Take Fireworks Safety
Seriously WTFD is concerned
for your well-being
Washington
Twp. firefighters want to remind you that serious burn and eye injuries
can result from the use of fireworks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov estimates nearly 10,000 injuries each year from
fireworks use in the United States.
In Ohio,
only sparklers and novelty-type fireworks are legal for use by consumers.
Novelty fireworks do NOT include firecrackers, roman candles, or any
other device that explodes or becomes airborne.
Firefighters
recommend that the best way to enjoy fireworks displays is to attend
an event coordinated by licensed personnel. Let the professionals provide
you with a celebration that you can enjoy while remaining safe.
The Americana
Fourth of July Festival will hold the annual fireworks display at
Centerville High School on Saturday, July 4. Stadium events will begin
at 9 p.m.
Sixty-First Annual
Ice Cream Social Join the crews
for this annual community event!
Join
the Washington Township Firefighters Association on Sunday, August
9, 2009 for the 61st Annual Ice Cream Social.
163 Maple
Avenue (Station 41) across from Stingley Elementary School. 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m.
Prizes
will be awarded throughout the day! Look for raffle ticket sheets in
your Washington Township Quarterly or download
them.
Grand
Prize: $500 cash 2nd Prize: $300 Kroger gift card 3rd Prize: Digital camera
Highlights:
Miami
Valley Hospital Careflight
Kids
can be firefighters for the day with special games
Real
firehouse cooked food, including BBQ Chicken, Burgers, Hotdogs, Corn
on the Cob & more Fresh Ice Cream
See
your FIRE & EMS Personnel in action with demonstrations
Preparedness
Tips for Tornadoes Download checklists
that can help you be ready
Ready.gov
provides each of us with materials and information to help us prepare
for a disaster. Tornadoes are one such concern for our community. You
can get information on how to better prepare for a tornado at the Ready.gov
web site. This includes information on how to prepare an emergency
supply kit.
One way
to prepare is to be informed. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the
terms that are used to identify a tornado hazard.
A tornado
watch means a tornado is possible in your area.
A tornado
warning is when a tornado is actually
occurring, take shelter immediately. [Info about
tornado sirens]
In any
emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency
management officials. For further information on how to plan and prepare
for tornadoes as well as what to do during and after a tornado, visit:
Federal
Emergency Management Agency, NOAA
Watch or American
Red Cross.
Floods and Flash
Floods Are
you prepared to weather the storm?
According
to the American Red
Cross, floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters.
Floods happen when there is heavy or steady rain for several hours --
or days -- that saturate the ground. Flash floods usually happen suddenly
due to rapidly rising water along a stream or in low-lying areas.
It is important
to know the difference between a Flood/Flash Flood Watch and
a Flood/Flash Flood Warning.
Flood
Watch = High flow or overflow of water from a river is possible
within 12 to 36 hours.
Flood
Warning = Flood conditions are happening or can happen very soon
in the WARNING area.
Flash
Flood Watch = Flash flood WATCHES are generally issued for flooding
that is expected to happen within six hours after heavy rains have
ended.
Flash
Flood Warning = Flash flooding is happening or is imminent in
the WARNING area. A WARNING can be issued as a result of torrential
rains, a dam failure or a snow thaw.
During
any type of alert, listen to area radio and television stations for
continued updates. If you ware in a watch/warning area, be prepared
to evacuate immediately. When a WARNING is issued, move to higher ground
and stay there. Stay away from flood waters that rise above your ankles
-- six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet. If
you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another
way. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
(photo: Public Domain / Dual Freq)
Finally,
make sure you have the proper supplies. Included in your supply kit
should be 3 days of drinking water, 3 days of nonperishable, easy-to-prepare
food, flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, first-aid
kit, manual can opener, cell phone with charger, 7-day supply of critical
medications, family contact information, extra clothing and well-made
shoes.
Find out
more about weather and distaster planning at RedCross.org.
Get Low. Get
Out. Call Fast. The
fire department wants you to call as soon as possible
Many of
the recent fires in this community could have been less significant
if the fire department had been called earlier. Over the past year a
trend has been noticed. People are simply not calling the fire department
soon enough. To be candid, people are trying to solve their fire problem
without us. Or they are not responding to their smoke alarms soon enough.
[Read
more] [Get
the audio]
Do
You Have What It Takes? Part-time opportunities available with WTFD
The Washington
Township Fire Department is looking for great community members to join
our team! "Volunteers" are paid for each call they work, as
well as for many other special projects, details and training events.
[More info]
Join
the Washington Township Firefighters Association on Sunday, August
9, 2009 for the 61st Annual Ice Cream Social.
During
any type of alert, listen to area radio and television stations for
continued updates. If you ware in a watch/warning area, be prepared
to evacuate immediately. When a WARNING is issued, move to higher ground
and stay there. Stay away from flood waters that rise above your ankles
-- six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet. If
you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another
way. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
(photo: Public Domain / Dual Freq)