City of Memphis Emergency Services Newsletter Memphis, MI June / July 2008 Volume 1, Number 3 In This Issue Keep it Cool! DEET Advisory Select Alert Success Story! 3 Important Resources Michigan Prepares Storms and Electricity Note from the Author Links of Interest www.dhs.gov www.michigan.gov/homeland www.memphisfd.com www.lawenforcement.org/memphispd www.flashovertv.firerescue1.com www.ready.gov
Michigan Department of Agriculture PHONE AND EMAIL: (517) 241-2485 or holtonj@michigan.gov DEET insect repellent caution Consumers reminded to use caution when applying insect repellents Insect repellents containing DEET can be harmful to children when used improperly LANSING - The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding consumers to exercise care when applying insect repellent. Insect repellents are most often used to deter mosquitoes, biting flies, and ticks that are annoying and can pose a serious health risk. Excessive use of products containing diethyltoluamide (DEET), however, can result in adverse health effects, particularly in children if not properly applied.?the summer season brings warm weather, but can also bring an onslaught of insects such as mosquitoes and ticks necessitating the use of repellants. It s essential consumers follow application guidelines, especially on children, when using insect repellants this summer, said Don Koivisto, MDA director. To help keep your family safe and healthy, consumers should only use repellents registered with MDA. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Environmental Health recommends the following: Repellents with DEET should not be used on infants less than two months old. When using a repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children s eyes and mouth and use it sparingly around their ears. Do not apply repellent to children s hands. Do not allow young children to apply insect repellent to themselves. Keep repellents out of reach of children, and do not apply repellent to skin under clothing. Additional precautions regarding applying repellants and eliminating possible breeding grounds for summer insects:
Read all label directions before using the product and follow them carefully. Not all repellents are intended to be applied to the skin. Use repellents sparingly. Low concentrations (10% or below) are effective and may be preferred in most situations. Start with a low-concentration product and reapply if necessary. If repellents are applied over a long period of time, alternate the repellent with one having another active ingredient. Once the child is back indoors and/or the repellent is no longer necessary, wash the treated skin with soap and water. Do not use repellents on broken or irritated skin or apply to eyes and mouth. Avoid breathing sprays and do not use near food. Avoid mosquitoes during their prime feeding hours of dusk and dawn. Consider the use of non-chemical means to prevent biting - screens, netting, long sleeves, closed shoes, and slacks. Practice prevention by eliminating breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Eliminate any standing water near the home, if possible. Use biological controls for small lakes and pond such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis available at many stores. Although reactions to repellents are rare, exposure to excessive levels of DEET may cause headaches, restlessness, crying spells, mania, staggering, rapid breathing, convulsions, and possibly coma. MDA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are also warning consumers to immediately stop using a repellent if they experience any of the above symptoms. If the product is swallowed, consumers should immediately contact a poison control center or the emergency room of a hospital. To determine if a repellant is registered, please check the MDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/mda. Thank you for using Select Alert. Please tell your Family and friends about this service. http://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/emerg_mngmt/select_alert.aspx Make a Difference, Get Involved! Support your Emergency Services Personnel. You can make a difference by being additional sets of eyes and ears. Notify authorities of suspicious or unsafe activity. Be aware of the activities that happen in your neighborhood. Educate your kids in safety (Home, Internet, Fire, Etc.) Be prepared, visit: www.ready.gov
In The Spotlight: Chad Budnick, Fire fighter / EMT Memphis Fire, A Success Story! Last month I had the opportunity to talk to Chad about how he became involved in Emergency Services. Chad s journey began at the age of 17 when he joined the Memphis Fire Department s Explorer Program. Today Chad is 23. As an Explorer, he quickly realized how much dedication and hard work it takes to be a Fire Fighter. He also learned how much fun it is and the life long bonds and friendships that develop as a result. Being a Fire Explorer is a lot of work. This is something that you need to take seriously, Fire Fighters risk their lives almost every day. We do have a lot of fun as well, but when the tones go out for an emergency, we take that very seriously. Chad s story is one of success. Chad transitioned from the Fire Explorers, to a Member of the Memphis Fire Department, which is exactly what the Fire Explorers program is designed to do. Chad completed his basic Fire and Medical training and decided to further his education by obtaining his EMT License in 2007. At the present time Chad is now going through the Paramedic Program with Tri Hospital EMS, I asked Chad what made him go so far in his education, The thing that influenced me most, is being able to help people when they need it most, whether it is treating them with oxygen, helping them get up off of the floor or just being there to listen to someone when they need it. Chad also acknowledged that when you become active within the Fire Department you really get a sense of how much the fire department is utilized, that so much happens within community such as ours, The most difficult part of being a fire fighter is the fact that you do not know what is going to happen at any given time, one moment you are eating dinner and the next you are responding to an emergency, going to help someone that really needs you, says Chad. When asked about the most rewarding part of the Fire Service, Chad replied, The most rewarding experience is when we go to the Memphis Elementary during fire prevention week and teach the children about fire safety. I believe the things we talk to them about really stays with them, and besides, we get to show them all of the cool equipment we have too. If you or anyone you know would be interested in learning more about MFD s Explorer Program, please call 810 392 2185 and ask for 1 st Assistant Chief, Tim Franz. Be prepared! Are you prepared? What does being prepared really mean? Prepare for what? It won t happen here, not to us! Ever since September 11, 2001 we have seen the formation of new government agencies, departments, terror threat level systems, innovative ways to alert the public of emergencies, millions upon millions spent developing strategies to detect and prevent attacks on our home land and interests abroad, but what have you done differently to prepare for what our government is so frantically preparing for? Three resource you need to become familiar with:
http://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/emerg_mngmt/default.aspx Your local branch of the Department of Homeland Security. http://www.michigan.gov/michiganprepares Valuable information from the state about preparedness, what to do and how to do it. http://www.ready.gov/ Information on readiness for yourself, your business and your kids. Your comments and ideas are appreciated! We have received numerous comments regarding our new enewsletter (all Positive I might add) and we appreciate all of them. Please continue your support by helping get the word out! We need to reach as many citizens as possible for us to be as effective as possible in a time of crisis. Your fellow citizens ability to deal with a community emergency is vital for your own well being. After all, a chain is only as strong as it s weakest link, be prepared! Knowledge is Power! To sign up for this e Newsletter visit: www.memphisfd.com and click on Newsletter.
Natural disasters are a common threat, ranging from a fire in your own home to a storm that affects thousands of people. The best way for you to stay safe is to prepare yourself, your family, and your home for an unexpected disaster. Create a disaster plan and practice it. Make a disaster kit. Keep informed. Check this section more information on natural disasters. Learn about the types of disasters that affect the are you live in. Learn how to stay safe. Tornadoes Storms Click here for: information about tornadoes Power Outages Click here for: information about storms How To Protect Yourself Click here for: information about Power Outages Click here for: information about how to protect yourself and your family during a natural emergency or severe weather
Some Safety Tips from www.dteenergy.com website Electrical Safety At work, at home, at play, electricity powers our world. Electricity is the most common energy source used today and it's very safe - as long as we remember to treat it with respect. Whether you're using electricity in your yard or in your home, it pays to keep safety top of mind. Read through these important safety tips: General Safety Rules Look Up Above! Protect Yourself - Stay at Least 20 Feet Away Caution - Downed Wires Teach Your Children Know What to Do in an Electrical Emergency General Safety Rules Electricity and water don't mix. If it's raining or the ground is wet, avoid using electric yard tools. Never step into a flooded area if water is in contact with electrical outlets, appliances or cords. Don't use any electrical appliances or touch circuit breakers or fuses when you're wet or standing in water. Only plugs or plug guards should be placed in any outlet. Be sure outdoor outlets and outlets near wet areas of the kitchen, bath and laundry room have GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) to prevent serious shock injuries. Make sure tools, appliances and holiday lights are approved for outdoor use. Outdoor tools and appliances should have heavier wiring, special insulation and a three-prong, grounded plug. Inspect cords and plugs regularly and replace damaged ones. To prevent damage, pull by the plug -- not the cord, when unplugging an appliance or yard tool. Overloading means overheating and that could spell F-I-R-E. Limit the number of appliances plugged into each outlet. Don't exceed the recommended wattage when replacing bulbs in lamps, light fixtures or holiday lighting.
If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is the right capacity for the tool or appliance with which it is used. Use grounded (three-prong) extension cords for outdoor tools and holiday lighting. Never use anything other than a fuse to replace a fuse. Make sure the replacement fuse is the correct amperage. Toaster jammed? Hedge trimmer stuck? Always unplug an appliance or tool before cleaning, adjusting or repairing it. Use only appliances, tools, lighting and extension cords approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories. Look Up Above! Whether you're working or playing outdoors, always remember to look up and all around you. Whenever you're using a ladder, pool skimmer, tree pruning tool or other long object, watch out for overhead wires. That same rule holds true when installing rooftop antennas and satellite dishes or doing rooftop repair work, too. Be especially careful when working near power lines attached to your house. A metal ladder is lightweight, but it is also conductive and should not be used around electricity. Use a wood or fiberglass ladder instead. Teach your children not to climb trees that are near overhead wires. Even if the power lines aren't touching the tree, they could touch when more weight is added to the branch. Trees conduct electricity and so do people! Fly kites and model airplanes in open areas well away from overhead wires, too. Avoid kites with wire, metal or foil parts and don't fly kites or model planes in wet weather. Damp strings and wires conduct electricity. Protect Yourself - Stay at Least 20 Feet Away Keep at least 20 feet away from pole-to-pole power lines at all times. Power lines are not insulated in the same way as your household wiring. That's why they're mounted well out of harm's reach or buried in the ground, as the National Electrical Safety Code requires. Avoid underground lines, too! Find out where power lines and other utilities are buried before you
install a fence, deck, mailbox or lamppost. When you excavate, state law requires that you call MISS DIG at least three full working days in advance. A simple phone call to 811 is all it takes. MISS DIG will contact the utilities in your area. At no charge to you, the utilities will mark the approximate locations of their underground lines. For more information on the MISS DIG process, visit the MISS DIG Web site at www.missdig.org. If you're planning to trim trees, we strongly urge you to consult a professional tree-trimming service. Each year a number of power lines fall because a well-meaning homeowner has dropped a tree or limb on a power line. And each year a number of amateur tree trimmers are seriously or fatally injured because they or the tree limb they are in contact with, touched a power line. Caution - Downed Wires! Our power lines and equipment are built to meet rigid state and national safety standards and are safe under normal conditions. But when high winds, heavy icing conditions or severe storms hit, power lines can come down. Never touch a downed power line, or anything it is in contact with - even if there are no sparks. A live wire may whip or sweep through a wide area looking for a ground. A ground is the earth or something touching the earth, like a fence, puddle or even a tree. A live wire that has already found a ground may lie silent but be equally deadly. Call us immediately at 800.477.4747 if you see a downed wire. And remember to be especially cautious near metal fences after severe weather. Electric current will be strongest where a downed line has touched the fence, but even a connecting fence several backyards away can be energized and just as dangerous. To safely operate a portable generator, follow all instructions carefully. If you don't have a transfer switch installed, shut off your fuses or main circuit breakers before running a portable generator. This prevents the generator from feeding electricity back into the power lines. Protect repair crews and your neighbors. Backfeed can seriously injure or kill. Teach Your Children Kids are naturally curious which can lead to serious electrical accidents. Teach your children to play it safe around electricity.
put any object into an electrical outlet. Make sure they understand that water and electricity don't mix. Outside, remind children not to climb trees near overhead wires, to always fly kites in open areas, and to never, never, never touch a power line. Teach them to stay away from electrical utility equipment, too. They should never attempt to climb transmission towers, utility poles or substation fences. Nor should they play on or near pad-mounted transformers (locked metal cases on cement or fiberglass bases) used for underground wiring. Know What to Do in An Electrical Emergency Downed wires Never touch anything or anyone that is in contact with a downed wire. Call Detroit Edison immediately at 800.477.4747. Downed wire on a vehicle Stay in your vehicle and wait for help. If you must get out because of fire or other danger, jump clear of the vehicle without touching it and the ground at the same time. Then hop with feet together or shuffle away -- don't run or stride. Electricity spreads out through the ground in ripples, like a stone dropped in water. The voltage is highest in the ring closest to the vehicle and decreases with distance. Hop with feet together or shuffle away so that one foot won't be in a higher voltage zone than another, which could make you a conductor for electricity! Electrical shock Act quickly, but keep yourself out of danger. Never touch a person who is being shocked. If you can do it safely, unplug the appliance or turn off the power. Call for medical help immediately and begin CPR after the victim is cleared from contact. Electrical fire If you can do it safely, turn off the power or unplug the appliance. Never throw water on an electrical fire. Thanks once again to the brave men and women of the emergency services group of extraordinary people for your selfless dedication to ensuring life
Note from the Author Due to busy summer schedules we decided to combine the following months into one newsletter, June and July. August and September. saving intervention and the security of our community remains all that it can be, the best!! I believe Emergency Services are extremely vital to our well being and security as a community. By reading this newsletter you too are getting involved on some level to help ensure our community remains A Pleasant Place To Live. Thanks again! Fully Involved, Jason Lewton