out 1,000 Sutphen aerial tower that was touring the fire shows for all to see the gallons of water a minute! purchased new in 1976. That is well newest advances in fire truck before most of us started on the job, technology. The demo status actually The new Tower 1 will replace our and it was at a time when lime yellow helped us afford the truck, but what aging truck, taking its place at fire fire trucks were all the rage. The study really put us in the market is when station #3, on Seven Mile and Wayne that told us to paint our fire trucks this one of our firefighters, Phil Kamm, Roads. Stop by any of our open lime yellow color stated that red was wrote a grant for the truck and house events and take a look at it. too dark, close to black on the light spectrum. The researchers concluded that this was the reason the fire trucks ] were involved in accidents. As fire apparatus moved to the color now known as "slime lime", we found our accident rate had not changed. '%j, While the color IS more visible, most people did not know WHAT the lime �rhtim � yellow thing was up ahead. The truth is that we respond quickly to fires and major medical emergencies, and sometimes accidents result. With the new information about no change in accidents, most fire departments have I switched back to the traditional red color. f "From the Chief' ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ By. Shadd Whitehead "111ne1rgyIIIIII IIIIIII 111111 Thanks to all readers of"Couplings"for their continued positive feedback about our 111111111111' 1111111111111 publication. It is nice being able to deliver messages from your fire department in this By Tom Kiurski format. Energy drinks are becoming the pick-me-up You will be happy to know that we have replaced of choice for today's younger generation. � IIII Y� Y 9 our 1976 tower truck with a much newer model. IIII This tower, called Tower 1, is a 2006 model that These energy drinks have very appealing names, such as Red Bull, Rock Star and was used by the manufacturer to showcase their product line, and was mainly paid for with Piranha, have heavy doses of caffeine, umllll Federal grant money. sugar and a mixture of other herbs and ingredients. The mixing of these energy As always, if you have any comments, drinks with alcohol is another dangerous suggestions or questions, please feel free to contact us by mail, the telephone (734)466- mixture taking place.As both are strong the internet. Thanks for diuretics, dehydration is a possibility. There 2444 or through reading! is one death blamed on this practice, with others under investigation. s� Many of these drink contain the drug ephedrine, a stimulant occasionally used in decongestants. Combined with caffeine, Causes VIII IIII °°°°°° ephedrine may be linked to serious heart problems. Some high schools have banned ` Across America, there is a home fire energy drinks following fainting episodes by somewhere nearly once every minute. frequent drinkers of energy drinks. Fires have many causes, but most of them � fall into some broad basic categories: Another common energy drink ingredient is cooking, electrical, smoking, heating taurine, an amino acid. One can of Red Bull equipment and children playing with has about as much taurine in it as 500 matches and lighters are some of the glasses of red wine. Other energy drinks main causes of fires. Hundreds of people die each year from the contain guarane, or extract from its seeds. last one. Two of your most important safety tasks in the home are The effects of all these ingredients may to make sure children never have access to matches or lighters, have serious consequences if used and to educate them on the dangers of fire and how they're regularly. started. These two things cannot be stressed enough. It's absolutely critical that you never leave matches or lighters where Still other energy drinks, such as Red Line, children can get to them. If you smoke, you should never set your come in the familiar 10 ounce container, but lighter down on an end table, coffee table or anywhere that small list on their side panel that it contains two hands can reach them. Children often think about matches and servings. While many of us grew up on lighters being associated with fun, such as bonfires, and birthday Mountain Dew and Jolt cola, the energy candles. Let children help in small ways around fire, like having drinks available today take that to a much them keep the candle area clear of flammables.As they get older, higher level. Use common sense and give them more responsibility. Keeping matches and lighters out of moderation if you allow your children to the realm of"never" and moving them into an understandable consume energy drinks. timeframe, such as"when you turn twelve" keeps a goal in sight ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ for children. 2 Schod�� 's Safdty's Out,''.. The photo montage on this page is a collection ofhotos taken at our 2008 r r' r p � �"��; �" � iii �' "School's Out, Safety's In" Open House We hold two open house events each IN year at fire station # 3; one in June and 1 G' it /W IcrJ the other in October. We also participate ";,,,,,✓G'Jf„". irtrrRr:w /�, i " �� f �% in an annual event called "Passport to Safety" held in September of each year at Laurel Park Place Mall. Call us at � (734) 466-2444 for more information on dates and times for these events. We would love to see you there! , lo,� r lull�Dual umul. 14 Ak "J Wli �U ril f m` 1 f� ��/IIIIIIWr ✓ r � I l � ;' � fur r;r �,; � ! �jll�a w n' i ffr'/�,'r�,� ,err � i /�%� J IIS! ✓ ,i I I li Vm r , IVIYIV� ��;u't 3 C A sal"Ife home ��b you��r hands �nl " H 0 1'v"k E SAFETY COUNCIL" ELECTRICAL SAFETY CHECKLIST SMALL APPLIANCE SAFETY Safe Lighting Look for the Underwriters Use the right light bulbs in all Laboratories (UL) mark on the lamps and light fixtures. label when you buy electrical U" (i appliances (such as toaster, 0IFF/F77/1 Look inside the light fixture. Find microwaves or coffee makers) a label that tells ou which li ht and cords. �o i/ ,.Y 9 bulb size (wattage) is right for the fixture. , Unplug toaster ovens, coffee l' makers and other small Safe Electrical Systems appliances after using them. The electrical outlet in the bathroom should have a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). mm� This is a tool that protects you from a dangerous shock when 9 / � water and electricity come together.An electrician can install "' Keep appliances dry and away a GFCI for you. from water at all times. All electrical outlets and switches should be covered by "faceplates". All electrical cords should be in ' Don't plug in too many appliances good condition. at once. Don't tie or knot cords. Don't let Call an electrician if your lights furniture sit on cords. flicker, or if your power goes out a lot. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 011111fif uuuuuuuu uuuuuuum 1ff (, �.......... r This patriotic box is our newest piece of equipment for Livonia Fire & Rescue. It has no wheels, cans squirt no water and cannot carr a single firefighter. Its q Y 9 9 purpose is to give residents a way to properly dispose of used American flags. t �` The drop box is located at Fire Administration (Headquarters), off Farmington Road just south of Five Mile. It is located between the double entrance doors ons, the north side of the building, and can be accessed between 8 AM and 4:30 PMS on weekdays. ' Residents simply drop their flags off into the basket. When the basket is filled, the flags are taken and given a proper disposal. Feel free to stop by and dispose 'J 'i VVV � � SII�I Ir� 11Vuum�V of your flags the right way. 4 Can What do IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ed��room IIIIIIII III IIIIIIIIIIIII �p these W��th ��tems have ��b IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Common Sense common IIIIIIII By Tom Kiurski Bedrooms should act as a safe haven; a place where you can By Tom Kiurski go, relax and forget about the worries of the world. Reading a They are as inviting as toys, but are fires book, watching some television or catching a nap can be great waiting to happen. The pictured items are ALL feelings. Since most home fires occur between the hours of 10 a new wave of items called novelty lighters. PM and 6 AM, while most people are asleep, this can give us a Novelty lighters come in colorful shapes and "wake up call"for bedroom fire safety. designs that are meant to draw children and are inconspicuous enough to fool many Some of the common sense tips I have given out over the years adults. Therein lies the problem; kids want will go a long way in preventing fires in the bedroom. Making them and parents don't see a problem with sure fabrics like curtains, bedding material and clothing are kept them. at least three feet away from heat sources like portable space heaters, not smoking in bed and using large candle holders if a Most novelty lighters are made in Asia, and candle is used by adults go a long way in keeping the bedroom appear in convenience stores, smoke shops a safe place. Check the electrical cords on lamps, electric and dollar stores where you shop. Usually blankets, space heaters and never overload electrical outlets. located near cash registers, children want them and many uneducated parents see no While those tips can be great reminders for adults, the adults problem with them. But look closer! also need to make sure children have safety considered for them. Many children have no problem getting matches and Novelty lighters come in cute shapes and lighters, going into their bedrooms and starting a fire. Since their characters, such as cookies, dolphins and young minds may not know the dangers of that small fire, they vehicles. Many also have flashing lights and may take inappropriate actions, like hiding under the bed or in sound effects. Take a look at the picture. One the closet.A smoke alarm in the bedroom of young children is a novelty lighter is shaped like a camera. must. If an infant is in a crib, they need the protection of a Another looks like a real cell phone, complete smoke alarm, because they may not be aware of the smoke with ringing noise. Imagine what might coming from an electrical outlet. happen when children put them up to their faces and press the button. Others look like Matches and lighters must be kept up and out of the reach of safety items, such as the fire extinguisher and children. If you suspect your child may search them out, then fire hydrant. Don't be fooled by these keep them locked up. Kids need to know that matches and dangerous items.Always be vigilant in what lighters are tools, not toys. Remind the child that they will be old you give children to play with. enough to use the matches and lighters properly one day, but they should only"help out" around fire when they are young. Put ; them in charge of blowing out dinner candles and helping watch younger siblings around fire.As they get older, they can take on added responsibility. Additional safety tips include having working smoke alarms inside and outside of bedrooms, to give the earliest warning possible of fire in the home. Smoke alarms should be tested �r every month, and batteries need to be changed at least once a year. Units over ten years old should be replaced with new � � ones. If any Livonia resident needs a smoke alarm, stop by your nearest fire station to sign up for a free one(s). Enjoy your down time, and take a few moments to relax in your bedroom. Before you do that, take a few minutes to ensure the ,� �„ area is safe. Then, relax some time away! Ilk „IIIIII 5 y he G��rcusIIIIIIIIII gasoline. The big top tent had just been coated with 1,800 Ib of paraffin and 6,000 US gallons of gasoline. By Tom Kiurski The flames spread rapidly due to this coating, and many were burned from the melting paraffin mixture which rained down on them. The fiery tent r collapsed in about eight minutes according to eyewitness survivors, SONNtrapping hundreds of spectators beneath it. i i r � Because at least two of the exits were blocked by the chutes used to bring the large felines in and out of the tent, people trying to escape could not bypass them. Some died JJ rF Iv from injuries sustained after leaping H ; / ! NAS'/•, - ��ttiur�ri %% '- �i !% from the tops of the bleachers in hopes they could escape under the m u� sides of the tent, though that method of escape ended up saving more r people than it killed. Others died after being trampled by other spectators, �V✓oP,,, ��oou � �I with some asphyxiating underneath It was a hot summer of 1944 in Fire deaths were 168 and treated the piles of people who had fallen Hartford, Connecticut. The Ringling injury estimates are over 700 people. down over each other. Brothers and Barnum and Bailey The number of actual injuries is Circus is in town, and with many of believed to be higher than those Most of the dead were found in piles, the men away fighting World War II, it figures, since many people were some three bodies deep, at the most seemed a nice distraction to many. seen that day heading home in shock congested exits.A small number of The estimated crowd of 8,000 without seeking treatment in the city. people were found alive the assembled under the Big Top to 100 of the dead were older than 15. bottoms of these piles, protected tected watch "The Greatest Show on Earth". The only animals in the big top at the the bodies that were otop them time were the big cats that had just when the burning big too p ultimately The fire began as a small flame finished performing when the fire fell down on those still trapped about twenty minutes into the show, started. The big cats were herded beneath it. on the southwest side wall of the through the chutes leading from the tent, while the Great Wallendas (later performing cages to several cage When going out to enjoy a movie or renamed the Flying Wallendas)were wagons, and were unharmed except dinner ata restaurant, take note of on. The Bandleader is said to be the for a few minor burns. The cat chutes the exits in the building. Too often, person who first spotted the flames, were intended to give the audience people tend to go to the main and immediately directed the band to an "up-close" look at the cats, but entrance, bypassing other available play"Stars and Stripes Forever", the harmed patrons by blocking many of exits along the way. Do not panic, tune that traditionally signaled them from the main exit. The cause and crawl low under smoke to that distress to all circus personnel. The of the fire remains unproven. nearest exit. Once outside, do a Ringmaster urged the audience not Investigators at the time believed it family inventory to make sure to panic and to leave in an orderly was caused by a carelessly flicked everyone in your group made it out fashion, but the power failed and he cigarette but others suspected an safely. If not, notify first arriving fire could not be heard. Circus arsonist. units.Afew minutes of planning can performers and the ushers be a lifesaver! unsuccessfully tried to maintain some The common method used to order as the panicked crowd tried to waterproof tents back then was with flee the big top. a mixture of paraffin wax and 6 /%/ % �% Yl a / vH" VIII II�I/Y/1111111/rrl,I� Cd��A r: uuuuuuum ��;, By Tom Kiurski „l Livonia Firefighters brave cold weather every winter to train on ice rescues, and they do it all for you! It is I, important for residents to act safely when near ice. But every once in a while, the unexpected happens, and that is what we train for. Noone expects to fall through the ice into the freezing cold water below, but it happens. It doesn't take long for muscles to weaken and the effects of Was it cold outside? You bet! But to keep sharp on our the cold to set it. While it is important to get your Livonia skills makes it worth the effort. Fire Captains Tim Holt and firefighters activated by having someone call 911 to alert Jim Montgomery have been involved in technical rescues us, there are some things that you may be able to do for much of their career, and did a great job putting the while waiting. First, can you reach out to the trapped class on for us. While we hope you are never faced with a person with a branch, broom handle, hockey stick or cold water emergency, the order of trying to give something else nearby? If not, there may be some rope or assistance is always"Reach (with an object), Throw other flotation device you can throw to help keep the (flotation or rope), Row (in water) and then Go". If you are victim afloat. The last resort is to go out after the victim. not equipped to handle any of those steps, you need to Over half of the victims rescuers go after are those who stop and leave the rescue to the professionals. Call 911 went out after someone or something else. and help us find them and give us as much information as you can. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliilliillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillililI Anothe��r 1111111 IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIMu��rd�� IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL ��4o6��al. By Tom Kiurski Recently, we hired an artist (Peggy Kerwan)to paint another mural on the inside wall of our fire station # 3, where we hold our open house events. The idea was to look like the poster for the movie "Backdraft", where the firefighter was silhouetted in flames passing through a doorway. This was explained to the artist we contacted, and she knew exactly how to make this picture on our computer screen come to life in a ten-foot tall interactive mural. � The flames and doorway were h painted on the wall, while the firefighter was cut out of wood and painted to look like a firefighter in full gear. With a face cut out, all open house attendees have to do is stand behind the firefighter prop and snap the picture. The end result is that the p erson is now the star of the firefighting show. If you would like to picture yourself in this mural, stop bY the fire station during any of our 1 � Open House events. 1 , l� 7 Livonia Fire & Rescue BULK RATE 14910 Farmington Road U.S. POSTAGE [NGSLivonia, Michigan 48154 PAID Permit No. 54 CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT Livonia MI Shadd Whitehead, Chief Tom Kiurski, Editor "IIID"'A"'"" '1111 IPS I�Y S U IIIIZ A IIID CIIIII'IIII Use Candles III �uiouliuioi q` — — �inllAmuoi�� ' FIRE .01 PREVENTION ith TEAM FFOR car�� ee � �� it I� . ��:�,;�u,.� IN go oII'tt' bbw Li i" J 00 �u e, uu?+µu.'w a u+SII trade.imrck k gid(A fll"e*IIHII,Ih uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIII�0101011111111111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII