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June
Is Home Safety Month
May 16th, 2008
Ask Americans where they feel safest and most will say their own
home. However, unintentional injuries in the home result in nearly 21 million medical visits on average each year.* The Home
Safety Council dedicates the month of June – Home Safety Month – to educate and empower both families and businesses
to take actions that will make homes safe.
“We hope to bring attention to the serious problem of preventable
home injuries and its leading causes: slips and falls, poisonings and fires and burns,” says Meri-K Appy, president
of the Home Safety Council. “Just a few simple steps can dramatically reduce the dangers in most homes and may even
make a lifesaving difference.”
Throughout Home Safety Month, the Home Safety Council encourages the public
to consider their home’s danger areas and take some simple steps to minimize their risk from potential injuries, or
even death.
Prevent Falls
• Have grab bars in
the tub and shower.
• Have bright lights over stairs and steps and on landings.
• Have handrails on both
sides of the stairs and steps.
• Use a ladder for climbing instead of a stool or furniture.
• Use baby
gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, if babies or toddlers live in or visit your home.
Prevent Poisonings
• Lock
poisons, cleaners, medications and all dangerous items in a place where children can’t reach them.
• Keep
all cleaners in their original containers. Do not mix them together.
• Use medications carefully. Follow the directions.
Use child resistant lids.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas.
• Call the Poison Control
Center at 1-800-222-1222 if someone takes poison. This number will connect you to emergency help in your area.
Prevent Fires & Burns
•
Have working smoke alarms and hold fire drills. If you build a new home, install fire sprinklers.
• Stay by the
stove when cooking, especially when you are frying food.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything
that can burn. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• If you smoke, smoke outside. Use deep ashtrays
and put water in them before you empty them. Lock matches and lighters in a place where children can’t reach them.
• Only light candles when an adult is in the room. Blow the candle out if you leave the room or go to sleep.
Prevent Choking and Suffocation
• Things that can fit through a toilet paper tube can cause a young child to choke.
Keep coins latex balloons and hard round foods, such as peanuts and hard candy out of children’s reach.
•
Place children to bed on their backs. Don’t put pillows, comforters or toys in the crib.
• Clip the loops
in window cords and place them up high where children can’t get them.
• Read the labels on all toys, especially
if they have small parts. Be sure that your child is old enough to play with them.
• Tell children to sit down when
they eat and to take small bites.
Be Smart Around Water
• Stay within an arm’s length of children in and around water. This includes bathtubs, toilets, pools and spas
– even buckets of water.
• Put a fence all the way around your pool or spa.
• Empty large buckets
and wading pools after using them. Keep them upside down when not in use.
• Make sure your children always swim
with a grownup. No child or adult should swim alone.
• Keep your hot water at or below 120 degrees F to prevent
burns.
Visit the Home Safety Resource Center at www.homesafetycouncil.org to review and download free information, including
posters, brochures, safety checklists and additional tips to help safeguard your family.
*Through years 1996-2000, based on The State of Home Safety in America™ report, Second
Edition.
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Arson Awareness Week May 4-10, 2008
The goal of this year's Arson Awareness Week is to focus public attention on the dangers of toylike or
novelty lighters in the hands of children. Toylike or novelty lighters have been responsible for injuries, deaths, and
accidents across the Nation. Children are attracted to novelty lighters because they look like toys. Many of these lighters
look like animals, miniature cars, mobile phones, cameras, fishing lures, stacks of coins, markers, and doll accessories.
One lighter is nearly identical to the popular rubber ducky bath toy—it even quacks! There are also toylike and novelty
lighters that look like tools such as tape measures, drills, hammers, and paint brushes. Ironically, there are even lighters
that mimic a Dalmatian donning a fire helmet, a red fire truck, or fire extinguishers. For more information click HERE. __________________________________________________________________
Crews Battle 2 Alarm House Fire
April 23, 2008
Crews were called out Wednesday morning
for a structure fire that went to 2 alarms. The first arriving crews went on scene with a two story residential structure,
heavy fire showing from the second floor. There are no fire hydrants in this area so rural water supply operations had
to be established. A portable tank was set up for water supply while tankers shuttled water from Cedar Hill and Lonedell.
Mutual aid assistance from nearby departments was used to help bring the blaze under control. Mutual aid trucks came
from Saint Clair Fire Protection District, Desoto Rural Fire Protection District, Pacific Fire Protection District ,and
Hillsboro Fire Protection District, as well as units from MODOT, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department, and the Missouri
Division of Fire Safety. Big River Ambulance District was on scene to provide rehab and to do medical checks on firefighters.
The Cedar Hill Firefighters Auxillary and the American Red Cross provided food and drinks to those on scene. Eureka
Fire Protection District provided coverage for our fire district until Cedar Hill units were back in service. Cedar
Hill Fire Protection District would like to thank everybody involved to help bring this incident under control. ___________________________________________________________________
March 22nd, 2008 Big River Reaches Highest
Level Since 1993 Multiple water rescue evacuations
were called for after the Big River reached its highest level since the 1993 floods. Heavy rains in the area after the
biggest snowfall in over 15 years caused the river to reach a level of 27 feet above flood stage at the Byrnesville bridge.
Battalion Chief Dave Jones stated "We do water rescue and boat training for this exact reason.
Because of that training and the help of High Ridge Fire Protection District all rescues were successfully mitigated
and there were no deaths or injuries to civilians or rescue personnel." There were approximately 30 people evacuated
by the fire department out of several subdivisions. Hundreds more self evacuated when the water started rising. The river is now just about back into its banks. All roads affected by the flood in the Cedar Hill area
are reopened. Anybody needing assistance can contact the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. __________________________________________________________________
December 2007:
New Members For Cedar Hill Fire Protection District
This December brought on some new volunteer members for the Cedar Hill Fire Protection
District. The District would like to welcome two new junior firefighters and five new senior firefighters.
The two new junior firefighters are Adam Riewer and Aaron Flowers. Junior firefighters
perform many of the same duties as senior firefighters without being allowed to enter any dangerous environments. Juniors
respond to alarms on the fire apparatus with the senior firefighters. They help on firegrounds by doing things such
as filling air bottles and getting tools. They can really be a huge asset on scenes by taking care of minor assignments.
Juniors are not allowed to enter a structure fire or any other hazardous environment, and are only allowed to go to motor
vehicle accidents after they turn 16 years of age.
The five new senior firefighters are Brandon Isebell, Michael Williams, Michael Rosner,
Jessica Donahue, and Craig Johnson. These firefighters will first have to go through a recruit class before being allowed
to fully participate on all alarms. The District will teach these individuals the skills they need to perform their
duties as firefighters. Volunteer firefighters still make up about 60% of the districts staff, the other 40% being full
time personnel. Cedar Hill Fire Protection District is a "combination" department, which means that the volunteers and
full time personnel work together 24/7 to protect our district.
Another change this month was the hiring of Jeremy Lenhart. Jeremy started with
the district as a volunteer in 2005. Jeremy was hired full time to replace Brian Strubberg, who left in October to work
for the St. Charles City Fire Department.
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December 2007: New Emergency Generator
Installed The fire district
now has a new emergency power generator in service at out station #1, 6766 Cedar Hill Road.
This generator was purchased with funds received from the 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The new generator is a Catepillar D100-4s, and is diesel powered. It produces
up to 100Kw, and is capable of powering the whole firehouse during a power outage. Now station #1 will be
able to remain fully operational during a power outage. It self tests weekly and alerts district staff through a annunciator
panel if it needs service. The generator is connected to the firehouse through a automatic switch panel. In the
event of a power outage the generator self starts, then power is automatically switched over. This whole process happens
in around six seconds. The new generator
was purchased for $50,491. The district was responsible for 5% of the total cost, the rest paid for with fund received
from the 2006 grant. The contract for purchase and installation was awarded to Fabic Power Systems.
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Fire
District Gets New Fire Prevention Tool
September 24, 2007 If you have recently driven past our Station #2, located at 8800
State Route 30, you may have noticed our new Smokey Bear sign. This sign was built by our very own skilled craftsman
Battalion Chief Dave Jones. The Smokey Bear sign will be used as a fire prevention tool to inform area residents of
the local fire danger risk. The plans and decals for the sign
were provided to the fire district by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The fire district provided the remainder
of the materials needed to complete the project. Battalion Chief Jones started working on this project in April of this
year. The Smokey Bear sign was completed and erected in April of this year, after several days cutting, sanding, fastening,
and painting. The fire danger level sign will be changed based
on local weather conditions. Conditions such as rainfall amounts, humidity, and wind speed are all factors used to determine
the inherent fire danger risk. The fire danger risk level should only be used as a local fire danger warning and does
not determine if conditions are favorable for open burning. As always, please contact the firehouse at (636) 285-3345
to inquire about open burning. For more information about wildland
fire dangers visit the Missouri Department of Conversation webpage. Information about Missouri State burning regulations
can be found on Missouri Department of Natural Resources webpage. For any other questions please contact our office
at (636) 285-3345.
District
orders equipment purchased from funds received from the 2006
Department of Homeland Security Fire Act Grant September 1, 2007 Cedar
Hill Fire Protection District Receives Federal Grant Cedar Hill Fire Protection District received a Department of Homeland Security Fire Act Grant to replace radio
communication equipment and install a back up generator at Cedar Hill Fire Protection District House #1. The radio equipment
totaled over $50,000 of the grant. The
new radio equipment will consist of handheld, mobile, and base station radios. The radios being replaced will not meet
the 2013 Federal Communication Commission (FCC) narrow banding requirements and needed to be replaced. The district has ordered thirty-one (31) new Motorola HT1250 handheld
radios to replace nearly all of the handheld radios currently in service. Some of the old radios could only hold six
(6) channels and did not have the capability to scan channels. The new radios will hold up to one hundred and twenty-eight
(128) channels and have the capability to scan channels. The Motorola HT1250 was chosen because the district already
has some in service and liked the way they functioned, and this purchase will standardize the handheld radios. The new
radios will help the district with interoperability by allowing multiple frequencies to be programmed into the radio which
will allow the district to talk to the agencies they respond with. The district has ordered six (6) Motorola PM1500 dual head mobile radios, and four (4) CDM1550
dash mount radios to replace most of the mobile radios currently in operation. The mobile radio purchase will replace
all but four (4) mobile radios, which already meat the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) narrow banding requirements.
The new radios have the capability of holding at least one hundred and twenty-eight (128) channels, and will allow the same
interoperability and standardization benefits as the handheld radios. Also the district will be replacing it base station radio with one from Motorola. The
existing base station is over twenty (20) years old and is only capable of having four (4) channels programmed. The
new base radio will allow up to thirty-two (32) channels to be programmed and will allow district personnel to set off the
alert tones in the engine house. The district is currently dispatched by Jefferson County 911 and has no plans to change
that, the reason the district has purchased the new base station equipment is so that we could be prepared if for any reason
we would have to dispatch ourselves. The
Department of Homeland Security grant allows the district to save money that can then be used for other district needs.
The district is only responsible for ten percent of the total cost and the federal government picks up the rest of the bill.
The district has previously been awarded four grants. Equipment purchased with previous grants are: radio equipment
(alert pagers & handheld radios) auto extrication equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), atmospheric monitoring
equipment, automated external defibrillator (AED), personal protective equipment, thermal imaging camera, heavy duty washing
machine, and vehicle exhaust systems for the engine houses. The new radio equipment will be delivered soon and be service shortly after at all three of the Cedar Hill Fire
Protection District engine houses. The citizens should be proud of the department and their achievements, and should
feel free to stop by the engine houses to look at the new equipment. If you have any questions or would like to see a demonstration of the new equipment please
feel free to contact Engineer/EMT Robert G. Tucker at 636-285-3345.
Gardens Reap Benefits for Fire District August 21st, 2007 Two years of touring gardens have reaped more than beautiful flowers for the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District.
Tuesday, August 21st, the Cedar Hill Firefighters’ Organization Auxiliary presented the fire district with
a check for $8,000. The money was from the proceeds of the last two garden tours the auxiliary sponsors. Board
President Delbert Viehland thanked the auxiliary for their hard work and dedication. The money will be used to replace
hydraulic rescue tools, commonly known as the “Jaws of Life”, some of which are close to 30 years old. Replacing
those tools will cost $20,000-$25,000. Other fundraisers and funds from the general budget should allow the district
to purchase the tools in 2008. The auxiliary’s first garden tour was held in 2001 and they have since been held annually with the exception
of 2004. The tours normally occur the last Sunday in June and for a small donation, visitors tour up to eight private
gardens. Proud gardeners are often eager to show off the fruits of their hard work and share the secrets or their success.
Commercial sponsors of the tours are given advertising space in the garden tour programs. The auxiliary would like to
thank the gardeners and commercial sponsors for making the tours possible and is currently looking for new gardens to tour. Since 1999 the Cedar Hill Firefighters’
Organization Auxiliary has raised over $17,000. Their efforts have allowed the district to purchase a Safe House, a
thermal imaging camera, and several other essential items the district might otherwise not have been able to afford.
The auxiliary plays a role in fire district operations; in addition to fundraising, the auxiliary holds blood drives, community
toy drives, and provides aid to the firefighters on emergency scenes with nutritional support. For those interested
in volunteering as auxiliary members or participating in the garden tour, please contact the fire district at 636-285-3345.
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