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You Can Be Part of Something Great!

       
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Sometimes a person feels the need to do something more than they are already doing. Perhaps they feel a need to contribute more. Maybe they want to make a difference that they can’t make in their current career. Or, maybe they hope to be part of a greater cause.

It’s your decision!

What you do with your free time is obviously your choice. What if you could truly make a difference? What if you could significantly affect the lives of others by learning skills that can keep them safe? You have the chance!

What could you do?

If you were given the training, would you be willing to:

• respond to fire, rescue and public service alarms?

• use equipment such as fire extinguishers, pry bars, hooks, ropes, aerial ladders, power tools and self-contained breathing apparatus?

• administer emergency aid to sick and injured persons including techniques to restore cardiopulmonary function?

• give public education presentation s on fire and life safety throughout the community?
How would I be trained?

If you have never received firefighter training, you would participate in one of many “academy” style courses the fire department participates in each year. The Washington Township Fire Department is one of many departments participating with the training program at Sinclair Community College.

These training classes are often available to volunteer recruits on a regular basis. After becoming a department member, you will receive continuing education each month with the peers from your station and the department.

Volunteers that get paid?

Now, more than ever, the demands of society are great. Many people work more than one job to get by. More often than not, both spouses in a family work outside of the home. And, children are involved in more activities than ever before. As a result, your time is very valuable.

That’s one of the reasons why volunteers today are compensated for their time and service. That’s right! Today’s volunteers at the Washington Township Fire Department actually receive a paycheck for the time they invest in the community. Volunteers are paid for each call they respond to, as well as many of the details and trainings they participate in.

Yes, your time is valuable. Make it worthwhile by serving as a volunteer firefighter for your community.

Can I really make a difference?

Yes. We need your help. If it weren’t for volunteers, three–fourths of the United States would be without adequate fire protection… including Washington Township and the City of Centerville. And, few jobs offer the challenges, and rewards, that the volunteer fire, rescue and emergency service offers. Truthfully, the job is not for everyone. You do need courage, plenty of dedication, and a willingness to learn new skills.

Who else is volunteering?

Volunteer firefighters come from many diverse backgrounds. There are business owners, corporate accountants, marketing specialists, doctors, tradesmen, construction workers, salespeople, teachers,  pharmacists and many other skilled individuals satisfying their need to help the community and do more. No matter your background you have the ability to make a difference!

How do I get started?

Washington Township is An Equal Opportunity Employer.

 

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Filed under  //  community   fire department   part-paid   part-time   recruiting   volunteers  
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Posted 4 days ago by Rich Palmer 

WDTN Reports Message We've Wanted You to Know for Years

Know what to do

Teaching children and their families how to escape a house fire has been a priority topic for the Washington Township Fire Department for several decades. Stay Low and Go is an important message and one of the top issues that children need to know when they hear a smoke alarm sounding or when they know there is smoke or fire in their house. Once outside, it is important that everyone STAY outside. The sooner that you get out and call the fire department for help, the sooner we can get to the property and help those that might not have been able to get out.

Plan and practice

Some important steps in planning and PRACTICING your home fire drill include:

  1. Stay low as soon as you know the problem exists. A smoke alarm sounds for a reason. When a smoke alarm sounds, get low and get out.
  2. Sleep with doors closed. They give you more time! If a door is hot, don't open it. This means smoke or flames are on the other side. Go to a window and yell for help. Wave a sheet, blanket other item to get attention. Don't jump if you are upstairs! When the door is closed you have a bit more time. The rest of the family should get out and call the fire department IMMEDIATELY. This will get help to you sooner.
  3. Once outside get to a meeting place so that you and the rest of the family will know where to find the others. Pick a place BEFORE fire happens so that you know where to go.
  4. STAY OUT! There is no reason to go back into a burning building. People that go back in usually have tragic results.

If you want more tips or some great resources to help your family learn how to escape fire, consider visiting the Home Safety Council web site.

Avoid mixed messages

Remember, "Stop, Drop and Roll" is a cute thing that many fire departments, preschools and grade schools teach children about fire safety. However, it causes a terrible conflict of messages that children have trouble "unlearning." This skill is only used when fire is on you. Children, however, associate it with ANY fire problem and often believe this will help them when their house is burning. Fire safety educators need to be very cautious about how and when this is taught. It should be a "supporting" topic and not a main focus of their fire safety education efforts. Mixed messages lead to confusion and the wrong action when lives are in danger.

WDTN Coverage

Below is the video and story reported by WDTN, Channel 2, in Dayton. The subtitle states that this is a "new catch phrase." It is not new. The message has been taught by fire safety educators since before the 1990s.

 

 

Fire officials: Get out and stay out!

New catch phase teaches safety

Updated: Saturday, 14 Nov 2009, 7:46 AM EST
Published : Friday, 13 Nov 2009, 10:29 PM EST

DAYTON,Ohio (WDTN) - We've all heard about the popular " Stop, drop and roll" campaign fire fighters use to teach kids about fire safety, but Dayton Fire fighters said another saying is just as important.

Officials tell us the catch phase "Get out and stay out" is also one, they want kids to remember.

Fire officials want kids to learn how to escape a burning home and hopefully prevent future tragedies like the one that happened Thursday night.

Thursday, November 12, a Dayton mother and her two young children died in a house fire in the 2,800 block of East First Street.

Kennetha Gay would've been 29 years old on Friday. Officials say she ran back into the burning home to save her children. But unfortunately it was too late for 4 year old Mirissa Gay and 3 month old Kenron Treadwell. Gay's neighbor, Thomas Young is devastated.

"It is so sad. Its a tragedy that should never had happened." He said.

Every year, Dayton fire fighters travel to local schools and teach children about fire safety. Armed with coloring books, and comics they try to engage children in information that could save their lives.

"We give out brochures, we also have a message for the parents to understand what is going on."

Said Fire Prevention Specialist Andrew Steele from the Dayton Fire Department.

Local fire fighters will continue to use the national, "Stop, drop and roll" campaign but also want to teach children to find an escape route in a burning home.

"We've had occasions where children in house fires, have dropped to the floor and rolled, instead of getting out of the fire." Steele said.

Which is why, Steele said the phase "Get out and stay out" is so important.

"In a house fire, when there is fire around you, children need to get out and get away from the fire."

Officials also stress the importance of working smoke detectors and said it is the number one prevention tool that saves lives.

Submitted by Rich Palmer, WTFD Fire and Life Safety Educator

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Filed under  //  EDITH   exit drills   family   fire safety   home escape plans   video   WDTN  
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Posted 7 days ago by Washington Township Fire Department 

Go Right for Sirens and Lights

Emergency vehicles are approaching you. Their lights are flashing and their sirens are wailing. What do you do? What is your responsibility?

Every day, emergency services try to shorten the time that it takes to respond to emergencies. They look at sophisticated staffing methods, placement of vehicles throughout the community, better equipment, more effective training and better preparation for emergency calls. However, the largest problem remains getting emergency crews through traffic to the scene of an emergency.

Minimum response time is absolutely essential. The call might be for a person having a serious heart attack; it might be for a house or building on fire with people unable to escape. Police officers may be enroute to an armed hold-up in progress. Regardless, precious time is lost when vehicles can't get through traffic.

When emergency vehicles such as ambulances, police cars, or fire engines are resonding, it is the responsibility of drivers in both directions to pull to the right and stop. This is most critical at intersections. As a motorist, you should pull to the right and stop before you get to an intersection. You must always yield to an emergency vehicle making a left turn.

In heavy traffic, pull as close to the curb as possible. If you are in the left-hand lane, be sure to pull as close to right-lane traffic as possible.

Left turns must always be halted when an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind your vehicle. In almost every circumstance, you should pull straight through the intersection and pull to the right and stop as soon as possible (without blocking the intersection).

When you see a fire engine or ambulance leaving a station, you should go right and stop, even before they get on the road.

If there is one emergency vehicle, there may be more. Don't assume it is safe to enter an intersection just because the fire engine, police car or ambulance has come through. Be alert and scan for the approach of others.

If you are walking, you also have responsibilities. Get off the road way as possible; if you are about to cross, stay where you are. It is difficult for most motorists to see you in normal circumstances. When an emergency vehicle is approaching they may be focused on finding out where it is and may not scan to see you.

Emergency responders appreciate the efforts taken by motorists that yield the right of way to them. The people that have called them appreciate it even more when they arrive in a timely manner. Remember that they may be on their way someday to your house or to a loved one in need of rapid care.

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Filed under  //  driver responsibility   driving   emergencies   emergency vehicles   traffic  
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Posted 8 days ago by Washington Township Fire Department 

Veterans Day 2009 sees remembrances around the area - WHIO Local News

CENTERVILLE, Ohio -- City parks, schools, VFW's, retirement homes - all among the sites of Veterans Day observances around the Miami Valley today.

One of those was this morning in Centerville, a joint effort the city and VFW Post 9559 at Stubbs Park at the Veterans Memorial.

That ceremony included color guard presentations from VFW Post 9559 and the Washington Township Fire Department and the Centerville Police Department honor guards.

The keynote address came from Lt. Col. Wendy Larson, deputy commander of the 88th Mission Support Group, 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patt.

There were also musical performances, a presentation by a local Cub Scout pack and a reading of the Gettysburg Address.

Elsewhere, Miami Valley Hospital honored its employees who have served in the military at the hospital chapel.

Beavercreek's held a Veterans Day service is set at Veterans Memorial Park.

A number of veterans attended an event at the St. Charles Elementary School gym in Kettering.

One social studies class at the Green County Career Center video-conferenced with soldiers in Afghanistan and/or Iraq.

In Springfield, the Grand Court Assisted Living Community included a 21-gun-salute and a flag presentation to their oldest veteran resident.

Coming up Friday, Wright Patterson Air Force Base will be holding it's Military Retiree's Appreciation Day at the Hope Hotel starting at 8 a.m.

via newstalkradiowhio.com

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Posted 9 days ago by Washington Township Fire Department 

WTFD Visits Yankee Medical Safety Day

Several members of the Washington Township Fire Dept. visited the Public Safety Day event held today at Yankee Medical near Southview Hospital.

Members of the Miami Township Fire Dept, Dayton Police Dept. and other agencies also attended.

                   
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WTFD_Visits_Yankee_Medical_Saf.zip (1240 KB)

 

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Posted 13 days ago by Washington Township Fire Department 

SafeKids Recommends Battery Change

Change your clocks, change your batteries, save a life!

When it’s time to "fall back" and change the clocks on Sunday, Nov. 1, make sure to change the batteries in all of your smoke alarms - it could save your life.

Did you know that having a working smoke alarm reduces a person's chance of dying in a fire by half? For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside every sleeping area, and in every bedroom. Smoke alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings, and tested monthly.

It's important to replace smoke alarm batteries once a year, unless they're 10-year lithium batteries. Even if your smoke alarms are hardwired, replace the batteries in case of a power outage.

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Filed under  //  batteries   change your batteries   change your clock   daylight savings time   SafeKids   safety   smoke alarms  
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Posted 22 days ago by Washington Township Fire Department 

How to make costumes flame-resistant

 

How to make costumes flame-resistant

Recipe for safety only takes three ingredients

Updated: Wednesday, 28 Oct 2009, 10:06 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 28 Oct 2009, 10:05 AM EDT

(KXAN/NBC) - With cute trick-or-treaters standing at your door right next to a spooky, lit jack-lantern, this typical Halloween vignette can become disastrous quickly.

Halloween costumes look harmless: a cute devil, a lovely princess, a scary evil eye. However it is the combination of costumes and open flames where the trouble cannot start. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said costumes should be flame resistant.

If a costume is flame resistant, if it comes in contact with fire, but then the fire is removed, the costume should self-extinguish.

Watch the video attached to this story to see what happens when fire is touched to an evil eye skull costume, a devil costume and a princess costume. Two of the three are destroyed in less than a minute.

For children and adults, accessories like a feather boa makes a great Halloween costume, but watch out: The boa burns up in less than 90 seconds. And a hula skirt? Same fiery fate, but in less time.

One of the most popular items for making a homemade costume is using a sheet to make a ghost. But, those 100 percent cotton sheets are one of the most dangerous. Within 45 seconds, a ghost costume will be a sheet of fire instead of a sheet of white.

If you want to reduce the risk of your costume going up in flames, the Washington Hospital Center has a recipe that can make your costume more fire resistant.

Recipe:

  • Mix 4 oz. of Boric acid with 9 oz of Borax
  • Dissolve that mixture in a gallon of warm water
  • Soak the costume and let it drip dry

As a homeowner, maybe it is a good idea to keep the lit jack-o-lanterns out of the path of trick-or-treaters, or use a flashlight to illuminate the carved pumpkins.

via wdtn.com

 

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Posted 24 days ago by Washington Township Fire Department 

NFPA :: Halloween safety tips

  • Halloween safety tips 
    Download these NFPA safety tips for Halloween (PDF, 348 KB)
    Buy only costumes, wigs and props labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant. If you are making your own costume, choose material that won't easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame. Avoid using billowing or long trailing features. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out.
  • Provide children with lightweight flashlights to carry for lighting or as part of their costume.
  • Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
  • It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in a jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn including trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards.
  • Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
  • Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.)
  • Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting.
  • If your children are going to Halloween parties at others’ homes, have them look for exits and plan how they would get out in an emergency.
 
via nfpa.org

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Posted 24 days ago by Washington Township Fire Department 

Halloween Safety Checklist

Halloween Safety Checklist 
SafeKids helps you and your kids be prepared

Get Halloween safety tips at the SafeKids web site.
Download the checklist here.

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Filed under  //  children   halloween   kids   SafeKids   safety   WTFD  
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Posted 25 days ago by Washington Township Fire Department 

Fire damages storage units in Washington Twp.(23 Oct. 2009)

By Katherine Ullmer, Staff Writer Updated 2:00 PM Friday, October 23, 2009

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County — Washington Twp. Fire Department sent four engines to fight a fire at the U-Store-It, 435 Congress Park Drive.

Rich Palmer, Washington Twp. public information officer, said a call came in at 9:33 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, reporting the fire. Firefighters arrived at 9:39 a.m., he said.

Palmer said the fire was sending up heavy smoke in the area. The fire marshal was called in to investigate what might have started the fire.

Palmer said heavy smoke rolled out of the storage units.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2341 or kullmer@DaytonDailyNews.com.

via daytondailynews.com

Dayton Daily News early coverage of the U-Store-It fire.

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Posted 28 days ago by Washington Township Fire Department