Seat Belts Save LIves

Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue urges you to buckle up.  When the paramedics, EMTs and firefighters of ICFR arrive on the scene of an automobile we are always relieved to see the vehicle occupants uninjured or suffering relatively minor injuries.

Seat Belt Safety
Across the US, on back roads and superhighways seat belts save lives.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 15,000 lives are saved each year in the United States because drivers and their passengers were wearing seat belts when they were in accidents.

Seat Belt Safety: 5-Way Protection
Seat belts prevent occupants of the vehicle from serious injury in five ways.  Your seat belt:

• Keeps the occupants of the vehicle inside. It’s clearly a myth that people are better off being thrown clear from the crash.  People thrown from a vehicle are four times more likely to be killed than those who remain inside.
• Restrains the strongest parts of the body.  Restraints are designed to contact your body at its strongest parts. For an older child and adult, these parts are the hips and shoulders, which is where the seat belt should be strapped.
• Spreads out any force from the collision.  Lap-and-shoulder belts spread the force of the crash over a wide area of the body. By putting less stress on any one area, they can help you avoid serious injury.  A shoulder strap also helps keep your head and upper body away from the dashboard, steering wheel, and other hard interior parts of the automobile should you stop suddenly or be hit by another vehicle.
• Helps the body to slow down.  Te rapid change in speed (deceleration and impact) is what causes injury.  Seat belts help extend the time it takes for you to slow down in a crash.
• Protects your brain and spinal cord.  A seat belt is designed to protect these two critical areas. Head injuries may be hard to see immediately, but they can be deadly. or have long-term serious consequences.

Seat Belt Safety: Buckle Up Correctly
Adjusting your seat belt properly is a must:  Getting the right fit is as important as wearing it. The strap that goes across your lap should fit snugly over your hips and upper thigh area.  If the belt rides up on the stomach, it could cause serious injuries in a crash.

Shoulder belts should rest securely across your chest and shoulders between your breasts. Don’t ever let the strap fall across your neck or face and never place the strap under your arms or behind your back.  Any one of these positions can cause serious injury.

Seat Belt Safety: Rules for Infants and Children
Children re not small adults — they need specialized protection in a moving vehicle. Age, height, and weight determine the safest way for a child to travel.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, here’s how to select the right option for your child:

• Rear-facing child safety seat. Children under age 1 and those who weigh less than 20 pounds should sit in rear-facing, child safety seats approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The seats should be placed in the backseat of the car.
• Forward-facing child safety seat. Children older than 1 who weigh more than 20 pounds should ride in forward-facing child safety seats. The seat should be placed in the rear of the vehicle until the child reaches the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat. Typically, a child will outgrow a safety seat around age 4 and once she reaches about 40 pounds.
• Booster seat. Children age 4 and older who weigh more than 40 pounds should ride in booster seats. A child can safely progress to a seat belt when the belt fits properly across the upper thighs and chest.
• Seat belt. When children outgrow their booster seats, they can use seat belts, but they still should sit in the back of the vehicle.

Seat Belt Safety: A Clear Message
The National Safety Council recently reported a drop in traffic fatalities for the past few years, indicating a record low since the 1920s when it began publishing statistical reports. One reason given for the decline is the increased use of seat belts.  It takes only a few seconds to buckle up once you get in the car.

Decline in Volunteer Firefighters Nationwide

When the National Fire Protection Association released its latest figures on the number of firefighters in the United States in October of 2011, an alarm went off in the volunteer sector. That's because the number of volunteer firefighters was at its lowest since 1991.

This is cause for concern, but just how much concern?  If this trend continues, the volunteer service may reach a crisis state.  Another figure that jumps out of the report concerns the number of firefighters per 1,000 residents they protect. For both career and volunteer fire departments, 2010 marks the lowest rate since NFPA began collecting data in 1986. 

An article published in the New York Times this past weekend points out that the increased costs of providing Emergency Medical Services with reduced or no reimbursement is straining many fire departments.  Providing Emergency Medical Services is expensive but nationwide the call for Emergency Medical Services is the most common fire department response.

Causes of the decline in volunteer firefighters include changes in society; longer commutes, two-income households, year-round sports, loss of jobs in smaller communities, new residents who may not know that they are served by volunteers, declining tax bases, increased training requirements, an aging population and the lure of career firefighting positions in larger communities.

Facts from the National Volunteer Fire Council:

• Volunteers comprise 71% of firefighters in the United States.

Of the total estimated 1,148,100 volunteer and paid firefighters across the country, 812,150 are volunteer.

• Communities served by volunteer firefighters depend on them to be their first line of defense for many types of emergencies.

Volunteer firefighters are summoned to a wide array of emergencies across the country every day including fires, emergency medical incidents, terrorist events, natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, water rescue emergencies, high-angle and confined space emergencies, and other general public service calls. The public relies on the volunteer emergency services to be their first line of defense in these emergencies. Volunteers spend an enormous amount of time training to prepare for these emergencies.

• The majority of fire departments in the United States are volunteer.

Of the total 30,165 fire departments in the country, 20,857 are all volunteer; 5,099 are mostly volunteer; 1,752 are mostly career; and 2,457 are all career.

How can you help?

Call your local volunteer fire department and volunteer your time.

If you are a resident of Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District call 303-697-4413.

ICFR firefighters and engines at White Deer Valley neighborhood picnic

Firefighters, engines, brush trucks and rescue trucks will be at the White Deer Vally neighborhood picnic this Sunday.  Citizens can meet the firefighters who seve their area, see the apparatus from Station Four, and try their hand at squirting some water.  We hope the residents of White Deer Valley will join us.

Bicycle Safety In Deer Creek Canyon

Deer Creek Canyon is a popular bicycling location and each year Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue responds to many bicycle accidents.  While the number of injured bicyclists has declined in recent years, we hope to continue to reduce the number of injuries.  ICFR would like to encourage motorists and bicyclists to obey all laws and respect each other on the road.

Bicyclists have all the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle and can be penalized for violating traffic laws. Obey traffic laws, signs and signals   Ride in the right lane, except when passing another vehicle, preparing for a left turn or avoiding hazards

• Ride no more than two abreast, returning to single-file if riding two abreast would impede the flow of traffic
• On curving canyon roads without bike lanes or shoulders, play it safe and ride single file unless necessary
• Use hand signals to indicate right or left turns, slowing or stopping
• Use a headlight, taillight and reflectors at night
• Act like a vehicle on the roads -- bicycles have the same rights and responsibilities 
• Never assume motorists, deer or other cyclists see you.
   
• Wear appropriate gear to protect yourself: helmet, glasses and gloves.  Too many bicyclists hang their helmets on the handlebars, not on their heads.
• Expect the unexpected; your first responsibility is to be safe.  Bicyclists have been injured in Deer Creek Canyon, by collisions with the roadway due to gravel, and even the deer who live in the canyon.

Women and Heart Attacks

Although men and women can experience chest pressure that feels like an elephant sitting across the chest, women can experience a heart attack without chest pressure.  Rather women may experience shortness of breath, pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, indigestion, upper back pressure or extreme fatigue.  Even when the signs are subtle, the consequences can be deadly, especially if the victim doesn’t get help right away.

Even though heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, women often chalk up the symptoms to less life-threatening conditions like acid reflux, the flu or normal aging.  A "heart attack" (also known as a myocardial infarction or MI) occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely. This happens because the arteries that supply the heart with blood can slowly become thicker and harder from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances (plaque).
Many women think the signs of a heart attack are unmistakable — the image of the elephant standing on the chest comes to mind — but in fact they can be subtler and sometimes confusing.  Some women experiencing a heart attack describe upper back pressure that feels like squeezing or a rope being tied around them.  Dizziness, lightheadedness or actually fainting are other symptoms to look for. 

If you experience these symptoms call 911.  Emergency Medical Service crews can provide an early diagnosis, treatment and rapid access to appropriate hospital care.

Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue paramedics use the latest Denver Metro Paramedic Protocols to evaluate symptoms of heart attack and begin treatment in the field.

Electrical Safety in Your Home

Electrical hazards can cause burns, shocks and electrocution (death).

• Assume that all overhead wires are energized at lethal voltages. Never assume that a wire is safe to touch even if it is down or appears to be insulated.
• Never touch a fallen overhead power line. Call the electric utility company to report fallen electrical lines.
• Stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from overhead wires during cleanup and other activities. If working at heights or handling long objects, survey the area before starting work for the presence of overhead wires.
• If an overhead wire falls across your vehicle while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not leave your vehicle. Warn people not to touch the vehicle or the wire. Call or ask someone to call the local electric utility company and emergency services.
• Never operate electrical equipment while you are standing in water.
• Never repair electrical cords or equipment unless qualified and authorized.
• Have a qualified electrician inspect electrical equipment that has gotten wet before energizing it.
• If working in damp locations, inspect electric cords and equipment to ensure that they are in good condition and free of defects, and use a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
• Always use caution when working near electricity.
• Don't overload extension cords.

Hip Fractures in the Elderly

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults over age 65 fall each year.  Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in elderly patients and the death rate from falls increased steadily from 1988-2010.

In 2011, more than 1.6 million seniors were seen in emergency departments for fall injuries, resulting in 388,000 hospitalizations. Most of the fall-related hospitalizations were related to hip fractures. It is estimated that 98% of hip fractures are in the elderly.

Hip fractures in children, adolescents and adults under age 65 are rare and are most likely a result of high-speed sports collisions, motor vehicle collisions or falls from a significant height.

Significance of Hip Fractures in the Elderly
There are a number of reasons why hip fractures in the elderly are so significant:

• They cause more deaths than fractures from other falls.
• They lead to the most severe health complications during hospitalization and rehabilitation.
• They lead to reduced quality of life through prolonged hospitalization, institutionalization, loss of mobility and loss of confidence.
• After treatment and rehabilitation, about half of hip fracture patients are no longer able to walk independently.

Things you can do include:

• If you are in a home and see a risk factor like poor lighting or a loose area rug, point out the risk to the patient and family bystanders.
• Encourage patients to stay physically active.
• Ask your relatives if they have a home medical alert service they can use to call for help.
• Encourage the family to install grab rails in the bathroom.
• Instruct the family member on proper use of assistive devices, like canes and walkers.

Remove tripping hazards like throw rugs and clutter in walkways; install nonslip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors; install grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower; install handrails on both sides of stairways; and improve lighting throughout the home.  Reducing risks reduces the potential for hip fractures.

Jefferson County Commissioner to hold public meetings regarding motorist/bicycle safety

Jefferson County Commissioner Donald Rosier is hosting three public meetings to address community concerns regarding motorist / bicyclist safety throughout Jefferson County. The meetings will be held at the following times and locations:

Evergreen/ Conifer MeetingAugust 16, 2012,  5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.               
Buchanan Park Recreation Center 
32003 Ellingwood Trail 
Evergreen, CO 80437

Deer Creek Canyon Meeting August 20, 2012, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.  
Ken-Caryl Ranch House 
7676 S. Continental Divide Road 
Littleton, CO 80127

Lookout Mountain Meeting August 22, 2012, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
Lookout Mountain Nature Center 
910 Colorow Road 
Golden, CO  80401

Incident Command System

ICFR uses the Incident Command System to manage all incidents, small to large. When responding to any emergency inside the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District or as mutual aid to another District we all work for one Incident Commander.

The Incident Command System (ICS) is a management system used by emergency responders to command, control and coordinate emergency operations. ICS integrates all the critical components of an emergency operation -- facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications -- within a common organizational structure.

Important features of ICS include:

• Wide applicability across all emergency management disciplines;
• Used to organize both near-term and long-term field operations;
• Used for a broad spectrum of emergencies, from small to complex;
• Used by all levels of government.

ICS was developed more than 30 years ago by the fire service. In the 1970s, as California firefighters battled a series of massive wildfires, they found that one of their most significant challenges was not always the fire. With no standardized management structure or system to categorize resources, internal confusion, conflicting priorities, mismatched resources, and miscommunication hampered emergency response efforts. In 1972, an inter-agency task force called FIRESCOPE was created to standardize wildfire fighting operations, and ICS was born.
Today, ICS is one of the principle components of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) established under Presidential Homeland Security Presidential Directive No. 5. This directive requires all emergency responders to utilize a common management structure in response to all domestic incidents.
ICS Functional Areas
ICS is organized into functional areas called sections. Each section describes an activity (or group of related activities) that are considered essential parts of the disaster operation. For minor incidents, one person may be capable of performing several functions; on large or complex incidents, each ICS section may represent several dozen disaster workers, each charged with specific responsibilities.
Incident Command - Has overall responsibility for managing the disaster operation;
Public Information - Communicates with media and others seeking information about the incident operation;
Liaison - Serves as point-of-contact with other disaster relief agencies, governmental organizations, and utilities;
Safety - Assesses safety and security risks and recommends action to protect all disaster personnel;
Operations - Manages all direct service activities, such as firefighting;
Logistics - Secures and manages resources (including supplies and equipment) necessary to support the operation;
Finance & Administration - Manages reports, statistics, personnel, volunteers and accounting for the disaster operation;
Planning - Develops an incident action plan to accomplish operational objectives; collects and evaluates information.

Wildland Firefighter Training

Wildland firefighting is a lot of hard work in dry, hot and dangerous conditions.  First of all, these particular fires are prevalent in distant and inaccessible places. As a result, this means hiking for miles in steep and rocky terrain. In addition, the actual job of controlling and outing the fire means creating a fireline with tools among other things.

Wildland Firefighter Training: Training Areas
The basic Wildland firefighting course consists of two courses - firefighting and fire behavior with a strong dose of safety.  Each year a Wildland firefighter safety course is also required by Inter-Canyon Fire Rescue.
Wildland Firefighter Training: Classes
The fundamental classes are the S-130 Firefighter Training and the S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior.  From there literally dozens of additional courses are available.
 Firefighter Training: Physical Demands
Physical fitness is essential to the safety and success of the team members and everyone else who may be affected. Each wildland firefighter is required to meet particular physical requirements when commencing a job at the beginning of each season. You are required to pass a work capacity test (WCT). The WCT entails the “pack test”. This is a three mile walk with a 45 pound pack. They give you 45 minutes to complete the walk (no running or jogging). Your wildland firefighter training regimen should definitely consist of physical challenges which include running with heavy weights, and hiking so that you’ll be ready for the federal WCT required by ICFR.

Slash collection August 11 and 12

Inter-Canyon Fire Rescue and Indian Hills Fire Rescue will host the final slash collection of the year at ICFR Station Three at 8445 South Highway 285 and August 11 and 12.



Remote Slash Collection Sites, Schedule & Fees

2012 Slash Drop-off Options for Mountain Residents
August 11 & 12 (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)Location: Near station #3 on Settler's Drive @ 8445 S. Hwy. 285
Host: InterCanyon/Indian Hills Fire






Fees for 2012 Remote Slash Collection Program Small Pickup - Bed High: $5
Small Pickup - Cab High: $8
Small Pickup - Above Cab High: $10
Large Pickup - Bed High: $8
Large Pickup - Cab High: $10
Large Pickup - Above Cab High: $12
Trailer - Single Axle: $10
Trailer - Double Axle: $15
Dump Truck - Cab High: $20
Dump Truck - Above Cab High: $25

Emergency Preparedness Guide

Are you and your family prepared for an emergency?  The Jefferson County Emergency Preparedness Guide is a great resource to help you get ready for major disasters and personal situations.  You can download the guide at:

http://jeffco.us/jeffco/emerg_uploads/citizens_emergency_prep_guide.pdf

Join your community in preparing, mitigating and evacuating as needed in disaster situations.

Lightning Safety

Recognize that electricity is in the air.  Even if clouds have yet to produce lightning, electricity may still be in the air.  The best method of detecting danger is to closely observe your or your hiking partner's hair.  If you see that hair is beginning to raise into the air, you know it is time you high-tail it out of the area you're in and seek shelter.

Avoid isolated trees and high points.  It is always better to seek shelter in a thick forest versus an isolated stand of trees.  Lightning favors small groupings of trees over dense stands.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), in the United States, there are an estimated 25 million cloud to ground lightning flashes each year and each one is a potential threat to life and property. An average of 58 people are killed each year by lightning. In 2009, 34 people were killed by lightning in the United States. Hundreds of others were injured. In the United States during 2009 of the victims who were killed:

• 100 percent were outdoors,
• 82 percent were male,
• 20 percent were standing underneath a tree,
• 23 percent occurred on or near the water,
• two fatalities occurred while riding motorcycles.

The NWS also indicates that during the past 20 years, on average, Colorado had three lightning deaths and 16 injuries. 

Because it usually affects one or two victims at a time and does not cause the destruction left in the wake of tornadoes or hurricanes, lightning generally receives less attention.

Many people do not act in a timely manner to protect their lives and property and the lives of others simply because they do not understand all the dangers associated with thunderstorms and lightning.  Put simply, if you can hear thunder...you could be in danger of being struck by lightning.  Get inside and stay inside until the threat passes. Most lightning deaths and injuries occur during the afternoon and evening, when lightning is most likely to occur and when people are more likely to be outside.

But it isn't just the threat of being struck by lightning that poses a danger.  In fact, lightning starts around half of the forest and rangeland wildfires across the state. Colorado averages around 2500 wildfires each year and we have already seen a number of them this spring across Colorado. Many of these lightning caused fires occur with very little or no rain. these storms often generate gusty winds, which can fan the flames of the fire.

While there is little that can obviously be done to mitigate a direct, lightning-sparked ignitition, two important ways to protect property from the ravages of wildfire are to create defensible space around homes and replace roofs with fire-resistant materials. Coloradans can help protect themselves and their property and reduce the damage and destruction of wildfires by being aware of precautionary measures they can take before and during lightning, severe weather and wildfire events.  Check out http://www.firewise.org for more info about setting up defensible space around your home, neighborhood and business.

People should also think about mitigation in terms of protecting their pocketbook-in the short and long-term by keeping affordable insurance.  If you live in a high risk wildfire area insurance companies increasingly expect you to share the responsibility for reducing the threat of wildfire damaging or destroying your home.

For a free guide on wildfire mitigation and insurance:http://rmiia.org/Catastrophes_and_Statistics/Wildfire_and_insurance.html

For information on wildfire preparedness, lightning sColoradans can do to take responsibility and prepare for disasters, visit the Colorado Division of Emergency Management (CDEM) website athttp://dola.colorado.gov/dem/; the National Weather Service offices in Colorado at: Boulder - www.weather.gov/denver, Grand Junction -http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gjt/, Pueblo - www.weather.gov/pueblo, and Goodland, Kansas - www.weather.gov/goodland; the Colorado State Forest Service website at http://csfs.colostate.edu/; the Division of Fire Safety athttp://dfs.state.co.us/; the Rocky Mountain Wildland Fire Information website athttp://www.rockymountainwildlandfire.info/; and the Colorado Lightning Resource Center - http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pub/?n=ltg.php.

Inter-Canyon Station Four

ICFR station four, located at 13877 Grizzly Drive, serves Deer Creek Mesa, White Deer Valley, Deer Creek Canyon Park and other eastern and southern areas of Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District. Station four houses two primary response apparatus. Engine 634 is a four-wheel drive engine with both structural and wild land firefighting capability. Rescue 684 is a four-wheel drive light rescue truck with a major lighting system, SCBA refilling system, extrication equipment and ventilation equipment. In addition Rescue 684 carries complete Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support Emergency Medical Services equipment including an ECG monitor/defibrillator and medications.

Station four also houses our antique fire truck which appears at local events and parades.

A small gym with workout equipment provides firefighters with an opportunity to maintain their physical fitness. While firefighters are working out they are available in the station for immediate response with apparatus.

Station four is one of only two stations with potable water. While two other stations do have a limited water supply, the water is non-potable. Station five has no water available. A hydrant at station four provides a refill point for the three ICFR tankers. Most areas of ICFPD do not have hydrants and firefighters must haul water via tanker trucks to a fire. Each tanker carries 2500-3000 gallons of water. An average structure fire requires approximately 30,000 gallons of water so multiple round trips are required for water supply. Providing water supply is a difficult, dangerous and time-consuming process on narrow roads with limited access. ICFR works with other surrounding fire departments to provide a consistent water supply during a fire as most of the surrounding districts also have tankers.

Station four is a great facility with excellent apparatus to meet the needs of ICFPD.

Road conditions in Deer Creek Canyon

Heavy rains, such as those we are experiencing today in Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District, can wash gravel onto the road surface. Motorists and bicyclists are advised to watch for changing road conditions especially in Deer Creek Canyon.