Staying Safe: Extreme Heat in the Forecast

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Fire Chief Scott Goldstein is urging residents to stay cool, stay hydrated and to check on loved ones, the elderly and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.“Heat emergencies are more common when temperatures rise and the humidity is high. Staying hydrated is essential all year long but is particularly important when temperatures soar. Make simple changes in your fluid intact, activities and clothing to help reduce the risk of hyperthermia and heat stroke.” 

The Chief reminds residents to stay informed by listening to local weather and news channels, signing up for AlertMontgomery and continuing to follow local COVID-19 best practices and regulations when out in public.

1. Pre-hydrate, hydrate and re-hydrate

During hot weather increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Drink plenty of water and fluids in advance, during and after activities and don’t wait until you're thirsty to hydrate.

2.  Monitor those at high risk.
Extreme heat can be hazardous to your health and although anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Those most at risk for heat-related illnesses include children, older adults, those that work or exercise outside and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

3.  Dress for the heat.
Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect some of the sun’s energy. Limit your direct exposure to the sun and wear a hat for extra protection.

4. Hot cars can be deadly.
Never, ever leave children, pets or the elderly in a parked car -- even with the windows down. Temperatures can become life-threatening in minutes. Hot interior surfaces of a car can burn. Before you put your child in a car that has been parked in a warm/sunny spot, check the temperature of the car seat or upholstery first to avoid burns. 

- Make it a habit of opening the rear door of the car every time you park to ensure no one is left inside. Park. Look. Lock. 

- To enforce this habit, please an item that you can't start your day without such as your cell phone, purse, one of your shoes, briefcase, employee badge, etc.

- When at home, keep your vehicle locked at all times, even in the garage.   

5. Don’t over-exercise.
Take regular breaks when exercising or engaged in physical activity on warm days. If you recognize that you, or someone else, is showing signs of a heat-related illness, stop the activity immediately, find a cool place to rest, hydrate and seek medical attention if necessary. Read below for more important information.

6. Be a good neighbor.
Isolated, elderly adults are at a much higher risk of health-related issues. Be a good neighbor and take a minute to check in with your neighbors while being mindful of social distance protocols. Offering to put/retrieve trash cans or recycles might not seem like a big deal to you – but it might be a big help to them. 

7. Protect your pets in hot weather.
Hot weather can affect the well-being of pets making them susceptible to overheating which can lead to very dangerous heat stroke. Always provide a source of water and a cool, ventilated place for your pet. Leaving your pet inside a parked car, even for a few minutes, can be fatal. The inside of a car can quickly reach 120 degrees, even on a 70 degree day. 

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat Emergencies

Signs of Heat Exhaustion

• Faint or dizzy
• Heavy sweating
• Weakness
• Cold, pale and clammy skin
• Rapid, weak pulse
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramps

What to do:

• Move to a cooler location
• Lie down and loosen your clothing
• Apply cool, wet cloths or compresses to as much of your body as possible
• Sip water

Signs of Heat Stroke

• Throbbing headache
• No sweating
• High body temperature (above 103 degrees F)
• Hot, red, dry or moist skin
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Possible unconsciousness

What to do:

• Call 9-1-1 immediately--THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
• Move the person to a cooler environment
• Reduce the person's body temperature with cool cloths or even a bath
• Do NOT give the person fluids

Maryland Star of Life & Right Care When It Counts Awards

The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems annually presents the prestigious EMS Star of Life awards to honor and recognize accomplishments of EMS personnel across the state of Maryland and to recognize exceptional and outstanding providers in several award categories. The Star of Life awards recognize the vital role of EMS in public safety during EMS Week. These awards are designated to EMS workers by their peers for going above the call of duty in providing exceptional service and an unmatched passion for making a difference in the community. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is honored to have the following personnel recognized by these prestigious awards this year:

• Master Firefighter / Paramedic Arye Singer is receiving the EMS Clinician of the Year award for his excellent work and innovation with our Mobile Integrated Health program.

 

• Recently retired Firefighter / Paramedic Susan Cleveland is receiving the Leon W. Hayes award for lifetime excellence in EMS. Susan devoted her career to outstanding patient care, showing compassion and respect for her patients, and committing to continuous improvement to EMS in Montgomery County.

 

• Captain / Paramedic Laura Murdock is receiving the EMS Children award for her commitment and passion for improving care for children, and for promoting family centered care in Montgomery County.

 

• Retired Battalion Chief and Paramedic Jim Resnick is receiving the EMS Geriatric award for his dedication to our community outreach programs that promote safety for our older residents and strive to prevent the 911 call.

 

Also being honored are two outstanding youth selected to receive the very prestigious“Right Care when it Counts” award by Maryland EMS for Children:

 

• Cortlynn Graham is being recognition of her quick-thinking and life-saving actions taken while on duty as a patrol at Strawberry Knolls Elementary School and saving a toddler from on-coming traffic. Cortlynn exemplifies the leadership, situational awareness and calm demeanor required of patrols and the critical role safety patrols have in schools and in our community. 
  
  
• Holden Speck is being honored for remaining calm and courageous during his call to 911 while his father was suffering a medical emergency.

Awards will be presented by local and State officials:

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 

Public Safety Headquarters, Gaithersburg 

3:00 pm 

You're Invited! Senior Safety Presentation from the Public Safety Work Group

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The Public Safety Work Group of the Age-Friendly Montgomery Advisory Group will be holding a virtual Town Hall, called Senior Safety During COVID & Beyond on Tuesday evening, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. 

Please join us for this hour-long, interactive session.  We will cover important safety tips for older adults, caregivers, family members, and others in our community that care about the safety of seniors.  Hear from representatives of Montgomery County Police, the Office of Consumer Protection, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security, and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

Community Risk Reduction Week: 2021

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is joining safety professionals from across the nation to promote Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week and share the proactive work being done in the community.

What is CRR? CRR is a data-driven process that identifies and prioritizes fire and life safety risks and then strategically invests and directs resources to reduce their occurrence and impact. The goal of CRR is to build healthy, safe and resilient communities by educating people about the important actions they can take to keep themselves and their families safe and prepared ---  before an emergency occurs. The purpose of CRR is to protect the lives and property of residents by “getting ahead of the call” and preventing or putting mitigation strategies in place before emergencies occur (like smoke alarms and residential fire sprinklers). The process of CRR allows for fire departments to identify the unique risks and needs of each community. Those needs are then met through the implementation of the 5 E’s; Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Response, and Economic Incentive. (Our CRR Team likes to add a sixth "E"--- ENTHUSIASM)! These strategies are driven by data-informed processes that help identify and prioritize risk. 

Throughout CRR Week, we will be focused on each of these key areas and also the great work being done with our community partners. Keep an eye on our social media channels and don't hesitate to reach out if we can assist you (virtually). Now -- meet the MCFRS Community Risk Reduction team!

                   

               Beth Anne Nesselt

                                                                                                    Oscar Mendez 

                      Anthony Ramirez 

                                                     Jim Resnick (and Sparky)  

Winter Car Seat Safety Tips

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Wearing bulky clothes or winter coats can prevent a snug fit of the harness. You might think your child is securely snug in the seat when in fact the harness is not tight because there is so much air in the jacket. As a general rule, bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, should not be worn underneath the harness of a car seat. 

In a car crash, fluffy padding immediately flattens out from the force, leaving extra space under the harness. A child can then slip through the straps and be thrown from the seat.

These tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will help parents strike that perfect balance between keeping little ones warm as well as safely buckled in their car seats.

How to Keep Your Child Warm and Safe in the Car Seat:

(Note: The tips below are appropriate for all ages.)

• Store the carrier portion of infant seats inside the house when not in use. Keeping the seat at room temperature will reduce the loss of the child's body heat in the car.
• Dress your child in thin layers. Start with close-fitting layers on the bottom, like tights, leggings, and long-sleeved bodysuits. Then add pants and a warmer top, like a sweater or thermal-knit shirt. Your child can wear a thin fleece jacket over the top. In very cold weather, long underwear is also a warm and safe layering option. As a general rule of thumb, infants should wear one more layer than adults. If you have a hat and a coat on, your infant will probably need a hat, coat, and blanket.
• Don't forget hats, mittens, and socks or booties. These help keep kids warm without interfering with car seat straps. If your child is a thumb sucker, consider half-gloves with open fingers or keep an extra pair or two of mittens handy — once they get wet, they'll make your child colder rather than warmer.
• Tighten the straps of the car seat harness. Even if your child looks snuggly bundled up in the car seat, multiple layers may make it difficult to tighten the harness enough. If you can pinch the straps of the car seat harness, then it needs to be tightened to fit snugly against your child's chest.  
• Use a coat or blanket over the straps. You can add a blanket over the top of the harness straps or put your child's winter coat on backwards (over the buckled harness straps) after he or she is buckled up. Keep in mind that the top layer should be removable, so your baby doesn't get too hot after the car warms up.
• Use a car seat cover ONLY if it does not have a layer under the baby. Nothing should ever go underneath your child's body or between her body and the harness straps. Be sure to leave baby's face uncovered to avoid trapped air and re-breathing. Many retailers carry car seat bundling products that are not safe to use in a car seat. Just because it's on the shelf at the store does not mean it is safe!
• Remember, if the item did not come with the car seat, it has not been crash-tested and may interfere with the protection provided in a crash. Never use sleeping bag inserts or other stroller accessories in the car seat.
• Pack an emergency bag for your car. Keep extra blankets, dry clothing, hats and gloves, and non-perishable snacks in your car in case of an on-road emergency or your child gets wet on a winter outing.

To schedule a video car seat assistance appointment and to view a list of car seat resources, visit us online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcsafe or

email us at fire.carseatsafetyprogram@montgomerycountymd.gov