Fire and Emergency Awareness

From American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA):

TEACHING KIDS ABOUT PETS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

During last year’s devastating hurricanes and floods in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, one lesson was made abundantly clear: many families did not have evacuation plans. To help get the word out about the importance of disaster planning—and how crucial it is to include pets in those plans—the ASPCA Humane Education department has prepared a special issue on emergency preparedness for the ASPCA AnimaLessons teacher newsletter.

Creating a disaster preparedness plan should be a family affair, but planning can readily be incorporated into daily classroom curriculum. Our ASPCA Humane Education experts suggest some easy ways for teachers to get started:

- A great first step for a child is knowing his or her own address and phone number, and also the address and phone number of a close relative or friend outside of the immediate area.

- Another important way your students can plan is to carry a recent picture of themselves with their pet in a wallet or purse, with the pet’s name, address and phone number written on the back.

- Students can create Evac-Packs for their pets. Some important items to include in the pet’s pack are extra leashes, dry or canned food, bottled water, a clean bowl, blanket, chew toys, identification, medical history, and a recent photo of the pet.

For additional ideas on how to incorporate emergency planning in the curriculum—including an activity on creating pet identification cards, a letter-writing activity encouraging students to write to government officials, and a math quiz—please check out the current issue of ASPCA AnimaLessons.

Preparation & safety Awareness
Contributed by "Eye on Safety" Project, NW Indiana Email us at deaffiresafety@yahoo.com The Project recognizes that the lack of various safety and preparation education for deaf and hard of hearing children harms their lives every day, including their family members and pets.	To let your 911 centers know that your house has residents who are deaf/hard of hearing or with disability. Lake County: 219-755-3333 Porter County: 219-477-3000
Eye on Fire Safety Forms/Activity Sheets: FORM: Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Flashing Detectors Home Floor Plan/Escape Preparation Grid (A MUST to help you prepare for escaping your home in case of a fire). Trivia: How Many Deaf Firefighers are there in the United States? Can People with Hearing Loss become a Firefighter? What can Deaf Firefighters do during Fire and Rescue? How many Children know about and practice fire escape plans at home versus at school? Do you know that you can participate on your community's emergency response team? (check out website below - CERT)	Change your batteries when the Daylight Saving Time starts in Spring and Fall. March 14, 2010 - November 7, 2010 (Click on link for DST Historical Information) We're looking for actors and actresses of any age with little to lots of experience for a series of 12 to 15 safety videos. Requirement is need to know sign language and a resident of the Northwest Indiana region. Contact us at 'Eye on Safety' to put your name on the list. Need contact information, age(s) and when you can do the video. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Flashing Detector give-away.... Smoke Detectors available - in limited quanities (numbers) We're out of Carbon Monoxide Detectors. Form required - your information will help us with statistics for our next grant. For more information and to help us educate your children, you may contact Amber Kissinger and Joanna Witulski at deaffiiresafety@yahoo.com
Links: Americans with Disabilities Act and 911 Access CEPIN - Emergency Prepareness Department of Homeland Security - Natural DisabilityInfo.Gov - Emergency Prepareness Disasters Info Indiana Safety Net Project Hoosier Safe-T National Fire Protection Agency Smokey the Bear United States Fire Administration Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Indiana's CERT Group Information	For Kids: FBI for Kids FEMA for KIDS Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Kids Page KIDS Smokey the Bear National Parks Services Sparky the Dog USFA Kids
*Fire Safety Story – Actual Experience: February 2008 in Michigan City, IN* Laura and Brian were in the 1/2 bath installing new light switches. All of the sudden, they both heard a loud "boom" and felt a heavy pressure from it. The bathroom is right next to their laundry room where the furnace and hot water heater is located. They saw a red and orange flash and "freaked out" They went into the laundry room to see where it was coming from and smelled natural gas, but there was no fire. They immediately called NIPSCO, who suggested they call 911 for safety purposes. Two fire trucks came and the firefighters went inside the house. They checked the furnace and the water heater. They assumed the "mini bomb" happened when the air released the "chemical" gas (this is how Laura explained it, but I believe that when the furnace kicked on, the flame from the igniter hit the gas leak and caused an explosion). The firefighters suggested they keep their doors open to clear the natural gas smell. 30 minutes later, the NIPSCO person finally arrived and found a small leak in the gas line from the furnace. He repaired the gas line and they have had no problems since. Laura and Brian had not put up their smoke/carbon monoxide detectors yet, but immediately put the smoke alarm/carbon monoxide detector in the laundry room. Interview between Eye on Fire Safety Project co-coordinator Joanna Witulski, Laura and Brian: EOFS: Prior to your situation, did you have your flashing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors set up? LB: No it wasn't set up. I have flashing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors boxes in the closet. EOFS: Could you explain further, how you were alerted to the ‘flash’? LB: I was in the guest bathroom talking to Brian. We both felt a force pressure feeling and we starled. After few seconds, we smelled aftermath explosion smell. EOFS: How did the firefighters communicate with you upon answering your call? LB: We communicated with the firefighters through body language and talk slow. We both are wearing hearing aids and we can read lips well. EOFS: After your situation, did you wonder what would have happened if it was more than it could have been? LB: Yes, the house would have been on fire or we both would of have been dead. EOFS: What message would you like to share with the deaf and hard of hearing people who have received the flashing detectors? LB: Our recommendation out to the deaf people is to have their flashing detectors up IMMEDIATELY, no excuses! It will eventually save your life. Side note: EOFS Co-coordinator Joanna Witulski and her husband went through a fire in October 2002 without detectors (prior to the Project’s distribution of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors). Joanna and Don strongly agrees with Laura and Brian. Families - practice with your children.
CAN YOU CALL 911 THROUGH VIDEO RELAY SERVICES??? YES YOU CAN, A NEW SYSTEM IS WORKING WITH ALL VIDEO RELAY CENTERS (SORENSON, SPRINT, HANDS ON AND ETC) TO PROVIDE 911 SERVICES THROUGH VIDEO RELAY. THE VIDEO RELAY CENTERS RECOMMEND YOU KEEP YOUR TTY FOR SAFETY PURPOSES SEE LINK TO FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION'S (FCC) REPORT ON 911 THROUGH VIDEO RELAY SERVICES FCC EMERGENCY/10 DIGIT NUMBER PROCEDURES NEIL MCDEVITT CAUTIONS: WITHOUT INFORMATION FOR 911, ESPECIALLY THROUGH ELECTRONIC 911 - POLICE/FIRE MAY NOT BE GOING TO YOUR HOUSE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU GIVE SOMEONE ELSE YOUR VIDEOPHONE.
From American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): TEACHING KIDS ABOUT PETS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS During last year’s devastating hurricanes and floods in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, one lesson was made abundantly clear: many families did not have evacuation plans. To help get the word out about the importance of disaster planning—and how crucial it is to include pets in those plans—the ASPCA Humane Education department has prepared a special issue on emergency preparedness for the ASPCA AnimaLessons teacher newsletter. Creating a disaster preparedness plan should be a family affair, but planning can readily be incorporated into daily classroom curriculum. Our ASPCA Humane Education experts suggest some easy ways for teachers to get started: - A great first step for a child is knowing his or her own address and phone number, and also the address and phone number of a close relative or friend outside of the immediate area. - Another important way your students can plan is to carry a recent picture of themselves with their pet in a wallet or purse, with the pet’s name, address and phone number written on the back. - Students can create Evac-Packs for their pets. Some important items to include in the pet’s pack are extra leashes, dry or canned food, bottled water, a clean bowl, blanket, chew toys, identification, medical history, and a recent photo of the pet. For additional ideas on how to incorporate emergency planning in the curriculum—including an activity on creating pet identification cards, a letter-writing activity encouraging students to write to government officials, and a math quiz—please check out the current issue of ASPCA AnimaLessons.	Local Links: South Haven Fire Department, South Haven, Indiana Family Fire Safety and Preparation Video Trailer Version Lakeshore Public Television won two awards for the 'Family Fire Safety and Preparation' Video: Bronze 2008 Telly Award for Film/Video 2008 Communicator Award for Distinction in the Safety Video category Lakeshore Public TV also won an 2008 Communicator Award for Distinction in the How To category for the 'TTY Training' Video
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