The Issaquah Press
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B
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COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2012
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Let your body be the canvas By Christina Corrales-Toy Issaquah Press intern
BY MARK LOVELL
Firefighters practice stabilizing an inverted vehicle in a scenario to extricate potential injured passengers at an accident scene in a F.R.E.E. class held in Burlington. The training emphasis on rescuer safety and speed are keys to successful future rescue efforts.
EXTRICATION EXPERTS Program trains firefighters to remove people from vehicles ON THE WEB
By Kirsten Johnson
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ark Lovell, marketing director of Precision Collision, was just 7 years old when his mother was killed in a car accident. Now, Lovell is a champion of the national, nonprofit program First Responder Emergency Extrication, or F.R.E.E. It provides firefighters across the country with free training and technical information regarding how to remove people from wrecked vehicles. “It really exists just to save lives,” Lovell said. “To be able to pass on information that could prevent that for someone else’s family is huge — it’s a huge value to the firefighters.” The National Auto Body Council sponsors the program, and member auto body shops around the country choose to participate and provide all of the training. Precision Collision puts together all of the classes in Washington.
BY MARK LOVELL
The National Auto Body Council’s First Responder Emergency Extrication classes are showcased at a collision industry NACE exposition in Las Vegas last year.
See a video about the national, nonprofit program First Responder Emergency Extrication, or F.R.E.E., at www.issaquahpress.com.
About 30 percent of Eastside Fire & Rescue first responders have been trained through F.R.E.E. and last year, a class was held in Issaquah. Since the program was launched in March 2010, firefighters from almost all of the fire departments in the state have attended F.R.E.E. sessions. A class is held every few months. Half of the four-hour session is a presentation that covers topics such as car construction, airbag locations and firefighter hazards, and the other half offers hands-on training using new, popular vehicles including hybrids. “The ability to take our tools out and literally go cut apart and pull people out, and just see what works and what doesn’t work is hugely appreciated on our part,” said Greg Tryon, chief deputy for operations for EFR. “At an accident scene, literally every minute does count — anything we can do to be better trained is essentially life saving.” Vehicles are donated by local businesses. The local Enterprise Rent-a-Car has donated a Toyota Prius to each class in the state. Tracy Hoffman, owner of West Coast Fire and Rescue and a former firefighter who instructs each training session, said a big benefit of the program is the rare chance for firefighters to practice extrication on newer car models rather than “old junkers” from a tow yard. “Every situation is different, even two cars that are identical can be completely different to extricate from,” he said. “We’re seeing metals that we didn’t see in cars five or 10 years ago. “I don’t think the car industry is going to slow down anytime soon as far as the new
BY MARK LOVELL
A firefighter uses the Jaws of Life to remove the roof during a staged car accident in a First Responder Emergency Extrication class. advances that they’re putting into them, so it’s something that we have to continuously keep up on.” Lovell said he hopes the program will help prevent tragedies for others, like what he See EXTRICATE, Page B3
The American Association of Nude Recreation is offering a unique way for local artists to showcase their work. At the group’s Amazing Canvas Nudist Face and Body Painting Event, the canvas will be the human body and the tools will be paint. The July 14 event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and takes place at Fraternity Snoqualmie, a 40-acre family nudist park on the side of Tiger Mountain. “The only perfect body is a naked one, and to an artist the naked body is a canvas,” Fraternity Snoqualmie spokeswoman Dawnzella Gearhart said. Professional and amateur local artists will compete for prizes in various categories, including funniest, silliest and scariest creations. The audience and Fraternity Snoqualmie judges will assess local entries and then submit pictures of the best ones to the American Association of Nude Recreation headquarters, where the grand-prize winners will be determined. Cash prizes will be awarded in each category. First-place amateur and professional artists receive $500 each, second-place artists receive $250 and thirdplace artists receive $100. Body painting is not a new phenomenon, according to Gearhart. “Body painting is no new trend, and actually has roots dating back millennia, as body painting with clay and other natural pigments existed in tribal cultures and still survives in this ancient form among the indigenous people of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and parts of Africa,” she said. It’s the first time Fraternity Snoqualmie has hosted such an event, but Gearhart expects to see unique artwork and a lot of creativity. “I am always truly amazed and impressed by the beautiful designs these artists come up with,” Gearhart said. Fraternity Snoqualmie will have paint available, as well as paint to sell, for artists. There is no artist fee to participate, but artists and their canvas will need to sign a photo release form. The event is appropriate for all ages, Gearhart said. Children younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent. Photo identification is required for all who enter, but the event is free. Christina Corrales-Toy: 392-6434, ext. 241, or isspress@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
Camp lets ailing teen feel normal By Katie Larsen Issaquah Press intern
Kara Denson and Tobi both wear perpetual smiles whenever Kara is riding, here during a recent schooling show at the Freedom Run Equestrian Center in Maple Valley, where Tobi stays. CONTRIBUTED
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Imagine only having one week a year to feel normal. That is the life of Kara Denson, a local 15-year-old suffering from mitochondrial disease. Camp Korey at Carnation Farm hosts youths with certain life-altering medical conditions each week. Mitochondrial disease week is from July 23-27. Diagnosed at age 4, Kara now has many other health problems related to her primary disease. For example, she can’t eat much so to obtain enough nutrition, Kara has a feeding tube to help. Mostly though, she said her lack of energy to do things normal people do is her biggest obstacle. “At Camp Korey, it’s completely normal to be tired after one event and everyone understands if you need a break,” Kara said. Ages 6 through 16 from all
across the United States come because the only other camp for the condition is in upstate New York. After 16, attendees have the opportunity to become a leader-in-training and at 18, they can become counselors. Kara said she is looking forward to doing both. Last year, she and her roommates joked about being the noisiest group because of all of the medical equipment that was hooked up to each of them. “We can have a good sense of humor about it,” Kara said. “We sounded like a symphony.” Camp Korey involves numerous activities, including horseback riding, a ropes course, fishing and teepee campouts. There is also a camp theme, dance and song to unite campers. “Camp Korey is probably the See CAMP, Page B3
BY GREG FARRAR
Sheama Tura, of Issaquah, draws a beach and a palm tree last year.
Chalk up a sidewalk masterpiece Issaquah’s summer tradition, the Chalk Art Festival, is coming to city sidewalks July 17. The Issaquah Arts Commission invites artists of all ages to transform the sidewalks around the Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd., with their masterpieces from noon to 5 p.m. that day. All the entries will be judged at 5 p.m. with winners
being announced at 6 p.m. before the Concert on the Green. The event is free. Chalk and water will be provided. Event organizers recommend arriving early to choose a shady sidewalk spot. All space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. See a slideshow of masterpieces the day of the festival at www.issaquahpress.com.
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