Long Beach Fire Department Encourages Water Safety Practices
By frhayes | June 7, 2009
With the summer months approaching, the Long Beach Fire Department and its Marine Safety Division encourages residents to practice safety in and around water to prevent drowning and injuries from occurring. Statistics show that drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death for all age groups in the United States, the second leading cause of accidental death among children under 14 years of age and the leading cause of accidental death for children 5 and under.
Topics: Public Safety | 34 Comments »
Boat Burn Drill With Boater Safety Information
By frhayes | June 5, 2009
On June 4, 2009 at 10:30 a.m., the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) Marine Safety Division conducted a live fire training drill involving a 35-foot powerboat. The purpose of this exercise was to ensure that our men and women maintain a high level of proficiency when it comes to the management of shipboard emergencies. The location for this training was held on the ocean, at the swim line in front of the Beach Maintenance Facility located at 4320 Olympic Plaza.
With the beginning of summer upon us, The LBFD would like to re-emphasize the need to be diligent in exercising proper safety measures. In 2007 there were 685 boating fatalities with the top five contributing factors being: operator inattention, reckless operations, skier behavior, excessive speed, and the use of alcohol. The causes of death associated with these contributing factors were in rank order: drowning (69%), trauma, hypothermia, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
In research studies it was determined that following some basic boating safety tips could have prevented some of these deaths. Wearing a life jacket was shown to drastically improve the changes of survival in some circumstances. It is the law in California that any children under the age of 12 wear a life jacket while “under way” on vessels 26 feet or less in length. Additional safety tips include: taking a boating safety course, have a first aid kit on board, staying away from moving propellers, have communication devices on board, such as a VHF radio, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) is useful for reporting to emergency responders your specific location.
Additional precautions include checking for weather warnings and forecasts, developing a float plan (giving a responsible person information on where you will be and for how long). All boaters should also understand that in over 50% of drowning alcohol was a contributing factor, as in the case of driving a car under the influence being dangerous, driving a boat while drinking alcohol should be avoided.
The LBFD hopes that this information will be helpful in ensuring that all boaters have a safe and enjoyable boating season. For more information on boating safety please go to: www.safeboatingcampaign.com
Topics: Events | 24 Comments »
Hazardous Materials Incident at Sears
By frhayes | June 2, 2009
At 10:30 p.m. on June 1st, Long Beach Fire Department’s Engine 17 was dispatched to a fire alarm sounding at the Sears Store on Bellflower Blvd. Upon arrival, it was determined that a smoke detector had been triggered by a significant leak of a refrigerant gas in the basement.
The refrigerant gas, used in the air conditioning system for the building, is both heavier than air and an asphyxiating material. And, if allowed to spread, would leave a residue throughout the store.
Engine 17 requested the assistance of Battalion 2 and Hazardous Materials Task Force 24. Upon arrival, the Hazardous Materials Technicians from Task Force 24 were able to enter the basement in encapsulating suits and stop the leak by crimping the burst copper tubing.
This response occurred in Council District 4 (O’Donnell), there were no injuries, and the building was turned over to Sears’s staff.
Topics: Incidents | 22 Comments »
Fire With Baby Crib in Bedroom Empahsizes the Need for Smoke Detectors
By frhayes | May 28, 2009
On Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 15:11P.M. Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) units Battalion Chief 1, Engine 2, Engine 10, Engine 4, Truck 1, Rescue 2, and Public Information Officer 1 responded to a reported Apartment Fire at 761 ROSE AVE, #9, LONG BEACH, CA 90813.
The first arriving Unit Engine 2 arrived within 3 minutes from the time of dispatch and found a 2 story apartment building with smoke and fire showing from an upstairs rear unit in the complex. The crew of Engine 2 advanced a hose line into the upstairs unit to extinguish the fire and to conduct search and rescue operations. Additional LBFD units assisted with this operation in addition to evacuating the surrounding units to protect these residents.
As the LBFD crews searched through the unit they found that the fire was located in a bedroom that contained a babies crib. Fortunately no one was at home in the unit at the time of the fire, so a situation that could have been disastrous was averted. The crews were able to isolate the fire damage to the bedroom area with an estimated loss of approximately $5000 dollars. There was a smoke detector in the back bedroom that was severely damaged due to the fire that may have alerted the occupants if in fact this fire had occurred during the evening hours. This fire is a great example of how important smoke detectors are and how they could mean the difference between life and death.
Presently Members from the LBFD Arson investigation division are actively working through the evidence to determine the cause of the fire. Three individuals were displaced due to this fire, one male and one female adult, and the 18 month old little girl whose crib was located in the bedroom. All the members of this family are safe and in addition to this the management of the apartment complex has secured an apartment unit at another apartment building in Long Beach while there unit is repaired.
A total of 9 apparatus and 19 LBFD personnel responded to this call, and worked on this incident for approximately one hour and half.
Topics: Incidents | 22 Comments »
Injury Traffic Accident at the Diagonal and Wardlow Road
By frhayes | May 28, 2009
On Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 9:41 A.M. Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) units Engine 19, Rescue 17, Basic Life Support 17, Truck 19, Battalion Chief 2, Public Information Officer 1, and Rescue 14 responded to a reported Injury traffic Accident (ITA) at Los Coyotes Diagonal, At East Wardlow Road, LONG BEACH, CA 90808.
The first arriving unit Rescue 17 arrived within 4 minutes and found a two-vehicle accident involving a mini van and a Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) patrol car. There was significant damaged to both vehicles with the drivers side of the minivan crushed inward and the hood of the patrol car pushed back.
Airbags on both vehicles were deployed, the female driver of the mini van required extrication from her vehicle, which was accomplished by the crewmembers of Truck 19 using the “Jaws of Life”. During the extrication operations Rescue 17 administered medical treatment, and with the remaining crewmembers she was removed from the wreckage, and then transported to a local Trauma Center for continued medical interventions. At the time of her transport from the accident scene her condition was described as “serious but stable” with her overall condition not appearing to be “life threatening”.
The male Police Officer driving the patrol car was also evaluated on scene by the LBFD for any injuries. At the time of the accident he had no specific medical complaints, however due to the damage to both vehicles he was transported to a local hospital for a complete physical examination, and to receive any medical treatment that he might require.
Currently the LBPD is conducting a complete and thorough investigation of the cause of the accident
This incident occurred in City Council District 5, with a total of 7 LBFD apparatus with 13 personnel who operated at this incident for approximately 1 hour.
Topics: Incidents | 30 Comments »
