National Emergency Medical Services Week

May 20-26, 2012 is National Emergency Medical Services Week.  Providing emergency medical services (EMS) is one of our department's primary objectives, and towards that end, all Tacoma firefighters are trained as emergency medical technicians and 75 firefighters are capable of delivering advanced life support service as firefighter paramedics. 

TFD would like to thank all providers in the continuum of EMS care, including 9-1-1 dispatchers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nurses, physicians, hospital technicians and support staff as they assure the comfort, recovery and survival of all who turn to them when afflicted with sudden illness or injury.

"Bike to Work" Safety Tips

In recognition of National "Bike to Work" week, TFD offers the following safety tips on bicycle safety from the League of American Bicyclists and AAA.

On the Road:

• The same laws that apply to motorists apply to cyclists
• Obey all traffic control devices
• Use hand signals to indicate stops and turns
• Never wear headphones or listen to loud music while riding 

Always wear a properly fitting helmet:

• Wear a helmet, no matter how short the trip

Ride on the Right:

• Always ride in the same direction as traffic
• Use the furthest right lane that heads to your destination
• Use bike trails (not the sidewalk) when available 

Ride predictably:

• Ride in a straight line
• Don't swerve in the road or between parked cars
• Check for traffic before entering the street or intersection

Be Visible:

• Wear brightly colored clothing that provides contrast
• Use a white front light and red rear light in low light conditions
• Ride with more then one rider, when possible, to increase visibility
• Always warn pedestrians or other riders when approaching from behind 

Fire Extinguisher Training

Need a fire extinguisher class for your group or business? Tacoma Fire Department offers free fire extinguisher training classes where participants learn:

• about Class A, B & C fires
• the appropriate type of extinguishers to use and what the extinguisher size rating means
• the limits of portable fire extinguishers
• how to extinguish a fire using the four step P.A.S.S. method  

For additional information regarding extinguisher training and other services provided by our Fire Prevention Bureau visit our website, or to schedule a class, contact Public Educator Marja Stowell at 253.973.9207.

Monthly Service Requests - April 2012

Fire Communications Center (FCC)

Dispatch totals for TFD & CPFR response area
FCC Total Calls Recieved     
April =6,842 / YTD 2012 =29,236 / YTD 2011 =27,355

FCC Total Fire Companies Dispatched
April =10,454 / YTD 2012 =38,772 / YTD 2011 =37,390

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type
Fire Incidents
April =86 / YTD 2012 =341 / YTD 2011 =345

Emergency Medical Incidents
April =2,629 / YTD 2012 =10,637 / YTD 2011 =9,842

All Other Incidents
April =514 / YTD 2012 =2,368 / YTD 2011 =2,061

Total Incidents by Type
April =3,229 / YTD 2012 =12,346 / YTD 2011 =12,248

May is National Stroke Awareness Month

The City of Tacoma has proclaimed May as "Stroke Awareness Month," and Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) encourages everyone to learn the signs, symptoms and prevention strategies surrounding strokes. The fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. is stroke, and the National Stroke Association recommends the use of FAST to remember the warning signs:

• Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms in front of them with palm's up.  Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase, like "you can't teach an old dog new tricks."  Is their speech slurred or strange? 
• Time:  If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately and note the last time the person was seen "normal."

Locally, St. Joseph Medical Center and Tacoma General Hospital are designated Level 1 Stroke centers meaning that they provide the highest level of emergent stroke care and intervention available in the State.  TFD works closely with the two facilities to ensure that our EMS providers are trained in the early recognition of stoke-like symptoms and best practices for pre-hospital care. In 2011, we transported 230 stroke patients, and have transported 70 stroke patients the first quarter in 2012.

Arson Awareness Week 2012

Arson Awareness Week is May 6-12, 2012 and this year's theme is "Prevent Youth Firesetting."  Nationally, between 2005-2009, fires started by children accounted for an average of 56,300 fires with associated losses of 110 civilian deaths, 880 civilian injuries and $286 million in direct property damage per year.

Parent should teach young children that fire is a tool, not a toy; keep matches and lighters out of reach, in high, ideally locked cabinets; and set a good example by safely using matches, lighters and fire.  The most important thing a parent of caregiver can do is always supervise young children.

For more information or to make a referral to Tacoma Fire Department's "Fire Stoppers" program please call 253-591-5740.

Thank You for Attending the Destiny Christening Ceremony

A special thank you to all who attended the Christening Ceremony for the new patrol/fireboat Destiny.

Council Member Victoria Woodards

Port Commissioner Dick Marzano and Council Member Woodards do the Honors!

GO Destiny GO!