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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 - Couplings Spring-Summer Newsletter Illuui�lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllliullll ON "'Illll IVII"" m. mll .Vl mul m. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillillillillillillilliillillilillillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillilliillillillillillillillillillillillillillillilliillillililI CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT uuuuuul IIIIIIIII VIII 111111 F uuuul o��r the ca���l p��reve���rillt IIII Iie woles''t outcome, By Chris Furstenau Oftentimes when we plan and discuss is big enough to fit almost everything When assembling this kit, get the safety in the home, we consider such you need,yet small enough to easily whole family involved. You should plan things as smoke alarms, carbon carry around. If you should have to for enough supplies to last a couple of monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, evacuate your house, it is portable and days. Be creative. If you are not going possibly even an escape route and fits readily in most vehicles. Don't to evacuate and you are stranded in meeting place should our home catch forget the lid! your home, will you be able to stay fire. While all these are very good warm for three days with no power? ideas and critical to keeping our Inside the box, pack a good flashlight Do you have enough clean drinking families safe, there are so many other with extra batteries, a radio with extra water for your whole family if the water components to further enhance our batteries(you can also find radio/ system is disrupted?Can you prepare health and well-being—items that, flash I ig ht/lantern combinations), a first meals to feed everyone with no when assembled and are readily aid kit, some basic tools(adjustable microwave? No refrigerator? No stove/ available to us if the situation should wrench, pliers, regular and Phillips head oven? Do I have my insulin? Do I have arise, could be the difference between screwdriver), a blanket, bottled water, my high blood pressure medication? life and death. nonperishable food, a can opener,toilet Does the baby have diapers, formula, paper, hand sanitizer, waterproof and bottles? A Disaster Supply Kit for the home is matches and/or flints, cooking Sternos something that most families—mine (you know those little cans of fire that Planning for the worst scenario often included until recently—do not have keep the buffet food warm), dust masks, prevents the worst outcome. Will you available in an easy-to-find, easy-to- a whistle, a list of important phone and your family be ready for the next use location, although most homes numbers, and a small jug of pure, massive power outage?Train have the majority of these items unscented, 5.25%household bleach. derailment with hazardous material somewhere already. Things like The bleach can be substituted with spill?Tornado?Terrorist attack? flashlights and batteries, radios, and water purification tablets. This is a very basic disaster supply kit. small rations of food and water can be There are hundreds of items that can found in almost everyone's home, but The first aid kit should include: a first be put together for a more advanced we can all do better. Let's all prepare aid manual, sterile dressings, gauze kit. This does not intend to plan for for the next emergency now—before pads, moistened towelettes, petroleum every disaster, but rather it is intended everyone is scrambling around at the jelly, latex gloves, scissors, tweezers, for some possible scenarios that can last minute when, in reality, it's too late. safety pins, triangle bandages, pain occur here in SE Michigan. If nothing relief pills (Aspirin or non-aspirin), else, it's just good peace of mind to You can start by buying—if you don't syrup of ipecac, antacids, activated know that you will be ready in the already have one—a storage tote. charcoal, antibacterial ointment, and event something happens. These can be found at hardware any prescription medications should be stores, home improvement stores, readily available to grab if an Stay safe! Meijers, Target, etc.An 18 gallon size evacuation is imminent. r r "From the Chief" > w By: Shadd Whitehead By Tom Kiurski Welcome to our third issue of Couplings. We certainly work hard at this publication and Each year, Livonia firefighters reach out into the hope you walk away from it better informed. community in so many ways. If I were to pick ;Hmi) Our career firefighters, in addition to being out the ones that I think are the most fun, it certified firefighters and fire officers, are also won't take me long. It's the big events! We hold °°°°° licensed paramedics. Unlike many other two annual Open House events each year, that communities, the firefighters/paramedics who thousands come out and enjoy. start your emergency care will be the ones In June of each year, we hold our annual transporting you to the emergency rooms as "School's Out, Safety's In" open house.At well. this event, we try to load up kids and families with safety information to last all summer long. ull Please feel free to come to any of our At our annual Fire Prevention Week Open community events that we participate in...we House held in October, we focus on fire safety. would love the opportunity to talk to you! We also include at this event many different learning experiences which, in the past, have s� included vehicle extrication demonstrations, a medical helicopter visit, kitchen fire demonstrations, and Christmas tree burns. We try to mix in some fun and education for all Space Heater ages. Kids love to take part in our "Firefighter Dress Up" area, and operating a real fire hose with the assistance of real firefighters is Saf� Tl S always a highlight. We also have areas y p specially designed where kids can practice how to "Stop, Drop and Roll" if their clothes catch fire, and how to "Crawl Low Under Smoke" in Purchase electric space heaters that bear the mark of an one of our great props. Kids can also walk independent testing laboratory, such as UL, ETL, CSA, etc. through our giant smoke alarm, meet with Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything Sparky the Fire Dog, and watch our firefighters that can burn—including furniture, people, pets and window put on their full turnout gear with breathing treatments. apparatus. °( Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to m sleep. We are also at Laurel Park Place Mall every ` Supervise children and pets at all times when September for the "Passport to Safety" event, p,G a portable space heater is in use. 4 which has eight different learning stations. Never use space heaters to dry clothing or While we staff the Fire Safety learning station, blankets. iii other learning stations include computer/ Newer space heaters have "tip-over" internet safety, bicycle safety, food safety, switches that turn the unit off when choking and poisonings, to name a few. Each tipped over.Consider year we have major characters come out and replacing older meet kids, and a variety of other fun is always units with the newer in store. ones. Pencil us in, won't you? We love the opportunity to meet citizens in non-emergency situations. The way we look at it, preventing an injury or negative event is far better for all involved. Stay safe, and call us at (734) 466- 2444 for dates, times and locations. 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIII � uuuuuuu Illllllllllllllllu (IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIII IIIIII (IIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIEmma IIIIII 000000000m ry um d� l u mYll VYk"R°Vy'I'ILLI J P ) �s At All .......... u I U y I e e ..IIIIIII 6�haInces of II Iliiiii IIIIIII „ ....IIIIIII,,,,, °° 11: iI of f I 1 � Y Bike riding is a lot of fun, but accidents -. ..,u , <<» happen. Every year, about 300,000 uNma r r uwa tiDuu�a�NNYyJJ'Jy)"�)'J"' W �1I l/ V. kids go to the emergency department 's because of bike injuries. To help reduce your chances of being injured, wear a properly fitted bike helmet. It �' 1' should be worn level and cover your Your Livonia firefighters got a chance to practice a maneuver called the forehead. Don't tip it back so your "Head First Ladder Slide". While this would ONLY be used in an forehead is showing. The straps emergency situation, it is important to know it in case that time comes. We should always be fastened. If the took a donated house and set up a ladder to an upper window. Firefighters straps are flying, it's likely to fall off practice sliding out of the window as close to the bottom as possible, as your head when you need it most. heat rises in house fires. They then slid over the window sill and onto the Make sure the straps are adjusted so ladder. they're snug enough that you can't pull or twist the helmet around on your Strangely enough, two Minneapolis firefighters had to use this exact head. maneuver to get out of a situation just a week prior to our class, and it was caught on home video and we were able to watch it. This helps drive home Before heading out for the season, the importance of the training on this seldom used but possibly life saving give your bike a little check-up. Make maneuver. sure your seat, handlebars, and wheels fit tightly. Children must be checked while on their bikes each When was theIIIr year, as they tend to grow since the Iil ILII l previous fall. Check and oil the bike ""' chain, and make sure the brakes work properly before heading out for the Last month? Last year? r first time. Make sure the tires are Can't remember? properly inflated and not cracked. y Wearing bright clothes and putting If you're not sure your smoke alarms are reflectors on your bike also can help working, then how can you be sure you'll ms`s Y Y � you stay safe. It helps other people on be protected if a fire breaks out? Don't game 41 %� , the road see you.And if the see you, Yt' Y Y Y with your life and assume your smoke alarms are that means they're more likely to be working. Test each one, every month, so you'll know they'll be ready to careful around you. protect you and your family if there's a fire. Test your alarm for life. 3 good learning experience for all who witnessed it. "Culltllt��bg ""tech IIIIII We talked about the history of 8 Tom Kiurski airbags, which is quite a story in itself. By The original intent of the airbag was to replace the three-point harness (seat f belt), which occupants were not wearing in the numbers we had hoped. The airbag would inflate automatically, requiring the occupants to do nothing themselves. We also discussed their firing mechanisms, the « i newer technology of dual inflation modules, occupant-sensing airbag inflations, and the many locations for r s the modules were all discussed. The cars were inspected for the markings of where the airbags were located and how they are denoted in the vehicle. This class concluded with another I have lived in Michigan all my life. airbags. It is interesting to note that stunning visual, as our apparatus Michigan has many challenges (like the idea for the automobile seat belt division again came through and wondering what your monthly heating came out in 1955, and that idea was hooked up an airbag to deploy as we bill will be when your outside sold for$20.50 total. No royalties, all took positions to "watch"the event. temperatures never made it into the residuals, stocks, or dividends; just Watching may not be the best term to double digits for a month!), but is the cash. Most U.S. car use, as the whole inflation process home for all of us. The colors of fall manufacturers had standard front seat takes place in under a tenth of a are beautiful, the distinct changes of belts by 1964 and had added the seat second! seasons make a year fun. belts to the rear seats as standard equipment back in 1968. In future training classes with the All fire departments have to deal with vehicles, we turn them on their sides, vehicles that need to be stabilized and The standard "inertia"system of upside down and even parked ones cut open to remove our patients from, seatbelt operations is that during on top of others. This gave the but firefighters from "the car capital" heavy braking, the belts "lock" in firefighters challenging scenarios really need to be on the cutting edge. place, keeping occupants from where they had to first stabilize the When we had an opportunity to train moving too far from the seat. Newer vehicle (make sure it isn't going on some new Chrysler vehicles, we vehicles have a system that"fires" a anywhere while we are working on it), were thrilled. charge, pulling the occupant back into and then open the vehicle based on the seat. This charge makes a loud patient location and vehicle The first drill had firefighters pull up to "bang"as it fires. Our apparatus presentation. It was a great learning the three brand new vehicles, shiny division was able to rig the firing experience, and we do it all for you! and bright. I did some research on mechanism for the seat belt to go off seat belts, three-point harnesses, and during our training evolution, making a 4 /lam f Campus fire safety auM� must be studioed By Tom Kiurski When you start packing your children up for college, consider their fire safety while they are away from home. The 2006-07 academic year was the most fatal one on record, as compiled by Campus Firewatch, a group dedicated to �P, making colleges and universities across America fire safe. There havef have been 20 campus-related fire deaths in the past academic year, 1 and the total of campus-related fire fatalities since January 2000 until present is an astounding 113. These are young men and women who died while away to prepare for their future. IlkcoIIIIIIe e ur°'e ur°'eseintatIii cuur°ur°e ' Iiiin 1:Ilhe past yeaur°y aind' III"Iiiind' out: liilll" 1:Ilhe ma11111s a ur°�III'iiideui�ee III.. ur°e eaiii veed�wlilll�� ,ui�: a IIu�.�:li� Ill�mave o 'l e . e .III"Iii ur°'e s ur ui�114 111 e ur° sys.t:e aims There has been nothing more effective in saving lives from fire by having a working automatic fire sprinkler system. Unlike the movies, only the sprinkler head(s) closest to the fire will activate. This will usually control or contain the fire until the fire department arrives. Ilk unolaheur° Illliilll'e zaViing devliiee I:IhaI: Iiis unecessaur° y Iiis a sirn6e 6Iaii,'irn Hopefully your child's college has a fire alarm system. If they do not, purchase a battery-operated smoke alarm for his or her room. They are simple to mount (or keep on top of a dresser), and easy to maintain. You may need to give your child a call to remind him or her to change the batteries at least once a year. By having working smoke alarms, the chances that you will die in a fire is decrease by half. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home, and test them regularly. III'; ui�d o a I: lii ll:: ea un d III es a un d Ilh°°°III a III o e un III a uion Fs aur°e ur°o IIIA Iii iii I:ed Iii un I:1h e dour°uion ur°oo alone If they are not prohibited, they should be. If they are not prohibited, let you child know how dangerous these items can be. Unattended candles can easily find combustibles in small dorm rooms and Halogen lamps have bulbs that operate at temperatures over 1,000 Degrees Fahrenheit. Ilk Co oveur° I:IIhe III"Iiiur°e aIIIaur°ui m ur°ocedaur°e wI11h youur° 6h IiiIIId e:our°e IeaV�ing hIiiirn our" IIIAeur° oin IIIAIiis our" IIIAeur° owin Find the stairs out of the building, and practice using them. Find out where the fire extinguishers are located and make sure your child knows how to use them. Locate the fire alarm system and review how to use the alarm system, as well. Your child may be leaving home for an extended period while away at college. If you have not discussed the items outlined above, take a few m i n utes to do so. 5 CaIIIIIi you ffIIIIIid thie ffIIIv exits your ���icme , thie da��*? +`.a4J � 7 �1� p1{ 7111"i"i", t r' �/✓ I ��,fr r� A ' r1 fi r Fires are dark, not light. The smoke obscures your vision and irritates q your eyes. J � r Jf y if a° Do you and everyone in your house know where �/ r r f r rl ft r ✓I „r"1 r G mG» the outside meeting place is? arry��✓i �"` , >wn , r r, � � edU� ✓�y �°ti � n n� x j r »✓ ,, r dMlr Make sure you know! a t uuu� °° aie G��rove By Tom Kiurski VIII �� IIIIIIIIIII;; IIIIIIIIIII;; ';1111119't lllllllllll;; �i������9't ������������ l� It was a cold November night in better prepared in the event of a fire Boston in 1942.As usual on a while in enjoying dinner, a movie or l weekend night, the Cocoanut Grove shopping? Plenty! Night Club was packed beyond capacity with patrons enjoying shows, Notice and tell your family about the a relaxed atmosphere, and some different exits located within buildings. good food and some great times with In larger buildings, a lighted "Exit"sign friends. Afire started in the should be clearly visible. These doors decorations and quickly spread. The swing outward, and are equipped with t� customers in the basement and the panic hardware, so all you have to do main floor dining area crowded to the is push on the bar on the inside of the main entrance/exit. It was a revolving door to open it. If you are ever in a VIIImuchVIII;II�me do door. Imagine what happened when building and feel crowded to the point hundreds of people all pushed toet where our safetyand , you have p y is in jeopardy, out on both sides of the revolving g leave! It is not worth the VIII VIII VIII;;; door. It didn't move, trapping many of consequences. Tell the management the people within arms reach of clean or call our fire prevention division to air and safety. Within minutes, 492 of report any suspected overcrowding Not as much as you think! the approximately 1,000 patrons had situations. died in the deadliest nightclub fire in Real fires are hot, smokey, and dark. American history. In a fire, never use the elevators in a You may have only a very few minutes building. They go to the main floor to escape from fire. If you're ever in a This tragedy lead the way for safety (usually a lobby area) and stay put. fire, don't spend time getting dressed improvements in businesses Upper floors have stairwells, so locate or trying to gather valuables, get out throughout America. We tightened them before venturing out to explore and stay out. Then call the fire building and fire codes in an attempt the building. If you are going to split department from a neighbor's to better control overcrowding, lack of from your group, determine an outside telephone. exits, and the marking of exits in meeting place in case of an buildings. What can you do to be emergency. 6 How To PREVE'AITSCALD BURNS IN ME, HOME, By Tom Kiurski Scald burns can be very painful and ShoUd a burn ar scaId require long periods of rehabilitation. The pain and scars that result from DIIII burns can last a lifetime for some, 1 serving as constant reminders of a First, attempt to cool the burned painful past. Most scald buns can be area by placing the affected body prevented by following some basic part under cool water. The flowing rules around some of the most water takes away heat from the hazard-prone areas in your home. If you are holding something hot burned area and continues to pull Most scald burns occur from hot or you are cooking, do not heat out as more cool water foods, hot liquids, grease and bath attempt to hold children at the continues to flow over the area. water. Since the vast majority of these same time. occur in the kitchen and bathroom, Ice is not recommended, as it can take a look at each room with a critical If you are heating food in the oven also cause some damage to the eye to reduce the chances that your or microwave, make sure you test skin. family will be involved in a painful a small amount of it before burn situation. serving it to others. Examine the burned area. If blisters form, do not attempt to IIII ( IIII° i pop o them. This is a burn that must be treated by a doctor. • Keep hot foods and drink away 0 Call 911 and have your Livonia from the edge of the tables and 100 Firefighters treat and transport counters, where they can be the burned patient if burns are easily bumped. If your table is serious. If the burn is small, wrap covered with a tablecloth, this the burned area in a cool, wet may tempt children to pull it, towel and drive safety to the along with any hot items on it, hospital or doctor for treatment. onto themselves. IIII IIID ID Iii IIII • When cooking, make sure the Always check the water before family follows a "no play rule" in placing a child in the bathtub. The Hot Liquids the kitchen. Too many burns skin of a child is more sensitive happen when someone trips and than adult skin, and can be Burn Like Fire! falls while carrying hot items. burned more easily by hot water. Young children in the bathtub • Turn pot handles toward the require constant supervision. inside of the stove to reduce the chance of a child grabbing the Many toddlers are able to turn on handle and spilling the contents the hot water by themselves, and onto themselves. scald themselves in the process. Your hot water heater should be set at no more than 120 Degrees c c Fahrenheit. To test this, let the hot water run for three minutes from a faucet, and place a meat, candy, or water thermometer in the water ` to obtain a reading. 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 P A P'IIII IPS 'LCI�Y S U IIIIZ A IIID IIIII'IIII Qj") W VIII �I pp„mug u..., II li IIS”°11111 Illllr°°Illlu VIOUIIII .. U �., ,.��Iu IIS �� III Il...)lolu n� �.. III � cold,ding Ilbod �mlll'I � /�� � uuuuuuuuuuuuulluluuuuuuuuiul �� I I IIII u �uu�,d rrl �� 0 ' Illllldllllllll�" � en's e��ui„ 11111110 m 0�uWuilll the Mitt a p err 1p rehhtei ed tue4eeroe:rl s A true 011111 „IIIIIUV Il�um �li pl� 1,110 uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII