The Sugar Land Fire Department has a procedure called rehab (rehabilitation) for our emergency responders. This time of year, the company officers are keeping an eye on the temperatures and humidity that make up the heat index. In general, anytime firefighters are operating in an emergency outdoors with 90 degree temperatures and at least 40 percent humidity, the heat stress level requires a rehab sector be established. We add 10 degrees when protective clothing is worn and 10 degrees more when in direct sunlight. The purpose of rehab is to keep the fire crews rotating in an effort to handle an emergency without becoming victims to heat illness. The area selected for the rehab sector is located in the shade where firefighting equipment and safety gear can be removed. The firefighters can be evaluated and rehydrated and then possibly returned to the incident.

The re-hydration fluid of choice is water. Sports beverages and juice should be diluted 50/50 with water. It is recommended that all fluids be chilled to 50-60 degrees. Alcohol, caffeine sugar and carbonated beverages should be avoided before and during heat stress, as they contain elements that must be digested, a process that requires water.

If you normally operate in an air conditioned environment, have underlying health conditions and or lead a somewhat sedentary lifestyle, you will want to heed the same warning prior to engaging in activities outdoors this time of year. If you know of this activity in advance, then cut back on the items listed above and drink electrolytes the day before. The day of this activity, consume water only and monitor how you’re feeling. If you experience mild dizziness, nausea and or cramps, then retreat to a cool area and rehydrate. If your condition worsens, call 911 immediately. Don’t become a victim to the Texas summer heat!

As a definition, engineering controls are best described like the number and width of exits, fire alarm devices, fire sprinklers, etc. required by the fire code. If kept in working order engineering controls save lives and property. Our fire prevention inspectors make visits to ensure that the buildings and systems are being kept in working order. This is the enforcement concept. The education concept is making sure that occupants follow accepted practices like creating evacuation plans, communicating them and practicing them with fire drills. We also assist with making sure that they know how to use portable fire extinguishers, perform fire warden duties during an evacuation, and provide safety information through a variety of avenues, etc.

Subsequently, our fire crews create an incident report following each emergency response. From those we can determine if trends appear by time of day, type of emergency, area of town by census tract or occupancy type. Once we determine that an issue exists we can use any one of the above concepts and or a combination of them to combat the problem. One example is talking to people at business safety briefings and school visits about cooking safety. Because our number one cause of fires is from unattended cooking around 6 pm.

Some additional interesting data:

•    2010 Emergency Response Frequency by Location Type (percent)

•    52% of our calls are to Businesses, Outdoor or Other

•    48 % Residential, Apartment or Hotel

•    6.5% of our calls are to nursing home or retirement facility

•    6.0% are to doctors’ offices or clinics

•    3.0% are to schools or pre schools

In closing, with July 4th approaching, we want to remind everyone that it’s unlawful to possess, transport or ignite consumer fireworks within Sugar Land’s city limits. Moreover, the tip of a sparkler burns at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause third-degree burns and can easily catch clothes on fire. The consumer use of sparklers, fountains and novelties alone account for approximately 30 percent of the emergency room fireworks injuries each year. SLFD discourages the use of consumer fireworks, particularly small children handling sparklers! We want you and your family to have a safe and enjoyable July 4. The safest way to enjoy fireworks and celebrate our nation’s birthday is to attend public fireworks displays where only trained personnel will be involved in their use.

Historically, it has proven prudent to allocate resources with special training, knowledge and or skills amid different city departments. The fire department and other city departments do so seamlessly year-round in an effort to provide more value-added services. These agreements to work cooperatively are otherwise invisible to the public.

A few examples follow:

•    Our professional development (training) division assists with teaching other city personnel required National Incident Management System training, defensive driving, police block training. Resources are also provided for the regional SWAT team.

•    Our fire prevention division provides resources for the police impact team which assists with surveillance to reduce crime in areas of concern.

•    Annual fire extinguisher, fire evacuation and CPR classes are conducted citywide.

•    Our department provides regional incident management team members for major disasters. IMT members are trained in the latest National Incident Management System tactics and strategies.

All city departments are charged with working cooperatively, and lending support among departments is paramount to our success in that endeavor!

Remember June is the beginning of hurricane season, so be prepared! For more information on getting ready, please visit www.sugarlandtx.gov and click on the Emergency Management tab under departments.

The Fire Department currently offers this program year round to the residents of Sugar Land and areas of service. The Home Safety Survey is strictly voluntary on the part of the home owner but offers them valuable and potential life-saving information at no cost.

The idea is simple; the homeowner calls and requests a home safety survey. The Public Education staff then schedules an appointment for an engine company to visit the residence non emergency.

During the survey, the fire crew will inspect each room in the home with the occupant and discuss such hazards as cooking fires. Matter of fact in 2010, the most common cause of fires in Sugar Land was from unattended cooking. Most of these home fires started around 6 p.m. After the survey, the occupants are given a form documenting the hazards found and suggestions on how to correct them. The residents are also reminded of the importance of having and practicing an emergency fire escape plan. The Home Safety Survey usually takes 30-45 minutes.

Some of the common hazards we look for include:

-    Flammable liquid storage

-    Breaker Panel Labeling

-    Electrical hazards

-    Water Temperature

-    Matches & Lighters

-    Smoke detector locations & operation

-    Emergency supply kit

To schedule a Home Safety Survey, call the Sugar Land Fire Department at (281) 275-2177.

With the end of the school year quickly approaching, we’d like to share some information about a school program that we call our “Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Spring Safety Presentation.” During these in-school presentations, we discuss fire- and life-safety issues specific to this age group with an emphasis on summer time activities that can cause injuries. We help equip kids to have a happy and, hopefully, safe summer break. Among the subjects we discuss are safety helmets, seatbelt usage, burn prevention and care, poison prevention and fall safety. This school program is offered to all public and private elementary schools (within our jurisdiction) every April and May!

We want this to be fun and informative for the kids so they will be engaged for the entire 50 minutes we have with them. In order to accomplish this, we have interactive activities and utilize real-life stories to capture their imagination and maintain their attention. We often gauge our effectiveness by the question and answer session that concludes our program or by written essay.

With this said, please take a few minutes to discuss the following with your children:

• Always wear a safety helmet when on wheels. This includes bikes, scooters, skates, etc.

• Wear your seatbelt correctly while riding in the car.

• Never swim alone! Never dive head first without adult permission and checking the depth of the water.

• Only take medications that are prescribed for you. Remember vitamins and over-the-counter medications can be dangerous, too!

• Always cool a burn with water first! If it’s larger than your fist, seek medical treatment right away!