Your home should be a safe haven. But do you regularly check for home fire hazards? If not, there is the potential for danger. Fire departments responded to nearly 400,000 home fires in 2006. That’s why the theme of Fire Prevention Week 2008 is "It’s Fire Prevention Week: Prevent Home Fires!"

From October 5-11, 2008, fire safety advocates will spread the word to their communities that, with a little extra caution, preventing the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating, electrical and smoking-materials – is within their power.

Check back for more exciting information about local events going on during Fire Prevention Week!

Carlock Fire Protection District, in association with Heartland Community College, are pleased to welcome a demonstration by Life Flight Helicopter.    EMT-Basic class students will have the opportunity to learn about this valuable air-ambulance service, as well as hear first hand about the helicopter and the crew abilities and skills.

"Among the many types of flights Life Flight completes, approximately 7% are scene response missions. A scene response is any type of flight were the crew is requested to transport a patient from the site of an accident or injury, or from a pre-designated intercept point for transport to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center's Level One Trauma Center. During these missions the Life Flight crews have the opportunity to work beside local EMS, Fire, and Police Departments in the surrounding area. "

Additionally, the EMT students will have the opportunity to tour the Carlock fire station, and learn about our Basic Life Support ambulance, 3-Nora-55.

The training and demonstration will be on Monday, September 8th from 7-9pm.  All interested persons should contact Carlock Fire as soon as possible for further information.

Photo and quoted text copyright OSF Life Flight and http://www.osflifeflight.org/

In an effort to expand the medical training of its members, as well as the level of service , Carlock Fire Protection District is sending four members to Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-Basic) courses this fall at Heartland Community College in Normal.

The EMT-Basic represents the first component of the emergency medical
technician system. An EMT trained at this level is prepared to care for
patients at the scene of an accident and while transporting patients by
ambulance to the hospital under medical direction. The EMT-Basic has
the emergency skills to assess a patient’s condition and manage
respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies.

At the EMT-Basic level, coursework emphasizes emergency skills, such as
managing respiratory, trauma, and cardiac emergencies, and patient
assessment. Formal courses are often combined with time in an emergency
room or ambulance. The program provides instruction and practice in
dealing with bleeding, fractures, airway obstruction, cardiac arrest,
and emergency childbirth. Students learn how to use and maintain common
emergency equipment, such as backboards, suction devices, splints,
oxygen delivery systems, and stretchers. Graduates of approved
EMT-Basic training programs must pass a written and practical
examination administered by the State of Illinois or the NREMT.