CHP and Firefighters Warn Cigarette Litterbugs

CHP and Firefighters Warn Cigarette Litterbugs

You are invited to join the California Highway Patrol, environmental, and fire prevention advocates at the launch of a newly upgraded Cigarette Litter Hotline, “Hold on to your Butt.” This is a public education campaign focused on holding accountable smokers who toss their cigarette butts out of the vehicles while navigating San Diego County’s highways.

This program will empower San Diegans to report smokers who illegally discard their cigarettes on the roadways. Utilizing a toll-free hotline, 1-877-211-2888 (BUTT), San Diegans will be able to record the date, time, and place of the littering, along with the license plate number of observed cigarette litterbugs. Drawing from the information recorded by concerned motorists, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Border Division will send warning letters, on CHP stationary, to tobacco litter offenders.

DID YOU KNOW: Worldwide, an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are tossed out daily and are the most littered item in the United States. Butts discarded on sidewalks and streets eventually end up in storm drains, which flow into the ocean. When the butts get wet from contact with a body of water, toxins gathered by the filter are released. This threatens the quality of the water and many forms of aquatic life.  In addition, littered cigarette butts are a fire risk and have caused significant wildfires in the past.

Earthquake Activity! Consider Enrolling In A CERT Academy – Our 2010 Academies Are Now Full!

Are you prepared for a disaster?  Earthquake or firestorm? Consider attending a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) academy.

Note: Due to a tremendous response, our two East County CERT academies for 2010 are now full – thank you!
 

What is CERT? The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and the hazards that may impact the area they live. These FREE CERT lessons will train you in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training taught in the classroom and during drill exercises, CERT members will be better prepared to also assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following a disaster or other unexpected event when professional responders are not immediately available.

Or Click here for more on the CERT program: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/about.shtm

Check with the San Diego Office of Emergency services for more CERT programs around the county.  Click on the following link:

http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/community/oes_jl_CERT.html

The American Red Cross also offer free training. Click on the following link:

http://www.sdarc.org

Here is the schedule for those who are officially registered for the following 2010 East County CERT classes:

2010 East County CERT Schedule

Academy – #1 – FULL

February 6 – Disaster preparedness/CERT organization

February 20 – Disaster Medical/ Triage

March 6 – Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue classroom

March 20 – Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue hands on – *At HTF

April 3 – Disaster Psychology/ Haz-Mat/ Terrorism

April 17 – All inclusive manipulative/ review – *At HTF

Academy – #2 – FULL – updated information for June 5th

May 22 – Disaster preparedness/CERT organization

June 5 – Disaster Medical/ Triage – *Class at HTF, Classroom B

June 19 – Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue classroom – (two week break)

July 10 – Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue hands on – *At HTF

July 24 – Disaster Psychology/ Haz-Mat/ Terrorism

August 7 – All inclusive manipulative/ review – *At HTF

These classes are held on Saturday mornings from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Class location for “registered” CERT students is at the Fire Administration offices at 8054 Allison Avenue, in La Mesa.   *The HTF location is 1301 N. Marshal in El Cajon for the hands-on training.

If you would like to place your name on a waiting list please call (619) 441-1737…we may consider adding a 3rd academy later in the year. Please leave your name and best contact phone number.

*Classes are limited to 30 participants per academy, ages 16 and up. Please, for safety concerns, we ask you do not bring babies or children to these classes. Any classes missed may be made up during the following academy. Classes are taught by members of Heartland Fire & Rescue, and Santee Fire Departments.

Read on for more information on what to bring to these “free” disaster preparedness training classes.

• East County CERT Academies are six (6) classes, every other week for twelve (12) weeks.
• For the first class please bring your own 1-1/2″ binder to the class for your CERT manual.
• Dress casually – certain classes may get you a little dirty – we’ll let you know which. Please, always wear sturdy shoes or wear tennis shoes – NO opened toed shoes, flip-flops or sandals please. Please bring a pair for good work gloves and please bring your own snacks/food & beverages. (like coffee, juice or water)
• We’d like to limit our classes to about 35 per academy, it’s for ages 16 and up – non residents are welcome. Please, for safety concerns, we ask you do not bring babies or children to our classes. Any classes missed may be made up during the following academy.
• Our classes are taught by members of the El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee Fire Departments.
• Please Note – our classes have been in big demand and are open to those serious about being prepared for a disaster, so if you register – please show up. If you have registered for a class and find you cannot make it please call so someone else can take your place – thank you.

*Since our next CERT academy is not until February of 2011 – please check with the local American Red Cross, they also offer “free” disaster preparedness classes.

Learn how to better protect yourself and your family.  These classes are free - but what you’ll learn is priceless!

• There are several other CERT programs available in the county! Click here – CERT Council for a complete list of other CERT programs.
• A Teen CERT program is being offered.  For information please call (760) 310-0976 or 0206.

• CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team, a disaster preparedness class. Until you can take one of our academies please take a look at the disaster preparedness section of this website for valuable links on disaster preparedness.

For other CERT Program locations in San Diego County visit San Diego County CERT Programs

• If you would like disaster preparedness information now – please visit 72hours.org
• Most recent earthquake activity? Click here: http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/quakes0.htm

What is CERT? The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and the hazards that may impact the area they live. These FREE CERT lessons will train you in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training taught in the classroom and during drill exercises, CERT members will be better prepared to also assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following a disaster or other unexpected event when professional responders are not immediately available.
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Additional CERT Academies:
• Other CERT programs in the East County: The San Miguel Fire Department now have a CERT program in the Rancho San Diego area recently – you can call them at (619) 670-0500 for more information. There is another CERT program in Lakeside at (619) 390-2350.
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CERT Hazard Plans – How to handle: “Tsunamis”
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Additional Disaster Information: From Fed Health – FED HEALTH
Disaster Supplies: American Red Cross – American Red Cross – San Diego
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•Congratulations CERT Team Members for a great Earthquake Drill held June 19th at New Frontier Mobile Home Community – See the article in the Union Tribune: East County CERT Holds Earthquake Drill June 19th, 2004
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CERT is an excellent opportunity to learn many important life saving skills to better protect yourself, your family and your neighbors in the event of most disasters. This translates into saved lives and less panic.
CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, during a disaster, the number and scope of incidents can overwhelm conventional emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

Check the CERT Homepage from FEMA:
CERT Homepage
Take a look at the Los Angeles CERT Program:
www.cert-la.com

Other CERT Programs:

CERT San Diego Program Manager
(619) 533-3075
(program)CERT@sandiego.gov
Fax:(619) 544-9351
Lakeside Fire now has a CERT program, for more information call 619-390-2350, ext. 304. Leave a message and they’ll call you back.
For Coronado Fire’s CERT program please call them at 619-522-7374.Frequently Asked Questions About CERT

What Is CERT?
(CERT) The Community Emergency Response Team program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.
The CERT course is taught in the community by a trained team of first responders who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by their state training office for emergency management, or FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI), located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. CERT training includes disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue operations.
Over the next two years, the CERT program aims to double the number of participants, with over 400,000 individuals completing the 20 plus hours of training. Train-the-Trainer sessions will be held in all 56 states and territories over the next year to expand the program throughout the United States.

Q: Why take the CERT training?
A: Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, there are emergencies and disaster that can overwhelm the community immediate response capability. While adjacent jurisdictions, State and Federal resources can activate to help, there may be a delay for them getting to those who need help. The primary reason for CERT training is to give people the decision-making and physical skills to offer immediate assistance to family members, neighbors, and associates. While people will respond to others in need without the training, the goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

A success story about CERTs comes during the wildfires in Florida. The Edgewater CERT helped emergency management and the fire department by assisting with evacuations, handling donations, preparing food for firefighters, and answering the phone while the professionals were fighting the fire. It is a great example of CERT members and response personnel working together for the benefit of the community.

Q: How do CERT members maintain their skills?
A: CERT members and the sponsor work together to maintain team skills. It is suggested that the sponsor conduct refresher classes and an annual exercise where all CERT members are invited to participate. Some response agencies have conducted joint exercises with CERT team and operate as they would during an actual disaster. The last point does bring up a lesson learned. Besides training CERT members, it is also important to train members of response agencies about CERTs, the skills that teams have and the role that they will have during a major disaster. One way to develop this trust is by encouraging agency personnel to participate in classes as instructors and coaches and activities involving CERTs.

Understanding that CERTs may operate independently following a disaster. CERTs can practice this independence by taking some responsibility for their training. Teams can design activities and exercises for themselves and with other teams. Some members can be rescuers, some victims, and some evaluators. After the event, there can be a social so that teams get to know each other
Q: What if I want to do more than just the basic training?
A: CERT members may attend classes provided by the community agencies on animal care, special needs concerns, debris removal, utilities control, advanced first aid, Automatic External Defibrillator use, CPR skills, and others.

CERT members are a potential volunteer pool for the community. They can help with special projects like distributing preparedness material, staffing medical booths during special events, and assisting with installation of smoke alarms for seniors or special needs households. Some CERT members have sought additional training opportunities in shelter management, community relations, and donations management.

Earthquake Activity – Are You Prepared? Disaster Preparedness Websites

The County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services has a family disaster plan booklet called a “Personal Survival Guide” available here online - click here to download their guide: http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/oes/docs/FamilyDisasterPlan.pdf - if you would like several copies for your group or community event please call the Office of Emergency Services (OES) at (858) 565-3490.

Disaster Preparedness websites at your fingertips…

From the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services – Ready San Diego – Earthquake Preparedness: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ready/family/

• For Seniors: Disaster Preparedness – Get Ready Seniors!
• And for Kids visit – Ready Kids
• FEMA – For Kids Website – FEMA For Kids – click here

More:

• Avoiding Earthquake Damage – Homeowners Checklist
• (6/20/08) – A disaster preparedness handbook from the Home Safety Council: Home Safety Council “new” Disaster Preparedness Handbook
• From the American Red Cross visit – Red Cross Disaster Preparedness guide.
  For more disaster preparedness for Seniors from the American Red Cross click here: Disaster Preparedness for Seniors.
• It’s all about being prepared! Visit this great informative website covering numerous areas of safety & preparedness. www.prepare4.org
• From Ready America!
  Parents – Ready America For overall disaster preparedness for you and your family.

*You can alsDisaster Preparedness Information from Fireman’s Fund:
Fireman’s Fund

*Visit our Fire Station Open House on October 9th, 2010 – 10:00am to 2:00pm, at 100 E. Lexington to pick up valuable safety and disaster preparedness information.

If you’d like printed information, or would like to request a lecture on disaster preparedness please call Safety Educator Monica Zech at (619) 441-1737.

Be safe!

Check Here For The Latest Earthquake Activity

California/Nevada Earthquake Activity

“Prepare San Diego” – Another Disaster Preparedness Web Site

Take a valuable moment to visit the new American Red Cross disaster preparedness web site. Just click on the following link to prepare you and your family for a disaster, such as an earthquake or fire: Prepare San Diego Take the quiz to see if you are truly prepared.

Have You Tested Or Changed The Batteries In Your Smoke Alarms Lately?

In November Clocks Were Set Back One Hour, On March 14, 2010, We Move Our Clocks Ahead One Hour - Also Remember To Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries!

The Burn Institute and the San Diego County Fire Chiefs’ Association would like to remind everyone that whenever we have a time change, also take a moment to change your smoke alarm batteries.

It could save a life!   The last time change was Daylight Saving Time  on Sunday, November 1.  Did you change your smoke alarm batteries too???

WHY? Having a ”working” smoke alarm cuts your chances of dying in a house fire by 50% percent!

Note: If you are 55 years or older, own your own home, live within San Diego County and do not have a working smoking alarm, you qualify for a FREE smoke alarm installation. This popular program takes place year-round. To schedule an appointment, contact Gwen Lammers at the Burn Institute, (858) 541-2277.

Homeowners – U.C.Berkeley Website To Reduce Fire Hazards Around Your Home

Please check out the following website provided by U.C. Berkeley on educating the public about reducing their risk of fire.
Visit this website – it’s a Fire Information Engine Toolkit!
Wildfires affect communities around the world. This online toolkit provides interactive, science-based tools to help homeowners, decision-makers, and researchers better understand where wildfires occur and how to protect homes and neighborhoods, as well as get up-to-the-minute wildfire news.
Fire Toolkit for homewoners
The links below can be used by a variety of decision-makers — government agencies, planners, firefighters — to better understand community-level wildfire issues. Search interactive maps to learn more about wildfire risk in your community, and explore a science-based, parcel-level wildfire hazard assessment and ranking approach.
More Research Sites on Fire Safety
From the California Department of Forestry, now CA LFire another great website discussing defensible Space:
CAl Fire website

Calling 9-1-1 In An Emergency

9-1-1 is the emergency number to call when life or property are threatened. 

But far to often 9-1-1 is used as a taxi service – or,  some people think they can avoid waiting in the lobby of the emergency room by calling 9-1-1 and taking an expensive ambulance ride instead – wrong.  If you’re situation is not life threatening – you’ll be sent to the lobby area to wait. 

Here’s a website to fully understand the proper use of 9-1-1:

http://www.whentocall911.com/

Helmets Save Lives & Brains – Video

Bike Helmets: A Necessity, Not an Accessory

A child is injured in a bike-related incident almost every two minutes. Whether your child uses a small bicycle with training wheels or a big kid’s bike, make sure he or she wears a helmet correctly on every ride. It’s the single most effective way to prevent a serious head injury from bike crashes.

Please click on the following website for information and a special video on how to properly fit a safety helmet on your child.

http://www.safekids.org/stages/

Did You Remember To Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries During The Last Time Change?

El Cajon Fire and Safe Kids USA would like to remind you that when you changed your clocks for daylight saving time on Sunday, March 8, 2009 – hopefully you also remembered to change the batteries in all your smoke alarms.  It’s important to change these batteries twice a year, unless they’re 10-year lithium batteries.

For more fire safety information, please visit Safe Kids Fire website – Safe Kids!

Additional safety reminders:

At home:

• Make sure you have working smoke alarms on each level of your home, in the hallway leading to the bedroom areas, and in each bedroom as well. Make sure have a home escape plan and that you’ve discussed and practiced your plan with your family.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Never leave lit candles unattended.
• Lock away matches and lighters – keep them out of reach of young children.

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