the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

Station Gossip by Sheryl Drost

Seems too many moms or dads were/are in the hospital this month. Thoughts and prayers for speedy recover for a parent in the Alms, Bloyer, Daughenbaugh, Drost and Soppe families. Sick Sick Sick.....too many people are sick. When things go wrong, when time runs out, when someone you know dies -- you still have to take care of your health. Eat right, exercise, drink water, handle your stress. You still have to do these things, even if you don’t want to. Your health depends on it.... Sandy Porter - Fitness expert

Tired of the Flu?It’s important to match your cleaning and disinfecting activities to the types of germs you want to remove or kill. Most studies have shown that the fl u virus can live and potentially infect a person for only 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on a surface. Flu viruses are relatively fragile, so standard cleaning and disinfecting practices are suffi cient to remove or kill them. Wash hands often. Disinfect/ sanitize children’s toys and hard surfaces in your home. Sharing is great…except when it comes to germs! Help fi ght cold and fl u germs in your child’s daycare or classroom by providing disinfecting wipes, hand soap or tissues. Check with the teacher or caregiver to see which materials will be most helpful.Launder clothes and bedding with products known to kill cold and fl u viruses (e.g. bleach, disinfecting/sanitizing detergents, etc). Make sure to read and follow label directions.

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Exercise, It’s good for you.I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain fi gures out what I’m doing..I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven’t lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.Every time I hear the dirty word ‘exercise’, I wash my mouth out with chocolate.If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.You know you’re still in good shape if you can touch your toes. Using your boobs doesn’t count.I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years ... just getting over the hill.Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 89 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $7000 per month.My grandpa started walking fi ve miles a day when he was 60.. Now he’s 97 and we don’t know where the heck he is.When I was younger, I looked forward to getting up early in the morning to exercise. Now, getting out of bed in the morning is my exerciseYou know that you’re out of shape when you can’t pull supermarket shopping carts apartI prefer sit-ups to jumping jacks. At least I get to lie down after each oneThe Gym has no confi dence in me. The fi rst machine the health club put me on was the respiratorI don’t jog... it makes the beer jump right out of my glass.We all get heavier as we get older, because there’s a lot more information in our heads. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it

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The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefi re.com

January 2013 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Year in ReviewPages 6 & 7

First Snow Page 5

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

Well another year has fl ashed before us. As we enter 2013, we accept it with open arms and prepare for the challenges it may present.

Our district had a very successful “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign with zero fi res related to Christmas decorations. Thank you to everyone for this great accomplishment and I hope you had a joyous holiday season with family and friends.

Another fantastic Christmas drive took place where we delivered gifts and food to 22 families this past holiday. Again your generosity has not gone un-noticed! It is with sincere gratitude and thanks to all that were able to help in any way by donating, shopping, wrapping or delivering these packs of joy. What a treat to see the faces on these individuals as a fi re truck made a special delivery to their homes. I was truly honored to be a part of this generosity and knowing that we all helped to make the holiday season a bit brighter in someone’s life.

The calendar year of 2012 ended with 2609 calls. That is an increase of 179 calls over the previous year. As our communities continue to grow, so have the needs for our services. To keep up with this demand, I remain proactive for you. I stand behind the Harlem Roscoe FPD commitment to provide excellence, integrity and caring in our performance of our emergency fi re, medical and rescue services. At the front of that commitment are the men and women that answer these calls for help. I am so very proud to work for a dedicated group of 92 individuals who love what they do and are truly the heart and soul of this fi ne organization. From the trustees, offi cers, fi refi ghters, paramedics, EMT’s, dispatchers, chaplains, inspectors, photographers, mechanics and administrative staff, they ARE the people who make it happen. Thank you to everyone for making us who we are.

Last year we began a study on our building effectiveness in regards to administration / personnel, quick response time and energy effi ciency. We have completed this project, and with the commitment and approval from the Board of Trustees, along with my recommendation to remain in downtown Roscoe with our main headquarters station, the decision has been made to begin an addition / renovation to Station 1 this year. I will share much more information in the upcoming months as we progress and things become more solidifi ed. On another note, we are excited to be taking delivery of a new ambulance soon (either late February or early March) to assist us in improving the services to our district.

A new recruit class will be starting up in the next month. If you or someone you may know wants to become fi refi ghter / EMT, we are always looking for more volunteers (training is included). There will be an information meeting on Monday January 14th at 7:00 P.M. It will be held at our main Headquarters, Station 1 on Main Street in Roscoe. If you have an interest please join us, or if you are unable to attend but are interested stop by to fi ll out an application.

We are fully entrenched in the winter season now so stay warm and be safe but remember each day that passes we are that much closer to spring. We still have calendars if you need one. Stop by the offi ce to pick up yours.

Don’t forget to bookmark our website www.harlemroscoefi re.com and / or friend us on Facebook to keep up with the progress of the department, individuals, and the calls we might have been on. Don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

Gone,But not forgotten

Some people come into our lives, And quickly go. Some stay awhile and leave footprints in our hearts.

And, we are never, ever the same.

It is with a heavy heart we send out our heartfelt sympathies to family and friends of retired Rockton Fire Chief Ron Weavel. Ron passed away on December 31st after a short illness.

Chief Oscar Presley and Rockton Fire Chief Ron Weavel calaborate on a fi re call on Dorr Rd. on June 1, 2007

Chief Weavel spearheaded the round up 14 of the Northern IL Fire Chiefs for a tribute to Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Oscar Presley at his retirement party on Jan. 26, 2008.

L-r above, North Park Fire Chief Steve Pearson, North Boone #3 Fire Chief Gail Worley, Loves Park Fire Chief Phil Foley, Shirland Fire Chief Ron Weaver, Capron Fire Chief Tracy Fleming, Northwest Fire Chief Tom Ragnar, Cherry Valley Fire Chief Craig Wilt, Retired Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Oscar Presley, Durand Fire Chief Kim Steward, Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Don Shoevlin, Win-bur-sew Fire Chief Rob Martin, South Beloit Fire Chief Ken Morse, Belvidere Fire Chief Dave Worrell, Rockton Fire Chief Ron Weavel, & Blackhawk Fire Chief Harry Tallacksen.

Birthdays

January5th Matt Bush ‘50th’10th Chad Miller ‘30th’17th John Presley22nd Everett Peterson25th Jerry Lund26th Reety Radke ‘25th’31st Mark Soppe

February10th Neil Roe Rob Gonia15th Scott Jensen24th Sean Laurent

Total calls for 20122609

The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist. #1.

Editor-in-Chief - Don ShoevlinEditor & Layout - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available after the second Sunday each month. Copies can be picked up at Fire Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe, The North Suburban Library and several local government offi ces. It is also posted on the department’s website www.harlemroscoefi re.comE-mail submissions to Sheryl:hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghter Elves shopped, wrapped and delivered Christmas to 22 families having a tough time this year in the fi re district. Each of the families received a turkey and all the fi xings plus milk, bread, and a basket of donated food. There was a total of 53 children in the families and the fi refi ghters went shopping so each child received gifts off that child’s Christmas list. Boots, hats and scarfs were also purchased if needed. A major thank you to all that donated food, monies or their time!

Family Christmas Drive

Diabetic Alert Dog Visits StationStory & Photo by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghters and EMTs were treated to a visit from a 4-1/2 month-old diabetic alert puppy named Lenon. Lenon is currently being trained to alert 21-year-old Allyson Smith if her sugar levels are off, preventing for example, a seizure.

When a dog is placed, the trainers will have a meeting with the local fi refi ghters and EMS that might respond to an emergency to meet the puppy and explain the program. Allyson was home sick, so her mom Tina brought the puppy in with the trainers to meet the fi refi ghters and EMTs.

The dogs trainers, Cheri Campbell and Erin Gray, work for Service Dogs by Warren. The company believes that “until there’s a cure there’s a dog” and is based out of Orange, Virginia. Service Dogs by Warren breed their own puppies and use only labs. The puppies are placed with and trained with the person they will be alerting. After the initial training, the trainers will then be back every 90 days to do further training.

Tina says Lenon has already already learned to alert her daughter when her blood sugar is off and, will in fact, alert Tina or anyone else in the room if their levels are off. Diabetic alert dogs are trained to paw if the blood sugar is high and to nudge with their nose if the blood sugar is low. They will also be trained to press a pad to dial 911 if the person doesn’t respond.

To fi nd out more about this wonderful program visit: www.sdwr.org or call 540-543-2307.

Deputy Chief John Bergeron and Tina Smith pose with Lenon. Unlike other service dogs, these dogs can be played with by anyone and it won’t stop them from alerting. In fact, they may alert on anyone in the room.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department Switched to Aladtec’s FIRE Manager and Reduced Time Spent Scheduling Personnel by 50%

A massive spreadsheet created from 50 individual calendars went up in smoke at this agency after implementing FIRE Manager for online employee scheduling and workforce management.

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - In this day and age one would think the days of pen and paper employee scheduling would be a thing of the past. However, due to tight budgets many public safety agencies are still struggling with paper calendars and/or spreadsheets and spending countless hours scheduling staff and additional hours on workforce management data.

Aladtec’s online employee scheduling and workforce management system, FIRE Manager, allows agencies to pay an affordable monthly subscription fee which easily fi ts most public agency budgets while greatly reducing the amount of time it takes to keep a schedule full and deal with other employee data. Also, with an online system, there is no computer server or hardware costs since the schedule and data is “in the cloud”.

“Our Fire Chief signed up for FIRE Manager’s free trial and then he turned it over to me to explore the program,” says John Bergeron, Deputy Chief of Operations, Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department, Roscoe, Illinois. “I would get 45-50 calendars with personnel’s availability and I’d put them all into a spreadsheet. On top of that, I’d have to manually look at every date/time, EMS status, Engineer, etc. to place personnel in the correct position. It was very time consuming. Since using FIRE Manager my scheduling time has been cut in half. The system is also great because now I can see who’s available every day, all the positions, their scheduled hours, and I can set parameters on certain hours they can work.”

Deputy Chief Bergeron indicates his personnel like Aladtec’s FIRE Manager because all trades/giveaways can be done online and when it is approved the member gets an immediate notifi cation by text and or email. In the past it would need to be done through an exchange of phone calls or emails. With the FIRE Manager mobile web app members can access their schedule anytime from anyplace making trades/giveaways easy to make and easy to approve. “The other thing I really like about FIRE Manager is when I have a message I need members to read, I can put it in the system and make members acknowledge they read the message before they can go further into the system,” Bergeron adds. The Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department has 80 members covering roughly 85 square miles with approximately 25,000 residents. Located at the Wisconsin and Illinois border, Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District was incorporated on April 4, 1940. This combination fi re department has over 2,000 emergency calls annually.

Twas the Night Before Christmas. . .Photos by Sheryl Drost

Twas the night before Christmas and the fi refi ghters were snug in their beds when their pagers went off for a chimney fi re on Reimer Dr. They sprang into action and dressed all in fi re gear, climbed to the chimney to see what was the matter. Down the chimney came a fi re pole and lights to see just what was burning. It seems heavy creosote build-up in a wood-burning stove chimney had caused quite the stir. The fi re in the wood burning stove was put out and the attic checked for fi re extension and all was secure. As fi re trucks fi led home, you could almost just hear, Merry Christmas to all and all a good night!

Firefi ghter Joe Koeninger reaches for a pike pole that was being handed up to him as the more fi refi ghters take off the chimney cap

Firefi ghters used a pike pole to break through a blockage in the chimney.

Firefi ghters inside empty the wood burning stove. .

BUGLE ALARMMonthly article written by a Harlem-Roscoe Fire Offi cer.

Duty, Pride, Traditionby Lt. Chris Scott

As another year ends and a new one begins, I was thinking how far we have come as a fi re department. How from humble beginnings of one small fi re station, we grew to three well-equipped modern stations with top of the line equipment and apparatus. How did we get to this point?

Of course, we need to thank this great community we serve for their constant support. We also need to think about the men and women who came before us that laid the ground work for what we are today. Through tireless dedication, progressive thinking, and planning, they made it possible for the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District to grow into what it has become today. We owe it to them and our community to keep moving forward and continue to fi nd better and innovative ways to serve our community. I believe we can and will. I look forward to another year, as I believe we all do, with this storied and proud fi re department.

High WindsPhotos by Sheryl Drost

Not only did the snowstorm on Dec. 20 cause havoc on roads, but the high winds brought down electric wires as well as fi lled up street lights with snow .

With the new LED lights in the street lights they don’t heat up enough to melt the snow causing many headaches for drivers.

Engine 701 crew stood by several hours protecting a downed line off Main St.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

IN THE NEWS...

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

ACCIDENTS Photos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe

12/09/12 Atwood Rd. 12/13/12 Hwy 251 12/22/12 Hwy 251

12/13/12 Forest Hills Rd

12/16/12 Hwy 251 12/20/12 Manchester Rd. 12/20/12 Hwy 251

12/21/12 Hwy 251 12/28/12 Rockton Rd. & Willowbrook Rd.

12/21/12 Hwy 251 & Bridge St. 12/21/12 Rockton Rd.

Your Source for SAFETY InformationNFPA Public Education Division 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 www.nfpa.org/education

FACTHalf of home heating fires are reported during the months

of December, January,and February.

Heating Equipment SmartsInstall wood burning stoves following manufacturer’s instructions or have a professional do the installation. All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Install and maintain CO alarms to avoid the riskof CO poisoning. Ifyou smell gas inyour gas heater, dodo not light theappliance. Leave thehome immediatelyand call your local firedepartment or gas company.

HeatingHeatingSafety

There is something about the winter months and curling up with a good book by the fireplace. But did you know that heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths? With a few simple safety tips and precautions you can prevent most heating fires from happening.

Safety

BE WARM AND SAFE THIS WINTER!

Keep anything that can burn atleast three-feet away fromheating equipment, like thefurnace, fireplace, woodstove, or portable space heater.

Have a three-foot “kid-free zone”around open fires and space heaters.

Never use your oven to heat your home.

Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.

Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

Test smoke alarms monthly.

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Snow Plays Havoc Photos by Sheryl Drost

The fi rst signifi cant snowfall of the year came on Dec. 20th. The weather guys were saying it would start at 2pm and they were right; it came down hard and heavy! By 3pm the hill on Mitchell Rd. was becoming very slick as a Rockford School bus tried to turn on to it from Anjali way. The bus didn’t make the turn and slid into the ditch. None of the children were injured. Police, rescue and school offi cials arrived quickly on scene. Fire trucks blocked the hill from the top and police blocked anyone from turning on from Hwy 173 or Anjali Way. Firefi ghters also helped push other stuck vehicles off the hill as well as the ambulances as they became stuck. With the road now secure, Firefi ghters helped the kids off the bus into warm ambulances. Some parents took a risk driving to the scene and picked up their children. The rest were transported by school offi cials.

Tragic Helicopter Crash Photos by Sheryl Drost

A tragic crash of the React Helicopter near Rochelle, IL on Dec. 10 sadly cost the lives of the pilot, Andy Olesen and two fl ight nurses, Karen Hollis and Jim Dillow. It is with heavy hearts that we send our heartfelt sympathies out to all the family and friends of our three fellow emergency responders. Here are some pictures of React Helicopter over the years on some of our scenes:

EMS Corner By Capt. Jay Alms

Flu Season Gains MomentumReprinted from MedPage Today

The infl uenza season, which started about a month earlier than usual, is picking up in intensity, according to the CDC’s latest FluView report.

In the week ending Dec. 29, high fl u-like illness activity was reported by 29 states and New York City, with moderate activity seen in another nine states. That compares with 16 states with high activity and eight with moderate activity the week before.

Overall, the percentage of outpatient visits for fl u-like illness has exceeded the national baseline of 2.2% since the week ending Dec. 8, when it was 2.8%. In the most recent week, that fi gure was 5.6%, although the CDC noted that the increase could be at least partly attributed to fewer routine health visits during the holiday season.

“Reports of infl uenza-like-illness are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons,” Joe Bresee, MD, chief of the epidemiology and prevention branch of the CDC’s infl uenza division, said in a statement.

In two other moderately severe seasons -- 1998-1999 and 2003-2004 -- the percentage of fl u-related visits peaked at 7.6%. During the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, it reached as high as 7.7%.

It remains unclear how severe the current season will be, although the predominant circulating strain -- infl uenza A(H3N2) -- provides a clue. Historically, fl u seasons dominated by that strain have resulted in higher numbers of deaths and hospitalizations.

So far this season, the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and infl uenza (7%) remains just below the epidemic threshold of 7.1%. A total of 18 infl uenza-related pediatric deaths have been reported since the beginning of the season.

The infl uenza hospitalization rate is 8.1 per 100,000 people, which is “high for this time of year,” according to Bresee. Most of the hospitalizations (85%) have been related to infl uenza A strains, and nearly all of those were tied to A(H3N2).

The CDC continues to recommend annual infl uenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older, and 91% of the viruses tested thus far have been similar to the strains found in the 2012-2013 seasonal vaccine.

As another line of defense, the CDC also has recommendations for the use of antivirals, including oseltamivir (Tamifl u) and zanamivir (Relenza).

“Antiviral treatment, started as early as possible after becoming ill, is recommended for any patients with confi rmed or suspected infl uenza who are hospitalized, seriously ill, or ill and at high risk of

serious infl uenza-related complications, including young children, people 65 and older, people with certain underlying medical condition, and pregnant women,” according to the agency.

“Treatment should begin as soon as infl uenza is suspected, regardless of vaccination status or rapid test results and should not be delayed for confi rmatory testing.”

Carbon MonoxideBy Lt. Ryan Alms

Although the popularity of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms has been growing in recent years, it cannot be assumed that everyone is familiar with the hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.

Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles or generators running in an attached garage can also produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Facts & Figures

The dangers of CO exposure depend on a number of variables, including the victim’s health and activity level. Infants, pregnant women, and people with physical conditions that limit their body’s ability to use oxygen (i.e. emphysema, asthma, heart disease) can be more severely affected by lower concentrations of CO than healthy adults would be.

A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter amount of time.

In 2010, U.S. fi re departments responded to an estimated 80,100 non-fi re CO incidents in which carbon monoxide was found, or an average of nine such calls per hour. The number of incidents increased 96 percent from 40,900 incidents reported in 2003. This increase is most likely due to the increased use of CO detectors, which alert people to the presence of CO.

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The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

2012 Year in Review

The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Snow Plays Havoc Photos by Sheryl Drost

The fi rst signifi cant snowfall of the year came on Dec. 20th. The weather guys were saying it would start at 2pm and they were right; it came down hard and heavy! By 3pm the hill on Mitchell Rd. was becoming very slick as a Rockford School bus tried to turn on to it from Anjali way. The bus didn’t make the turn and slid into the ditch. None of the children were injured. Police, rescue and school offi cials arrived quickly on scene. Fire trucks blocked the hill from the top and police blocked anyone from turning on from Hwy 173 or Anjali Way. Firefi ghters also helped push other stuck vehicles off the hill as well as the ambulances as they became stuck. With the road now secure, Firefi ghters helped the kids off the bus into warm ambulances. Some parents took a risk driving to the scene and picked up their children. The rest were transported by school offi cials.

Tragic Helicopter Crash Photos by Sheryl Drost

A tragic crash of the React Helicopter near Rochelle, IL on Dec. 10 sadly cost the lives of the pilot, Andy Olesen and two fl ight nurses, Karen Hollis and Jim Dillow. It is with heavy hearts that we send our heartfelt sympathies out to all the family and friends of our three fellow emergency responders. Here are some pictures of React Helicopter over the years on some of our scenes:

EMS Corner By Capt. Jay Alms

Flu Season Gains MomentumReprinted from MedPage Today

The infl uenza season, which started about a month earlier than usual, is picking up in intensity, according to the CDC’s latest FluView report.

In the week ending Dec. 29, high fl u-like illness activity was reported by 29 states and New York City, with moderate activity seen in another nine states. That compares with 16 states with high activity and eight with moderate activity the week before.

Overall, the percentage of outpatient visits for fl u-like illness has exceeded the national baseline of 2.2% since the week ending Dec. 8, when it was 2.8%. In the most recent week, that fi gure was 5.6%, although the CDC noted that the increase could be at least partly attributed to fewer routine health visits during the holiday season.

“Reports of infl uenza-like-illness are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons,” Joe Bresee, MD, chief of the epidemiology and prevention branch of the CDC’s infl uenza division, said in a statement.

In two other moderately severe seasons -- 1998-1999 and 2003-2004 -- the percentage of fl u-related visits peaked at 7.6%. During the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, it reached as high as 7.7%.

It remains unclear how severe the current season will be, although the predominant circulating strain -- infl uenza A(H3N2) -- provides a clue. Historically, fl u seasons dominated by that strain have resulted in higher numbers of deaths and hospitalizations.

So far this season, the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and infl uenza (7%) remains just below the epidemic threshold of 7.1%. A total of 18 infl uenza-related pediatric deaths have been reported since the beginning of the season.

The infl uenza hospitalization rate is 8.1 per 100,000 people, which is “high for this time of year,” according to Bresee. Most of the hospitalizations (85%) have been related to infl uenza A strains, and nearly all of those were tied to A(H3N2).

The CDC continues to recommend annual infl uenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older, and 91% of the viruses tested thus far have been similar to the strains found in the 2012-2013 seasonal vaccine.

As another line of defense, the CDC also has recommendations for the use of antivirals, including oseltamivir (Tamifl u) and zanamivir (Relenza).

“Antiviral treatment, started as early as possible after becoming ill, is recommended for any patients with confi rmed or suspected infl uenza who are hospitalized, seriously ill, or ill and at high risk of

serious infl uenza-related complications, including young children, people 65 and older, people with certain underlying medical condition, and pregnant women,” according to the agency.

“Treatment should begin as soon as infl uenza is suspected, regardless of vaccination status or rapid test results and should not be delayed for confi rmatory testing.”

Carbon MonoxideBy Lt. Ryan Alms

Although the popularity of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms has been growing in recent years, it cannot be assumed that everyone is familiar with the hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.

Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles or generators running in an attached garage can also produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Facts & Figures

The dangers of CO exposure depend on a number of variables, including the victim’s health and activity level. Infants, pregnant women, and people with physical conditions that limit their body’s ability to use oxygen (i.e. emphysema, asthma, heart disease) can be more severely affected by lower concentrations of CO than healthy adults would be.

A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter amount of time.

In 2010, U.S. fi re departments responded to an estimated 80,100 non-fi re CO incidents in which carbon monoxide was found, or an average of nine such calls per hour. The number of incidents increased 96 percent from 40,900 incidents reported in 2003. This increase is most likely due to the increased use of CO detectors, which alert people to the presence of CO.

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The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

ACCIDENTS Photos by Sheryl Drost & Marcia Soppe

12/09/12 Atwood Rd. 12/13/12 Hwy 251 12/22/12 Hwy 251

12/13/12 Forest Hills Rd

12/16/12 Hwy 251 12/20/12 Manchester Rd. 12/20/12 Hwy 251

12/21/12 Hwy 251 12/28/12 Rockton Rd. & Willowbrook Rd.

12/21/12 Hwy 251 & Bridge St. 12/21/12 Rockton Rd.

Your Source for SAFETY InformationNFPA Public Education Division 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 www.nfpa.org/education

FACTHalf of home heating fires are reported during the months

of December, January,and February.

Heating Equipment SmartsInstall wood burning stoves following manufacturer’s instructions or have a professional do the installation. All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Install and maintain CO alarms to avoid the riskof CO poisoning. Ifyou smell gas inyour gas heater, dodo not light theappliance. Leave thehome immediatelyand call your local firedepartment or gas company.

HeatingHeatingSafety

There is something about the winter months and curling up with a good book by the fireplace. But did you know that heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths? With a few simple safety tips and precautions you can prevent most heating fires from happening.

Safety

BE WARM AND SAFE THIS WINTER!

Keep anything that can burn atleast three-feet away fromheating equipment, like thefurnace, fireplace, woodstove, or portable space heater.

Have a three-foot “kid-free zone”around open fires and space heaters.

Never use your oven to heat your home.

Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.

Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

Test smoke alarms monthly.

Diabetic Alert Dog Visits StationStory & Photo by Sheryl Drost

Firefi ghters and EMTs were treated to a visit from a 4-1/2 month-old diabetic alert puppy named Lenon. Lenon is currently being trained to alert 21-year-old Allyson Smith if her sugar levels are off, preventing for example, a seizure.

When a dog is placed, the trainers will have a meeting with the local fi refi ghters and EMS that might respond to an emergency to meet the puppy and explain the program. Allyson was home sick, so her mom Tina brought the puppy in with the trainers to meet the fi refi ghters and EMTs.

The dogs trainers, Cheri Campbell and Erin Gray, work for Service Dogs by Warren. The company believes that “until there’s a cure there’s a dog” and is based out of Orange, Virginia. Service Dogs by Warren breed their own puppies and use only labs. The puppies are placed with and trained with the person they will be alerting. After the initial training, the trainers will then be back every 90 days to do further training.

Tina says Lenon has already already learned to alert her daughter when her blood sugar is off and, will in fact, alert Tina or anyone else in the room if their levels are off. Diabetic alert dogs are trained to paw if the blood sugar is high and to nudge with their nose if the blood sugar is low. They will also be trained to press a pad to dial 911 if the person doesn’t respond.

To fi nd out more about this wonderful program visit: www.sdwr.org or call 540-543-2307.

Deputy Chief John Bergeron and Tina Smith pose with Lenon. Unlike other service dogs, these dogs can be played with by anyone and it won’t stop them from alerting. In fact, they may alert on anyone in the room.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department Switched to Aladtec’s FIRE Manager and Reduced Time Spent Scheduling Personnel by 50%

A massive spreadsheet created from 50 individual calendars went up in smoke at this agency after implementing FIRE Manager for online employee scheduling and workforce management.

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - In this day and age one would think the days of pen and paper employee scheduling would be a thing of the past. However, due to tight budgets many public safety agencies are still struggling with paper calendars and/or spreadsheets and spending countless hours scheduling staff and additional hours on workforce management data.

Aladtec’s online employee scheduling and workforce management system, FIRE Manager, allows agencies to pay an affordable monthly subscription fee which easily fi ts most public agency budgets while greatly reducing the amount of time it takes to keep a schedule full and deal with other employee data. Also, with an online system, there is no computer server or hardware costs since the schedule and data is “in the cloud”.

“Our Fire Chief signed up for FIRE Manager’s free trial and then he turned it over to me to explore the program,” says John Bergeron, Deputy Chief of Operations, Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department, Roscoe, Illinois. “I would get 45-50 calendars with personnel’s availability and I’d put them all into a spreadsheet. On top of that, I’d have to manually look at every date/time, EMS status, Engineer, etc. to place personnel in the correct position. It was very time consuming. Since using FIRE Manager my scheduling time has been cut in half. The system is also great because now I can see who’s available every day, all the positions, their scheduled hours, and I can set parameters on certain hours they can work.”

Deputy Chief Bergeron indicates his personnel like Aladtec’s FIRE Manager because all trades/giveaways can be done online and when it is approved the member gets an immediate notifi cation by text and or email. In the past it would need to be done through an exchange of phone calls or emails. With the FIRE Manager mobile web app members can access their schedule anytime from anyplace making trades/giveaways easy to make and easy to approve. “The other thing I really like about FIRE Manager is when I have a message I need members to read, I can put it in the system and make members acknowledge they read the message before they can go further into the system,” Bergeron adds. The Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department has 80 members covering roughly 85 square miles with approximately 25,000 residents. Located at the Wisconsin and Illinois border, Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District was incorporated on April 4, 1940. This combination fi re department has over 2,000 emergency calls annually.

Twas the Night Before Christmas. . .Photos by Sheryl Drost

Twas the night before Christmas and the fi refi ghters were snug in their beds when their pagers went off for a chimney fi re on Reimer Dr. They sprang into action and dressed all in fi re gear, climbed to the chimney to see what was the matter. Down the chimney came a fi re pole and lights to see just what was burning. It seems heavy creosote build-up in a wood-burning stove chimney had caused quite the stir. The fi re in the wood burning stove was put out and the attic checked for fi re extension and all was secure. As fi re trucks fi led home, you could almost just hear, Merry Christmas to all and all a good night!

Firefi ghter Joe Koeninger reaches for a pike pole that was being handed up to him as the more fi refi ghters take off the chimney cap

Firefi ghters used a pike pole to break through a blockage in the chimney.

Firefi ghters inside empty the wood burning stove. .

BUGLE ALARMMonthly article written by a Harlem-Roscoe Fire Offi cer.

Duty, Pride, Traditionby Lt. Chris Scott

As another year ends and a new one begins, I was thinking how far we have come as a fi re department. How from humble beginnings of one small fi re station, we grew to three well-equipped modern stations with top of the line equipment and apparatus. How did we get to this point?

Of course, we need to thank this great community we serve for their constant support. We also need to think about the men and women who came before us that laid the ground work for what we are today. Through tireless dedication, progressive thinking, and planning, they made it possible for the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District to grow into what it has become today. We owe it to them and our community to keep moving forward and continue to fi nd better and innovative ways to serve our community. I believe we can and will. I look forward to another year, as I believe we all do, with this storied and proud fi re department.

High WindsPhotos by Sheryl Drost

Not only did the snowstorm on Dec. 20 cause havoc on roads, but the high winds brought down electric wires as well as fi lled up street lights with snow .

With the new LED lights in the street lights they don’t heat up enough to melt the snow causing many headaches for drivers.

Engine 701 crew stood by several hours protecting a downed line off Main St.

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IN THE NEWS...

From the Chief’s DeskBy Fire Chief Don Shoevlin

Well another year has fl ashed before us. As we enter 2013, we accept it with open arms and prepare for the challenges it may present.

Our district had a very successful “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign with zero fi res related to Christmas decorations. Thank you to everyone for this great accomplishment and I hope you had a joyous holiday season with family and friends.

Another fantastic Christmas drive took place where we delivered gifts and food to 22 families this past holiday. Again your generosity has not gone un-noticed! It is with sincere gratitude and thanks to all that were able to help in any way by donating, shopping, wrapping or delivering these packs of joy. What a treat to see the faces on these individuals as a fi re truck made a special delivery to their homes. I was truly honored to be a part of this generosity and knowing that we all helped to make the holiday season a bit brighter in someone’s life.

The calendar year of 2012 ended with 2609 calls. That is an increase of 179 calls over the previous year. As our communities continue to grow, so have the needs for our services. To keep up with this demand, I remain proactive for you. I stand behind the Harlem Roscoe FPD commitment to provide excellence, integrity and caring in our performance of our emergency fi re, medical and rescue services. At the front of that commitment are the men and women that answer these calls for help. I am so very proud to work for a dedicated group of 92 individuals who love what they do and are truly the heart and soul of this fi ne organization. From the trustees, offi cers, fi refi ghters, paramedics, EMT’s, dispatchers, chaplains, inspectors, photographers, mechanics and administrative staff, they ARE the people who make it happen. Thank you to everyone for making us who we are.

Last year we began a study on our building effectiveness in regards to administration / personnel, quick response time and energy effi ciency. We have completed this project, and with the commitment and approval from the Board of Trustees, along with my recommendation to remain in downtown Roscoe with our main headquarters station, the decision has been made to begin an addition / renovation to Station 1 this year. I will share much more information in the upcoming months as we progress and things become more solidifi ed. On another note, we are excited to be taking delivery of a new ambulance soon (either late February or early March) to assist us in improving the services to our district.

A new recruit class will be starting up in the next month. If you or someone you may know wants to become fi refi ghter / EMT, we are always looking for more volunteers (training is included). There will be an information meeting on Monday January 14th at 7:00 P.M. It will be held at our main Headquarters, Station 1 on Main Street in Roscoe. If you have an interest please join us, or if you are unable to attend but are interested stop by to fi ll out an application.

We are fully entrenched in the winter season now so stay warm and be safe but remember each day that passes we are that much closer to spring. We still have calendars if you need one. Stop by the offi ce to pick up yours.

Don’t forget to bookmark our website www.harlemroscoefi re.com and / or friend us on Facebook to keep up with the progress of the department, individuals, and the calls we might have been on. Don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be of any assistance.

Gone,But not forgotten

Some people come into our lives, And quickly go. Some stay awhile and leave footprints in our hearts.

And, we are never, ever the same.

It is with a heavy heart we send out our heartfelt sympathies to family and friends of retired Rockton Fire Chief Ron Weavel. Ron passed away on December 31st after a short illness.

Chief Oscar Presley and Rockton Fire Chief Ron Weavel calaborate on a fi re call on Dorr Rd. on June 1, 2007

Chief Weavel spearheaded the round up 14 of the Northern IL Fire Chiefs for a tribute to Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Oscar Presley at his retirement party on Jan. 26, 2008.

L-r above, North Park Fire Chief Steve Pearson, North Boone #3 Fire Chief Gail Worley, Loves Park Fire Chief Phil Foley, Shirland Fire Chief Ron Weaver, Capron Fire Chief Tracy Fleming, Northwest Fire Chief Tom Ragnar, Cherry Valley Fire Chief Craig Wilt, Retired Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Oscar Presley, Durand Fire Chief Kim Steward, Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Don Shoevlin, Win-bur-sew Fire Chief Rob Martin, South Beloit Fire Chief Ken Morse, Belvidere Fire Chief Dave Worrell, Rockton Fire Chief Ron Weavel, & Blackhawk Fire Chief Harry Tallacksen.

Birthdays

January5th Matt Bush ‘50th’10th Chad Miller ‘30th’17th John Presley22nd Everett Peterson25th Jerry Lund26th Reety Radke ‘25th’31st Mark Soppe

February10th Neil Roe Rob Gonia15th Scott Jensen24th Sean Laurent

Total calls for 20122609

The Firehouse Scene is a monthly newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Prot. Dist. #1.

Editor-in-Chief - Don ShoevlinEditor & Layout - Sheryl Drost

The Firehouse Scene is available after the second Sunday each month. Copies can be picked up at Fire Station One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe, The North Suburban Library and several local government offi ces. It is also posted on the department’s website www.harlemroscoefi re.comE-mail submissions to Sheryl:hrfdsdrost@gmail.com

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefi re.comwww.harlemroscoefi re.com

Harlem-Roscoe Firefi ghter Elves shopped, wrapped and delivered Christmas to 22 families having a tough time this year in the fi re district. Each of the families received a turkey and all the fi xings plus milk, bread, and a basket of donated food. There was a total of 53 children in the families and the fi refi ghters went shopping so each child received gifts off that child’s Christmas list. Boots, hats and scarfs were also purchased if needed. A major thank you to all that donated food, monies or their time!

Family Christmas Drive

the firehouse sceneIs a monthly publication of the

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District

Station Gossip by Sheryl Drost

Seems too many moms or dads were/are in the hospital this month. Thoughts and prayers for speedy recover for a parent in the Alms, Bloyer, Daughenbaugh, Drost and Soppe families. Sick Sick Sick.....too many people are sick. When things go wrong, when time runs out, when someone you know dies -- you still have to take care of your health. Eat right, exercise, drink water, handle your stress. You still have to do these things, even if you don’t want to. Your health depends on it.... Sandy Porter - Fitness expert

Tired of the Flu?It’s important to match your cleaning and disinfecting activities to the types of germs you want to remove or kill. Most studies have shown that the fl u virus can live and potentially infect a person for only 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on a surface. Flu viruses are relatively fragile, so standard cleaning and disinfecting practices are suffi cient to remove or kill them. Wash hands often. Disinfect/ sanitize children’s toys and hard surfaces in your home. Sharing is great…except when it comes to germs! Help fi ght cold and fl u germs in your child’s daycare or classroom by providing disinfecting wipes, hand soap or tissues. Check with the teacher or caregiver to see which materials will be most helpful.Launder clothes and bedding with products known to kill cold and fl u viruses (e.g. bleach, disinfecting/sanitizing detergents, etc). Make sure to read and follow label directions.

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Exercise, It’s good for you.I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain fi gures out what I’m doing..I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven’t lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.Every time I hear the dirty word ‘exercise’, I wash my mouth out with chocolate.If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.You know you’re still in good shape if you can touch your toes. Using your boobs doesn’t count.I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years ... just getting over the hill.Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 89 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $7000 per month.My grandpa started walking fi ve miles a day when he was 60.. Now he’s 97 and we don’t know where the heck he is.When I was younger, I looked forward to getting up early in the morning to exercise. Now, getting out of bed in the morning is my exerciseYou know that you’re out of shape when you can’t pull supermarket shopping carts apartI prefer sit-ups to jumping jacks. At least I get to lie down after each oneThe Gym has no confi dence in me. The fi rst machine the health club put me on was the respiratorI don’t jog... it makes the beer jump right out of my glass.We all get heavier as we get older, because there’s a lot more information in our heads. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it

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The Firehouse Scene - Page 12www.harlemroscoefi re.com

January 2013 Fire Chief Don Shoevlin Editor Sheryl Drost

Photo by Sheryl Drost

Year in ReviewPages 6 & 7

First Snow Page 5