Gov.
George Ryan’s Illinois
FIRST legislation provided $350,000.00 for the purchase of
Du Quoin’s Aerial Truck. Funding was secured by State Representative
Mike Bost and Illinois Senator David Luechtefeld at the request
of Mayor John Rednour.
Mayor
John Rednour seeks funding for South-Side Fire Station from
Gov. George Ryan.
On Aug. 26, 2001 Gov. George
Ryan personally delivers $250,000.00 check for purchase of
Illinois Power building.
Train traffic crossing S. Washington St. was the reason the City
of Du Quoin
was looking for the ability to have a Station and equipment
South of the rail road tracks.
The overpass on Poplar
St. allowed our department access
to the City’s West side eliminating the need for our
West Side Station. One Engine and other equipment will now
be housed in the south station and will require off-duty or
volunteer firefighters to respond when needed.
The Building is large enough to enable the
servicing of our new ladder truck.
It is large enough to be able to raise and service
the ladder inside the building.
Fenced in space outside the building is adequate
enough to allow for a large number of training exercises.
2004 FEMA GRANT AWARD:
U.S.
Congressman Jerry Costello announced Wednesday
September, 8, 2004 that the Du Quoin Fire Department
has received a $31,500 Assistance to Firefighters grant through
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The funds will be used to replace and improve vehicle
extrication and rescue equipment. “Getting these resources directly
to our local first responders is an important way to enhance
safety in our communities,” said Costello.
“Our firefighters put their lives on the line
everyday and need adequate equipment to do their jobs.”
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For decades, the Du Quoin Fire Department has been the agency
responsible for rescuing victims trapped by motor vehicle
accidents. Over the years there have been many, many lives
saved during such incidents. The Du Quoin Fire Department,
on average, annually responds to 6-10 motor vehicle accidents
that require immediate extrication of one or more occupants,
many of whom suffer from serious, even life-threatening injuries.
It is very notable that the members of our department have
saved more lives with our extrication equipment than any other
equipment owned by our department. In fact, EVERY time we
are called out to extricate a victim, we have a huge impact
on the outcome of that victim. We know many lives have been
saved by being able to extricate the victim or victims quickly,
efficiently and without further injury or delay. We have been
able to accomplish these rescues as a result of having the
necessary equipment and proper training.
Our current extrication equipment was purchased in 1983. This
21 year old equipment has served its community very well.
It is estimated that hundreds of lives have been touched directly
by its use, not to mention the indirect connections of associated
families and friends. It was one of the first powered hydraulic
extrication tools in our area. Since its purchase it has responded
to neighboring communities to provide its life saving capabilities.
After years of life saving service, our equipment is showing
its age. The power plant has many hours on it and is not powerful
enough to run two sets of tools simultaneously. Its inability
to produce enough power and its inability to even hook up
two sets of tools simultaneously prevents rescuers from being
able work as quickly as possible. Any preventable delay of
the rescue of a victim that is in need of urgent medical care
is potentially disastrous.
In
2004 the Du Quoin Fire Department submitted an application
for a grant to fund the replacement of our vehicle extrication
and rescue equipment.
The department seeks to improve safety and life
saving capabilities by upgrading equipment and the acquisition
of new equipment used during the rescues of victims from motor
vehicle accidents.
The proposed power unit that can
operate two tools at the same time provides many advantages.
While one tool is working, another tool can be hooked up and
begin another operation on the same vehicle or could even
be stretched to another involved vehicle to begin extrication
of another victim. This feature alone provides great opportunity
for more successful and timely extrication of all victims.
Increased
capabilities of this rescue equipment will provide more efficient
and successful rescues of victims involved in numerous types
of incidents in and around our community. It will allow our
rescue personnel to compete missions safely and in a manner
than reduces lost time that is so important in a victim’s
need for timely medical treatment.
Fire
Safety :
FIRE SAFETY CLASSES:
Fire Safety Classes can be arranged
for All Age Groups: Contact us for Your School, Scouting,
Church Group, Social Group, or Seniors.
Employee Fire Safety Classes
can also be arranged by Employers for Work Fire Safety Classes.
For
more information or scheduling: please contact Fireman John VanVoorhis at 542-5600
SMOKE DETECTOR PROGRAM:
The
Du Quoin Fire Department with help of sponsors provides
a detector placement program.
SMOKE DETECTORS ARE
YOUR BEST DEFENSE TO GET YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY OUT IN TIME IN EVENT OF A FIRE!!
If
any residence in Du Quoin needs a smoke detector, but
cannot afford one, please contact us.
With the help of sponsors we will be able to provide
or install a detector for you.
NEARLY
1/2 of the smoke detectors in the United
States DO NOT WORK because
they are not maintained properly (BATTERIES NOT WORKING)
or (NOT TESTED FOR CORRECT OPERATION)
At
a minimum – 1 smoke detector outside each sleeping
area & 1 on every floor.
Recommended:
1 additional smoke detector in each bedroom
TEST
SMOKE DETECTORS WEEKLY
REPLACE BATTERIES TWICE A YEAR
(When
you change your clock – change your battery)
REPLACE
SMOKE DETECTORS EVERY 10 YEARS
SMOKE DETECTORS!!
DON’T STAY HOME WITHOUT IT!!!
IF YOU NEED A DETECTOR, OR KNOW
SOMEONE WHO DOES, PLEASE
CONTACT US AT 542-5600
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING
FOR SPONSORS FOR OUR PROGRAM.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
RE-FIRE PLANNING
YOUR BUSINESS:
The
Du Quoin Fire Dept. is actively Pre-planning the businesses
in our response area. Pre-Fire planning allows our department
to be better prepared and more familiar with your building,
its layout and special hazards associated with your business
in case a fire breaks out.
A
Pre-fire Plan includes:
· Property
address, property uses, emergency contacts of owners/managers
· Utility
shut-offs, service systems
· Sprinkler
or standpipe connections
· Building
Construction Details
· Special
Hazards associated with property or contents
· Detailed
Drawing of Building Layout
If
you would like for us to make an appointment to pre-fire
plan your building, please contact Captain Joe Riggio at
the Du Quoin Fire Department at 542-5600.
HOME FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION:
The
Du Quoin Fire Dept. can inspect your home for general fire
safety. Fire
can strike any time, but there are certainly some things
we can do to help eliminate some risks of fire.
If you have some concerns about your home, contact
us for a free home fire safety inspection.
We can advise you of any concerns we see and recommend
some improvements to help eliminate the risk of fire in
your home.
FIRE SAFETY TIPS:
BE PREPARED!
IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!
MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY ARE AT LITTLE RISK OF A
MAJOR FIRE IN THEIR HOME
Per capita, the United States
has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized
world.1 Nationally - there are nearly 2 million
fires every year. For
the last 10 years there have been 4-5 thousand people die
each year as a result of fire.
Every day in the United States,
12 people die as a a result of fire.
Smoke Detectors:
SMOKE DETECTORS ARE
YOUR BEST DEFENSE TO GET YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY OUT IN TIME IN EVENT OF A FIRE!!
Nearly 1/2 of the smoke detectors
don't work in the US
because they are not maintained properly (BATTERIES NOT
WORKING or PRESENT) or (NOT TESTED FOR CORRECT OPERATION)
At a minimum -
1 smoke detector out side each sleeping area & 1 on
every level of your home.
Recommended: additional
smoke detector in each bedroom)
Test weekly
Replace batteries 2 x year (CHANGE
YOUR CLOCK-CHANGE YOUR BATTERIES)
Replace smoke
detectors every 10 yrs.
SMOKE
DETECTORS!!
DON’T STAY HOME WITHOUT THEM!!!
ESCAPE PLANS:
HAVE an ESCAPE PLAN & PRACTICE IT
1st
Let everyone know there is a fire.
2nd
USE YOUR ESCAPE PLAN
Fire Escape Planning and Practice
Home
Escape Planning: If a fire broke out in the middle of the
night, would you and your family be able to escape safely?
Although most Americans believe they could get out alive,
according to NFPA's 1997
Home Fire Escape Survey, only a small number
(16%) have actually developed and practiced a home fire
escape plan to ensure they could escape quickly and safely.
Some 4,000 fire deaths occur in
U.S. homes every
year, and too often it's because people did not, or could
not, get out of a burning home in time. Developing and practicing
a home fire escape plan is the key to survival.
The elements of
an effective home fire escape plan include the following:
· Working smoke
alarms on every level of the home and outside all sleeping
areas
· Two ways out
of each room
· Unobstructed
and easy-to-use exits
· A meeting place
outside
· Practicing the
plan at least twice a year with every member of the household
Everyone, including preschoolers,
can be taught the basics of fire escape. If there are infants
or family members with mobility limitations, someone in
the household should plan to assist them. Also make sure
that doors needed for escape can be opened easily, and that
windows are not nailed or painted shut. The most important
thing to remember is to react to the sound of a smoke alarm
immediately and make getting out your top priority.
If fire strikes...
·
ALERT
EVERYONE! Sound
the alarm (if at work), even if the fire appears small.
·
Leave
quickly, closing doors as you go to contain fire and smoke.
·
If
you encounter smoke or flame during your escape, use another
exit. Since heat and smoke rise, cleaner and cooler air
will be near the floor. If you must exit through smoke,
crawl on your hands and knees toward your exit, keeping
your head in the "safety zone" one to two feet
above the floor.
·
Test
doors before you open them. Kneel at the door; reach up
as high as you can and touch the door, the knob, the space
between the door and its frame with the back of your hand.
If the door is warm, use another escape route. If the door
is cool, open it slowly and be prepared to slam it shut
if smoke or heat rushes in.
·
Follow
the directions of fire and security personnel. Once outside,
DON'T EVER GO BACK IN!
Move away from the building, out of the way of firefighters,
and stay out until the fire department says you may go back
in.
HOUSE NUMBERS: Have your Address clearly visible
in case of an emergency whether it be police, fire, or ambulance.
Your address should be clearly visible from the street.
Valuable time can be saved when you need help by
having your address clearly marked.
* How to Report a Fire
Make sure everyone in the house
knows there's a fire and get out.
Call from a neighbor’s house
- DIAL 911
Tell them what type of emergency
and the address and stay on the line until the dispatcher
gets all the information they need.
ELIMINATE FIRE/BURN RISKS & HAZARDS:
SIMPLY STATED, THE MOST EFFECTIVE MANNER IN WHICH
TO FIGHT FIRES IS TO PREVENT THEM FROM STARTING!
F
Cooking: Leading cause
of home fires in the US
In 1-2 family dwellings - 23% of
fires start in the kitchen - 12% in the bedroom
Wear short or tight fitting sleeves, not loose long sleeves.
Know how to fight a grease fire - lid, baking soda, or extinguisher.
Turn handles in when cooking. Always try to use back burners
Never leave cooking unattended
Scald, burn injuries
Thousands of children suffer burn
related injuries each year.
Children under 4 yrs old are at the greatest risk
with an injury rate more than 4 times that of children 5
to 14 yrs old. Burns
have long been recognized as among the most painful and
devastating injuries a person can sustain and survive.
Burns often require long periods of rehabilitation,
multiple skin grafts, painful physical therapy and leave
victims with lifelong physical and psychological trauma.
The majority of scald burns to children,
especially ages 6 months to 2 years are from hot foods and
liquid spilled in the kitchen or other places where food
is prepared or served.
Hot tap water accounts for nearly
1/4 of all scald burns among children and is associated
with more deaths and hospitalizations than other hot liquid
burns.
They also tend to be more sever and cover a larger
portion of the body.
Be careful around hot water - foods
- drinks
Turn on cold water first - turn
off hot water first
Have parents check temp on hot water
heater.
Treat burns with cool water and
seek medical attention immediately.
IF YOUR CLOTHES CATCH ON FIRE - STOP DROP ROLL (Cover your face)
NEVER RUN!
Space Heaters: electric, natural gas, or kerosene, Electric baseboard heaters
3 feet away
Inspect weekly for faulty cords
or damaged fuel lines
Do not play around
NEVER leave unattended
Fireplaces: Have chimney
inspected and cleaned annually
Have screens, covers onf fireplaces
Keep things away from fireplace/
wood burner
Electrical outlets: Extension cords don't overload.
Do not put extension cords under
rugs, have furniture sitting on, or wrap around long lengths
Only use extension cords for temporary
uses.
Electrical appliances:Any misoperation of an appliance
or outlet should be noted and repair person contacted.
Unplug when not in use
Inspect cords
Electrictricution hazzards - do not use near water
Gas appliances: There should
be a separate shut off valve located on the supply line
for every gas appliance.
Any gas leak should be taken seriously and the gas
company contacted.
Carbon Monoxide detectors are a good idea for homes
with gas appliances.
Apparatus
and Equipment: Most
of the department's equipment is kept at Station #1
located on the corner of State Highway 51 (Poplar Street)
and South Division Street. Reserve apparatus and equipment
are kept at our Station #2 located on State Highway
51 South of the Fairgrounds. 
