Medical Calls Lead Requests for Service
Calls
to 9-1-1 for fire department services went up nearly seven percent in the
Federal Way area in 2000. Firefighters were called out a total of 9,471
times during the year.
Medical
calls continued to be the main reason fire engines and aid cars rolled.
7,193 (76%) of the responses were for illness or injury.
For
illness calls, “other illness”— a collection of non-serious
ailments—led the list of reasons why people called 9-1-1. Neurological,
respiratory and cardiovascular problems followed in frequency. People who
fell or were in car crashes were the largest number of trauma patients.
All
Federal Way firefighters are also Emergency Medical Technicians and
provide basic life support services. Firefighters handled most of the
medical calls last year. Paramedics went with firefighters about a third
of the time. Those calls involved serious illness or trauma and needed
advanced life support services.
The
paramedics aren’t part of the Fire Department. They’re with King
County Medic One, which covers South King County with seven medic units.
For quick response in this area, one of the medic units is stationed at
Federal Way Fire Station 64 (on S. 320th east of the freeway).
The
best news for 2000: The
overall number of fires went up last year (552 fires, an increase of
nearly 21 percent), but the number of fires in buildings (123) hit a new
low. Thanks for being more careful in your homes and businesses!
Unattended
cooking continued to be the main cause of building fires. If all cooks
stayed nearby and watched their cooking, it would eliminate a third of all
house fires.
As
in past years, the most common non-medical response was “false call.”
This includes malfunctioning automatic fire alarms or those set off
unintentionally, as well as those set off deliberately. Malicious false
fire alarms more than doubled (59 in 1999; 143 last year).
The
number of brush and grass fires also went up sharply (58 in 1999; 124 last
year). Malicious false alarms and brush fires are often caused by youths.
This suggests the need to keep a closer eye on what kids are up
to—especially during this dry year.
(See page 2 for ways to help prevent outdoor fires this summer.)
For
more information on fire department activities last year, e-mail info@federalwayfire.org
or call 253-946-7246 and ask for a copy of the 2000 Annual Report.
Do You Have a House
That We Can Burn?
If
you own a building that needs to be torn down, consider donating it for a
training burn instead.
The
structure must have useful training value for firefighters.
Outbuildings, garages and similar structures not used as a
residence can’t be used. Walls and windows need to be pretty much
intact, so room fires can be contained. Small commercial buildings can
also be considered.
If
you have a building you’d like to donate, call the Training Division at
253-529-7209. Training officers will meet with you to evaluate the
property.
Mark
Your Calendar!
n
Commissioner Candidate
Forum Ever wondered
what a Fire Commissioner does? Or thought you’d like to be one?
To run for a position on the Fire Department’s Board of
Commissioners, you must file in July. Current commissioners will hold a
forum for potential candidates and the public Thursday,
June 21, at the Training and Maintenance Station, 1405 S.W. 312th St.,
immediately following the Board meeting that starts at 4 p.m. The
Board’s operating guidelines will be available, and each of the five
commissioners will discuss an aspect of the job.
n
Free Lunch for Senior
Citizens Keep safe and
stay independent! Learn how to avoid injuries from falls and fires at
“Remembering When.” Friday,
June 22, 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Banquet Hall of the King
County Aquatic Center (650 SW Campus Drive).
Space
is limited (and we need to know how many lunches to prepare), so you must
sign up in advance. Call 253-952-7910.
n
Fun Event for Kids
Federal Way and other King County fire departments team up to educate and
entertain kids at “Fire Department Day.” Friday, June 22, at the Boeing Museum of Flight (9404 E. Marginal
Way South, Seattle), 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. come see us!
n
FW Fire vs. FW Police
Charity Softball Game
Come and root for your favorite
teams (the fire department, of course!). Saturday,
July 14, at 1:00 p.m. at Saghalie Junior High School softball field
(33914 19th S.W.). Admission is
free. Donations go to Federal Way Youth & Family Services.
Where There’s Drought, There’s Fire
Don’t
be fooled into thinking that recent rains have solved the “drought
emergency” declared by the Governor in March. Skimpy winter rainfall and
low snowpack remain a problem as we head into the drier summer months.
Dry
summer conditions usually mean more outdoor fires—almost all of which
can be prevented. We can’t do much about lightning, but most fires are
due to human carelessness.
What can you do to prevent outdoor fires?
n
Use your ashtray! Lots
of fires—especially those along the freeway—are caused by throwing
cigarettes out the car window. Also, don’t toss cigarette butts into
beauty bark or grass. Even if you think they’re crushed out, they can
smolder and start a fire.
n
Do not burn outdoors (see
“The Old Nag”).
n
Keep an extra-watchful eye
on your kids—from age 4 or 5 up to teenage. Many brush fires are
caused by kids, sometimes because they’re playing “camping” in
wooded or grassy areas. Keep matches, lighters, barbecue or fireplace
starters, and any other fire tools out of sight and out of reach.
n
Fireworks are a fire hazard.
Remember that private use of fireworks is illegal at all times within the
city limits of Federal Way. In unincorporated King County, they are legal
only on July 4th. If you’re in
an area where fireworks are legal, use only state-approved fireworks. Some
that you can buy at Native American stands are illegal everywhere in the
state and are extra dangerous. Only sober adults should light fireworks.
n
Camp carefully. Build
campfires only in approved metal or concrete-lined fire pits in designated
campgrounds. Better yet, use a self-contained camp stove instead of
building a campfire. Always check with the ranger or fire department in
the area where you’re camping to make sure campfires are legal. Never
leave your campfire unattended.
n
Don’t stop your vehicle over areas with vegetation. The catalytic converter can be hot enough to ignite dry grass. If your
vehicle catches fire and you pull over to the side of the road, don’t
pull off the paved shoulder onto the vegetation.
What is the Fire Department doing to conserve water and power?
Obviously,
we’re not going to stop using water to put out fires! We are reducing
our water use in other ways, however.
w
While drought conditions
last, we’ll limit our use of water during firefighter drills. Dry hose
drills will be the norm.
w
Testing the pumps on all
fire engines, which is required annually and uses thousands of gallons of
water, is being done now—earlier in the year than usual—so we won’t
have to use all that water during summer months.
w
Firefighters are washing
department vehicles only when absolutely needed, rather than cleaning them
routinely. We take pride in our equipment and want to keep it in good
condition and looking great, but that takes a back seat to our desire to
be good citizens during this drought.
w
Grass around stations will
be watered only once a week, for half an hour per setting.
w
Dishwashers and
washers/dryers will be operated only with a full load.
To conserve power, staff members are
using only the lighting that is needed to do the work, and turning off
lights when they leave the room. Other power savers include:
w
If computers don’t really
need to be on at night, we’re turning them off instead of leaving them
running.
w
The heat in the truck bays
(where the engines are kept) will be kept between 58 and 60 degrees at all
stations. Between June and September, truck bay heaters will be turned
off.
w
When we installed new doors
on the truck bay at Station 62 (on 1st
Ave. S.) and Station 61 (on S. 360th),
we opted for insulated doors that will do a better job of keeping heat in
the building.
w
The truck bay doors at all
six stations are on timers, so after the fire engine rolls out on a call
the bay door automatically closes to keep heat in the building.
Could Federal Way have a wildfire?
Wildfires like those in Eastern
Washington aren’t likely in Federal Way. But there are some areas where
large outdoor fires could be a problem, says Battalion Chief Chuck Kahler.
Chief
Kahler, a 30-year veteran, is the only Federal Way chief who holds a state
“red card” certifying him as trained in wildland firefighting. About a
dozen firefighters also hold red cards. Chief Kahler also took special
training to become a member of one of the state’s five Incident
Management Teams that can be mobilized to direct wildland firefighting
efforts anywhere in the country. Team members come from throughout Oregon
and Washington, and only a few are firefighters. Other team members come
from the Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources.
The
most vulnerable areas, Kahler says, are where there is still a lot of
natural vegetation and relatively few homes. Examples are Spring Valley
(between I-5 and Highway 99 south of S. 356th)
and the Five Mile Lake/Trout Lake area (south of S. 360th
St. and east of 32nd Ave. S).
Any hillside or ravine with natural vegetation could be a problem, such as
some of the hillsides above the West Valley Highway and along Adelaide
Beach, and ravines in Marine Hills, Twin Lakes, Dash Point and Saltwater
Park areas. Brush along the BPA power line trail can also be a hazard.
Firefighting in some of these areas is hampered by limited access and few
hydrants.
If
you have a lot of trees or brush around your home, make sure there’s a
fire break—a clear area—between your home and the vegetation. Think
about how you would be safe if there were a big fire. Plan an escape route
and a safe place to go.
You
can help keep an outdoor fire from spreading by keeping dry grass and
weeds cut down, especially around buildings, fences and other structures.
Consider removing tree limbs growing over the roof, so the house won’t
be in danger if the tree catches fire.
Why does Federal Way Fire
Department send help when there’s a wildfire in Eastern Washington?
Federal
Way Fire Department is part of the State Fire Mobilization Plan. When a
fire is too big for one department to handle, the State Fire Marshal asks
other departments to send help. The state reimburses fire departments for
the costs of equipment and firefighters.
A
“strike team” of fire engines is sent from this area. Five departments
each send one engine with three or four off-duty firefighters. A chief
from one department leads the team. Western Washington firefighters
don’t fight the wildfire; they protect homes that are threatened by the
wildfire while firefighters from the local area—who are more familiar
with wildfire—combat the blaze.
Federal
Way has responded to three wildfires in the past few years: to the Prosser
area in 2000, to Chelan/Leavenworth in 1994, and Spokane in 1992. Each
time, a Federal Way chief served as Strike Team Leader (Battalion Chief
Chuck Kahler in 2000 and 1994; Battalion Chief Jerry Thorson in 1992).
Firefighters
take their own sleeping bags and tents when they’re mobilized. Sometimes
they stay for only a few days (four days in 2000); other times they’re
there for an extended period. In 1994, the Federal Way engine was there
for two weeks. The first group of firefighters rotated home after one week
and others took their place.
The Old Nag
(Stuff
we’ve told you before. . .but a lot of you haven’t done anything about it yet.)
Outdoor
Burning Is Illegal
The
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency banned outdoor burning of yard waste and
construction debris in the Federal Way area because the smoke is part of
our regional air pollution problem. PSCAA can impose large fines if you
violate the ban. Sometimes, due to poor air quality, PSCAA also bans
indoor burning in fireplaces and wood stoves. For more information on burn
bans, call Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at 1-800-595-4341 or check their
web site, www.pscleanair.org.
Medic
One Levy Proposed for the November Ballot
The
property tax levy that funds the countywide Medic One system expires in
December of this year.
That
interim three-year emergency medical services (EMS) levy was passed in
1998, after a six-year levy failed to get the 60 percent “yes” vote
required by law. Two Task Forces were appointed to look for other ways to
fund the EMS system. They concluded that other options don’t provide
enough money to maintain the system and allow it to meet growing needs.
The second Task Force recommended that a new six-year property tax levy be
put on the ballot in November.
The
proposed levy is 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, the same amount
that is currently being collected. The owner of a home assessed at
$100,000 would continue to pay $25 a year for Medic One services. The
proposed levy is not a new tax; it would just replace the current one.
Cities
with a population over 50,000 (Federal Way, Seattle, Kent, Renton,
Bellevue, and Shoreline) must authorize King County to put the measure on
the ballot, and the County Council must agree to do so.
Most
of the levy funds would be used to continue providing Medic One services.
Currently there are 22 paramedic units located countywide. Seven of those
units serve South King County, with one of them stationed in Federal Way.
Fire
departments throughout King County also receive some money from the levy
to help pay for basic emergency medical programs. The Federal Way Fire
Department receives approximately $568,000 per year from the EMS levy. The
levy also provides training for paramedics, firefighter-EMTs, and 9-1-1
dispatchers.
The
Seattle Fire Department established Medic One—one of the world’s first
paramedic systems—in 1969. In 1977, the paramedic system was expanded to
include South King County. The Seattle/King County EMS system is regarded
as a model system worldwide.
The
full EMS Strategic Task Force report is available online at http://www.metrokc.gov/health/ems/taskforce.
You can also call 253-946-7247 and ask for a copy.
That
Wasn’t “The Big One”
The
Nisqually earthquake on February 28 was the worst earthquake in the Puget
Sound in 52 years, but it wasn’t “the big one” that has been
predicted.
We
lucked out, folks. It was 6.8 on the Richter scale, but did relatively
little damage. That’s because it was so deep (about 30 miles below the
surface). Had it been shallower— like the 6.7 quake in 1994 in
Northridge, California, that was about 10 miles deep—damage would have
been much worse. And had it been an
8.0-9.0 quake like some that have happened in Puget Sound’s
history, the area would have been devastated.
Don’t
let the “mildness” of this quake lull you into thinking you don’t
have to bother about being prepared. Learn what you need to do before,
during, and after a quake. Call 253-946-7246 and ask to have a packet of
emergency preparedness materials mailed to you.
Surfing
the Net
If
you don’t have internet access at home, you can go on line at King
County Library branches. Be sure to visit our home page, http://www.federalwayfire.org.
http://www.cpsc.gov
- Hundreds
of products are recalled each year because they may cause fires or
injuries, but many of them are still in homes. Check Consumer Product
Safety Commission files, and sign up for e-mail notification when products
are recalled.
http://www.homefiresprinkler.org
-
Do you know the most effective way to protect your home and family
once a fire starts? It’s having fire sprinklers in your home. Watch
a chilling fire timeline video and check out the facts about fire
sprinklers.
http://www.sparky.org
- Sparky
the Fire Dog has his own web page for kids six to nine! Fun games
entertain them while they learn fire safety and injury prevention
messages.
9-1-1:
Use It, But Don’t
Abuse It
It
might seem like the 9-1-1 emergency telephone number has always been
around, but the first local 9-1-1 system wasn’t set up until 1968 (in
Alabama). About 50 percent of the U.S. population had 9-1-1 by 1987.
Now, 9-1-1 is available to nearly 85 percent.
When
9-1-1 began, the main problem was to let people know the number was
available and get them to use it. Now, the main problem is to get them to
stop using it inappropriately.
9-1-1 is partly a victim of its
own publicity. To get people used to the idea, some 9-1-1 centers used
slogans such as “it’s the only number you need to know.” What they
meant was that you didn’t have to remember one number for the police,
another for the fire department, and a third for medical help. You can get
all those services by one number. What some people have apparently heard,
however, was that any time you have a problem—any kind of
problem—9-1-1 is the number to dial.
9-1-1 was created to be used in
emergencies, but the concept of “emergency” seems to have gotten lost.
Non-emergency calls to 9-1-1 are a problem both locally and nationally.
Some calls to 9-1-1 are
inappropriate because they’re for things that police, fire or medical
personnel don’t handle. If your power is out, you need to call the power
company. If the sink is overflowing or your sewer line is plugged up, you
need a plumber. If your cookstove or furnace won’t operate, dial a
repair service. If you have bees in the house, an exterminator is the
appropriate choice. If you have a toothache, see your dentist. (Yes, all
of those have been real calls to our 9-1-1 dispatch center.)
Other calls are inappropriate
because they don’t involve urgent needs. Every time Firefighters and
Paramedics go on a medical call, they fill out a report. One of the
questions on that report asks whether the problem was “life
threatening,” “urgent” or “non-urgent.” Each year, nearly one-half of the medical calls dispatched by 9-1-1 in
King County come back marked as being for a “non‑urgent”
condition.
Part
of this problem is that some callers call for things that a knowledge of
simple first aid could fix—problems people used to handle themselves, or
ask a family member, neighbor or family doctor about. A small cut on the
hand didn’t used to be considered a 9-1-1 problem. Now, it increasingly
is. A simple bee sting—with no history of allergy and no hives,
breathing problems or any other symptoms—didn’t used to trigger a call
to 9-1-1. Now, it often does. A child’s bumped head, without even a
bruise or swelling, wasn’t considered something that emergency medical
services should respond to. Now, parents often call 911. Some people have
even called 9-1-1 for things like cold sores, blisters, or diaper rash, or
because they are out of bandaids or want an aspirin.
Another part of the problem may
be lack of understanding of what 9-1-1 responders can and cannot do.
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics are not doctors, and they
can't substitute for them. And if you just have a cold or the flu,
there’s not much that calling 9-1-1 can achieve for you.
What’s wrong with calling
9-1-1 when it’s not a true emergency? The first and biggest problem is
that it ties up emergency resources. It can delay response to those who
truly do have emergencies. Someone having a heart attack or stroke may
have to wait for help to come from across town, because the firefighters
closest to them are tied up dealing with someone’s minor problem. In
December of last year, a family in Tacoma watched their house burn because
they couldn’t get through on overcrowded 9-1-1 lines.
A second reason to limit use of
9-1-1 to emergencies is that using it for everything drives up the costs
for staff and equipment to respond to all those calls. Those costs are
borne by every one of us through our property taxes.
What
can you do to help prevent 9-1-1 overload?
w
Take a first aid class.
Purchase a health care handbook, so you’ll know how to deal with minor
problems.
w
If you have children, take
parenting classes so you will recognize and be able to deal with a
child’s normal developmental problems.
w
If someone tells you they
called 9-1-1 for something that isn’t an emergency, let them know that
you disapprove of that behavior.
w
And stop for just a second
before you call 9-1-1 yourself. Ask
yourself whether your call is appropriate. If not, seek other methods to
solve it.
However, if you have any doubt
about whether you have an emergency that requires fire, police or medical
services, call 9-1-1! That’s what it’s there for. Let’s all
cooperate to keep it working well.
Q
& A--Readers ask . . .
Where
can I take a CPR class?
The
Federal Way Fire Department offers CPR classes every month. Some are for
people who just want to learn CPR and get some practice in it. Others are
for people who need a more extensive class to meet work requirements. Are
you thinking about an automatic defibrillator for your business? If you
are, we offer state-approved CPR/AED training for your employees. For
information, check our CPR Information Line, 253-529-7203.
Where
can I buy smoke alarms? What kind should I buy?
Many
types of stores sell smoke alarms, including hardware stores and some drug
stores. Are you replacing detectors that are wired into your home’s
electrical system? If you are, replace them with electric detectors with a
backup battery. If you’re getting battery-operated detectors, basic ones
don’t cost much—usually only about $5-$10. If you don’t want to have
to replace batteries every year, get an alarm with a 10-year lithium
battery. You need to replace the entire smoke alarm about every 10 years
anyway.
One
feature to consider is a “hush” or reset button. They’re especially
useful if the alarm is going to be near the kitchen or bathroom. The reset
button lets you silence the alarm if it’s going off because the toast
burned or steam from the shower set it off. The alarm automatically resets
itself after a few minutes. If there is a fire during the “hush” time,
heavy smoke will override the reset button so the detector will sound an
alarm.
Safety Alert—Window Blinds Recalled
Millions
of window blinds have been recalled because their pull cords and the inner
cords used to raise the slats are a strangulation hazard for children.
130
children have been strangled by window blind cords since 1991. All of the
deaths involved children in cribs placed near windows. They pulled the
pull cords or inner cords until they formed a loop that became wrapped
around their necks. Window blinds were redesigned in 1995 to eliminate
pull cords ending in loops. However, the inner cords of these newer blinds
still present a hazard.
You
can repair your window blinds in minutes, without removing the blinds.
Call the Window Covering Safety Council at 800-506-4636 to get a free
repair kit for each set of blinds in your home. If you have vertical
blinds, draperies or pleated shades with continuous loop cords, ask for
special tie-downs to prevent strangulation in those window coverings.
The
Consumer Products Safety Commission recommends that you keep the cords and
chains of window coverings out of the reach of children. Consider that
they may climb on furniture to reach the cords. Never knot or tie the
cords together—this creates a loop that could cause strangulation. If
you have young children, consider purchasing cordless window coverings.
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