Recently, Smithfield Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey Brackett and Captain Michael LeBlanc were featured in the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs’ video series “Rhode Island Firefighter Stories”:

Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey Brackett

Captain Michael LeBlanc

Current American Heart Association Guidelines, which were released in 2015, highlight the importance of high-quality CPR. The American Heart Association’s guidelines are much like a road map assisting states as they reevaluate their EMS protocols and look for areas of improvement. In order to improve rates of survival there are many areas that must be emphasized: 1. Rapid recognition of sudden cardiac arrest and bystander CPR, 2. Prioritization of CPR and defibrillation with a reduction in hands off chest time, 3. Improved infield advanced care to include use of capnography and double sequential defibrillation. Based on “best practices” from other states and knowledge of CPR in the out-of-hospital setting Rhode Island has implemented a system in which a minimum of 30 minutes of high performance CPR will be performed where the patient is found.

The 30-minute timeframe has been shown to improve cardiac arrest victim’s outcomes by allowing out-of-hospital providers to administer high-quality CPR. Valuable lifesaving efforts are lost while trying to move patients prior to resuscitating them on the scene. 

Learn more here: http://rifirechiefs.com/cpr-protocols/

 

It is fun to decorate for the winter holidays, but holiday decorations can increase your risk of a home fire. As you deck the halls this season, be fire smart.

When you’re decorating with live trees, make sure you keep the tree watered. If a dry tree comes in contact with a flame, it can catch on fire in fewer than 10 seconds and spread quickly throughout your home. Take a minute to watch this video which shows the difference between a dry and watered tree, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZk4vIXCnc8

Here are a few tips to keep your holiday decorations bright and safe:

• Choose the freshest tree you can find. Check to see if the needles stay when you gently pull on a branch.
• After making a fresh cut on the trunk and placing the tree in a stand, fill the stand’s water basin. Make sure you water your tree every day. Keep electrical cords and lights away from the water.
• Choose holiday decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Choose holiday lights with a label from an approved testing laboratory, such as UL, and throw away any frayed or damaged light strands.
• Place your tree at least three feet from heat registers, space heaters, and fireplaces.
• If you decorate with candles, make sure they are at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
• Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.

Learn more about holiday fire safety on the USFA website. Follow USFA on Twitter at @usfire and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usfire.

For more holiday safety information, visit USFA’s Holiday safety page.

(Content from the United States Fire Administration)

Fireworks are synonymous with our celebration of Independence Day. Yet, the thrill of fireworks can also bring pain. Nationally, 230 people on average go the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday.

Remember, fireworks can be dangerous, causing serious burn and eye injuries. You can help us prevent fireworks-related injuries and deaths. How? By promoting fireworks safety in your community.

Follow these safety tips when using fireworks: 

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don’t realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
• In the State of Rhode Island, aerial fireworks of any type are illegal for general public use. Only licensed shooters may use aerial fireworks.

For more information, please visit the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission @ http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks/.

You may also visit the United States Fire Administration @ https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/.

On behalf of all the men and women of the Smithfield Fire Department, have a Happy and Safe 4^th of July.

Extreme cold can lead to hypothermia and frostbite. Be aware of the signs & symptoms. See the chart below.

Do not forget the following:

Carbon monoxide or CO is a colorless and odorless gas. CO poisoning can occur when a fuel-burning appliance or machine, such as a furnace, heater or generator, is not working or vented properly. Breathing in CO at high levels can be fatal. Learn what you can do to protect your family from the dangers of CO.

• Install and maintain CO alarms inside your home to provide early warning of CO.

• Install CO alarms in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of your home.

• Use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from all doors, windows and vents.

• Make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow and other debris.

• Remove vehicles from the garage immediately after starting.

If you’re like many Americans, you’re starting off the New Year with a resolution to improve your health. As you work towards your resolution, consider one additional step to maintain your health: fire prevention. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is urging everyone to make 2016 a healthy and fire-safe year.

Most people say they feel safest at home. But data shows 83% of all fire deaths in the U.S. happen in homes.

Follow these tips to ring in fire safety this New Year:

• Make sure your home is protected by working smoke alarms. Half of all home fire deaths happen at night, when people are sleeping.
• Test your smoke alarms once a month, and replace your smoke alarms when they’re 10 years old.
• Cooking is the main cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Make safety your first ingredient; stay in the kitchen when you are cooking at high temperatures. Fires start when the heat gets too high. If you see any smoke or grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.
• If you have children living in your home or visiting look for fire and burn dangers from their point of view. Never leave lighters or matches where children can reach them.

For additional fire safety information, visit USFA. Follow USFA on social media @usfireand on Facebook.