the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

Station Gossip By Sheryl Drost - Editor

Morrison, ouch, just plain ouch!

705 is out of service to replace the brakes. Hey Paul, your heart beating normal yet?

I have this picture of Chief Shoevlin covered in babies I can’t get out of my head now after reading his article. :)

A single snowstorm can drop 40 million tons of snow, carrying the energy equivalent to 120 atom bombs.

The average snowfl ake has a top speed of 1.7 meters per second

We welcome back our EMS Corner this month! Thank you Capt. Alms. We hope it again becomes a monthly article. It may be a little technical for some of you, but there is still plenty to learn in it for all of us. It actually hits home for my family though, because cold water drowning is how my father died out at Pierce Lake in 1999. He was out fi shing in his boat on on a warm November day, alone and with no life preserver on. We have concluded he either tripped or fell into the cold water causing heart failure. A jogger at the park heard it and called for nearby fi shermen that pulled him to shore and CPR was started. Paramedics transported him to the hospital and they worked him for 45 minutes more. I remember then thinking what could they be doing?

An elderly lady called 911 on her cell phone to report that her car has been broken into. She is hysterical as she explains her situation to the dispatcher: “They’ve stolen the stereo, the steering wheel, the brake pedal and even the accelerator!” she cried. The dispatcher said, “Stay calm. An offi cer is on the way.” A few minutes later, the offi cer radios in. “Disregard,” he says. “She got in the back seat by mistake.”

Instructions for LifeTake into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

Follow the three R’s: Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it

Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

Once a year, go some place you’ve never been before.

Call your mother.

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Station Funnies

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefi re.com

February 2012 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Chimney Fire Page 3

AccidentsPages 6&7

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

The fi rst month of the New Year is behind us. Where did it go? The weather has been great (for winter) with spring fast approaching. This past month we responded to 201 calls. We are well on our way to the beginning of another busy, yet successful year.

I believe in December I was recapping the feelings of having two children getting married and then more joyous news of having a daughter expecting and the future arrival of grandchild number 2. Well to Tammy and my surprise, we were informed just recently, that we will be expecting grandchild number 3 and 4 as well. I don’t know, but having all three daughters pregnant at the same time, now that sounds challenging. Christmas shopping and baby shopping has started early. All kidding aside, Tammy and I couldn’t be happier and are looking forward to the arrival of ALL the bundles of joy.

This past Tuesday we began the 2012 recruit class. These individuals will go through approximately 100 hours of training, which they must successfully complete before they begin to respond to any incidents. At that time they we begin their probationary period.

On March 10 and 11 we will be participating in the RoRo Expo held at Hononegah High School. We are joining forces with Rockton Fire on Sunday March 11, to hold a pancake breakfast at the high school. All the proceeds from this event will go to “Camp I am Me”. This is a week-long camp held for children who have experienced signifi cant burn injuries. It is organized through the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance association. Go to their website www.ifsa.org for more information on the camp. Please come over for breakfast and don’t forget to visit us at our booth in the dome.

We will be holding our annual Spring Dinner on March 24th this year. Watch your mail, and posters in our local businesses for further information. Dinner will be served from 5pm – 8pm with take out and local delivery available as well.

We are able to provide and do what we do because of the support of the community as well as the individuals on our department. Their commitment and dedication are second to none, and we must remember that they are volunteers.

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”

Please check out our website www.harlemroscoefi re.com to keep up with the progress of the department and our dedicated individuals. As always, don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance

What is a Hero?By Lt. Chris Scott

What is a hero? If you look it up in a dictionary, a hero is defi ned as a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act. I ask that question because since the horrible day of 9-11, we use and hear the word “hero” quite often.

As I was trying to decide what to write about, I heard the word hero used in the news again and it made me think, what defi nes a hero?

I think our idea of a hero changes from when we are children to when we become adults. For example, when I was a child, my hero was my father mainly because he was a volunteer on the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Dept. Growing up watching my father work his way up the ranks in the fi re dept. until he retired as a Deputy Chief were some the most proud moments as a child. So, as a child I think our heros are people we look up to and would maybe like to emulate as we grow up.

As we become adults, do we forget our heros? No, those people always remain our childhood heros. As adults I think we are able to look at things a little deeper, such as understanding traits, characteristics, and inner qualities of people. We are also able to create our opinions of heros off those things combined with a persons acts of heroism. As I became an adult and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, watched what happened on 9-11, and then joined the fi re dept. myself, I wonder, is the word “hero” used too often? I worry, are we diminishing the heroic acts of people like the Congressional Medal of Honor winners or all the fi refi ghters and police offi cers that gave their lives trying help others as the twin towers collapsed?

You talk to just about any serviceman, fi refi ghter, or police offi cer and I’m willing to bet they don’t consider themselves a hero, they will probably tell you they are just doing their job. That statement is something that rings out in my head constantly from something I was told while in the Marines. Loading up in our A.A.V.s (Amphibious Assault Vehicles) to hit the beaches of Somalia for Operation Restore Hope, my platoon sergeant simply stated “Don’t be a hero, just do your job!”. Through all of my endeavors I have never considered myself a hero, just like I’m sure the majority of the people out there who have ever been considered a hero.

As I sat gathering my thoughts about this subject and looking at the book’s defi nition of the word, I realize that I believe I answered my own question. I don’t believe we diminish the heroic acts of those in the past by calling someone a hero, who is willing to make sacrifi ces that may need to be made to help or protect others. Whether its serving this great country or just helping a neighbor through a traumatic situation. Plus, as the book defi nition states, it’s each individuals opinion on what they consider to be heroic qualities. Obviously, those who have made the ultimate sacrifi ce will never be forgotten and will always be looked at as the biggest heros, and I don’t think anyone will disagree with that.

With that said I believe this country, from the biggest city to the smallest rural community, is covered with “heros” who are just doing their job.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Remember the Coon & Ham Spring Dinners?

Can anyone fi gure out what year the above article was written? Email hrfdsdrost@gmail.com if you can.

The picture in this article was taken at our old Fire Station One which is now the Firehouse Pub!

And the guys complain now we don’t have enough room!

Recognize a current Deputy Chief 2nd from the left in this picture? Yep, that’s Ike. Then to his left is Donny Ball and Mike Scott. Gotta love the hats!!

Chimney FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

The snow fi nally came this month and the area actually received a couple good storms. Firefi ghters headed out into one on Jan. 20 to check out a possible chimney fi re on Montclair Rd.

Snow was coming down pretty good as Chief Don Shoevlin sets up command with DC John Bergeron and Medic Steve Shoevlin.

Firefi ghter Sean Laurent and Ken Boris head into the home with bucket and shovel to empty the burning materials from the fi replace.

Lt. Ramona Baldoni-Lake and Firefi ghter Steve Shoevlin carry a ladder so fi refi ghters can get up on the roof to check the chimney from above.

Firefi ghter’s Ryan Sarver and Lt. Mike Huffman take off the covering on the fi replace chimney stack to check for blockage in the stack and checked the roof area for any fi re or heat.

What Would You Do?

Q. You’re driving down the highway and an emergency vehicle approaches from behind you.

What do you do?

1. Slam on the brakes and stop where you are?2. Speed up and try to out run the emergency vehicle?3. Make the emergency vehicle go around you?

A. None of the above, although they do happen all the time. When an emergency vehicle approaches with its siren on, you must yield the right of way as quickly as possible. As soon as you see or hear the approaching emergency vehicle you must pull to the right and stop your vehicle. You should position your vehicle as if parking, next to the curb, if there is one, or as far to the right as is safe if there isn’t, but don’t block an intersection. Remain in that position until the emergency vehicle is well past you. Don’t “zoom out” right after the emergency vehicle has passed. There will be other vehicles in the road, those previously passed by the emergency vehicle, and you’ll have to pay attention and be careful to merge with these vehicles. Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

SSSppprrriiinnnggg DDDiiinnnnnneeerrr

Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters Association’s Annual Fundraiser

Saturday… MMMaaarrrccchhh 222444,,, 222000111222

5pm – 8pm HRFD Station #1 10544 Main St. Roscoe, IL

Menu: Roast Beef, Ham, Mashed

Potatoes, Cole Slaw, Vegetables, Dessert,

Milk and Coffee.

For carry out & local delivery:

Call 623-7867 The day of the dinner

Tickets: Adults - $8 Kids 5 to 12 - $4 Under age 5 - Free

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Truck FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghters responded to the I-90 off-ramp to Rockton Rd. on Feb. 2 for a fi re in a semi truck cab. It seems the driver had pulled off on the ramp to catch a nap and had awakened to smoke in the cab. Luckily he was able to get out of the truck before fi re erupted. Fire was showing when fi rst units arrived. The department’s 3,000 gallon tender was also sent to the scene to supply water.

Firefi ghters Micah Anderson and Ryan Sarver fi nish extinguishing the fi re.

Lt. Ramona Baldoni-Lake climbs up into the charred cab to with a fi re hose to reach some hot spots as Firefi ghters Micah Anderson, Ryan Sarver and Lt. Mike Huffman feed her the hose line.

Car FirePhoto by Chief Don Shoevlin

Firefi ghters checked for extension of fi re in the van walls and seats.

Firefi ghters responded to a possible car fi re on I-90 on Jan. 28. It seems the fi re occurred in the rear heating unit inside a conversion van. The fi re was extinguished by a motorist with a fi re extinguisher that had stopped to help.

Gasoline SpillPhoto by Marcia Soppe

Firefi ghters pour oil dry on a small spill at the Loves Truck Stop on Rockton Rd.

Firefi ghters Micah Anderson, Ryan Sarver, Lt. Ramona Baldoni-Lake quickly have the fi re under control as DC John Bergeron has command.

Birthdays

February10th Neil Roe Rob Gonia15th Scott Jensen16th Nick Mladenoff24th Sean Laurent March3rd John Donovan6th Christi Wilson Steve Shoevlin9th John Donahue16th Aaron Miller Adam Cox21st Mike Morrison22nd Jay Alms23rd Radi Huggard26th Nino Girardin29th Sheryl Drost

Total Calls for 2012

201

Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist.

Editor-in-Chief - Don ShoevlinEditor & Layout - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second Sunday each month. www.harlemroscoefi re.com

E-mail submissions toSheryl:hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

L-r, Cherry Valley Fire Chief Craig Wilt, Boone County Fire #1 (Capron) Chief Greg Holmes, North Boone Fire #3 Chief Gail Worley, Belvidere Fire Chief Dave Worrell, Northwest Fire Chief Tom Ragnar Sr., Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Don Shoevlin, Blackhawk Fire Chief Harry Tallacksen, Stillman Valley Fire Chief Chad Hoefl e, South Beloit Fire Chief Ken Morse, and Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire hosted the Winnebago Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) monthly Dinner/Meeting on Jan. 25, at the Roscoe VFW Post 2955.

After a delicious meal catered by the VFW Post 2955 Ladies Auxiliary, the Chiefs from Northern Winnebago and Boone County fi re departments held their monthly meeting.

January’s meeting is also the election of new offi cers with each offi cer serving a term of three years; moving up one position each year.

Offi cers were announced for 2012: President - Northwest Fire Deputy Chief Dean Lindeman, Vice President - North Park Fire Deputy Chief Dave Johnson and Secretary Treasurer - Cherry Valley Fire Battalion Chief Al Geeser.

The gavel was then passed from out-going President, South Beloit Fire Assistant Chief Mike Davenport to new President, Northwest Deputy Chief Dean Lindeman.

WFCA Chiefs Photo by Sheryl Drost

The dinner/meeting was held at the Roscoe VFW.

Northwest Fire DC Dean Lindeman accepts the president’s gavel from out-going President, South Beloit Fire Assistant Chief Mike Davenport.

The Chiefs gave thanks to the Roscoe VFW Post 2955 Ladies Auxiliary after they served a delicious meal.

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

New Recruit Class 2012Photos by Marcia Soppe

The 2012 Recruit Class has begun. Here are some pictures from the agility tests. We will be following them through their process of becoming a fi refi ghter for this really great fi re department!

Rumor has it we may have three family members of current or past H-R Firefi ghters in the new class!

EMS CornerBy Capt. Jay Alms

Cold Water DrowningThis article has been adapted from the 5th edition of the ABC of Resuscitation

At times, cold can protect life as well as endanger it. There have been e x t r a o r d i n a r y examples of survival after long periods of

immersion in ice cold water. Such cases highlight the differences in the approach to resuscitation that sets the management of people who nearly drown apart from all other circumstances in which cardiopulmonary arrest has occurred.

Rewarming. Attempts to rewarm patients with deep hypothermia outside hospital are inappropriate, but measures to prevent further heat loss are important. Good evidence suggests that when cardiac arrest has occurred, chest compression alone is as effective as chest compressions with expired air resuscitation. Extracorporeal rewarming plays such an important part that unconscious patients with deep hypothermia should not be transported to a hospital that lacks these facilities.

To prevent further heat loss in patients with hypothermia, wet clothing should be removed before they are wrapped in thick blankets. Hot drinks do not help and should be avoided. Shivering is a good prognostic sign. Attempts to measure core temperature at the scene are pointless.

Collapse after removal from water. It requires at least two adults to lift a person from the water into the boat. Head-out upright immersion in water at body temperature results in a 32-66% increase in cardiac output because of the pressure of the surrounding water. Resistance to circulation is suddenly removed as the person leaves the water, which, when added to venous pooling, can cause circulatory collapse. This is believed to be the cause of death in many individuals found conscious in cold water but perish within minutes of rescue. To counter this effect, patients should be lifted out of the water in the prone position.

Associated injuries. Patients removed from shallow water, particularly those with head

injuries, often have an associated fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine. Those that have entered the water from a height may also have intra-abdominal, thoracic, and spinal injuries.

Resuscitation. Circulatory arrest should be managed in a unit in which facilities are available for bypass and extracorporeal warming. This will determine the target hospital. Although patients can be intubated at the scene if required, practical diffi culties mean that venous or arterial canulation is better left until arrival at hospital. Continuous chest compressions should be applied without rewarming throughout transportation.

The role of procedures that are intended to drain water from the lungs and airways is controversial. Placing the patients head down in the lateral position probably only recovers water from only the stomach. Aspiration of gastric contents is a constant hazard and is one of the reasons for attempting to intubate unconscious patients at an early stage.

Decision to admit. The decision to admit depends on whether water has been aspirated because it is this that places the patient at risk from pulmonary edema. Haemoptysis, lung crackles, fl uffy shadows on the chest x-ray, and hypoxia when breathing air are all signs of aspiration and are indications for hospital admission. If pulmonary edema develops, it usually does so within four hours. Therefore, if after four hours the patients remains free of symptoms he or she may be discharged home safely.

A low reading thermometer with a rectal probe inserted at least 10cm is often used to measure the patient’s core temperature. Devices that measure the temperature of the tympanic membrane are a satisfactory alternative, provided the patient’s temperature is within the range of the device used.

If the patient has a low core temperature, a correction factor is required to calculate the true arterial blood oxygen saturation. A falling arterial oxygen pressure is a sign of impending respiratory distress syndrome (normal atrial pressure pulmonary edema) and an indication for assisted ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure. The ideal pressure setting for positive end expiratory is that which maintains the arterial oxygen pressure above 10 kPa with an expired oxygen fraction below 0.6.

Evidence suggests that aspirated fresh water is more likely than seawater to produce pulmonary edema. Systemic steroids have no effect on outcome and offer no advantage.

Rewarming. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with extracorporeal warming is the gold standard treatment for patients with profound hypothermia. The Swiss Mountain Rescue Service has recovered the bodies of 46 individuals over the years, all with deep hypothermia from burial in snow. Fifteen out of 32 treated with extracorporeal rewarming survived. Conscious patients can be placed in a bath maintained at a temperature of 40* C. Fluid and electrolyte balance. Plasma electrolyte differences between patients who aspire fresh water and seawater are seldom clinically important. In both situations, the patient is often hypovolemic and in need of intravenous fl uid replacement, preferably with a crystalloid solution.

Metabolic acidosis should be corrected by adequate oxygenation and plasma expansion; administration of sodium bicarbonate should be unnecessary. Water intoxication resulting in fi ts has been reported in infants after near drowning in backyard pools.

Infection. Lung infection is common after near drowning, especially if brackish water has been aspirated. Embolism of infected material from the lungs to the arterial tree may result in brain abscesses or death from systemic aspergillosis. Blood should be cultured from all patients who have aspirated water. Leptospirosis has been reported after immersion in lakes and reservoirs, possibly due to ingestion of water contaminated with rats’ urine. Outpatient follow up with chest radiography after two weeks is advisable for all patients who have been immersed in water, irrespective of their clinical state on admission.

Prognostic signs. A blood pH< 7 indicates severe acidosis and is a poor prognostic sign. A low arterial oxygen pressure provides an early indication that water has been inhaled with the attendant risk of pulmonary edema. The presence of ventricular fi brillation is an adverse sign and responds poorly to defi brillation when the core temperature is below 28* C. The circulation must be supported by chest compressions until further attempts can be made when the core temperature has been raised above this level.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7 01/25/12 Hwy 251 & Elevator Rd. 01/29/12 Hwy 251 & Elevator Rd.

01/14/12 Chestnut St. & Second St.

01/08/12 Hwy 251 and new entrance to shopping strip mall.

Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe

01/17/12 Belvidere Rd. 01/17/12 Rockton Rd. & I-90 entrance 01/17/12 N. Alpine Rd.

01/26/12 Love Rd. 01/21/12 Hwy 251 & McDonald Rd. 01/25/12 Hwy 251 & Elevator Rd.

Whoops!Photos by Chief Don Shoevlin & Marcia Soppe

Firefi ghters were dispatched to a home on Wingate Place for a report of an accident on Feb. 3. It seems a minor with a permit lost control of the SUV he was driving and had struck the home. No injuries were sustained by either the occupants of the vehicle or home. Here are some photos of the damage.

Helicopter LandedPhotos by Sheryl Drost

Harlem-Roscoe and North Boone Fire #3 were both dispatched to an accident at the intersection of Grade School and Manchester Rds., on Jan. 30, where depending on where the vehicles ended up, would tell whose fi re district the accident was in.

The force of the crash sent both vehicles into North Boone’s fi re district on the East side of Grade School Rd., and wrapped a Dodge Caravan around a tree. North Boone Firefi ghters extricated the driver of the Caravan as Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghrters landed the Lifeline helicopter. The driver was then airlifted to the hospital by helicopter. The driver of a Chevy Blazer was transported to the hospital by Capron Ambulance.

Boone Co. Sheriff Offi cers investigate the accident.

The driver was extricated from the drivers side of the Caravan.

Harlem-Roscoe and North Boone #3 Firefi ghters help the Lifeline crew with transporting the driver of the Caravan to the helicopter.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7 01/25/12 Hwy 251 & Elevator Rd. 01/29/12 Hwy 251 & Elevator Rd.

01/14/12 Chestnut St. & Second St.

01/08/12 Hwy 251 and new entrance to shopping strip mall.

Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe

01/17/12 Belvidere Rd. 01/17/12 Rockton Rd. & I-90 entrance 01/17/12 N. Alpine Rd.

01/26/12 Love Rd. 01/21/12 Hwy 251 & McDonald Rd. 01/25/12 Hwy 251 & Elevator Rd.

Whoops!Photos by Chief Don Shoevlin & Marcia Soppe

Firefi ghters were dispatched to a home on Wingate Place for a report of an accident on Feb. 3. It seems a minor with a permit lost control of the SUV he was driving and had struck the home. No injuries were sustained by either the occupants of the vehicle or home. Here are some photos of the damage.

Helicopter LandedPhotos by Sheryl Drost

Harlem-Roscoe and North Boone Fire #3 were both dispatched to an accident at the intersection of Grade School and Manchester Rds., on Jan. 30, where depending on where the vehicles ended up, would tell whose fi re district the accident was in.

The force of the crash sent both vehicles into North Boone’s fi re district on the East side of Grade School Rd., and wrapped a Dodge Caravan around a tree. North Boone Firefi ghters extricated the driver of the Caravan as Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghrters landed the Lifeline helicopter. The driver was then airlifted to the hospital by helicopter. The driver of a Chevy Blazer was transported to the hospital by Capron Ambulance.

Boone Co. Sheriff Offi cers investigate the accident.

The driver was extricated from the drivers side of the Caravan.

Harlem-Roscoe and North Boone #3 Firefi ghters help the Lifeline crew with transporting the driver of the Caravan to the helicopter.

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

New Recruit Class 2012Photos by Marcia Soppe

The 2012 Recruit Class has begun. Here are some pictures from the agility tests. We will be following them through their process of becoming a fi refi ghter for this really great fi re department!

Rumor has it we may have three family members of current or past H-R Firefi ghters in the new class!

EMS CornerBy Capt. Jay Alms

Cold Water DrowningThis article has been adapted from the 5th edition of the ABC of Resuscitation

At times, cold can protect life as well as endanger it. There have been e x t r a o r d i n a r y examples of survival after long periods of

immersion in ice cold water. Such cases highlight the differences in the approach to resuscitation that sets the management of people who nearly drown apart from all other circumstances in which cardiopulmonary arrest has occurred.

Rewarming. Attempts to rewarm patients with deep hypothermia outside hospital are inappropriate, but measures to prevent further heat loss are important. Good evidence suggests that when cardiac arrest has occurred, chest compression alone is as effective as chest compressions with expired air resuscitation. Extracorporeal rewarming plays such an important part that unconscious patients with deep hypothermia should not be transported to a hospital that lacks these facilities.

To prevent further heat loss in patients with hypothermia, wet clothing should be removed before they are wrapped in thick blankets. Hot drinks do not help and should be avoided. Shivering is a good prognostic sign. Attempts to measure core temperature at the scene are pointless.

Collapse after removal from water. It requires at least two adults to lift a person from the water into the boat. Head-out upright immersion in water at body temperature results in a 32-66% increase in cardiac output because of the pressure of the surrounding water. Resistance to circulation is suddenly removed as the person leaves the water, which, when added to venous pooling, can cause circulatory collapse. This is believed to be the cause of death in many individuals found conscious in cold water but perish within minutes of rescue. To counter this effect, patients should be lifted out of the water in the prone position.

Associated injuries. Patients removed from shallow water, particularly those with head

injuries, often have an associated fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine. Those that have entered the water from a height may also have intra-abdominal, thoracic, and spinal injuries.

Resuscitation. Circulatory arrest should be managed in a unit in which facilities are available for bypass and extracorporeal warming. This will determine the target hospital. Although patients can be intubated at the scene if required, practical diffi culties mean that venous or arterial canulation is better left until arrival at hospital. Continuous chest compressions should be applied without rewarming throughout transportation.

The role of procedures that are intended to drain water from the lungs and airways is controversial. Placing the patients head down in the lateral position probably only recovers water from only the stomach. Aspiration of gastric contents is a constant hazard and is one of the reasons for attempting to intubate unconscious patients at an early stage.

Decision to admit. The decision to admit depends on whether water has been aspirated because it is this that places the patient at risk from pulmonary edema. Haemoptysis, lung crackles, fl uffy shadows on the chest x-ray, and hypoxia when breathing air are all signs of aspiration and are indications for hospital admission. If pulmonary edema develops, it usually does so within four hours. Therefore, if after four hours the patients remains free of symptoms he or she may be discharged home safely.

A low reading thermometer with a rectal probe inserted at least 10cm is often used to measure the patient’s core temperature. Devices that measure the temperature of the tympanic membrane are a satisfactory alternative, provided the patient’s temperature is within the range of the device used.

If the patient has a low core temperature, a correction factor is required to calculate the true arterial blood oxygen saturation. A falling arterial oxygen pressure is a sign of impending respiratory distress syndrome (normal atrial pressure pulmonary edema) and an indication for assisted ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure. The ideal pressure setting for positive end expiratory is that which maintains the arterial oxygen pressure above 10 kPa with an expired oxygen fraction below 0.6.

Evidence suggests that aspirated fresh water is more likely than seawater to produce pulmonary edema. Systemic steroids have no effect on outcome and offer no advantage.

Rewarming. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with extracorporeal warming is the gold standard treatment for patients with profound hypothermia. The Swiss Mountain Rescue Service has recovered the bodies of 46 individuals over the years, all with deep hypothermia from burial in snow. Fifteen out of 32 treated with extracorporeal rewarming survived. Conscious patients can be placed in a bath maintained at a temperature of 40* C. Fluid and electrolyte balance. Plasma electrolyte differences between patients who aspire fresh water and seawater are seldom clinically important. In both situations, the patient is often hypovolemic and in need of intravenous fl uid replacement, preferably with a crystalloid solution.

Metabolic acidosis should be corrected by adequate oxygenation and plasma expansion; administration of sodium bicarbonate should be unnecessary. Water intoxication resulting in fi ts has been reported in infants after near drowning in backyard pools.

Infection. Lung infection is common after near drowning, especially if brackish water has been aspirated. Embolism of infected material from the lungs to the arterial tree may result in brain abscesses or death from systemic aspergillosis. Blood should be cultured from all patients who have aspirated water. Leptospirosis has been reported after immersion in lakes and reservoirs, possibly due to ingestion of water contaminated with rats’ urine. Outpatient follow up with chest radiography after two weeks is advisable for all patients who have been immersed in water, irrespective of their clinical state on admission.

Prognostic signs. A blood pH< 7 indicates severe acidosis and is a poor prognostic sign. A low arterial oxygen pressure provides an early indication that water has been inhaled with the attendant risk of pulmonary edema. The presence of ventricular fi brillation is an adverse sign and responds poorly to defi brillation when the core temperature is below 28* C. The circulation must be supported by chest compressions until further attempts can be made when the core temperature has been raised above this level.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Truck FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghters responded to the I-90 off-ramp to Rockton Rd. on Feb. 2 for a fi re in a semi truck cab. It seems the driver had pulled off on the ramp to catch a nap and had awakened to smoke in the cab. Luckily he was able to get out of the truck before fi re erupted. Fire was showing when fi rst units arrived. The department’s 3,000 gallon tender was also sent to the scene to supply water.

Firefi ghters Micah Anderson and Ryan Sarver fi nish extinguishing the fi re.

Lt. Ramona Baldoni-Lake climbs up into the charred cab to with a fi re hose to reach some hot spots as Firefi ghters Micah Anderson, Ryan Sarver and Lt. Mike Huffman feed her the hose line.

Car FirePhoto by Chief Don Shoevlin

Firefi ghters checked for extension of fi re in the van walls and seats.

Firefi ghters responded to a possible car fi re on I-90 on Jan. 28. It seems the fi re occurred in the rear heating unit inside a conversion van. The fi re was extinguished by a motorist with a fi re extinguisher that had stopped to help.

Gasoline SpillPhoto by Marcia Soppe

Firefi ghters pour oil dry on a small spill at the Loves Truck Stop on Rockton Rd.

Firefi ghters Micah Anderson, Ryan Sarver, Lt. Ramona Baldoni-Lake quickly have the fi re under control as DC John Bergeron has command.

Birthdays

February10th Neil Roe Rob Gonia15th Scott Jensen16th Nick Mladenoff24th Sean Laurent March3rd John Donovan6th Christi Wilson Steve Shoevlin9th John Donahue16th Aaron Miller Adam Cox21st Mike Morrison22nd Jay Alms23rd Radi Huggard26th Nino Girardin29th Sheryl Drost

Total Calls for 2012

201

Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist.

Editor-in-Chief - Don ShoevlinEditor & Layout - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available at Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second Sunday each month. www.harlemroscoefi re.com

E-mail submissions toSheryl:hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

L-r, Cherry Valley Fire Chief Craig Wilt, Boone County Fire #1 (Capron) Chief Greg Holmes, North Boone Fire #3 Chief Gail Worley, Belvidere Fire Chief Dave Worrell, Northwest Fire Chief Tom Ragnar Sr., Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Don Shoevlin, Blackhawk Fire Chief Harry Tallacksen, Stillman Valley Fire Chief Chad Hoefl e, South Beloit Fire Chief Ken Morse, and Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire hosted the Winnebago Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) monthly Dinner/Meeting on Jan. 25, at the Roscoe VFW Post 2955.

After a delicious meal catered by the VFW Post 2955 Ladies Auxiliary, the Chiefs from Northern Winnebago and Boone County fi re departments held their monthly meeting.

January’s meeting is also the election of new offi cers with each offi cer serving a term of three years; moving up one position each year.

Offi cers were announced for 2012: President - Northwest Fire Deputy Chief Dean Lindeman, Vice President - North Park Fire Deputy Chief Dave Johnson and Secretary Treasurer - Cherry Valley Fire Battalion Chief Al Geeser.

The gavel was then passed from out-going President, South Beloit Fire Assistant Chief Mike Davenport to new President, Northwest Deputy Chief Dean Lindeman.

WFCA Chiefs Photo by Sheryl Drost

The dinner/meeting was held at the Roscoe VFW.

Northwest Fire DC Dean Lindeman accepts the president’s gavel from out-going President, South Beloit Fire Assistant Chief Mike Davenport.

The Chiefs gave thanks to the Roscoe VFW Post 2955 Ladies Auxiliary after they served a delicious meal.

Chimney FirePhotos by Sheryl Drost

The snow fi nally came this month and the area actually received a couple good storms. Firefi ghters headed out into one on Jan. 20 to check out a possible chimney fi re on Montclair Rd.

Snow was coming down pretty good as Chief Don Shoevlin sets up command with DC John Bergeron and Medic Steve Shoevlin.

Firefi ghter Sean Laurent and Ken Boris head into the home with bucket and shovel to empty the burning materials from the fi replace.

Lt. Ramona Baldoni-Lake and Firefi ghter Steve Shoevlin carry a ladder so fi refi ghters can get up on the roof to check the chimney from above.

Firefi ghter’s Ryan Sarver and Lt. Mike Huffman take off the covering on the fi replace chimney stack to check for blockage in the stack and checked the roof area for any fi re or heat.

What Would You Do?

Q. You’re driving down the highway and an emergency vehicle approaches from behind you.

What do you do?

1. Slam on the brakes and stop where you are?2. Speed up and try to out run the emergency vehicle?3. Make the emergency vehicle go around you?

A. None of the above, although they do happen all the time. When an emergency vehicle approaches with its siren on, you must yield the right of way as quickly as possible. As soon as you see or hear the approaching emergency vehicle you must pull to the right and stop your vehicle. You should position your vehicle as if parking, next to the curb, if there is one, or as far to the right as is safe if there isn’t, but don’t block an intersection. Remain in that position until the emergency vehicle is well past you. Don’t “zoom out” right after the emergency vehicle has passed. There will be other vehicles in the road, those previously passed by the emergency vehicle, and you’ll have to pay attention and be careful to merge with these vehicles. Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

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Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters Association’s Annual Fundraiser

Saturday… MMMaaarrrccchhh 222444,,, 222000111222

5pm – 8pm HRFD Station #1 10544 Main St. Roscoe, IL

Menu: Roast Beef, Ham, Mashed

Potatoes, Cole Slaw, Vegetables, Dessert,

Milk and Coffee.

For carry out & local delivery:

Call 623-7867 The day of the dinner

Tickets: Adults - $8 Kids 5 to 12 - $4 Under age 5 - Free

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

The fi rst month of the New Year is behind us. Where did it go? The weather has been great (for winter) with spring fast approaching. This past month we responded to 201 calls. We are well on our way to the beginning of another busy, yet successful year.

I believe in December I was recapping the feelings of having two children getting married and then more joyous news of having a daughter expecting and the future arrival of grandchild number 2. Well to Tammy and my surprise, we were informed just recently, that we will be expecting grandchild number 3 and 4 as well. I don’t know, but having all three daughters pregnant at the same time, now that sounds challenging. Christmas shopping and baby shopping has started early. All kidding aside, Tammy and I couldn’t be happier and are looking forward to the arrival of ALL the bundles of joy.

This past Tuesday we began the 2012 recruit class. These individuals will go through approximately 100 hours of training, which they must successfully complete before they begin to respond to any incidents. At that time they we begin their probationary period.

On March 10 and 11 we will be participating in the RoRo Expo held at Hononegah High School. We are joining forces with Rockton Fire on Sunday March 11, to hold a pancake breakfast at the high school. All the proceeds from this event will go to “Camp I am Me”. This is a week-long camp held for children who have experienced signifi cant burn injuries. It is organized through the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance association. Go to their website www.ifsa.org for more information on the camp. Please come over for breakfast and don’t forget to visit us at our booth in the dome.

We will be holding our annual Spring Dinner on March 24th this year. Watch your mail, and posters in our local businesses for further information. Dinner will be served from 5pm – 8pm with take out and local delivery available as well.

We are able to provide and do what we do because of the support of the community as well as the individuals on our department. Their commitment and dedication are second to none, and we must remember that they are volunteers.

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”

Please check out our website www.harlemroscoefi re.com to keep up with the progress of the department and our dedicated individuals. As always, don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance

What is a Hero?By Lt. Chris Scott

What is a hero? If you look it up in a dictionary, a hero is defi ned as a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act. I ask that question because since the horrible day of 9-11, we use and hear the word “hero” quite often.

As I was trying to decide what to write about, I heard the word hero used in the news again and it made me think, what defi nes a hero?

I think our idea of a hero changes from when we are children to when we become adults. For example, when I was a child, my hero was my father mainly because he was a volunteer on the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Dept. Growing up watching my father work his way up the ranks in the fi re dept. until he retired as a Deputy Chief were some the most proud moments as a child. So, as a child I think our heros are people we look up to and would maybe like to emulate as we grow up.

As we become adults, do we forget our heros? No, those people always remain our childhood heros. As adults I think we are able to look at things a little deeper, such as understanding traits, characteristics, and inner qualities of people. We are also able to create our opinions of heros off those things combined with a persons acts of heroism. As I became an adult and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, watched what happened on 9-11, and then joined the fi re dept. myself, I wonder, is the word “hero” used too often? I worry, are we diminishing the heroic acts of people like the Congressional Medal of Honor winners or all the fi refi ghters and police offi cers that gave their lives trying help others as the twin towers collapsed?

You talk to just about any serviceman, fi refi ghter, or police offi cer and I’m willing to bet they don’t consider themselves a hero, they will probably tell you they are just doing their job. That statement is something that rings out in my head constantly from something I was told while in the Marines. Loading up in our A.A.V.s (Amphibious Assault Vehicles) to hit the beaches of Somalia for Operation Restore Hope, my platoon sergeant simply stated “Don’t be a hero, just do your job!”. Through all of my endeavors I have never considered myself a hero, just like I’m sure the majority of the people out there who have ever been considered a hero.

As I sat gathering my thoughts about this subject and looking at the book’s defi nition of the word, I realize that I believe I answered my own question. I don’t believe we diminish the heroic acts of those in the past by calling someone a hero, who is willing to make sacrifi ces that may need to be made to help or protect others. Whether its serving this great country or just helping a neighbor through a traumatic situation. Plus, as the book defi nition states, it’s each individuals opinion on what they consider to be heroic qualities. Obviously, those who have made the ultimate sacrifi ce will never be forgotten and will always be looked at as the biggest heros, and I don’t think anyone will disagree with that.

With that said I believe this country, from the biggest city to the smallest rural community, is covered with “heros” who are just doing their job.

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Remember the Coon & Ham Spring Dinners?

Can anyone fi gure out what year the above article was written? Email hrfdsdrost@gmail.com if you can.

The picture in this article was taken at our old Fire Station One which is now the Firehouse Pub!

And the guys complain now we don’t have enough room!

Recognize a current Deputy Chief 2nd from the left in this picture? Yep, that’s Ike. Then to his left is Donny Ball and Mike Scott. Gotta love the hats!!

the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

Station Gossip By Sheryl Drost - Editor

Morrison, ouch, just plain ouch!

705 is out of service to replace the brakes. Hey Paul, your heart beating normal yet?

I have this picture of Chief Shoevlin covered in babies I can’t get out of my head now after reading his article. :)

A single snowstorm can drop 40 million tons of snow, carrying the energy equivalent to 120 atom bombs.

The average snowfl ake has a top speed of 1.7 meters per second

We welcome back our EMS Corner this month! Thank you Capt. Alms. We hope it again becomes a monthly article. It may be a little technical for some of you, but there is still plenty to learn in it for all of us. It actually hits home for my family though, because cold water drowning is how my father died out at Pierce Lake in 1999. He was out fi shing in his boat on on a warm November day, alone and with no life preserver on. We have concluded he either tripped or fell into the cold water causing heart failure. A jogger at the park heard it and called for nearby fi shermen that pulled him to shore and CPR was started. Paramedics transported him to the hospital and they worked him for 45 minutes more. I remember then thinking what could they be doing?

An elderly lady called 911 on her cell phone to report that her car has been broken into. She is hysterical as she explains her situation to the dispatcher: “They’ve stolen the stereo, the steering wheel, the brake pedal and even the accelerator!” she cried. The dispatcher said, “Stay calm. An offi cer is on the way.” A few minutes later, the offi cer radios in. “Disregard,” he says. “She got in the back seat by mistake.”

Instructions for LifeTake into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

Follow the three R’s: Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it

Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

Once a year, go some place you’ve never been before.

Call your mother.

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Station Funnies

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefi re.com

February 2012 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Chimney Fire Page 3

AccidentsPages 6&7