PUBLISHER COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI FIRE and RESCUE EDITOR ANTHONY COLOM ART DESIGN, LAYOUT, & PHOTOGRAPHY ANTHONY COLOM CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CHIEF MARTIN ANDREWS ASSISTANT CHIEF MARK WARD CHIEF OF TRAINING DUANE HUGHES ACCREDITATION MANAGER / CAPTAIN MIKE CHANDLER FIRE and LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR CAROLE SUMMERALL
STAFF MARTIN ANDREWS: CHIEF MARK WARD: ASSISTANT CHIEF DUANE HUGHES: CHIEF OF TRAINING NEAL AUSTIN: SPECIAL OPERATIONS CHIEF Jr. LANCASTER: A-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF BOBBY BARKSDALE: B-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF MIKE GIBSON: C-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF TODD WEATHERS: FIRE MARSHAL CAROLE SUMMERALL: FIRE & LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR MICHAEL CHANDLER: ACCREDITATION MANAGER ANTHONY COLOM: PUBLIC RELATIONS TABITHA BARHAM: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Columbus Fire and Rescue Department 205 7th Street S. Columbus, MS 39701 (662) 329-5121 This publication may not be reproduced in whole nor in part without the written permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2015, Columbus, Mississippi Fire and Rescue Department
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chief s chair SERVICE IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
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Imagine its 2:00 in the morning. You, your spouse, and your children are all sleeping comfortably in your beds at home when all of a sudden your smoke alarm starts screeching. Everyone jumps out of bed, and remembering the rules "in case of fire", you all immediately gather at your planned meeting place. You use your cell phone to call "9-1-1" and report that your home is on fire. The Fire Department responds and puts the fire out, but the smell of smoke is so strong that there is no way you will be able to sleep in your home tonight, and you're not really sure the extent of the damage that has been done because it's dark and the electricity has been shut off for safety. Where can you get immediate help so that you and your family can get enough rest to make it through tomorrow, which you know will be a very stressful day?
Columbus Fire & Rescue has continually been focused on serving our great community in the best ways possible. Our efforts have been constantly improving as we see needs that we are able to help meet. We have searched for something that relates to our service specifically, and will benefit our community directly. Columbus Fire and Rescue and the Columbus Housing Authority have partnered and we believe that we have found the answer to meeting these requirements. CFR and CHA are pleased to announce the development of the "CHA/CFR Temporary 06 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l
Outreach Shelter", a temporary shelter for families that are displaced due to fire or natural disaster. It will provide a safe and somewhat "homey" environment for families to stay for a night or two until they are able to make other arrangements. The shelter will have sleeping quarters, a dining area, and a relaxing area to watch television. It will be a private and secure place to stay. There will be rules to follow, of course, and an agreement will be signed by the family in need stating that they have read, understand, and agree to follow these rules. We are currently working on getting the shelter set up with everything that is needed to make it a success. There has been a lot of footwork put into asking for donations of furniture which has, so far, been successful. We hope to have the shelter open and available in August or September of this year. A "Grand Opening" will be announced by CFR and the Columbus Housing Authority at a later date. Having been with the Fire Department for 28 years, I am proud to see how far we have come in the services that we offer.
by CHIEF martinANDREWS mandrews@columbusms.org (662) 329-5121
editor ,s note KNOW YOUR ROLE and PLAY YOUR POSITION
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When putting a winning team together , it’s vital that every member of the team is chosen based on a specific skill that he or she possesses. The success of the team will be determined by how well each member understands and plays his or her role. In football, we never see a quarterback and a wide receiver on the field taking snaps from the center at the same time. In basketball, we never see a point guard and a power forward dribbling the ball at the same time. Everyone has a position and a role to play. Losing teams will often consist of members who try to play more than one role , or position (because they don’t trust the , other members); members who don’t understand their role and are terrible at their position; members chosen who , aren’t qualified to be on the team; members who are jealous of the success or contributions of another member; mem, bers who don’t like taking instructions from the coach, manager, or owner; or an ineffective team leader.
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An effective leader knows when to put straying members back in their position , and when to make the neccessary cuts to better the team.
, Every member can’t make the winning shot, but every member who executes properly, knows and plays his or her role, can contribute and score enough to help put the team in position to win. by anthonyCOLOM, PUBLIC RELATIONS acolom@columbusms.org (662) 329-5121
command staff
FIRE LANES
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Fire lanes are a safety regulation mandated by fire departments for ease of access in case of an emergency. They are generally identified by a sign and/or red markings, fire lanes are easily visible by drivers.
Fire lanes are designated areas, usually in front of a building or structure, existing for the purpose of eliminating obstructions in case of an emergency. No parking is permitted in a fire lane at any time. Mississippi Code Section 63-3-913 states that no motor vehicle, except a vehicle responding to an emergency shall be parked in an area marked to give access to emergency vehicles. Unlawful parking or blocking access shall result in a penalty (fine) for each violation. The City of Columbus has many designated fire lanes in front of buildings and structures. Columbus Fire and Rescue has personnel designated to check fire lanes periodically during the day and night looking for motor vehicles parked in or obstructing the fire lane. The fine in the City of Columbus for parking in a
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fire lane is $50.00. The fire officer will document the offense by taking a photo of the vehicle while it is still parked in the fire lane. The reason for documenting the offense is so that there is no disputing the offense in court.
The next time you go shopping make it a habit of glancing at the fire lane, you will most assuredly find someone parked in a fire lane. Look at it like this, you could be inside that store needing emergency assistance and someone has blocked the access to the building for emergency vehicles by parking in the fire lane. by ASSISTANT CHIEF markWARD mward@columbusms.org Photo by Captain wesMIMS
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SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES
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command staff FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN
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Ask any firefighter who has served more than twenty years if they still love the job, and the answer will probably be complicated. Instead of a simple yes or no, most will tell you it's a love/hate relationship. Although the answers vary, one truth remains. A firefighter's relationship with the job is simply that, a relationship. As with most relationships, keeping the romance alive requires effort from both parties.
Misery loves company! No better example exists than two firefighters bemoaning the fire chief's latest plan of action. This trap leads firefighters to view their situation as being much worse than it actually is. Stay Positive!
The difficulties of managing employee conflicts, tons of paperwork, and the minefield of municipal politics can jade the sincerest soul. As firefighters progress in job responsibilities, a disconnect occurs with the activities that attracted them to the job. Competing for the nozzle man position on the hand line is replaced with a never ending river of run reports. So what can be done to keep the love affair alive?
Change is a good thing, and firefighters should learn to embrace it. The US Fire Service has seen incredible change in the last ten years. Who knows what changes the next ten years will present?
Many long term couples attribute their staying power to having realistic expectations. Firefighters have to understand the job has its ups and downs. Staying committed to the job and constantly working to become a better firefighter gets you through those dull times.
The most important factor in loving the job is that the job should love you back. firefighters should receive encouragement and support from the department and community they serve. This is the fuel that keeps firefighters smiling and loving the job. by CHIEF OF TRAINING duaneHUGHES dhughes@columbusms.org
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Photo by Captain wesMIMS
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COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE PREPARES FOR NEW
FIRE STATION 4 Photos by Anthony Colom 18 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l
by Captain Scott Swain and Engineer Shannon Murphy Photos by Anthony Colom
It's that time of the year again, the sun's blistering and there is the smell of sun block and sun tan lotion in the air. Most families spend some time at some sort of watering hole trying to cool off from the summer heat. Examples: Ocean, Lake, Pond, River, Swimming Pool, Water Park, etc‌. When spending time at these types of water locations, Water Safety needs to be taken very seriously. As most adults know water can be unforgiving and a life can be taken in the blink of an eye. With that being said here are some suggestions to help with water safety while you or someone you know spends time in or on the water.
Swimming - Always swim with a partner every time - whether you're swimming in the back yard pool or in a lake. Even experienced swimmers can become tired or get muscle cramps, which might make it difficult to get out of the water. - When people swim together, they can help each other or go for help in case of an emergency. 22 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l
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swim, don't go in immer or just learning to - If you're not a good sw can't touch the bottom. water that’s so deep you ocean) is different from water (like a river, lake or of dy bo en op an in ng - Swimmi dle the currents and other need more energy to han l wil u Yo ol. po a in ng swimmi open water. changing conditions in the Floatation Device)/Life ays wear a PFD (Personal alw to is mb thu of e rul - A good your feet in the water. jacket when you cannot see its to swimming. Pay attenstrong currents are off lim ely rem ext h wit as are - Some posted in the tion to any warning signs area. Instructor. ng lessons from a Certified mi im sw h wit en ldr chi e - Provid
Underwater Hazards
hard to see. udy where hazards may be clo are t tha as are in ing - Be careful about div hidden objects g in. You are looking for pin lea ore bef ter wa the - Check the depth of shallow water. like rocks, logs and even , paralysis, manent spinal cord damage per es, uri inj d hea se cau - Diving head first can and sometimes even death.
Boating
than in train wrecks or ple die in boating accidents
- More peo drowning.
airplane crashes due to
atation Device)/Life wear a PFD (Personal Flo to s up gro age all for nt st wear an approved - It is importa lve years and younger mu twe e on any t bu g, atin bo derway on any Jackets when atation Device) when un Flo nal rso (Pe D PF V or Type I, II, III vessel.
- Alcohol and boating are never to be
mixed.
- Almost 1/3 of all boating accidents are alcohol related because alcohol impairs judgement. - For general boating rules and regulatio ns for Mississippi you can go to www.mdwfp.com.
Watching Children near Wat
er - Children are never to be left unattend ed near any source of water, including a bath tub. - Never leave a child to attend to anot
her child.
- There always needs to be a responsi ble adult supervising children, even if a life guard is present. - If a child is missing, check the wate r first because time is of the essence when it comes to drowning or permanent disa bilities. - Have children fitted with the correct
sized PFD/ Life Jacket.
Activating Emergency Personnel
In the event that a water emergency take
s place in Lowndes County, Mississip
pi:
- Call 911 giving the operator as muc h detail about the situation as possible. - By calling 911 for a water related eme rgency you will activate a response by the Columbus Fire & Rescue Swift Water/D ive Rescue Team.
fire and life safety SUMMER HEAT SAFETY
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Whether you're working or playing outside in the summer, anybody not accustomed to the heat is at risk for heat related illnesses. Heat kills by pushing the human body beyond its limits. In extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation is slowed and the body must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Most heat disorders occur because the victim has been overexposed to heat or has overexercised for his or her age and physical condition. Older adults, young children and those who are sick or overweight are more likely to succumb to extreme heat. Some signs and symptoms of heat stroke are: Mental confusion or loss of consciousness, flushed face, hot, dry skin, or has stopped sweating. Know the signs and take prompt action; get emergency medical attention immediately. Take these simple steps to protect yourself and your family: - Wear appropriate clothing (lightweight, light colored, loose fitting), including a widebrimmed hat - Don't wait until you are thirsty, take frequent water breaks; if you are working in a hot environment drink 1 cup of water every 20 minutes. - Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 - Never leave kids or pets unattended in a vehicle. Babies and young kids can sometimes sleep so peacefully that we forget they are even there. 26 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l
It can also be tempting to leave a baby alone in a car while we quickly run into the store. The problem is that leaving a child alone in a car can lead to serious injury or death from heatstroke. Young children are particularly at risk, as their bodies' heat up three to five times faster than an adult's. These tragedies are completely preventable. Here's how we can all work together to keep kids safe from heatstroke. Reduce the number of childhood deaths from heatstroke by remembering to ACT. A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you're not in it so kids don't get in on their own. C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you're not following your normal routine. T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life. Your best defense against heat-related illness is prevention. by FIRE and LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR caroleSUMMERALL csummerall@columbusms.org (662) 32-5121
HOW TO BEAT OFFICE STRESS Don't let work hassles keep you from being your mental and physical best
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We know too much stress can cause major health drama, including heart disease, depression, headaches, overeating, and loss of sex drive. Fun, huh? Even mild stress makes it harder to get in a good workout. To help you balance today's treacherous times — in and out of the workplace — we've pulled together four easy stress-management survival tricks. 1.) TALK IT OUT Fighting layoffs? A micromanaging supervisor? Just have too much to do? Feeling helpless can hit you, no matter what type of job you have or your rung on the ladder. To combat the problem, always make an effort to stay informed. Know as much as you can about what is going on above and below you, and keep both sides informed about you too. If you don't know what's going on in your boss's world, he probably has no idea what's
really going on in yours, either. 2.) TAKE A BREAK Nonstop work marathons actually hurt your productivity. Instead, take regularly
scheduled breaks during the workday. Try a 10-minute stretch every hour. And stop eating lunch at your desk! You need a break away from your 8-by-8 world in order to recharge. 3.) REMEMBER: YOU'RE NOT PERFECT Many of us brag about being a perfectionist — as if it's a
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good thing. Setting yourself up for such failure can send stress rocketing. Accept that you may not be able to do everything perfectly — but you can do everything correctly. Focus on doing that instead of being perfect, and everything else on your todo list should fall into place. 4.) CUT THE CORD AFTER 5 P.M. Too often we don't realize that our personal life can take a huge toll on our 9-to5 life. If our personal life — social, physical, or emotional — is suffering, it will invariably poison the workday, since that's where most of us spend the majority of our time. Take care of your business at home and your stress levels should plummet. If they don't, the best stress relief may be a new job. by Malcolm Munro Courtesy menshealth.com (662) 32-5121
accreditation ACCREDITATION ONE YEAR LATER
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On March 11, 2014 Columbus Fire and Rescue (CFR) became the first fire department in Mississippi to become accredited. While accreditation represented a significant accomplishment for the department, what impact has accreditation made? CFR has been able to improve its services in serval areas that have resulted in making the community and the department safer. First, the department identified areas in the city where the response time was above our response goals. The department adjusted station response districts and was able to lower response time of initial units by 3 to 4 minutes. What does this time mean? During a heart attack, the American Heart Association recognizes that for every minute in delayed critical care intervention (CPR and the use of an automatic external defibrillator), a person's chance for survival decreases by 10 percent. By adjusting these districts, we have increased an individual's chances of surviving a heart attack by 30 to 40 percent.
EMS incidents. Once identified, the department will be able to develop and implement fire and injury prevention programs aimed towards reducing these risks in targeted, highrisk areas. Finally, the department now establishes Rapid Intervention Teams, implemented the use of an accountability system, and requires an incident safety officer during structure fires. These changes were the result of implementing critical tasking (staffing) levels needed for each incident type. Each of these changes has significantly improved firefighter safety.
Accreditation has made a positive impact within the community and the department. While these improvements are a good start, Second, the department is currently in the much work remains. To learn more about process of relocating and building Station 4. accreditation and its impact, I encourage each Using data analysis, CFR was able to select of you to visit the department's website. the best possible location for this station to effectively serve the community. Third, CFR by ACCREDITATION MANAGER/CAPTAIN mikeCHANDLER is implementing processes used to identify mchandler@columbusms.org specific causes and locations of fire and 30 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l
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inside view
CULTURE
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In this ever-changing world, a constant melding of cultures is occurring. You no longer have to be from a certain country to celebrate traditional holidays and such. For example, you no longer have to live in China to celebrate the Chinese New Year; celebrations take place all over the world.
For the past two years I have had the pleasure to observe the celebration of "Norooz" (the Persian New Year). A parent of a student at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science contacted Columbus Fire & Rescue to request aid in celebrating their New Year. Mr. J was looking for a place that he could light 5 small fires to use in the celebration. The Persian New year falls on the March Equinox, which represents the last day of winter and the first day of spring on the Persian Calendar.
I was honored to be able to participate in the celebration that consisted of a group of about 15 students, a teacher, and Mr. and Mrs. J. The fires were used to represent a cleansing that would promote prosperity and good health for the New Year. Each person jumped over the fires several times. And there were several delicious foods that were made by Mrs. J. 34 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l
by ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT tabithaBARHAM tbarham@columbusms.org (662) 329-5121