West Virginia State Firemen's Association

SAFETY ALERT

SUBJECT: CFL (compact fluorescent lights) & Dimmer Switches

DATE: 9-7-2010

CFL bulbs are “use specific”, meaning, they’re designed to be implemented in certain uses around the home and other applications are specifically designated to be unsafe. Make sure to read the instructions and safety warnings on the light packaging for specific applications of the bulb. Do not use bulbs in dimmer switches that are not specifically designed for dimmer switch use.

http://www.esasafe.com/pdf/Safety_Alerts/07-03-AL.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad7vhHfjgC0&feature=related

http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3147

http://times-news.com/archive/x1540421978

Emmitsburg, MD — Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines today signed the National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge at the conclusion of his first all-hands meeting with USFA staff.  Chief Gaines emphasized in his remarks that wearing seat belts is an essential component of efforts to ensure the safety of firefighters in fire apparatus and vehicles.

Vehicle crashes remain the number two cause of firefighter on-duty deaths.  After signing the Pledge, Chief Gaines relayed to USFA staff his experience attending the memorial services for Rocky Mount, Virginia Fire Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter Danny Altice, who died as the result of an apparatus crash on July 26 of this year while responding to an emergency call.  Neither Chief Dillon, who was driving the pumper, nor Firefighter Altice in the officer seat, was wearing their seat belt.  Both were ejected and died from their injuries.  No other firefighters were on the apparatus and no civilians were injured.

Chief Gaines also signed his name to the 100% Seat Belt Pledge Certificate.  The Certificate is awarded to any fire department that has all members take the pledge.  Leading fire service organizations that have endorsed the Seat Belt Pledge include the:

·         International Association of Fire Chiefs

·         National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation

·         National Fire Protection Association

·         National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety

·         National Volunteer Fire Council, and

·         U.S. Fire Administration

So far, over 154,000 firefighters have taken the pledge and about 800 fire departments have achieved 100% participation.  North Carolina, Illinois, Florida, and Georgia are leading the nation with number of fire departments that have achieved 100% seat belt pledge participation.

To find out more about the National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge campaign, go to www.trainingdivision.com/seatbeltpledge.asp.  There you can access and download the pledge signature form, learn how to receive a 100% Certificate for your organization, find out which fire departments in your state have taken the pledge, read success stories, identify supporters, and receive additional campaign material.

Take the seat belt pledge and buckle up.  The fire service owes it to each other and our families so Everyone Goes Home.

http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

1. Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.
2. Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
3. Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
4. Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
5. From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.

Jim Shedd recently contacted us to email the following brochure to our list. We’ve also posted it here.

For more info, here’s Mr. Shedd’s contact info:

The Training Committee of the West Virginia State Firemen’s Association and West Virginia University Fire Service Extension will sponsor a Safety Seminar on March 27 – 28, 2010 at the West Virginia State Fire Academy, Weston, WV. The speaker will be Doug Cline, Training Commander of the High Point, NC Fire Department. The topics presented will focus on improving fire fighter safety through training.

This training is FREE to all West Virginia State Firemen’s Association Members.

This should be an informative & educational experience to seasoned as well as novice fire service professionals.

Please support your association with your attendance.

Please note that attendance will be limited to 120 people. So get your registrations in as soon as possible.

All registration forms must be returned by March 12, 2010.

If you have any questions or need further information please contact Doug Mongold at 304-257-7006 (Cell Phone) or chief46@hardynet.com.

For the brochure and more information, click here.

Below is a forward from Carol Nolte from the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s office:

Dear Fire and Building Official, and Policy Maker:

In cooperation with Fire Team USA, we would like to invite you to a special day and a half informational and training conference on fire protection for your community. West Virginia was selected to be a point of delivery for the 2010 Fire Team USA workshop series!

The workshop will be held on March 31 and April 1, 2010 at the Embassy Suites, 300 Court Street downtown, beautiful Charleston, West Virginia. All you have to do is sign up, and show up! Accommodations including lunches, hotel expense, if necessary, training, and information is provided free of charge. Registration is easy, log on to www.FireTeamUSA.com (click on Event Dates then on the Charleston Event then Register Now). The Fire Team USA team will make your hotel arrangements and provide you with a confirmation and details.

Fire Team USA is partnering for public policy with a focus on cooperating for quality communities. This seminar is an initiative to bring elected officials, fire marshals, fire chiefs, building officials, residential contractors, realtors and other stakeholders from communities across West Virginia together to learn and share fire prevention methods and alternatives that affect our quality of life. Public policy on fire protection is important in our communities for lots of reasons and a main concern is the well-being of our citizens as well as controlling the rising cost of providing such services. Let’s come together and explore our options for the future. Policy makers, fire service officials, and other stakeholders must partner together to ensure that quality of life is maintained as our communities grow and transition.

Thanks to a grant administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Grants and Training through the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants program, we are able to offer this important and informative session. This informational and training seminar will explore current public policy, how community planning affects fire protection, fire prevention efforts currently underway, and how fire sprinkler legislation can assist in the future quality of life in our communities. We will also explore opportunities that exist for grants to assist local communities with their fire protection efforts.

At the conclusion of the first day of this great workshop; the Charleston Fire Department will be presenting a dramatic side-by-side fire and sprinkler burn demonstration at the Charleston Civic Center parking lot located off of Lee Street East (just west of Embassy Suites). This demonstration will begin at 5:00 pm. This demonstration will help all who participate understand how dangerous home fires truly are and to inform them of the steps they can take to stay safe. So even if you are unable to attend the workshop, please set aside the time to attend this demonstration.

Please, join us for the future of your community and our state. We would like to see representation from all areas of the state, keeping in mind that we do have limited seats available. Our website, www.fireteamusa.com will have the latest information and more details on the conference. You will be able to register online and we will take care of the rest! If you do not have internet access, and would like a paper registration form, please call us at 615-533-0305.

LODGING AND WORKSHOP HELD AT:

Embassy Suites Hotel
300 Court Street
Charleston WV 25301

Dates:
March 31 and April 1, 2010
Check in on March 30, 2010 Check In: 4pm

Who is invited to attend?

Suggested community stakeholders:

• Fire Chief
• Fire Marshal
• Mayor
• Commissioner
• Aldermen
• Council Members
• Building Commissioner or Building Official
• Official Planning Commission Chairman or member
• State Legislators
• Water Purveyor
• Insurance Agent
• Builder / Developer Other Community Stakeholder/Leader
• Realtors

Questions? Contact:

Carol Nolte, WV State Fire Marshals Office, 304-558-2191, Ext 53223, carol.e.nolte@wv.gov

Ken Tyree, Charleston Fire Department, 304-348-8058, ken.tyree@charlestonfire.com

Ron Brown, Regional Manager

NFSA 845-661-6534mailto:brown@nfsa.org brown@nfsa.org

We look forward to your consideration of this unique opportunity, and we hope to see you March 31 and April 1, 2010

Register Today, by visiting the Fire Team USA website and selecting the West Virginia event.

www.FireTeamUSA.com

http://www.coalvalleynews.com/view/full_story/5621729/article-Fire-Departments-stay-active-in-January?instance=home_news_lead

“In addition to fire safety inspections, a significant number of man-hours were expended conducting fire safety training and educational programs, complaint investigations, assisting the Fire Investigation Division and department training. Additional educational programs include: in-service training to county school maintenance and educational staffs, presentations to the West Virginia Landlords Association, Department of Health and Human Services social workers, West Virginia Advocate employees day care and Residential Board & Care providers and the West Virginia Hospital Engineers Association,” the report states.

West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office, Home Heating Safety – PDF Document