JULY - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2014
ELMA / WEST SENECA SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 2006
ELMA Edward R. Sauer Emergency Manager (716) 652-7635 oem@elmanewyork.com
JULY - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2014
WEST SENECA HOSTS RIBBON CUTTING AND OPEN HOUSE FOR NEW EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
MEETINGS - 7:00 PM 2nd Wednesday of the Month • August 13th* • September 10th • October 8th Training and meetings are held at the Elma Senior Center unless noted. Elma Senior Center 3007 Bowen Rd. Elma, NY 14059
* Town Hall 1600 Bowen Rd. Elma, NY 14059
Check here for updates Web: www.elmanewyork.com/oem/ECert.htm Facebook: Elma Community Emergency Response Team, Inc.
WEST SENECA John Gullo Emergency Manager (716) 558-3238 jgullo@twsny.org MEETINGS - 7:00 PM 3rd Monday of the month • August 5th - National Night Out • September 15th - National Preparedness Month Open House • October 20th Search & Rescue Please watch the website and Facebook for training and meeting locations.
Check here for updates Web: www.wscert.net Facebook: West Seneca Cert
Pictured is Town of West Seneca Disaster Coordinator John Gullo speaking to attendess of the Ribbon Cutting and Open House On Tuesday, June 17th, at 5:30 PM, the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce and the Town of West Seneca Office of Disaster Preparedness held a Ribbon Cutting and Open House for the opening of the West Seneca Emergency Operations Center (“EOC”) and the home of West Seneca Community Emergency Response Team (“CERT”). The new EOC is located in the West Seneca School’s Ebenezer Building at 900 Mill Road. Among those in attendance were Lynn Marinelli as WNY Director of Intergovernmental Relations at Empire State Development and Governor Cuomo’s Office, Mitch Martin of Senator Gallivan’s office, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, County Legislator Joe Lorigo, County Emergency Fire Chief, Town Supervisor Sheila Meegan, Councilmen Gene Hart, Bill Hanley and members of the West Seneca School Board. The new EOC is managed by John Gullo, West Seneca’s Disaster Coordinator. The EOC was made possible by efforts of the Town of West Seneca and West Seneca Central Board of Education. During emergency situations the new EOC
will serve as the primary location for critical decision making and planning, a hub for communications and dispatch, and a storage location for emergency equipment and supplies. The EOC will also be used as regular meeting place for emergency personnel and a training facility for emergency response and preparedness.
JULY - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2014
POOL SAFETY If you’re planning to stay cool and get some exercise in your backyard pool or at the beach this summer, make sure you follow these tips to help protect yourself and your family: Your greatest water safety assurance comes from adopting and practicing as many safety steps as possible. Adding an extra safety step around the water can make all the difference. You can never know which safety step will save a life — until it does. If you can’t swim, learn now. Have your children learn, too. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends swimming lessons for most children four years and older, and for children between one and four who are ready to learn to swim.
Signs include choppy and foamy water, and water filled with debris moving in a path away from shore. If you happen to get caught in a rip current, swim parallel When children are in and around the water, to shore. When you get free of the current, give them your undivided attention. Stay in swim towards shore. arm’s reach of small children. When there Avoid alcohol before or during swimming are several adults present while children or boating. Accident risks increase with are in the water, designate each one to be alcohol use. Never drink alcohol while suthe supervisor for 15-minute intervals. pervising children. Have children and any other inexperi- To improve pool and spa safety, the U.S. enced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard- Consumer Product Safety Commission approved life jackets. Water wings, noo- (CPSC) launched Pool Safely: Simple dles and inner tubes are meant to be toys. Steps to Save Lives, a national public They are not meant to take the place of education campaign to reduce childhood approved floatation devices. drownings, non-fatal submersion injuries Teach young children basic safety tips. and entrapments. Instruct them to never go in or near the The campaign is a call-to-action for conwater without an adult present. Tell them sumers and industry to adopt additional, not to play or swim near drains and suc- proven water safety steps and join a nation outlets. tional conversation about pool and spa Check pool drain covers regularly. Make safety by sharing best practices and other sure they are securely in place and have life-saving information. no cracks. Replace flat drain covers with The Pool Safely campaign carries out the dome-shaped ones. provisions of the Virginia Graeme Baker Learn CPR and keep your skills updated. Pool & Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act), federal The American Red Cross and American legislation mandating new requirements Heart Association both offer instruction for public pools and spas. The P&SSA Act directs CPSC to establish and carry out a courses. public education campaign. Surround your pool with a fence at least four-feet high. Install lockable safety cov- To pool safely means adopting critical waers on your pool or spa. Remove ladders ter safety steps to assure that a great afternoon at the pool doesn’t turn into a tragor steps when the pool isn’t being used. ic one. Whether at a residential or public To keep your pool clean and clear, main- pool or spa, everyone can always take adtain proper chemical levels, circulation and ditional steps to be safe while having fun filtration. Test the chemical levels on a regular basis to minimize the risk of earaches, - See more at: http://www.poolsafely.gov rashes and other medical issues. Look for rip currents in open water.
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HEAT RELATED ILLNESS DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO? Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, can be problems for people enjoying outdoor activities in the hot summer months. Those most susceptible to heat related illnesses are children, the elderly, and people working or exercising in a hot environment. A heat-related illness occurs when the body is not able to regulate and control its temperature. As the air temperature rises, your body stays cool by letting heat escape through the skin and by evaporating sweat (perspiration). On hot, humid days, the evaporation of sweat is slowed by the increased moisture in the air. When the body isn’t cooled properly, your body temperature rises, and you may become ill. If left untreated, a heat-related illness can lead to serious complications, even death. However, most heat-related illnesses can be prevented. WHAT ARE HEAT CRAMPS? Heat cramps are the least severe and often are the first signals that the body is having trouble with the heat. Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms that result from overheating. They usually occur in the legs and abdomen.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK I HAVE HEAT EXHAUSTION? If you think you have heat exhaustion, get out of the heat quickly. Rest in a cool, shady place and drink small amounts of cool water or other replenishing fluids. Loosen or remove clothing and apply wet cloths. Have someone call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number if your condition does not improve, you are unable to drink water or you start vomiting. If heat exhaustion is not treated it can progress to a worse condition; heat stroke. WHAT IS HEAT STROKE? Heat stroke is the least common, but most severe heat-related illness. It results from the total failure of the body’s heat regulation system. This occurs when the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating system fails and the body cannot cool down. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. It can cause permanent disability or even death.
HOW DO I GIVE CARE FOR HEAT Know the symptoms... CRAMPS? • Red skin that can either be dry or To care for heat cramps, have the person moist rest in a cool place. Give them cool wa• Changes in consciousness ter or a commercial sports drink. Usually, rest and fluids are all the person will need • Rapid, weak pulse to recover. Lightly stretch the muscle and • Rapid, shallow breathing gently massage the area. Do not give the person salt tablets or salt water. They can What should I do if I think someone has heat stroke? make the situation worse. Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition. WHAT IS HEAT EXHAUSTION? Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness If you think someone might have heatthat can develop after exposure to high stroke, have someone call 9-1-1 or the lotemperatures and inadequate or unbal- cal emergency number right away. Move anced replacement of fluids. It typically the person to a cool, shady place. Loosen occurs when people exercise heavily or or remove any unnecessary clothing and work in a warm, humid place where body help cool him or her down. Apply wet fluids are lost through heavy sweating and cloths and fan the person. If the person the sweat does not evaporate as it should. is conscious, give them small amounts of cool water to drink (about 4 ounces evKnow the symptoms... ery 15 minutes). Refusing water, vomiting • Cool, moist, pale, ashen or flushed and changes in consciousness mean that skin the person’s condition is getting worse. Remember, Call 9-1-1 or the local emer• Headache gency number immediately, if you haven’t • Dizziness already done so. • Nausea HOW CAN I PREVENT HEAT ILLNESS? • Weakness or exhaustion • Heavy sweating
When the heat index is high (a measurement of how hot it feels when relative hu-
midity is combined with the effects of the air temperature), stay indoors in air-conditioned areas whenever possible. If you must go outside, take the following precautions: • Wear lightweight, light-colored, loosefitting clothes. • Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat or using an umbrella. • Frequently apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more • Drink plenty of water before starting an outdoor activity. Drink extra water all day. Avoid beverages that contain caffeine (such as tea, coffee and cola) or alcohol. • Schedule vigorous outdoor activities for cooler times of the day--before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. • During an outdoor activity, take frequent breaks. Drink water or other fluids every 15 to 20 minutes, even if you don’t feel thirsty. • If you have a chronic medical problem, ask your doctor about how to deal with the heat, about drinking extra fluids and about your medicines. What should I do after having heat exhaustion or heatstroke? Do not resume activities the same day. Be especially careful not to exercise too hard, and avoid going outside in hot weather if possible. Ask your doctor to tell you when it is safe to return to your normal activities.
JULY - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2014
UPCOMING TRAINING & EVENTS CALENDAR July 16 SMART’s Role in Mass Fatality 19 SMART’s Role in Mass Fatality August 5 National Night Out - Elma 5 National Night Out - West Seneca
ELMA CERT MEMBERS ATTEND TRAINING Elma CERT, Inc. members, Debbie Wannemacher and Edward Sauer, attended the CERT Train the Trainer and Program Manager courses at FEMA EMI this past May. More CERT members will be attending the training in the near future.
AHA TRAINING SITE
WEST SENECA CERT ADOPTS A HIGHWAY
18 CPR Class - Locatin TBD
Members participated cleaned up the town as part of the Adopt-A-Highway Litter Pick up in June and July.
13 SMART Geriatrics Best Practices
SUMMER FESTIVALS
15 SMART Pet Preparedness & First Aid
Both Elma and West Seneca CERT groups participated in various summer events from parades, community days and even a Car Show.
18 SMART Pet Preparedness & First Aid
The Town of Elma has become an American Heart Association training site. Members of Elma CERT, Inc. will be able to instruct Heartsaver CPR AED, Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, Heartsaver Bloodborne Pathogens, and BLS for Healthcare Providers courses. We anticipate being able to start running classes for the community soon. This was made possible with the combined cooperation between the Elma Town Board, Elma CERT, Inc., and members of the community that want to be prepared.
15 SMART New Member Orientation October
Check the West Seneca CERT and Elma CERT, Inc. websites for updates and upcoming events. Anone interested in training provided by SMART must pre-register at: www2.erie. gov/smart. Some trainings may have prerequisites. For more information on HAM Radio classes visit South Towns Amateur Radio Society online at: http://stars.thefruths. com To attend Sky Warn Training visit: www.erh.noaa.gov/buf/skywarnt.htm
ELMA Sign up for Elma Code Red by visiting the town website at: www.elmanewyork.com Sign up for Code Red to be notified by your local emergency response team in the event of emergency situations or critical community alerts. Sign-up for Code Red by visiting the links.
September
WEST SENECA Code Red sign up will start in August. Check westseneca.net, wscert.net and facebook page