A Time to Remember: National Police Week

This week marks National Police Week, a time when many events take place throughout the country honoring those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15^th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day including the week within which May 15^th falls as National Police Week.

Below are a few events taking place throughout the week. If you haven’t yet this week, make sure you thank a police officer for their dedicated service to keeping our streets safe. A police officer’s job is not an easy one and it takes a person who is strong, courageous and empathetic to take on this position. Police officers- we salute you!

Police Unity Tour Arrival Ceremony

Since 1997, the Police Unity Tour has raised nearly $16 million for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum. The ceremony will begin Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial located on the 400 block of E St., NW.

27th Annual Candlelight Vigil

According to a report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (pdf), 126 police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2014. The annual candlelight vigil brings law enforcement officers and citizens together to remember those who died.

The vigil will be held Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the 400 block of E St., NW. It is strongly advised that attendees take the Red Line to Judiciary Square due to parking limitations. 

Or, light a virtual candle in remembrance on the NLEOMF website and watch the vigil live via webcast.

Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge #1 Events

This two-day outdoor event, hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police District of Columbia Lodge 1, features vendors, music, entertainment, food and bar service. This year’s events will be located a few blocks from the Washington Nationals’ Park at 1880 2nd St. SW on Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

National Police Survivors Conference and C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens

Sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors, the National Police Survivors Conference provides opportunities for family members and co-workers of fallen officers to prepare for trial, build connections, understand grief and receive support. The two-day conference will take place Thursday and Saturday at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel. Call (573) 346-4911 for more information.

13th Annual Steven Young National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Competition

Honor guard teams and pipe bands from states across the country and Canada will perform their tributes to law enforcement and surviving families of fallen officers. The competition, hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police National Memorial Committee, includes a team inspection drill, color guard and exhibition phase. The event will be held at the Grant Statue (west front of the United States Capitol) on Thursday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

21st Annual Emerald Society & Pipe Band March and Service

The Emerald Society, an organization of American police officers and firefighters of Irish heritage, remembers all law enforcement officials killed in the line of duty with numerous musical tributes. The march will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at New Jersey Avenue and F Street, NW and will proceed to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

34rd Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service

The Memorial Service will be held on the West Front of the United States Capitol. The Wreath Laying Ceremony will be held Friday at 11 a.m. immediately following the Memorial Service at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, in the 400 block of E St., NW. 

Celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunicators Appreciation Week 2015

Every year, the second full week of April (April 12th-18^th, 2015) is recognized as a time to honor hard-working telecommunicators throughout the country. Telecommunicators are defined as individuals who work for an emergency service provider (usually 9-1-1) and are qualified to answer incoming emergency telephone calls and provide for the appropriate emergency response. These individuals have a tough job where they work with the public in high stress situations to get help to those in need, which is why they deserve to be honored and recognized for their dedication and hard work!

If you have ever dialed 9-1-1 to get help in an accident or an emergency, then a telecommunicator has been on the phone to collect your information and get you help. A person who is a telecommunicator must be patient, strong, understanding and work well under intense pressure or stressful situations.  During this week agencies, elected officials and citizens are honoring 9-1-1 call-takers and dispatchers for their efforts in making emergency services run smoothly and efficiently to ensure citizens safety. 

Back in 1990, Congress designated this week to recognizing telecommunicators for their service and we ask that you do the same! If you see a telecommunicator or you know someone who works as a call-taker or dispatcher, reach out to them and take the time to let them know that they are appreciated for all the time and effort they put into making 9-1-1 what it is today.

Below is a proclamation from Texas Governor Greg Abbott recognizing and honoring telecommunicators this week. Share your stories with us on how you appreciated your call-takers and dispatchers and we will share them in our next blog! Below are some activities going on during Telecommunicator week:

APCO Offers Free Webinar in Celebration of NPSTW: In celebration of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and to honor those who do the frontline job every day, APCO Institute is offering a FREE training webinar entitled “Dispatch Danger Zones.”  The webinar will take place Wednesday, April 15, 2015, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. Register here.

Ark-Texas Council of Governments: They will present each telecommunicator with a small insulated zippered 9-1-1 ATCOG portable cooler with a large insulated 9-1-1 mug, insulated drink holder with a drawstring and attached carbineer with our 9-1-1 logo imprinted, 9-1-1 logo tote bag, and several small 9-1-1 items. Each dispatcher will also be presented with a nice certificate of appreciation.

El Paso County 9-1-1:
They will be purchasing cell phone power banks in a travel case that says “NEVER UNDERSTIMATE THE POWER OF THE TELECOMMUNICATOR” and doing a decorating contest with that theme.  The winner will get mentioned in their next newsletter!

York County 9-1-1: They celebrate Telecommunicator’s Week each year at their PSAP with a week of fun activities. They have theme days such as a sports day where they wear their favorite sports team shirt, have hot dogs and peanuts in the shell to eat. They also have different activities during this week such as crossword puzzles, movie trivia, scavenger hunts, and much more. They will finish the week with an awards ceremony for the Telecommunicator of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, and Admin Support Person of the Year.

El Paso-Teller E911 Authority: This year during 9-1-1 Education Month, they will be doing 30 minute presentations about 9-1-1 (with the help of Cell Phone Sally "Getting Help is Easy") to 1st grade classes. They will leave each student with an activity book about 9-1-1, and a Cell Phone Sally Poster for the classroom's wall.

Expand Your Knowledge of Poison Control Services during Poison Prevention Week

Knowing how to prevent unintentional poisonings is important. And so is knowing the number to poison control (1-800-222-1222- save it in your phone!) in the event that you or someone you know has ingested a potentially poisonous substance. That’s why the third week of March is dedicated to educating the public about poison control and its services.

During Poison Prevention Week (March 15th-21^st), educators throughout the country will be sharing poison prevention information as well as sharing all the services they provide through the poison control 24/7 toll-free number. Poisons are more common than people think and can happen to anyone. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, more than two million poisonings are reported each year and roughly 90 percent of these are happening in the home.

So what is considered a poison?

A poison is any substance, including medications, which can be harmful to your body if too much is ingested or absorbed through the body. An accidental poisoning occurs when someone takes too much of a substance without meaning to cause harm.

Accidental poisonings can be scary which is why poison control is here to help in your time of need. Below are some useful tips to avoid unintentional poisonings:

·         Keep all poisons locked up and out of reach of children (this includes cleaning products, medications, vitamins, etc.)

·         Never tell a child that vitamins are candy. This could lead them to eat more vitamins than they should which can be dangerous.

·         Keep a carbon monoxide detector working in your house all year round by changing the batteries twice a year. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer and very dangerous.

·         Calling 1-800-222-1222 from anywhere in the United States will connect you with your local poison center.

For more information on poison control and poison prevention, please visit www.poisoncontrol.org.

Burn Awareness Week: Tips on Avoiding Burns on You and Your Family

When most people hear burn, they associate it with fire. And as we all know, fire can be dangerous especially if it makes contact with the skin. The first week of February marks Burn Awareness Week which is a great time to focus on teaching kids safety tips that will help them avoid burn injuries.

Many items can easily burn us from cooking liquids to grease to hot water and hot foods. A whopping 46% of burns reported occurred from these scalding items with 53% of this number being from children under five years old. Scalds are actually the most common burn injury in young children and, sadly, one of the leading causes of accidental death.

While these numbers can be scary to hear, as a community and within our homes, we can help eliminate and prevent these injuries from occurring with a few simple actions on our part. Here are some tips to helping prevent burns!

·         Make sure to supervise children while they are in the kitchen or dining area. Accidents happen very quickly.

·         Children are always reaching and grabbing for things. To prevent spills while cooking on the stove, use the back burners.

·         Keep hot foods out of reach of children.

·         Have your hot water heater set to a max of 120 Fahrenheit to prevent accidental scalding.

·         Matches, gasoline and lighters should always be out of sight and out of reach of children.

·         Already been burned? Cool it under cold running water for 10-15 minutes. But if the burn is serious, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1.

 This week gives you a chance to brush up on your safety skills and is a great opportunity to check your fire alarms and practice a home fire drill. You can never be too safe! For more information on Burn Awareness Week visit http://www.ameriburn.org/preventionBurnAwareness.php.

Message from Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue:

Don’t Forget to Take Out the Battery!

Kids love cell phones. They have tons of buttons, can make fun sounds, watch videos and even play games. So it comes as no surprise that small children would love to play with an old phone you might not be using anymore. While this might seem harmless, since the phone is no longer in service, it can actually be a major issue for 9-1-1.

What many people might not know is that even when a phone is disconnected from service, it can still dial 9-1-1 for an emergency as long as the battery has some charge to it. 9-1-1 telecommunicators receive numerous calls a day from disconnected phones that accidentally dial 9-1-1. The problem with these accidental 9-1-1 calls is that they tie up the phone lines making real emergency calls harder for telecommunicators to get to.

A while back, Longmont, Colorado produced a video PSA reminding people to take out the battery. This cute video reminds folks that while phones can be fun for kids to play with, it is important to remove the battery before allowing the children to play with the phone. That way, no accidental 9-1-1 calls are made. Check out the video below!

And remember, if you aren’t using an old cell phone anymore, please take out the battery. Or better yet, donate the phone to a local shelter or charity that can provide these phones with people who need them.  

 

New Year’s Eve Safety Tips from Cell Phone Sally

It’s time to celebrate the beginning of a new year! Can you believe it is almost 2015 already? While this is a wonderful time to celebrate, it is also a great time to remember the importance of safety so that you can enjoy your New Year’s Eve to the fullest!

Here are some great safety tips to ensure you and your loved ones enjoy ringing in the New Year:

·         If you plan on drinking, please make sure you have a designated driver. Even if you have only had a couple drinks, it is never a good idea to drive. Practice safety first!

·         If you will be attending a party or an event where there will be a lot of people, never let your drink out of your sight. You never know if someone will tamper with your drink so keep it in your sight or in your hands at all times.

·         If you live in a city, then you most likely cannot use fireworks due to safety issues and hazards. Why not leave the fireworks to the professionals and go see a display put on in your local area?

·         Safety is always in numbers so whatever you decide to do, make sure you are not alone. Staying in groups will ensure you have a great evening!

·         If you have pets, bring them inside tonight because fireworks can be very frightening for them.

·         And of course, remember to have fun! And if you find yourself in an emergency, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1.

 Cell Phone Sally wishes you a Happy New Year! May 2015 be memorable for you as well as for 9-1-1 public education- Cheers!

Practice Safety First When Traveling for the Holidays

Many people have begun or will begin traveling to different cities, states and sometimes countries, to spend time with their loved ones this holiday season. While it is the most wonderful time of year, it is almost an important time of year to practice safety first!

Here are some quick tips on keeping you and your family safe as you travel.

Traveling Away From the Home

• Make sure all your doors and windows are locked in the home before leaving.
• If you have an alarm, make sure to turn it on while you are out of town.
• Have a neighbor or family member watch your house, pick up your mail and even park in your driveway periodically, if possible.
• Leave a radio or television on so the house sounds occupied.
• Make sure expensive items or gifts in your home are not visible through windows or doors.
• If you have a Christmas tree, make sure it is placed in water or wet sand to keep it fresh.

On the Road

• Keep all doors locked and windows closed when you are away from your vehicle. This will help prevent thieves from easy access to your valuables.
• Never leave your car unoccupied while it is running. (And as a reminder, don’t leave children unattended in the car either for their safety too)
• When leaving your vehicle, make sure all valuables are out of sight. If you have to leave something in your car, put it in the trunk.
• Always remember to wear your seatbelt and practice cautious driving, especially if road conditions are bad.
• Never drink and drive.
• If you are involved in an accident, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1 for help.

Whatever your plans may be for the holidays, we hope everyone enjoys time with loved ones. Remember: practice safety first and we will see you all again next year in 2015!