THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FORWARDED BY THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE.

July 7, 2010

0710-15

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Response During Heat Emergencies

From Mike McEvoy

NYSAFC EMS Chairman

Over the next few days, the heat index (calculated temperature and humidity) will create very uncomfortable conditions and can be extremely dangerous if not life-threatening to firefighters responding to calls whether wearing PPE or not.  To assure that all of us go home, here are some very important things to keep in mind over the next few days for your personal safety:

1. Drink water. Firefighters are usually dehydrated when compared to the general population.  In weather such as this, you will be more dehydrated than normal.  Make every attempt to double the amount of fluids you normally drink each day (not alcohol).  Keep an extra bottle of water in your vehicle or put a bottle in your one of your boots with your turn out gear.  When responding to an alarm, make every effort to drink 1 bottle of water during your response to the alarm.  This will help to improve your energy level, performance, and lessen chances of injury on scene.  Don’t over do it!  One bottle of water is enough – more than that and you will get sick.

2. Keep cool.  For safety, you need to wear PPE.  Also for safety during hot weather, you need to take off PPE that is not necessary.  During response and size-up, if the officer determines that full PPE is not necessary to perform the work required, members should be instructed to doff unnecessary gear.

3. Continue drinking.  Water is best for the first 2-3 hours on a scene.  You can loose up to 2 liters of water per hour sweating.  You also loose electrolytes like potassium, sodium and magnesium but during the first few hours of intense work, you reabsorb lost electrolytes through your skin.  The water you loose in sweat needs to be replaced.  You can safely drink 1 liter of water per hour (2 bottles).  If you drink more, you will probably puke.  The best practice is to drink small amounts of water all the time you are on scene and continue drinking after you return to service.  After 2 or 3 hours, you might want to replace electrolytes with a sports drink (like Gatorade).  Your stomach cannot handle more than one bottle of sports drink per hour – drink more and you will probably get sick.  Don’t mix water and sports drinks: drink one or the other but never both in the same hour.

4. If you overheat.  Stop what you are doing, get to a safe area, sit down, and remove your PPE.  Not just your SCBA and your coat – all of your PPE including your bunker pants and boots.  Find some way to actively cool down: an air conditioned truck cab or room, a cool wet towel, whatever…no one method is better than another.  Keep in mind that misting fans do not work in weather like we have now (high heat and/or high humidity) – if you use a misting device, it will heat you more, not cool you off.  If you can find cold water to drink, that will cool you and help rehydrate at the same time.

5. Check a pulse.  The best way to find out if you are ready for more action is by heart rate.  If you’ve rested and feel better, find a pulse oximeter and see what your heart rate is.  If it is less than 100, you are ready for more action.  Pulse oximeters are the most accurate way to measure heart rate (better than EMTs).  If you have one of our RAD-57 CO-oximeters, check your CO (carbon monoxide) level as well.  If your SpCO is 5% or less, you haven’t been affected by CO in fire smoke and can return to duty.  Should we measure any other vital signs besides heart rate, pulse ox, and CO?  Not in my opinion – you have better things to do than waste your time with useless measurements.  If you drink water, cool off, rest until you feel recovered, and stick your finger into the RAD-57 for 60 seconds, that’s everything you need to return to action.  The important numbers are heart rate less than 100, O2 sat 92% or greater, and CO 5% or less.  The rest is trash (unless you’re laying on the ground looking like garbage).

6. Ask for help.  If you don’t feel well, tell someone.  Let an officer or EMS person know you are not right.  Stop what you are doing.  Saratoga County will be sending an ambulance to all fire department responses during heat emergencies like we have now.  This is serious business.  Your safety is job number one.

Mike McEvoy

Medical Advisor – West Crescent Fire Department

Co-Author: Firefighter Rehabilitation: Guide to Best Practices (IAFC)

Record Report
Statement as of 9:58 PM EDT on July 06, 2010

…Record high minimum temperature tied at Albany NY…

The low temperature at the Albany international Airport only dropped
to a low 76 degrees at 509 am July 6th. This ties the old record
high minimum temperature of 76 degrees set back in 1911.

Heat Advisory
Statement as of 3:51 PM EDT on July 05, 2010

…Heat advisory in effect from noon to 7 PM EDT Tuesday…

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a heat
advisory…which is in effect from noon to 7 PM EDT Tuesday
for the Mid Hudson valley…capital region…Saratoga region and
Glens Falls area…southern Taconics…eastern Windham County
Vermont…and Litchfield County Connecticut…

A hot and very humid air mass will continue to be over the region
on Tuesday. A combination of temperatures in the mid and upper 90s with
increasing humidity levels…will result in heat index values of
100 to 104 degrees Tuesday afternoon. Minimum temperatures Tuesday
night will be very warm in the mid 60s to lower 70s with not much
relief from the oppressive conditions.

Another heat advisory will most likely be needed for portions of
the area again on Wednesday.

Precautionary/preparedness actions…

A heat advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is
expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity
will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are
possible. Drink plenty of fluids…stay in an air-conditioned
room…stay out of the sun…and check up on relatives and
neighbors.

For the latest updates…please visit our webpage at
www.Weather.Gov/Albany

Public Information Statement
Statement as of 7:15 PM EDT on June 28, 2010

…Public information statement…

EF0 tornado confirmed in Village of Herkimer

Location…Village of Herkimer, County of Herkimer, New York
date…June 28, 2010
estimated time…338pm
maximum ef scale rating…EF0
estimated maximum wind speed…80 mph
estimated path width…50 yards
path length…1 mile
fatalities…0
injuries…0

…Summary…
EF0 tornado was confirmed by NWS storm survey. Multiple
confirmations by eyewitnesses. Multiple trees snapped and
occasional shingle and siding damage. Damage was in the Village of
Herkimer mainly along Francis street.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Statement as of 10:20 AM EDT on June 24, 2010

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of

northwest Connecticut
western Massachusetts
far western Maryland
south central and eastern New York
southwest…central…and northeast Pennsylvania
southern Vermont
northern West Virginia

Effective this Thursday morning and evening from 1020 am until
600 PM EDT.

Hail to 1.5 inches in diameter…thunderstorm wind gusts to 70
mph…and dangerous lightning are possible in these areas.

The Severe Thunderstorm Watch area is approximately along and 70
statute miles north and south of a line from 25 miles north
northeast of Pittsfield Massachusetts to 35 miles west northwest
of Morgantown West Virginia. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (wous64 kwns wou4).

Remember…a Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally
do produce tornadoes.

Discussion…tstms expected to increase in coverage/strength over
the next several hours along and ahead of diffuse cold front and
associated upr impulse moving rapidly E across the lwr grt lks.
Largely unidirectional mean wly flow aoa 40 kts /50-60 kts at 500
mb/ and lack of strong low lvl convergence suggest likelihood for
sctd supercells. These may organize into short bands/broken lines.
Attendant bowing segments may yield swaths of dmgg wind and perhaps
a brief tornado or two given increasing low lvl instability.

Aviation…a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft
to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60
knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm
motion vector 27045.

…Corfidi

Although lightning has been seen in volcanic eruptions…
extremely intense Forest fires…surface nuclear detonations…
heavy snowstorms…and in large hurricanes…it is most often
seen in thunderstorms. At any given moment…there are 1,800
thunderstorms in progress somewhere on the Earth. This amounts to
16 million storms each year.

A thunderstorm forms in air that has three components.
Moisture…instability and something such as a cold front to
cause the air to rise. Continued rising motions within the storm
may build the cloud to a height of 35000 to 60000 feet.
Temperatures higher in the atmosphere are colder. Ice forms in
the higher parts of the cloud.

Ice in a cloud seems to be a key element in the development of
lightning. Storms that fail to produce quantities of ice may also
fail to produce lightning. In a storm…the ice particles vary in
size from small ice crystals to larger hailstones…but in the
rising and sinking motions within the storm there are many
collisions between the particles. This causes a separation of
electrical charges. Positively charged ice crystals rise to the
top of the thunderstorm…and negatively charged ice particles
and hailstones drop to the middle and lower parts of the storm.

A moving thunderstorm gathers another pool of positively charged
particles along the ground that travel with the storm. As the
differences in charges continue to increase…positively charged
particles rise up taller objects such as trees…houses…and
telephone poles. Have you ever been under a storm and had your
hair stand up. Yes…the particles also can move up you. This is
one of natures warning signs that says you are in the wrong
place…and you may be a lightning target.

The negatively charged area in the storm will send out a charge
toward the ground called a stepped Leader. It is invisible to the
human eye…and moves in steps in less than a second toward the
ground. When it gets close to the ground…it is attracted by all
these positively charged objects…and a channel develops. You
see the electrical Transfer in this channel as lightning. There
may be several return strokes of electricity within the
established channel that you will see as flickering lightning.

Each spark of lightning can reach over five miles in length…
soar to temperatures of approximately 50,000 degrees
fahrenheit…and contain 100 million electrical volts. The rapid
expansion of heated air causes the thunder. Since light travels
faster than sound in the atmosphere…the sound will be heard
after the lightning. If you see lightning and hear thunder at the
same time…that lightning is in your neighborhood.

Remember…if you can hear thunder…you can be struck by
lightning.

Tommorrow we turn our attention to outdoor lightning safety.

For more information on lightning safety awareness week…go to
our web site. Www.Weather.Gov and then click on eastern New York
or western New England. Finally…select our lightning safety
awareness week link.

Today we review the fundamentals of lightning safety.

On average…lightning kills 62 people per year in the United
States. This is more than the average of 57 deaths per year caused
by tornadoes. While documented lightning injuries in the United
States average about 300 per year…undocumented injuries caused
by lightning are likely much higher.

Residents of eastern New York and western New England are
susceptible to lightning strikes. Over the period 1995 to 2004
there have been one dozen lightning deaths in
New York…Vermont…Connecticut…and Massachusetts.

Few people really understand the dangers of lightning. Many
people do not act promptly to protect their lives…property
and the lives of others because they do not understand all the
dangers associated with thunderstorms and lightning. The first
step in solving this problem is to understand the source of
the threat. Thunderstorms.

During a thunderstorm…each flash of cloud to ground lightning
is a potential killer. The determining factor on whether a particular
flash could be deadly depends on whether a person is in the path
of the lightning discharge. In addition to the visible flash that
travels through the air…the current associated with the lightning
discharge travels along the ground. Although some victims are struck
directly by the main lightning stroke…many victims are struck as
the current moves in and along the ground.

While virtually all people take some protective actions during
the most dangerous part of thunderstorms…many leave themselves
vulnerable to being struck by lightning as thunderstorms
approach…depart…or are nearby. Lightning can strike as
far as 10 miles away from the rain area in a thunderstorm.
That is about the distance you can hear thunder. When a
storm is 10 miles away…it may even be difficult to
tell a storm is coming.

Here is a simple safety rule. If you can hear thunder…you
are within striking distance of lightning. Seek safe shelter
immediately. The first stroke of lightning is just as deadly
as the last. If the sky looks threatening…take shelter before
hearing thunder.

If you see lightning…or hear thunder…its time to take action.
Seek shelter immediately. The threat of lightning continues for much
longer period than most people realize. Wait at least 30 minutes
after the last clap of thunder before leaving shelter.
Do not be fooled by sunshine or Blue Sky.

Most lightning deaths and injuries in the United States occur
during the Summer months when the combination of lightning and
outdoor summertime activities reaches a peak. If outdoors…and
a thunderstorm approaches…take appropriate safety action. Get
inside a sturdy building or automobile immediately.

Inside homes…people must also avoid activities which put their
lives at risk from a possible lightning strike. In particular…
people should stay away from windows and doors and avoid contact
with anything that conducts electricity. People may also want to
take certain actions well before the storm to protect property
within their homes…such as electronic equipment.

If a person is struck by lightning…seek medical care
immediately. Cardiac arrest and irregularities…Burns…and
nerve damage are common in cases where people are struck by
lightning. However…with proper treatment…including c p r
if necessary…most victims survive a lightning strike…
although the long term effects on their lives and the
lives of family members can be devastating.

Lightning is a dangerous threat. With common sense…we can
greatly reduce the number of lightning deaths. When thunderstorms
threaten…get to a safe place. Stay there longer than you think
you need to. Stay away from windows and doors and avoid contact
with anything that conducts electricity.

Tommorrow we turn our attention to the science of lightning.

For more information on lightning safety awareness week…go to
our web site. Www.Weather.Gov and then click on eastern New York
or western New England. Finally…select our lightning safety
awareness week link.

As everyone is aware one of our own was killed in action in Afghanistan earlier this week. Army Specialist Ben Osborn died in combat on June 15th 2010. He was the gunner on his vehicle when it was ambushed by the Taliban. Ben protected his fellow soldiers but gave his life in the process. He will never be forgotten by his fellow solders or by his community.

Ben will be brought home for services on Monday and we need to show the family, and the entire community, our support and gratitude for the sacrifice that the Osborne Family has made. The Air Force will be bringing Ben into the Warren County Airport at 9:05 AM Monday morning and we need to show our support.

The Lake George Fire Department along with the other four departments that make up the Lake George School District will go down to the Warren County Airport and meet the plane and escort Ben home. We will proceed up Hicks Road to Ridge Road. Turn right on Ridge Road, go by the Osborne home and proceed to Rt 9 where we will make a right onto 9 with a left at Luzerne Road unto the Northway to exit 22 where we will come back onto Rt 9 to go past Ben’s School. Then proceed south on rt9 down to Quaker Road to Bay road where we will stop at Singletons Funeral home. Once on Rt9 we need to get as many private vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks with firefighters and people lining the streets. Please bring flags, signs or any other ideas that you may have to show our appreciation for the sacrifice that Ben’s wife and family have made on our behalf.

We need to do this right and Ben’s family needs to know that the community supports them and is there for them. I would rather receive this email 10 times then miss someone. Forward it through your email distribution list, Facebook, Twitter, text messages, phone calls or any other means of communications, BUT PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT. The LGFD will work to make it public on the radio and will get the word out by any means that we have at our disposal.

Please. If you can be any place along the route to show your support for the family then do it.

PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!

Tom

The National weather services tenth annual lightning
safety awareness week runs from today through next Saturday.

On average…lightning kills 62 people per year in the United
States. This is more than the average of 57 deaths per year caused
by tornadoes. However…because lightning usually claims only one
or two victims at a time…lightning generally receives much less
attention than the more destructive weather-related killers.
While documented lightning injuries in the United States
average about 300 per year…undocumented injuries caused
by lightning are likely much higher.

Residents of eastern New York and western New England are
susceptible to lightning strikes. Each year…about 25
thunderstorms occur at any point in the region. Each of
these storms is accompanied by potentially deadly
lightning.

Over the next week we will study the
scientific…safety…and medical aspects of lightning.

Monday we review the fundamentals of lightning safety.

Tuesday we turn our attention to the science of lightning.

Wednesday we look at lightning safety when caught outdoors.

Thursday we study indoor lightning safety.

Friday we focus on the medical issues of lighnting.

Finally on Saturday we wrap up lightning safety awareness week
with a look back at the key points of the week.

Taking steps now to know what to do when thunderstorms strike
will allow you to keep safe this Summer…and enjoy the season
in eastern New York and western New England.

For more information on lightning safety awareness week…go
to our web site. Www.Weather.Gov and then click on eastern
New York or western New England. Finally…select our
lightning safety awareness week link.