By DAN HEATH
Staff Writer
May 22, 2007 04:00 am
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MORRISONVILLE -- It's never too early to learn about fire and injury prevention.
That was one focus of Morrisonville Fire Department's second-annual Fire and Injury Prevention Open House, held Sunday afternoon. Last year's event was such a success that additional departments and exhibits were brought in this year, said Morrisonville firefighter Justin Burl, who coordinated the event.
"We got away from doing our field day years ago," he said. "This is a good way to show the public our equipment. It's also a fun learning environment for the public to learn about safety and fire prevention."
LESSONS FOR KIDS
The Clinton County Firefighters Association Smoke Safety House was used to help children learn how to escape safely from a fire.
Morrisonville firefighter Walter Lapan helped children get out a back window of the smoke-filled trailer. One of the kids, 11-year-old Chelsy Randall of Morrisonville, said the children were told to get on the ground when they saw smoke and to test a door for heat before they opened it.
"They said if you're on the second floor and don't have a ladder to wave your arms and yell for help so they (firefighters) know you're up there. They told us not to hide in a closet."
Lapan said other safety-related exercises were part of the demonstration. One had the children identify hazards, such as a toaster too close to a sink or a piece of rope near a stove.
"It's very successful," he said. "They learn a lot from it."
FREEING VICTIMS
After people bought chances to use a sledgehammer on an Oldsmobile Cutlass, the car was used in an extrication demonstration. Burl explained that emergency responders try to get a patient to the hospital in what they call "the golden hour" -- within one hour of the accident.
Firefighters used large rubber blocks to stabilize the vehicle, then broke the windows and sawed off the windshield.
A EMT was inside the vehicle with the "victim" to stabilize his neck and cover him for protection from broken glass and other debris as firefighters used a hydraulic-powered spreader and cutter to gain access to the driver.
"The primary objective is to take the door off to reach the patient," Burl said. "Plan B is to use cutters to take the roof off the vehicle."
The victim was further immobilized, then removed from the vehicle and placed on a stretcher. Burl said it took about 35 to 40 minutes, which should get the victim to the hospital within the golden hour.
RESCUE TEAM
Morrisonville Fire Chief Francis Brousseau noted that the department has established a Swift Water Rescue Team within the last year. That's important, he said, as seven miles of the Saranac River are in the Morrisonville Fire District.
Members of that team and the Saranac team set up a rope system called a zip line for a demonstration.
"It's a way to get people and equipment back and forth across the river," Assistant Chief Fred Martin explained. "We use the current as propulsion. We'll put a boat in the river and use (the river's) hydraulic pressure to send the boat back and forth."
DARE TEST
Clinton County Sheriff's Department Deputy Tracey Hilliker distributed information about the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. It is designed to reach children while they are in elementary school, before they reach an age where they are presented with offers of drugs.
She also challenged people to make a basket with a small foam football while wearing goggles that simulate intoxication.
Marla Perry of Saranac, along with her daughter Kiley, 9, and son, Conner, 7, all missed the target by a wide margin. Another daughter, Olivia, 4, declined to take part.
"Isn't it horrible you can't even make a basket after drinking?" Hilliker asked Conner.
"It's hard because it's all blurry," he said after.
Kiley added, "It looked like everything was all dizzy."
Members of Morrisonville EMS, the District 3 and Cadyville fire departments and Clinton County 911 were also at the event.
Brousseau said it gets harder to find volunteer firefighters every year.
"The need is always there. We welcome anybody to come in and fill out an application."
dheath@pressrepublican.com
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