IAFF Local 502

502,

                                         Union meeting

                        Station # 4

                                                       7:00 pm

                           Feb. 16th

       Finshing up what wasn't covered in last meeting.

Protect Yourself and Your Family Today!

In the event of a fire, properly installed and maintained smoke alarms will provide an early warning alarm to your household. This alarm could save your own life and those of your loved ones by providing the chance to escape.

Why Should My Home Have Smoke Alarms?

In the event of a fire, a smoke alarm can save your life and those of your loved ones. They are a very important means of preventing house and apartment fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal -- so you and your family can escape. Smoke alarms are one of the best safety devices you can buy and install to protect yourself, your family, and your home.

What Types of Smoke Alarms Are Available?

There are many different brands of smoke alarms available on the market but they fall under two basic types:  ionization and photoelectric.

Ionization alarms sound more quickly when a flaming, fast moving fire occurs. Photoelectric alarms are quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires. There are also combination smoke alarms that combine ionization and photoelectric into one unit, called dual sensor smoke alarms.

Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fires, and because homeowners cannot predict what type of fire might start in a home, the USFA recommends the installation of both ionization and photoelectric or dual sensor smoke alarms.

In addition to the basic types of alarms, there are alarms made to meet the needs of people with hearing disabilities. These alarms may use strobe lights that flash and/or vibrate to assist in alerting those who are unable to hear standard smoke alarms when they sound.

Okay, Where Do I Put Them?

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. Many fatal fires begin late at night or in the early morning. For extra safety, install smoke alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas. Since smoke and many deadly gases rise, installing your smoke alarms at the proper level will provide you with the earliest warning possible. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Where Would I Get Smoke Alarms?

Many hardware, home supply, or general merchandise stores carry smoke alarms. If you are unsure where to buy one in your community, call your local fire department (on a nonemergency telephone number) and they will provide you with some suggestions. Some fire departments offer smoke alarms for little or no cost.

Are Smoke Alarms Hard to Install?

If your smoke alarms are hard wired, that is wired into the electrical system, you will need to have a qualified electrician do the initial installation or install replacements.  For battery powered smoke alarms, all you will need for installation is a screw driver. Some brands are self adhesive and will easily stick to the wall or ceiling where they are placed.  For all smoke alarm installations, be sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions because there are differences between the various brands.  If you are uncomfortable standing on a ladder, ask a relative or friend for help. Some fire departments will install a smoke alarm in your home for you. Call your local fire department (on a non-emergency telephone number) if you have problems installing a smoke alarm.

Helpful Tip

Pick a holiday or your birthday and replace the batteries each year on that day.

If your smoke alarm starts making a "chirping" noise, replace the batteries and reset it.

How Do I Keep My Smoke Alarm Working?

If you have a smoke alarm with batteries:

1. Smoke Alarms powered by long-lasting batteries are designed to replace the entire unit according to manufacturer’s instructions.
2. In standard type battery powered smoke alarms, the batteries need to be replaced at least once per year and the whole unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.
3. In hard-wired, battery back up smoke alarms, the batteries need to be checked monthly, and replaced at least once per year. The entire unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.

What if the Alarm Goes Off While I’m Cooking?

Then it’s doing its job. Do not disable your smoke alarm if it alarms due to cooking or other non-fire causes. You may not remember to put the batteries back in the alarm after cooking.  Instead clear the air by waving a towel near the alarm, leaving the batteries in place. The alarm may need to be moved to a new location. Some of the newer models have a “hush” button that silences nuisance alarms.

How Long will my Smoke Alarm Last?

Most alarms installed today have a life span of about 8-10 years. After this time, the entire unit should be replaced. It is a good idea to write the date of purchase with a marker on the inside of your alarm so you will know when to replace it. Some of the newer alarms already have the purchase date written inside. In any event, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacement.

Anything Else I Should Know?

Some smoke alarms are considered to be “hard-wired.” This means they are connected to the household electrical system and may or may not have battery backup. It’s important to test every smoke alarm monthly and replace the batteries with new ones at least once a year.

502,

Union meeting 7:00 pm at station 4 !!!!

          JANUARY 28TH, 2010

Lots of items to talk about...  Officer Elections, New updated bylaws,MDA,FLSA,LOPFI update etc!!!!

My First Ride" - More Singers Sign On

Updated On: Oct 13, 2009 (22:15:00) PRINT/SAVE EMAIL

BLEVE Entertainment will be releasing a new CD around November 1, 2009 named after the single "My First Ride" by Ronnie Milsap featuring Trace Adkins. Now other big name singers will have songs on the new CD including James Otto, Vince Gill, Mike Reid, John Michael Montgomery, Kevin Bacon and George Strait. You have seen previous emails and posts about the dispute with Capitol Records trying to stop BLEVE from playing "My First Ride". Some of the proceeds from this CD and the single will be donated to the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund. I am a trustee on this fund and thank BLEVE for their genorisity in agreeing to donate money for any and all sales including CD, downloads and concerts. We need the funds and lucky this year we had no major hurricanes affecting our members. We need your help to make this project succesful. Attached is an excel spreadsheet of key country music radio stations. Please call or email the program directors listed and request that they play "My First Ride" and add it to their playlist. If possible invite them to the fire station or carry a fire fighter t shirt to the station for the director and/or dj. Ask your members and their family members and friends to call. Below is a letter from a blog Saving Country Music. People are rallying to support us please do your part. Monday, October 05, 2009  My Letter to Capitol Records Nashville Category: Music Dear Capitol Records Nashville, When firefighters came to protest at your building in support of Ronnie Milsap and Bleve Music, you forced them away. My guess is they would have not met the same reception if the building was on fire, and you or your family were inside. Yet your actions are precluding dollars from the firefighter's families if they died trying to save you or your family. And these aren't hypotheticals. The reason these funds are needed is because 343 firefighters lost their lives on 9/11 trying and succeeding to save thousands of lives of people just like you, people going to work everyday in a high rise building. And even then, even in the face of this cutting irony, I have no doubt that if Capitol Records Nashville went ablaze, those firefighters wouldn't blink once risking their lives like they do every day to come pull your greedy bacon out of the fire. What kind of disease of the soul would make someone take this stance, make someone so grossly overlook their sense of decency, community, and family? How do you live like this? And if you draw the moral line somewhere past withholding money from the families of fallen firefighters and police officers, what kind of other malevolent deeds can your lawyers help you justify? This isn't about music anymore, it is way beyond that. It isn't even about freedom of speech. This reaches beyond all of these trappings of culture and country to the moral fabric that joins every single last person on our planet together and that expresses itself in compassion and empathy. If you came upon somebody who really needed help, would you help them? And if someone helped you, would you say "Thank you"? I do not have any firefighters or police in my immediate or extended family, or any that are friends or neighbors. But what I do have is this: About 11 years ago I was in a major car accident. Luckily I didn't have a passenger or they would have died. My truck was crumpled all around me, so much so that my knees were touching my chest, and my teeth had bit clean through the bottom of my lower lip. They had to cut me out with the jaws of life, and use a dust buster to vacuum the windshield glass out of the flesh wounds in my arms. I still have the scars to this day. And even though they delivered me to the hospital fully strapped down to a gurney as a precaution, before I left that ambulance, with the little I could move my hand, I grabbed the wrist of that first responder with a serious enough grip that he looked me straight in the eyes, and I simply said "Thank You." I told myself as I was being wheeled into the hospital that I would write a personal "Thank You" letter to each of the people on that first responder crew, but life goes on and it never happened. We rarely get opportunities to sit back and give thanks for the essential things in life, like the people who serve and protect. But luckily Bleve Records and Ronnie Milsap have given all of us this opportunity through something we all can enjoy guilt free: music. So please Capitol Records Nashville, take a moment and think about it, and take advantage of this opportunity to just simply say "Thank You" to the people who risk their lives every day. And if you don't, then I pray for your sake that you lose this fight. Not just because I personally want to see Bleve Records prevail, but because as one human feeling compassion and empathy for another, I would hate for you to have to look back years later after this event and feel the guilt that your decision regarding this case will undoubtedly create. Sincerely, Kyle Coroneos