Enjoy Fireworks Safely

The CARS reminds everyone that while fireworks are beautiful to enjoy, you should leave them to professionals. In Virginia, the only fireworks that are legal are sparklers, snakes and snap pop type products. Any other fireworks including bottle rockets, fire crackers and fountains are not permitted to be ignited in Virginia.

Fireworks have been enjoyed for decades as part of our patriotic celebrations and despite their legal status, many backyards have seen mini displays. Please remember that once ignited, most fireworks present a violent, dangerous, very hot and uncontrollable result. Depending on the chemical makeup of the product, the temperature can reach well over 1000 degrees and is capable of causing severe or deadly burns in an instant.

Smaller novelty type fireworks are shaped like small tanks, airplanes, boats etc and are very appealing to small children and toddlers. Sparklers can be equally dangerous and are capable of very severe burns if not used properly. Children should be closely supervised and instructed not to pick up the lighted sparkler if they drop it and to keep it at arm's lengthy from clothing. We recommend that you enjoy professional displays rather than producing your own. This is especially true if you live in a subdivision or apartment complex. Even small fireworks products can travel uncontrollably in any direction several hundred feet.If despite warnings you decide to have your own display, here are some tips for safety:

*Late in the afternoon, wet the area that you plan to use for displays.

*Have a bucket of water close by to provide a deluge of water should an accident happen.

*Also have a garden hose nearby for sustained water.

*Call 9-1-1 for any product that continues to smolder after landing on a roof of a house.

*Call 9-1-1 for any injury.

*Wear eye protection and proper clothing. Shirts should be made of natural fibers such as cotton as these materials resist the melting effect that man made fibers exhibit.

*CLOSELY SUPERVISE CHILDREN. Especially small children. Never give a sparkler to a toddler or a young child. They rely on parents to keep them safe and do not understand just how hot the item is that they're holding. Children should be instructed to hold sparklers at arms length and to put the used sparkler wires into a bucket of water. These wires remain very hot long after the sparkler burns out.

*Follow manufacturers instructions and never light any product while holding in your hand.

*Intoxicated persons should never be involved in lighting products.

Don't let your celebration wind up at an Emergency Room. Please be responsible and use fireworks wisely.

"Super" EMT Class Learns High-Angle Rescue

The Super EMT Class spent this past weekend learning how to perform high-angle rescues using rappelling techniques. Eighteen students participated in both classroom and practical instruction which involved tying knots, building rope anchor systems and rappelling off of buildings. The class will utilize these skills in August when they take the Rescue Systems I course.

National Guard Medics Ride-Along

Virginia National Guard Soldiers from C Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion participated in unique training which allowed them to integrate their skills and knowledge with that of civilian medical professionals in the greater Charlottesville area.

The Soldiers of C Company were able to ride along with the Charlottesville-Albermarle Rescue Squad as it responded to emergency calls. The connection with the civilian medical community was established through 1st Lt. Jessica K. Melin, C Company health services support officer, who worked at the UVA hospital two years earlier.

“For years we didn’t go into the community, but now we are tapping into a resource we may have previously overlooked,” said Melin. “The more we reach out to the community the more they respond in a positive way.”

Although this is only the second time Soldiers have teamed up with civilian medical professional that positive connection is evident.

“I was happy to get a phone call saying that the National Guard wanted to come back,” said John E. Burruss, deputy chief of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad. “Everyone down here really likes the job that they are doing so they really do enjoy sharing their knowledge with the Soldiers.”

Burruss has been a volunteer with the rescue squad for 30 years. There is a lot of information to be obtained through him and his staff but there is also a vast amount of knowledge that some Soldiers have in the medical field as well.

Capt. Wesley R. Grieve, the company commander, is also a Prince William County fire and rescue technician. He is primarily a paramedic but is also trained as a firefighter.

“The primary benefit of this training is that it boots the confidence level of medics because it allows the Soldiers to put their classroom knowledge into practice,” said Grieve. “As a medic you hate to see people who are hurt, but in doing so, it will help Soldiers maintain composure, stay calm and provide the necessary help when it counts.”

Skills are perishable and frequent practice is needed to maintain those skills that are so vital to being able to provide excellent medical support.

Summer 2009 Career Academy

Recently, twelve 7th, 8th and 9th grade students came to CARS to explore possible careers. The Piedmont Virginia Community College Summer Career Academies focuses on hands-on experience in health care combining visits to local businesses with enthusiastic classroom presentations. According to one parent, her son “learned a great deal, and had a terrific time.”

Health Technologies campers broke into a car using the “jaws of life” at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad and rescued a mannequin trapped underneath a generator. They did a great job learning team work, using learned skills and ultimately saving a mannequin’s life!

For each academy, a PVCC student and a career coach served as camp counselors throughout the week. “This is a great concept, and in the whole, it was a great four days,” according to Don Goldman, camp counselor. The Summer Career Academies was funded by a grant from the Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act.

CARS Squad Operators Attend "Big Lift University"

CARS members Sarah Ferrell, Jake Christopher, Riley Moore, Tom Souter and Alex Belgard recently attend the "Big Lift University" in North Carolina. The weekend class teaches rescue technicians how to lift large and heavy loads (such as tractor trailers and concrete blocks) with only air bags and pneumatic struts. These new skills will enable our young rescue techs to become instructors at our own heavy truck rescue course held each fall.

Here, CARS members take a photo break with instructor Capt. Morris from FDNY Rescue Company 1.

CARS Members "Fly" to the Rescue

June 18, 2009

CARS Technical Rescue Team members along with CFD and ACFR firefighters completed an 8-hour course on crane rescue operations and then used an actual construction crane to lift them and their rescue equipment to a simulated victim on a local construction project.

The course, taught by Mortenson Construction Company safety personnel, teaches the safe use of cranes to shorten the time need to get to and remove injured construction workers where access is an issue.

"Super" EMT Class Learns Vehicle Rescue

This past weekend, CARS squad truck technicians took time out to teach our "Super" EMT class the ins and outs of basic vehicle rescue. The training consisted of 4 hours of classroom lecture, followed by 12 hours of practical skills taught on wrecked vehicles. The students walked away with a big appreciation of how power tools are used to gain access to crash victims.

The "Super" EMT class (now in its 9th year) is taught each summer and includes weekend practical sessions where vehicle, confined space, rope, swift water and many other basic and advanced rescue skills. Not only do the students end the summer with advanced rescue knowledge, but the class also gives CARS personnel the chance to pass along their experience and expertise.

Two CARS Members Complete FF-I Training

CARS members Monica Nierle and Robyn Longtain recently completed the Albemarle County Firefighter-I Academy. Monica is a full time UVA student working towards attending medical school while Robyn works for UVA Special Event Medical Management and has been accepted into the PVCC paramedic program. Congratulations!

Heavy Truck Extrication

June 3, 2009

At 09:22, CARS, CFD, ACFR and NGVFD were alerted for a reported large truck overturned on Monacan Trail under the I-64 overpass bridge. Medics 140, 144, Squad 133, Car 130 and Duty 1 along with E-6, E-111 E-31 & EMS-11 responded and found a tractor trailer carrying mulch had overturned and the driver was trapped in the cab. As rescue personnel worked on gaining access to the driver, fire personnel dealt with a large diesel fuel leak and rush hour traffic.

Within 20 minutes, the driver was removed and transported to University of Virginia Medical Center while the fuel leak was contained and CFD's HazMat unit was called in for assistance.

CARS Chief's Lecture in Bucks County, PA

Recently, Chief Dayton Haugh, Assistant Chief Benjamin Sojka and Deputy Chief of Special Operations John Burruss traveled north to Bucks County, PA, to lecture at their EMS Supervisor Survival school.

Classes taught were Hints for Supervisor Success, Good Decisions are Based on Understanding People, Chief Officer's perspective, Active Shooter - EMS Response Considerations and EMS Fire Scene Awareness.