station gossip the firehouse scene · the time when most of us would prefer to stay at home where...
TRANSCRIPT
THE FIREHOUSE SCENEIs a monthly publication of the
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District
Station GossipSeems Greg couldn’t find the 19/16th wrench the other day. If you have Scott in your name, it seems you spent part of the last snow storm in ditches. Confuscious says - If your snowmobile starts on fire, use snow!Seems there are some new nicknames popping up; Huffy is now Huffa Muffan and Boris is Captain Chocolate Pants.The race was on at Station Two out on the apron. Seems Lukowski won because his was bigger than Swains. “Snowblowers that is.” Don wants to know if Ramona has a tatoo with all her layers! Check out the fire monster in the snowmobile fire!Sometimes I write down notes when fire personnel tell me station gossip too kryptic. Here are a couple ones I have no idea what they mean:
Toy Story - ChristianSlippery when wetUnderwater dog, seal.
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What timing!
Chief’s New Vehicle. Seems the Chief won it in the drawing at the Winnebago Fire Chiefs Association’s
Chrismas party.
Rudolph!
Postage
Harlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073
The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com
December 2009 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost
Merry Christmas!
Winter Weather Survival Tips! By Debbie Rykowski
As the song goes, “Oh, the weather outside is frightful” – WOW, is that true! Winter is the time when most of us would prefer to stay at home where it is warm, nestled beside a roaring fireplace, sipping a cup of hot cocoa. Unfortunately, we do have to get out and go
to work, shopping, etc. and be out in the elements and we need to be prepared before an emergency occurs. In this article we will provide some safety tips for you and your family to help you get through this “chilly” season of the year. BE PREPARED seems to be the word to the wise!
In The HomeCheck your windows and doors for worn or torn insulation and replace if needed to help prevent heat loss.Have your furnace and/or fireplace inspected. Also, check for snow and ice blocking chimneys and exhaust vent pipes. And change your furnace filter once a month.Maintain your shovels or snow blowers and keep snow blowers properly fueled for that big snowfall.Many people suffer heart attacks from shoveling their driveway or sidewalks and over-doing it. If you must shovel, do a little bit at a time, pace yourself and don’t load the shovel with a heavy load of snow. Put out ice-melting products on your walkway to melt the ice to prevent you or your family from slipping on the icy walkway.During winter storms, electrical power lines may become frozen and snap, causing a loss of power to your home for several hours or even days. Plan ahead to have an emergency heat source such as a wood burning stove, space heater or fireplace available to provide warmth to you and your family. Also make sure you have the proper fuel on hand for these devices. Read and follow manufacturer’s suggested fuel sources for any of these devices.If you use a kerosene heater as an emergency device, always refuel the unit outdoors and after the unit has cooled down.Keep kerosene heaters or space heaters at least 3’ away from all flammable objects.Avoid the build-up of toxic fumes in your home by providing proper ventilation while operating any heating devices. Never, ever use a charcoal grill inside of your home for a heat source. These devices were not designed to provide indoor heating and will cause a dangerous build-up of deadly carbon monoxide in your home.Always have a working fire extinguisher near any heat source in case of an emergency.Always make sure that you have an operating smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home and remember to
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check them. Never leave any emergency heat sources running unattended. Always be sure that you keep the device clear of curious pets or children’s little fingers that might try to touch the glowing device.Keep at least one week’s worth of water on hand. In the event of an ice storm and loss of power, your drinking well will not work and you may be without water for drinking, washing or flushing.Always know how to turn off the water supply to your home in the event of a frozen and/or broken pipe. Never try to thaw
frozen pipes with an open flame device. Call a professional to help you thaw pipes. Apply insulation to any exposed water pipes; kits for this type of protection can be obtained at most home stores.Seal off any unused rooms during a loss of heat for your home. Cover windows with blankets or sheets at night and stuff rags or blankets in any cracks under doors.
In Your VehicleAvoid going out on slippery, icy, snow covered roads when possible. When necessary to travel,
be extra cautious of the road conditions. Ice can sometimes appear black on the roadways and be virtually invisible to you – until your car begins sliding on it.Always maintain your vehicle for operation of the heating unit, window wipers and window wash fluid, the defrosters and maintain proper anti-freeze levels in your vehicle.Refuel your gas tank often. Try not to let your gas tank fall below a half a tank, this helps prevent ice in your fuel line and tank, which can leave you stranded. Uncover snow or ice from all headlights and tail lights before starting to drive your vehicle down the roadway.Always scrape all of the snow and ice off of your windows before beginning to move your vehicle. Do not attempt to drive with a little “peek hole” in your window. This impairs your visibility of other drivers and the roadway.Snow plows and very large vehicles kick up a “wash” of snow, salt and road grime, which can impair your visibility. Give them plenty of room.Always monitor road conditions on your radio and be prepared to turn back in the event of a severe winter storm.Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle in the event that you do become stranded. This kit should include a small first aid kit; knife, extra clothing, blanket, flashlight with spare batteries, a bright piece of cloth to tie on your antenna if you get stranded, non-perishable foods such as candy bars or high calorie foods like Power Bars, ice scraper, a can and waterproof matches to use to melt snow for drinking water, a compass, shovel and sand, tow rope and jumper cables.If you become trapped in your vehicle run the engine at 10 minute intervals for heat, keeping a window cracked open slightly to allow for proper ventilation. Before doing this, check to be sure that your exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow or road debris before running the engine.
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From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin
In the month of December, I cannot help but be reminded of all of the seasons. We have the cold season, the snow season, the cold & flu season and then probably the one we all enjoy most, the holiday season. The one I enjoy least is the shopping season.
I would like to start off by saying thank you once again to all of the fire personnel and the Roscoe Lions Club for another successful senior turkey dinner! We could not have done it without all of your extra volunteer hours &
help. I have heard nothing but praise from the community for a magnificent job done by all. Thank You!!! (Photos page 9)
Our media division and photographer have completed another outstanding job with our annual calendar. The colored photos show your fire department at it’s best. To get your copy, stop by Station 1 and remember to hurry, because they go fast.
As the holiday season is upon us, let us take time to remember those safety tips that we tend to take for granted. Our annual “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign has begun with a wreath in front of all three stations. It has been illuminated in red bulbs. If there is a fire in our district through the holidays, a bulb will be changed to white. The Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District urges all citizens & businesses to take a moment and check & clean your fireplaces, use caution with candles, watch the wiring for Christmas lights, be careful with live Christmas trees becoming too dry and take caution while burning wrapping paper. Let us all enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.
Mother Nature will bring us a dose of snow and ice so don’t forget our winter driving habits. As I write this I can’t help but recall that driving to the station this morning, a radio station made the comment of a whopper of a storm could impact the area. By the time you read this we will all know if it came or not.
I wish everyone in our communities a safe and joyous holiday season and prosperous 2010 New Year!
To all the members of the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District and their families:
May the Christmas Season fill your Home with Joy, Your Heart with Love & Your Life with Laughter.
The gratitude for the commitment all of you make is second to none.We are who we are because of ALL of you!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Keep the Wreath Red”The wreaths are up at all three stations complete with a set of red lights. After any fire in our fire district during the month of December, a white bulb will replace a red one. Please help us keep the wreath red!
Chimney Fire??By Sheryl Drost
Residents on Bayfield Road thought they saw fire coming from their neighbor’s chimney and called 9-1-1 on December 4. The neighbors were burning in their fire place, but all seemed ok when fire units arrived. The building was laddered and chimney checked and a Thermal Imaging Camera was used - no fire was found. It may have been a small buildup of creosote that burned itself out before units arrived.
Firefighters ladder the building to check the top of the chimney and use a Thermal Imaging Camera.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
2009 HRFD Fire Kids Christmas PartyPhotos by Sheryl Drost
The Annual Christmas party for the HRFD kids was a blast. First it was a breakfast, then Pickles the Clown had the kids eating our of her hands - even Chief Shoevlin participated in the activities. Then Santa arrived in the bucket of the the aerial truck bringing a present for every child. (Front page picture)
The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
Garage FireBy Sheryl Drost
Harlem-Roscoe and North Park Firefighters responded to a report of a garage fire in Machesney Park on the road that devides the two fire districts, Langley Road, on November 22.
The side of the garage and a hot tub next to it were on fire when units arrived and firefighters quickly had it extinguished. The fire damaged the hot tub, a fence, and the side of garage. Firefighters used a positive pressure fan to rid the garage of smoke.
HRFD firefighter Shannon Burbach set’s up the attack truck 702 to receive water from the second in truck.
HRFD Firefighters Ryan Alms and Zak Prielipp quickly had the fire under control.
Ryan and Zak finish up hitting hot spots.
Firefighters empty hoses after the fire was out so they can be stacked back on the trucks.
Firefighters rerack the hose line.
A man calls the fire department and says, “Yes, I have just had my front yard landscaped, I have a nice new flower bed, a new fish pond with a fountain and a new rose garden.” “Very nice,” the firefighter says, “but what does that have to do with the fire service?” “Well,” the man answers, “the house next door is on fire and I don’t want you to trample my front yard.”
Tree Fireby Sheryl Drost
Firefighters Eric Wainright, John Barth and Ken Boris had to pull hose quite a ways out into a wooded lot to get to a tree on fire. It seems winds took burning materials from a burn pile into the trees.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
Birthdays
December19th Eric Schweitzer26th Ron Klaman
January 4th Bill Hyde5th Matt Bush17th John Presley25th Jerry Lund29th Charlotte Alms31st Mark Soppe
January Breakfast List
Ron Klaman, Chris Farr, Randy Lovelace, Adam CoxMike Huffman, Jeff MorrisAaron Miller, Adam Eich
Total Calls to Date for 2009
1995
Volume 14, Issue 12 The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.
Editor-in-Chief - Chief Don ShoevlinEditor, Layout, Writer, Photo - 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.harlemroscoefire.comE-mail submissions to: [email protected]
Christmas Family in Need Drive
Can you help?
HRFD Firefighters are collecting donations for this year’s Chistmas Family in Need Drive. You can help by donating non-perishable foods or monies to help fill each basket with enough food for a complete holiday turkey meal and presents for each child. Donations are being accepted until December 16.
Families will receive a basket with a turkey and all the fixings plus milk, bread and anything else that was generously donated. Each child will receive presents as well.
Each year the department talks to the schools in our district and gets names of kids that might not otherwise have a Christmas due to family hardships. Each child made a wish list and our elves try hard to fulfilll them.
Station UpdatesBy AC Ken O’Dell
It’s hard to believe that another year has passed. With winter here, let’s remember to take into account the cold and snow. It may be a little harder to respond to a call, so let’s stay warm and use caution when driving.
If you have snowmobiles or a 4x4 truck, make sure you get on our list that will be activated if we get a large amount of snow.
Don’t forget our Annual Christmas Drive. Every little bit helps. The donations will end on December 16. Food we are looking for is boxed potatoes, gravy in a can, canned vegetables, and cranberries in the can.
I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Safe New Year!
Senior Turkey DinnerPhotos by Charlotte Alms
November 20 was the date, the place was Harlem-Roscoe Fire Station #1, and event was the Annual Roscoe Lion’s Senior Turkey Dinner. Over 250 seniors enjoyed a delicious turkey meal with all the fixings and the best part, it didn’t cost them a dime.Here are some pictures from the dinner:
Bus AccidentStory & Photos by Sheryl Drost
One type of accident that sends shivers through most first responders is when a bus loaded with kids crashes. November 18, a pickup truck rear-ended a bus with 27 students headed for Roscoe Middle School and was stopped on Atwood Road and Burr Oak.
Police, fire, EMS, and school officials quickly converged on the scene. HRFD Paramedics triaged the students and four children were transported from the scene by waiting ambulances from Harlem-Roscoe and Rockton Fire. They were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver and passenger of the pickup were unhurt and signed refusals.
The remaining children were transferred to another bus and taken to the Middle School. Paramedics from Harlem-Roscoe, South Beloit, and Lifeline Ambulance also went to the school. Another child was transported to the hospital at that time with non-life threatening injuries.
How we as parents and caretakers can help if our child is involved in a bus accident:
Stay CalmIf your child has a cell phone and calls from the bus before EMS arrives a good idea is to stay on the phone and do everything in your power to calm him/her down and assure the child that help is on the way.Stay CalmKnow your school’s notification plan and please wait to hear from them before responding anywhere. Injured students are transferred quickly to hospitals and you will need to get that call.Stay CalmAs parents we understand that hearts race when you know your child might be injured. Please take a deep breath before driving where the school officials tell you your child has been taken. We want you to get there safely.Stay CalmIf you happen to arrive on scene, please let the highly trained first responders do their jobs.Stay Calm
A pickup truck rear-ended a school bus with 27 students on board.
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Harlem-Roscoe Paramedics and Kinnikinnick Superintendent Bob Lauber help transfer the students safely to another bus to be transported to Roscoe Middle School.
Uninjured students were transported and unloaded at Roscoe Middle School.
Firefighter ReindeerPhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Harlem-Roscoe’s very own reindeer performed in four holiday parades this month. There were lighted parades in Loves Park, Rockton, and Beloit and then they brought Santa to the Roscoe VFW for the village celebration.
Our firefighter reindeer pull Santa to the Roscoe VFW.
The last lighted parade was in Rockton and the reindeer pulled the department’s mascots, Harlem & Roscoe.
The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
EMS CornerBy Paramedic Zak Prielipp
The journey is finally over. After two years and over a thousand hours of classroom time, clinical time, and field ride time, I am officially a nationally certified paramedic. The process of becoming a paramedic is a long, hard, and time consuming task, but with the right attitude and dedication it can be achieved by anyone.
After seeing how many EMS (Emergency Medical Services) related calls there are, I realized that becoming a paramedic would give me the additional responsibility I was looking for. Being a paramedic requires being ready for any situation no matter if that means responding to a call to help an elderly man who fell out of his chair or a head on collision with serious injuries. Paramedics see everything imaginable. It truly is an amazing job.
Before making the decision to become a paramedic you need to understand how the process works. It is also important to set realistic goals for yourself. I believe that it is a good idea to start getting experience in the field before entering the world of emergency medical care. I recommend joining a volunteer fire department to see how you react to the sight of blood, vomit, feces, or a combination of these hazardous materials. The majority of calls most fire departments respond to involve emergency medical care. Some fire departments or ambulance companies allow prospective EMS students to ride along for experience. Other options for getting experience in the medical field include volunteering at a local hospital or emergency department or enrolling in a CPR and first responder course.
The next step in pursuing a career as a paramedic is becoming a certified EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician-Basic). This course consists of approximately 100 to 120 hours of anatomy, physiology, patient assessment, airway management, basic pharmacology, hemorrhage control, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and trauma management. Aside from the classroom hours, separate hours of clinical time and field ride time are required. Completion of the course and certification exam (through the state or the National Registry of EMT’s) officially allows one to run on an ambulance as a lead provider on calls involving only basic life support. Other responsibilities of EMT-B’s include working side-by-side with paramedics and providing assistance on serious calls.
The next step is to enroll in paramedic school. Paramedic education is a long, extensive process consisting of 1200-1500 hours of classroom, hospital, and ambulance time. Classroom time consists of courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, intravenous medication administration, airway management, patient assessment, trauma, communication, ethics, documentation, cardiology, burns, hemorrhage, shock, pulmonology, neurology, gastroenterology, pediatrics, obstetrics, neonatology, and geriatrics. Hospital time consists of approximately 250 hours in each of the departments
of the hospital. Ambulance ride time consists of 250 hours of working side-by-side with experienced paramedics who serve as mentors. Before taking the certification examination letters of recommendation must be written by experienced paramedics stating that you are ready and capable of working as a paramedic. Finally, permission to take the paramedic certification examination is granted after an interview with the medical director of the EMS system. Once all of these steps have been completed a passing score on the paramedic certification examination will allow you to become an official paramedic.
It takes a certain kind of person to work as an EMT or paramedic. It requires a great amount of dedication and commitment. The feeling you get after you make a difference in someone’s life makes all of the long hours and hard work worthwhile.
“People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.”
Norman Vincent Peale
Thanksgiving Day GiftBy Lt. Mike Powell
While working shift on Thanksgiving we had a family stop by with a gift of homemade cookies. The Wallace family stopped by to see us and Mr Wallace told us he had just retired from the Navy. He said they recently moved in to the Chicory Ridge Subdivision and he said he knows very well what it’s like to work a holiday. He said he wanted to stop by to say hello and say thank you to those of us who were at the fire station.
It was very nice of the family to stop and show their appreciation. The family was given a tour of the station and our trucks and I took their picture. A show of appreciation from those we serve is alwys welcome and reminds of why we do what we do. A warm thank you and a welcome to our community is extended to the Wallaces.
11/07/09 I-90 mm74 11/23/09 Belvidere Road
11/13/09 Hwy 251 11/13/09 Rockton Road & Willowbrook Road
11/15/09 Belvidere Road and Atwood Road 12/03/09 N. Alpine @ Lowe’s entrance
12/04/09 West Lane 12/01/09 Hononegah Road
12/04/09 Hwy 251 & Forest Hills Road 12/07/09 Hwy 251 south of McDonald Road
Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Charlotte Alms
How Many Snowfalls This Year?
For years, retired Chief Oscar Presley has predicted how many snows we would receive each winter following an old American Indian folklore. He says to take the date of the first snow that you can track an animal and add it to the number of days back to the full moon.
Well even though our retired chief is basking in the sun down in Florida, he has made his prediction. His son, Deputy Chief John Presley will be keeping track of the snows for him.
Oscar predicts...
36 snows
As of December 10, there are 32 left.
Winter StormStory and photos by Sheryl Drost
Our first big winter storm arrived in the Harlem-Roscoe Fire District on Tuesday, December 8 in the afternoon and would not leave until Wednesday afternoon. It started as snow and after 4 to 7 inches were on the ground it turned to sleet, then to rain for two hours. It then snowed another 3 to 5 inches. When it was all said and done, the twelve-hour storm left 8-12 inches of wet, heavy snow on the ground. But it wasn’t done then; the winds blew in Wednesday night.
Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters were kept busy as you can see by the pictures on these two pages. An ambulance had to plowed out of one of the many medical calls during the storm. The heavy snow covered trees, breaking limbs and bringing down wires. Several cars slid into ditches, and firefighters responded to a couple of accidents. Street signs were covered by blowing snow and at times driving was treacherous. Then there was a vehicle fire on Swanson Road and a snowmobile fire on the snowmobile trail.
Schools were closed as well as many businesses, but for the most part, drivers could get to work if they really needed to. If the storm had shut down roads completely, the department has a list of snowmobilers that will respond to help get rescuers to the injured. The department had good timing in their recent purchase of a plow for the utility pickup. It will be for emergency use such as keeping the fire stations open during snow storms. It was also sent out to clear snow when the ambulance got stuck in a driveway.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7
Keep Fire Hydrants Clear!Please check any fire hydrants near you to see that they aren’t buried in snow and that firefighters can get to them easily in case of a fire.
How Many Snowfalls This Year?
For years, retired Chief Oscar Presley has predicted how many snows we would receive each winter following an old American Indian folklore. He says to take the date of the first snow that you can track an animal and add it to the number of days back to the full moon.
Well even though our retired chief is basking in the sun down in Florida, he has made his prediction. His son, Deputy Chief John Presley will be keeping track of the snows for him.
Oscar predicts...
36 snows
As of December 10, there are 32 left.
Winter StormStory and photos by Sheryl Drost
Our first big winter storm arrived in the Harlem-Roscoe Fire District on Tuesday, December 8 in the afternoon and would not leave until Wednesday afternoon. It started as snow and after 4 to 7 inches were on the ground it turned to sleet, then to rain for two hours. It then snowed another 3 to 5 inches. When it was all said and done, the twelve-hour storm left 8-12 inches of wet, heavy snow on the ground. But it wasn’t done then; the winds blew in Wednesday night.
Harlem-Roscoe Firefighters were kept busy as you can see by the pictures on these two pages. An ambulance had to plowed out of one of the many medical calls during the storm. The heavy snow covered trees, breaking limbs and bringing down wires. Several cars slid into ditches, and firefighters responded to a couple of accidents. Street signs were covered by blowing snow and at times driving was treacherous. Then there was a vehicle fire on Swanson Road and a snowmobile fire on the snowmobile trail.
Schools were closed as well as many businesses, but for the most part, drivers could get to work if they really needed to. If the storm had shut down roads completely, the department has a list of snowmobilers that will respond to help get rescuers to the injured. The department had good timing in their recent purchase of a plow for the utility pickup. It will be for emergency use such as keeping the fire stations open during snow storms. It was also sent out to clear snow when the ambulance got stuck in a driveway.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7
Keep Fire Hydrants Clear!Please check any fire hydrants near you to see that they aren’t buried in snow and that firefighters can get to them easily in case of a fire.
The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
EMS CornerBy Paramedic Zak Prielipp
The journey is finally over. After two years and over a thousand hours of classroom time, clinical time, and field ride time, I am officially a nationally certified paramedic. The process of becoming a paramedic is a long, hard, and time consuming task, but with the right attitude and dedication it can be achieved by anyone.
After seeing how many EMS (Emergency Medical Services) related calls there are, I realized that becoming a paramedic would give me the additional responsibility I was looking for. Being a paramedic requires being ready for any situation no matter if that means responding to a call to help an elderly man who fell out of his chair or a head on collision with serious injuries. Paramedics see everything imaginable. It truly is an amazing job.
Before making the decision to become a paramedic you need to understand how the process works. It is also important to set realistic goals for yourself. I believe that it is a good idea to start getting experience in the field before entering the world of emergency medical care. I recommend joining a volunteer fire department to see how you react to the sight of blood, vomit, feces, or a combination of these hazardous materials. The majority of calls most fire departments respond to involve emergency medical care. Some fire departments or ambulance companies allow prospective EMS students to ride along for experience. Other options for getting experience in the medical field include volunteering at a local hospital or emergency department or enrolling in a CPR and first responder course.
The next step in pursuing a career as a paramedic is becoming a certified EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician-Basic). This course consists of approximately 100 to 120 hours of anatomy, physiology, patient assessment, airway management, basic pharmacology, hemorrhage control, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and trauma management. Aside from the classroom hours, separate hours of clinical time and field ride time are required. Completion of the course and certification exam (through the state or the National Registry of EMT’s) officially allows one to run on an ambulance as a lead provider on calls involving only basic life support. Other responsibilities of EMT-B’s include working side-by-side with paramedics and providing assistance on serious calls.
The next step is to enroll in paramedic school. Paramedic education is a long, extensive process consisting of 1200-1500 hours of classroom, hospital, and ambulance time. Classroom time consists of courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, intravenous medication administration, airway management, patient assessment, trauma, communication, ethics, documentation, cardiology, burns, hemorrhage, shock, pulmonology, neurology, gastroenterology, pediatrics, obstetrics, neonatology, and geriatrics. Hospital time consists of approximately 250 hours in each of the departments
of the hospital. Ambulance ride time consists of 250 hours of working side-by-side with experienced paramedics who serve as mentors. Before taking the certification examination letters of recommendation must be written by experienced paramedics stating that you are ready and capable of working as a paramedic. Finally, permission to take the paramedic certification examination is granted after an interview with the medical director of the EMS system. Once all of these steps have been completed a passing score on the paramedic certification examination will allow you to become an official paramedic.
It takes a certain kind of person to work as an EMT or paramedic. It requires a great amount of dedication and commitment. The feeling you get after you make a difference in someone’s life makes all of the long hours and hard work worthwhile.
“People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.”
Norman Vincent Peale
Thanksgiving Day GiftBy Lt. Mike Powell
While working shift on Thanksgiving we had a family stop by with a gift of homemade cookies. The Wallace family stopped by to see us and Mr Wallace told us he had just retired from the Navy. He said they recently moved in to the Chicory Ridge Subdivision and he said he knows very well what it’s like to work a holiday. He said he wanted to stop by to say hello and say thank you to those of us who were at the fire station.
It was very nice of the family to stop and show their appreciation. The family was given a tour of the station and our trucks and I took their picture. A show of appreciation from those we serve is alwys welcome and reminds of why we do what we do. A warm thank you and a welcome to our community is extended to the Wallaces.
11/07/09 I-90 mm74 11/23/09 Belvidere Road
11/13/09 Hwy 251 11/13/09 Rockton Road & Willowbrook Road
11/15/09 Belvidere Road and Atwood Road 12/03/09 N. Alpine @ Lowe’s entrance
12/04/09 West Lane 12/01/09 Hononegah Road
12/04/09 Hwy 251 & Forest Hills Road 12/07/09 Hwy 251 south of McDonald Road
Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Charlotte Alms
The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
Birthdays
December19th Eric Schweitzer26th Ron Klaman
January 4th Bill Hyde5th Matt Bush17th John Presley25th Jerry Lund29th Charlotte Alms31st Mark Soppe
January Breakfast List
Ron Klaman, Chris Farr, Randy Lovelace, Adam CoxMike Huffman, Jeff MorrisAaron Miller, Adam Eich
Total Calls to Date for 2009
1995
Volume 14, Issue 12 The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe F.P.D.
Editor-in-Chief - Chief Don ShoevlinEditor, Layout, Writer, Photo - 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.harlemroscoefire.comE-mail submissions to: [email protected]
Christmas Family in Need Drive
Can you help?
HRFD Firefighters are collecting donations for this year’s Chistmas Family in Need Drive. You can help by donating non-perishable foods or monies to help fill each basket with enough food for a complete holiday turkey meal and presents for each child. Donations are being accepted until December 16.
Families will receive a basket with a turkey and all the fixings plus milk, bread and anything else that was generously donated. Each child will receive presents as well.
Each year the department talks to the schools in our district and gets names of kids that might not otherwise have a Christmas due to family hardships. Each child made a wish list and our elves try hard to fulfilll them.
Station UpdatesBy AC Ken O’Dell
It’s hard to believe that another year has passed. With winter here, let’s remember to take into account the cold and snow. It may be a little harder to respond to a call, so let’s stay warm and use caution when driving.
If you have snowmobiles or a 4x4 truck, make sure you get on our list that will be activated if we get a large amount of snow.
Don’t forget our Annual Christmas Drive. Every little bit helps. The donations will end on December 16. Food we are looking for is boxed potatoes, gravy in a can, canned vegetables, and cranberries in the can.
I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Safe New Year!
Senior Turkey DinnerPhotos by Charlotte Alms
November 20 was the date, the place was Harlem-Roscoe Fire Station #1, and event was the Annual Roscoe Lion’s Senior Turkey Dinner. Over 250 seniors enjoyed a delicious turkey meal with all the fixings and the best part, it didn’t cost them a dime.Here are some pictures from the dinner:
Bus AccidentStory & Photos by Sheryl Drost
One type of accident that sends shivers through most first responders is when a bus loaded with kids crashes. November 18, a pickup truck rear-ended a bus with 27 students headed for Roscoe Middle School and was stopped on Atwood Road and Burr Oak.
Police, fire, EMS, and school officials quickly converged on the scene. HRFD Paramedics triaged the students and four children were transported from the scene by waiting ambulances from Harlem-Roscoe and Rockton Fire. They were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver and passenger of the pickup were unhurt and signed refusals.
The remaining children were transferred to another bus and taken to the Middle School. Paramedics from Harlem-Roscoe, South Beloit, and Lifeline Ambulance also went to the school. Another child was transported to the hospital at that time with non-life threatening injuries.
How we as parents and caretakers can help if our child is involved in a bus accident:
Stay CalmIf your child has a cell phone and calls from the bus before EMS arrives a good idea is to stay on the phone and do everything in your power to calm him/her down and assure the child that help is on the way.Stay CalmKnow your school’s notification plan and please wait to hear from them before responding anywhere. Injured students are transferred quickly to hospitals and you will need to get that call.Stay CalmAs parents we understand that hearts race when you know your child might be injured. Please take a deep breath before driving where the school officials tell you your child has been taken. We want you to get there safely.Stay CalmIf you happen to arrive on scene, please let the highly trained first responders do their jobs.Stay Calm
A pickup truck rear-ended a school bus with 27 students on board.
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Harlem-Roscoe Paramedics and Kinnikinnick Superintendent Bob Lauber help transfer the students safely to another bus to be transported to Roscoe Middle School.
Uninjured students were transported and unloaded at Roscoe Middle School.
Firefighter ReindeerPhotos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe
Harlem-Roscoe’s very own reindeer performed in four holiday parades this month. There were lighted parades in Loves Park, Rockton, and Beloit and then they brought Santa to the Roscoe VFW for the village celebration.
Our firefighter reindeer pull Santa to the Roscoe VFW.
The last lighted parade was in Rockton and the reindeer pulled the department’s mascots, Harlem & Roscoe.
2009 HRFD Fire Kids Christmas PartyPhotos by Sheryl Drost
The Annual Christmas party for the HRFD kids was a blast. First it was a breakfast, then Pickles the Clown had the kids eating our of her hands - even Chief Shoevlin participated in the activities. Then Santa arrived in the bucket of the the aerial truck bringing a present for every child. (Front page picture)
The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
Garage FireBy Sheryl Drost
Harlem-Roscoe and North Park Firefighters responded to a report of a garage fire in Machesney Park on the road that devides the two fire districts, Langley Road, on November 22.
The side of the garage and a hot tub next to it were on fire when units arrived and firefighters quickly had it extinguished. The fire damaged the hot tub, a fence, and the side of garage. Firefighters used a positive pressure fan to rid the garage of smoke.
HRFD firefighter Shannon Burbach set’s up the attack truck 702 to receive water from the second in truck.
HRFD Firefighters Ryan Alms and Zak Prielipp quickly had the fire under control.
Ryan and Zak finish up hitting hot spots.
Firefighters empty hoses after the fire was out so they can be stacked back on the trucks.
Firefighters rerack the hose line.
A man calls the fire department and says, “Yes, I have just had my front yard landscaped, I have a nice new flower bed, a new fish pond with a fountain and a new rose garden.” “Very nice,” the firefighter says, “but what does that have to do with the fire service?” “Well,” the man answers, “the house next door is on fire and I don’t want you to trample my front yard.”
Tree Fireby Sheryl Drost
Firefighters Eric Wainright, John Barth and Ken Boris had to pull hose quite a ways out into a wooded lot to get to a tree on fire. It seems winds took burning materials from a burn pile into the trees.
Winter Weather Survival Tips! By Debbie Rykowski
As the song goes, “Oh, the weather outside is frightful” – WOW, is that true! Winter is the time when most of us would prefer to stay at home where it is warm, nestled beside a roaring fireplace, sipping a cup of hot cocoa. Unfortunately, we do have to get out and go
to work, shopping, etc. and be out in the elements and we need to be prepared before an emergency occurs. In this article we will provide some safety tips for you and your family to help you get through this “chilly” season of the year. BE PREPARED seems to be the word to the wise!
In The HomeCheck your windows and doors for worn or torn insulation and replace if needed to help prevent heat loss.Have your furnace and/or fireplace inspected. Also, check for snow and ice blocking chimneys and exhaust vent pipes. And change your furnace filter once a month.Maintain your shovels or snow blowers and keep snow blowers properly fueled for that big snowfall.Many people suffer heart attacks from shoveling their driveway or sidewalks and over-doing it. If you must shovel, do a little bit at a time, pace yourself and don’t load the shovel with a heavy load of snow. Put out ice-melting products on your walkway to melt the ice to prevent you or your family from slipping on the icy walkway.During winter storms, electrical power lines may become frozen and snap, causing a loss of power to your home for several hours or even days. Plan ahead to have an emergency heat source such as a wood burning stove, space heater or fireplace available to provide warmth to you and your family. Also make sure you have the proper fuel on hand for these devices. Read and follow manufacturer’s suggested fuel sources for any of these devices.If you use a kerosene heater as an emergency device, always refuel the unit outdoors and after the unit has cooled down.Keep kerosene heaters or space heaters at least 3’ away from all flammable objects.Avoid the build-up of toxic fumes in your home by providing proper ventilation while operating any heating devices. Never, ever use a charcoal grill inside of your home for a heat source. These devices were not designed to provide indoor heating and will cause a dangerous build-up of deadly carbon monoxide in your home.Always have a working fire extinguisher near any heat source in case of an emergency.Always make sure that you have an operating smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home and remember to
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check them. Never leave any emergency heat sources running unattended. Always be sure that you keep the device clear of curious pets or children’s little fingers that might try to touch the glowing device.Keep at least one week’s worth of water on hand. In the event of an ice storm and loss of power, your drinking well will not work and you may be without water for drinking, washing or flushing.Always know how to turn off the water supply to your home in the event of a frozen and/or broken pipe. Never try to thaw
frozen pipes with an open flame device. Call a professional to help you thaw pipes. Apply insulation to any exposed water pipes; kits for this type of protection can be obtained at most home stores.Seal off any unused rooms during a loss of heat for your home. Cover windows with blankets or sheets at night and stuff rags or blankets in any cracks under doors.
In Your VehicleAvoid going out on slippery, icy, snow covered roads when possible. When necessary to travel,
be extra cautious of the road conditions. Ice can sometimes appear black on the roadways and be virtually invisible to you – until your car begins sliding on it.Always maintain your vehicle for operation of the heating unit, window wipers and window wash fluid, the defrosters and maintain proper anti-freeze levels in your vehicle.Refuel your gas tank often. Try not to let your gas tank fall below a half a tank, this helps prevent ice in your fuel line and tank, which can leave you stranded. Uncover snow or ice from all headlights and tail lights before starting to drive your vehicle down the roadway.Always scrape all of the snow and ice off of your windows before beginning to move your vehicle. Do not attempt to drive with a little “peek hole” in your window. This impairs your visibility of other drivers and the roadway.Snow plows and very large vehicles kick up a “wash” of snow, salt and road grime, which can impair your visibility. Give them plenty of room.Always monitor road conditions on your radio and be prepared to turn back in the event of a severe winter storm.Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle in the event that you do become stranded. This kit should include a small first aid kit; knife, extra clothing, blanket, flashlight with spare batteries, a bright piece of cloth to tie on your antenna if you get stranded, non-perishable foods such as candy bars or high calorie foods like Power Bars, ice scraper, a can and waterproof matches to use to melt snow for drinking water, a compass, shovel and sand, tow rope and jumper cables.If you become trapped in your vehicle run the engine at 10 minute intervals for heat, keeping a window cracked open slightly to allow for proper ventilation. Before doing this, check to be sure that your exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow or road debris before running the engine.
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From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin
In the month of December, I cannot help but be reminded of all of the seasons. We have the cold season, the snow season, the cold & flu season and then probably the one we all enjoy most, the holiday season. The one I enjoy least is the shopping season.
I would like to start off by saying thank you once again to all of the fire personnel and the Roscoe Lions Club for another successful senior turkey dinner! We could not have done it without all of your extra volunteer hours &
help. I have heard nothing but praise from the community for a magnificent job done by all. Thank You!!! (Photos page 9)
Our media division and photographer have completed another outstanding job with our annual calendar. The colored photos show your fire department at it’s best. To get your copy, stop by Station 1 and remember to hurry, because they go fast.
As the holiday season is upon us, let us take time to remember those safety tips that we tend to take for granted. Our annual “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign has begun with a wreath in front of all three stations. It has been illuminated in red bulbs. If there is a fire in our district through the holidays, a bulb will be changed to white. The Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District urges all citizens & businesses to take a moment and check & clean your fireplaces, use caution with candles, watch the wiring for Christmas lights, be careful with live Christmas trees becoming too dry and take caution while burning wrapping paper. Let us all enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.
Mother Nature will bring us a dose of snow and ice so don’t forget our winter driving habits. As I write this I can’t help but recall that driving to the station this morning, a radio station made the comment of a whopper of a storm could impact the area. By the time you read this we will all know if it came or not.
I wish everyone in our communities a safe and joyous holiday season and prosperous 2010 New Year!
To all the members of the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District and their families:
May the Christmas Season fill your Home with Joy, Your Heart with Love & Your Life with Laughter.
The gratitude for the commitment all of you make is second to none.We are who we are because of ALL of you!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Keep the Wreath Red”The wreaths are up at all three stations complete with a set of red lights. After any fire in our fire district during the month of December, a white bulb will replace a red one. Please help us keep the wreath red!
Chimney Fire??By Sheryl Drost
Residents on Bayfield Road thought they saw fire coming from their neighbor’s chimney and called 9-1-1 on December 4. The neighbors were burning in their fire place, but all seemed ok when fire units arrived. The building was laddered and chimney checked and a Thermal Imaging Camera was used - no fire was found. It may have been a small buildup of creosote that burned itself out before units arrived.
Firefighters ladder the building to check the top of the chimney and use a Thermal Imaging Camera.
The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefire.comwww.harlemroscoefire.com
THE FIREHOUSE SCENEIs a monthly publication of the
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District
Station GossipSeems Greg couldn’t find the 19/16th wrench the other day. If you have Scott in your name, it seems you spent part of the last snow storm in ditches. Confuscious says - If your snowmobile starts on fire, use snow!Seems there are some new nicknames popping up; Huffy is now Huffa Muffan and Boris is Captain Chocolate Pants.The race was on at Station Two out on the apron. Seems Lukowski won because his was bigger than Swains. “Snowblowers that is.” Don wants to know if Ramona has a tatoo with all her layers! Check out the fire monster in the snowmobile fire!Sometimes I write down notes when fire personnel tell me station gossip too kryptic. Here are a couple ones I have no idea what they mean:
Toy Story - ChristianSlippery when wetUnderwater dog, seal.
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What timing!
Chief’s New Vehicle. Seems the Chief won it in the drawing at the Winnebago Fire Chiefs Association’s
Chrismas party.
Rudolph!
Postage
Harlem-Roscoe FirePO Box 450Roscoe, IL 61073
The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefire.com
December 2009 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost
Merry Christmas!