Honoring Our
First Responders FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC POLICE OFFICER A Publication of The Daily Star Thursday, May 17, 2018
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Volunteer fire departments face challenges By Allison Collins
Honoring Our First Responders - THE DAILY STAR
Contributing Writer
When not running into burning buildings in more than 60 pounds of turnout gear, volunteer firefighters face fiscal and administrative obstacles that, though more mundane, make theirs tough work. Area department heads put recruitment and retention, volunteer availability and keeping equipment current at the top of their lists of challenges. “A lot of it is the availability of the people, especially during the daytime,” 26-year-old Jeff Jones, captain of the 30-member Unadilla Fire Department, said. “You can’t get the people there. We had a house fire (earlier this year), and we only had three guys.” Unadilla’s department, Jones noted, handles between 95 and 120 calls annually and covers parts of Wells Bridge and Otego as well as all of Unadilla. Daren Evans, Delhi Fire Chief, said, “It’s become a really difficult thing … (because) people’s lives are just busy and jobs don’t let them go (to a call) as easily as they used to during the day or night. And people have family obligations.” Evans’ department, which operates as part of the Delhi Joint Fire District, handles about 300 firefighting calls per year, he said, but assists with the district’s nearly 900 annual emergency medical calls. Coverage is contracted for the town of Hamden, he said, and the department of about 40 members also covers parts of Meredith and all of Delhi. Jones and Evans emphasized that volunteerism of any kind and ability
“It’s become a really difficult thing … (because) people’s lives are just busy and jobs don’t let them go (to a call) as easily as they used to during the day or night. And people have family obligations.” Daren Evans, Delhi Fire Chief level is welcomed. “We’re always trying to get as many volunteers as we can,” Jones said. “And some people think you need to be there every night for training and go to every call, but you go when you can go.” “It’s doing whatever you can to help,” Evans, 41, said. “We’re grateful. Any members are needed, no matter what they can do.” Training, Evans and Jones said, can be tailored to an individual’s inclinations. “To become an exterior firefighter, there’s a basic course that has to be taken for someone to be on the first ground of any fire scene,” Evans explained. “Interior training is a spinoff of (exterior), but more involved … and (includes) training to go into a live fire.” He added, “Not everybody has to do that; if they want to stop at the exterior level, they can.” The process starts, he said, with a “simple application,” available at the firehouse at 140 Delview Terrace Extentnsion in Delhi.
CONTRIBUTED
Members of Delhi’s volunteer fire department battle a downtown house fire in this undated photo. “If you wanted to join,” Jones said, “come up to the firehouse Monday nights at 7 and we’ll sign you up for classes.” The Unadilla firehouse is at 77 Clifton St. Jones added, “We meet every Monday night for two to three hours and there are different classes you can take, depending on what you want to do.” Interior firefighting certification, he noted, requires 110 training hours, or about six hours a week for six months. Exterior training, he said, can take as few as three months and more advanced trainings are offered at the state and county levels. Jones and Evans both said, for them, volunteer firefighting is a way of life. Evans, a Delhi native in his sixth
year as chief, said, “I love where I live and that’s why I do it. It’s striving to help somebody in their time of need. There’s really no other reason, and I believe everybody has that same goal and mind frame.” “It’s in my blood,”said Jones, who started with the department at 18. “I don’t think I could imagine ever not doing it.” Both departments host boot collections, barbecue fundraisers and letter drives, with proceeds going toward equipment purchases. To learn more, find “Unadilla Fire Department” on Facebook or call 369-9150. Additionally, find “Delhi Fire Department” on Facebook or call 746-2221. Readers in other areas should seek out their local fire departments.
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Members of the Unadilla Fire Department demonstrate how to handle a grease fire during a late-April recruitment event held in the village.
ALLISON COLLINS
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Paramedics to the rescue The main job of a paramedic is to evaluate and stabilize the patient by administering the necessary emergency care after an accident or an illness, then, if necessary, to transport the patient safely to a hospital. His work demands close collaboration with other emergency workers: doctors, firemen, policemen and supervisors. The paramedic is trained to intervene in a global manner in numerous pre-hospital situations affecting human pathologies: the different bodily systems, environmental conditions, brain and spinal traumas, abdominal and pelvic traumas, arms, legs as well as all individual traumas. Paramedics respond to a multitude of different emergencies and, most of the time, are the first to arrive on the scene of a tragedy. Road and work accidents, fires and explo-
sions, sporting accidents and drowning, bar and street fights, poisonings and chemical spills, heart and asthma attacks, allergies and epileptic attacks, etc. Those are just a few of the numerous emergency situations requiring the intervention of paramedics. Given the impact of the actions of paramedics on the lives of accident victims, people who are ill or handicapped, and the rapidity of the decisions which must be taken in emergency situations, paramedics must have very special abilities: a cool head, efficiency, autonomy, altruism, compassion, good physical shape and maturity. Ability to communicate easily and good listening skills are essential to be able to give support and reassurance to patients. Being a paramedic is a profession as demanding as it is rewarding.
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Honoring Our First Responders - THE DAILY STAR
Paramedics play a key role in our healthcare system. Their numerous interventions can mean the difference between life and death. These professionals must have exemplary composure and be well-balanced both mentally and psychologically. Here’s a small insight into a profession where everything happens rapidly: Every time paramedics are called to help someone in need of emergency medical care, they never know in exactly what state they will find their patients. Some scenes would make your blood run cold. A paramedic’s great strength resides in his or her ability to make rapid decisions while considering a multitude of different factors, depending on the context. Every gesture must be made with care and follow certain rules. Over the years, paramedics have had to offer more and more advanced emergency medical care. Before, members of this profession were called ambulance men and did not possess the same degree of expertise as the paramedics of today. Now, these professionals are authorized to carry out various medical procedures, such as providing basic trauma care and administering certain medications. In short, these front-line professionals work in conjunction with doctors and nurses more than ever before.
MAY 17 AND 18, 2018
Here to save lives
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Our paramedics
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Our volunteer firefighters Volunteer firefighters are professionals who practice their profession on a part-time, usually on-call basis. If they sometimes work in the shadow of their fulltime colleagues, their contribution to public safety still plays a vital role in society. In fact, being a volunteer firefighter is not always easy; time must be consecrated to a principal source of income while remaining completely available for when an emergency arises. There is no doubt that volunteer firemen share certain characteristics with other part-time jobs, particularly sporadic, on call work. This, however, is where comparisons come to an end. The selection process of candidates, though different from that of full-time firefighters, is still
Volunteers with a big heart
very rigorous which means the population is in good hands. Not everyone can become a volunteer firefighter — basic training is the same as it is for their full time colleagues. It is also possible to specialize and some can possess highly specific skills. What is surprising about this profession is that it includes people from very different trades and professions, who have in common a highly developed sense of duty and altruism to the point of putting their own lives in danger. They also have an extremely high level of physical fitness. Volunteer firefighters are found mostly in lightly populated municipalities or in a grouping of municipalities covering a large area.
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captain, etc. All officers wear helmets with distinctive colours and insignias identifying their rank.
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Most specialized schools across the country offer basic training. Once this level is achieved, new firefighters are able to widen their career opportunities by taking specialized courses, such as learning how to use hydraulic rescue tools, commonly called the Jaws of Life and operating a vehicle with an elevation platform. For those interested in this profession, it should be made clear that newly qualified firefighters do not have complete freedom of choice of where they can work. Laws, usually at the provincial level, oversee and regulate the profession.
Honoring Our First Responders - THE DAILY STAR
If there is a profession admired by all, it has to be that of the firefighter. Indeed, nearly every time a public survey is conducted firefighters are certain to be at the top of the list. It’s enough to make any politician jealous... Firefighters belong to one of the few professions with a job description that includes the notion of risking one’s life. This is why firefighters have a heroic aura about them. Moreover, they are frequently the first responders to a 911 emergency call for both fires and road accidents. The profession has become far more sophisticated in recent years. For example, certain fire services in large towns and cities can include up to 12 hierarchical ranks including firefighter, firefighter instructor, lieutenant,
True examples of courage
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Our local firefighters
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Volunteer EMTs require ‘a certain mindset’ By Allison Collins Contributing Writer
Ask most volunteer emergency medical technicians and they’ll tell you, it takes a special kind of person to do what they do. EMT certification requires lengthy training, plus a recertification every three years in New York state. The majority of squads have an aging membership and trouble recruiting new members; duty calls all hours of the day, night and on holidays; and equipment is constantly changing, often without the funding to keep up. All that without a paycheck. Ann-Marie Kyes, captain of the Sharon Springs Rescue Squad, which operates under the auspices of the Sharon Springs Fire District, said she always planned on service as a first responder. “I became a junior firefighter when I was 14 and joined the regular department at 18,” Kyes said. Noting that inspiration came from her father, a firefighter, she added, “You just have it in you. I’ve never been able to put my finger on what it is … but it really is a part of me.” Kyes, 53, said the 25-member Sharon Springs squad handles around 60 calls a year. She noted, though, that the squad often supplies mutual aid to the fire department’s 200 annual calls. Ed Horan, a 26-year first responder and president of the Otego Emergency Squad, said knowing the impact he’s making has driven his nearly three decades of service.
ALLISON COLLINS
Unadilla Fire Captain Jeff Jones, right, familiarizes 3-year-old Fate Goodrich with firefighters. Goodrich’s grandmother, Joann MacIntyre, looks on. “Not everybody can do it,” Horan said. “You’ve got to have a certain kind of mindset, but I enjoy doing it, I really do. It’s knowing people and what you want to do for the community.” Though he said on-scene EMT action inevitably brings with it “good outcomes and bad outcomes,” Horan added, “If I had to do it over
again, I would. I like helping people.” Nic Brent, the 31-year-old captain of Otego’s squad, said the 11-member group handles about 300 calls annually and officially covers Otego, but is frequently called to Gilbertsville, Oneonta, Unadilla and surrounding areas. Like Kyes, Brent said, first responder work often runs in families.
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“Not everybody can do it. You’ve got to have a certain kind of mindset, but I enjoy doing it, I really do. It’s knowing people and what you want to do for the community.” Ed Horan, 26-year first responder and president of the Otego Emergency Squad
Honoring Our First Responders - THE DAILY STAR
CONTRIBUTED
Earlier this year, with the help of state-awarded grant funding, the Otego Emergency Medical Squad purchased its new ambulance, pictured at the Otego Fire House on River Street. “My dad was a fireman in Oneonta,” he explained, “so that’s what got me into it.” Kyes, Horan and Brent named recruitment and, by extension, training, chief among the many hurdles faced by rural squads. “Training is always an issue,” Brent said. “It’s probably the biggest deterrent to getting new people, because just for the EMT certification, it’s over 200 hours, and then you have to maintain that.” Training, he said, includes first aid, CPR, command structure and more. Horan added, “The training is so monumen-
tal, you’re looking at being in class eight to 10 months.” “Recruiting and retaining volunteers is always a challenge,” Kyes echoed. “Everybody feels that — throughout the country and the state. And the education piece of it, especially on the rescue squad side, is a challenge, (because) there are more and more things required (of trainees) these days.” Training takes place primarily in a classroom, Brent said, but can include laboratory and online coursework.
Thank You First Responders!
first responder noun
a certified, often volunteer, emergency, medical, or law enforcement officer who is the first to arrive at an accident or disaster scene.
Despite participating in school career days, open houses and annual fundraisers, Horan said: “There’s nobody on either side of the fence — fire or EMS — that’s kicking down our doors to join.” To learn more, donate or volunteer, find “Sharon Springs Rescue Squad” on Facebook or visit Otego EMS during a May 19 open house from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Otego Fire House on River Street. Readers in other areas should seek out their local fire departments.
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Our police officers
Here to protect the entire community
The police are an essential part of public security services. Unfortunately, some people have little respect for them. It is, however, a difficult and dangerous profession that requires nerves of steel and exemplary self-control. Even though a police officer’s main role is to represent law and order within society, their work also involves other, underlying roles. Police officers are in constant contact with that which is truly complex and unpredictable: The human being. Their work brings them into contact with the best and the worst. If good physical condition is often among the hiring criterion, their most important qualities include an affinity for human relations, a high level of self-discipline, public-spiritedness, politeness and a capacity for empathy. Monotony is not a part of the job. Those who work in this profession are literally in the line of fire. Their work is often associated with handing out traffic tickets, which really represents only a tiny fraction of their job. If this part of their work sometimes makes them appear less sympathetic in the public eye, we should never lose sight of the fact that they sometimes save lives while putting their own in danger. The police’s role in the community has greatly evolved over the decades. In addition to enforcing the law, they work in prevention, public relations and the upholding of commitment to the local community.
How to show support for local police Police officers put their lives on the line every day they show up for work. But in spite of the sacrifices officers routinely make, their contributions often go unnoticed. Police officers’ jobs might be thankless, but that does not mean people cannot express their gratitude to the men and women in blue who keep their communities safe. The following are a handful of ways to show support for the police officers who work hard to protect and serve your community. • Pick up a police officer’s tab. Police officers work in your community and, therefore, they likely break bread in your community as well. When you see police officers ordering meals at a local restaurant or sitting down to lunch at a neighborhood diner, offer to pay for their meals or arrange payment with
their waiter or waitress without letting the police officers know. Picking up police officers’ tabs is a simple gesture, but it’s one they will appreciate and it will let them know they’re supported in the community they’re working hard to protect. • Support police fundraisers. Police departments fundraisers support various causes. Some might
aim to raise funds for sports programs designed to help local youth, while others might hope to raise money for the families of fallen officers. Whatever the motivation for the fundraiser, by supporting the event you are donating to a good cause and showing the police they and their efforts are being supported. • Teach kids to respect police officers. Police officers have come under considerable scrutiny in recent years, and youngsters may not know how to respond to news stories that do not paint police officers in a positive light. Parents can show their support for police officers by teaching their kids to respect police at all times. Encourage children to come to you if they read or hear stories that depict police officers negatively so you can help them
process the story and encourage them to maintain the respect they have for police officers. • Thank a police officer when given the opportunity. Though it seems simple, saying “Thank you” to police officers can reassure them that the communities they work so hard to protect support and appreciate their efforts. Thanking police officers may only take a few seconds, but such a gesture can help police officers better cope with the stress of their jobs. Police officers have difficult jobs that require them to make considerable sacrifices to protect the communities where they work. But it doesn’t take much to show your support for local police officers and express your gratitude for the sacrifices they make every day.
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When storms roll in, they might bring along high winds, thunder and lightning and drops in temperature. Many people ride out storms indoors, but some may find themselves suddenly caught in a storm and not know what to do. For the unprepared, the potential for injury is significant. So it’s important to routinely brush up on surviving a storm when caught in one outdoors.
Lightning Lightning can pose a significant threat. Real Clear Science says the average bolt of lightning, striking from cloud to ground, carries roughly one billion joules of energy, 300 million volts and 30,000 amps. Lightning also generates temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun. According to data collected by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, in North America, Florida, Texas and Colorado had the highest number of lightning-related fatalities between 2005 and 2014. Environment Canada says that roughly 10 people die in Canada each year because of lightning. Finding shelter when lightning strikes is ideal but not always possible. If you cannot get indoors, the next best thing is to stay low to the ground. Lightning tends to strike the tallest items around. Therefore, staying put in a ditch or depression in the ground can protect you against a possible lightning strike. NOAA says to stay away from tall, isolated trees, which can become lightning rods. The same can be said for seeking shelter under a tent or pavillion, as these
structures are often metal and can conduct the lightning. Cars can be a somewhat safe spot if there is nothing else available. The metal shell of the car will disperse the lightning to the ground, offers AccuWeather. The National Weather Service says groups caught outside during lightning storms should spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members. Also, remember that, while water will not attract lightning, it can conduct and spread the charge, so avoid bodies of water and wet areas.
Winds High winds also pose a safety risk. These winds may accompany thunderstorms, tornados or hurricanes. For those who are caught outside in high winds, The Weather Channel advises taking
cover next to a building or under a secure shelter. Wind can easily bring down trees, branches, and power lines. It also may blow around outdoor furniture and other heavy items. FEMA says to stay away from balconies or elevated areas to avoid falling objects. Avoid roadways and train tracks when on foot, as gusts can blow people into the path of oncoming vehicles. Electrocution from downed power lines is a potential side effect of high winds. Avoid anything that might be touching power lines. Being indoors during severe weather is ideal but not always possible when a storm arrives unexpectedly. Knowing how to behave in these emergency situations can prevent injury and even death.
Honoring Our First Responders - THE DAILY STAR
Stay safe when caught outdoors
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In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. www.policeweek.org
May 20-26, 2018, is the 44th annual National EMS Week. In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation’s communities. NAEMT partners with the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) to lead annual EMS Week activities. Together, NAEMT and ACEP are working to ensure that the important contributions of EMS practitioners in safeguarding the health, safety and wellbeing of their communities are fully celebrated and recognized. www.naemt.org
May 4
International
Firefighters’ Day
International Firefighters’ Day is observed each year on 4th May. On this date you are invited to remember the past firefighters who have died while serving our community or dedicated their lives to protecting the safety of us all. At the same time, we can show our support and appreciation to the firefighters world wide who continue to protect us so well throughout the year. By proudly wearing and displaying blue and red ribbons pinned together or by participating in a memorial or recognition event, we can show our gratitude to firefighters everywhere. www.firefightersday.org