House fire listed as 600 W kirk

9:45 structure fire on the corner of Popular and Pottenger.  This house has been vacant for several years.  The back part of the home was on fire as well as the pool.  Several of the fire trucks were called in. I will try to post some Pict's. We also had a car fire just down the street about 3 weeks ago it was a mechanical problem.

                                                 photos by Anita

Teaching you children about 911

The three-digit telephone number "9-1-1" has been designated as the "Universal Emergency Number," for citizens throughout the United States to request emergency assistance.

Remember that you don't need any money to call 9-1-1 on any pay phone.

Stay calm and Speak clearly
Listen carefully to the Dispatchers questions and answer each question carefully.
Verbally answer all questions. Remember the Dispatcher cannot see your hand or head gestures, signs or motions.
State your emergency.
State your address - IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO VERIFY THE ADDRESS
STAY ON THE LINE
Do not hang up until the Dispatcher tells you it is OK to do so. They may need to ask additional questions regarding the emergency or an EMS dispatcher may give your instructions to help stabilize the patient before the ambulance gets to your location.
Follow the instructions of the Dispatcher and remain calm.
If you can, stay by the phone in case the 9-1-1 call-taker needs to call you back.

Here are some of the questions the dispatcher may ask you if you are reporting a crime in progress:
Give a brief description of what occurred.
Where exactly did the incident occur? Include building and room/area.
How long ago did the incident occur?
Did the suspect(s) have any weapons?
Which direction was the suspect headed?
Was the suspect on foot or in a vehicle?
What did the suspect(s) look like? Describe each suspect one at a time.
Gender
Race
Age
Height; Weight
Hair Color; Length
Clothing
Glasses/Facial Hair
Was the suspect carrying anything?
Vehicle Description, Color, Make, Model, License Plate


To help your child remember important numbers, keep a current list of lifeline numbers next to the phone. Print it in big letters so that if your child still has difficulty identifying the numbers, they can just look at the numbers and locate them on the keypad.

Have your child practice on an unplugged phone. They can dial 911 and you can be the call-taker. Ask them questions about the pretend incident. Do this kind of role-playing repeatedly. Kids like make-believe and repetition.

If you are teaching your children about 9-1-1, consider the following:

• First, it is important that your child be taught their address and telephone number.
• Secondly, make sure your child can physically reach at least one telephone. Wall mounted telephones can be unreachable for really small children.
• Discuss with your child any situations that may be unique to them. This could include an elderly live-in relative; younger sibling; or any other unique factor that the child might encounter.
• The 911 service is for emergencies. It is important to teach your child not to play with or misuse 9-1-1
• Always refer to the number as "nine-one-one" not "nine-eleven." In an emergency your child may be confused when they can't find the "eleven" button on your telephone.

  If you would like to arrange to have your child call 9-1-1 for real, as part of your training program, please call the dispatch center at  273-2121 and let the dispatcher know you are training your child about 9-1-1. Ask the dispatcher if they have time to handle a 9-1-1 test call from your child before you place that 9-1-1 call.

Gun Safety

Teaching your child about gun safety is your responsibility. Teach your child that he or she must not touch a gun in your home or those of their friends homes. Talking openly about gun safety with your child is usually more effective than just ordering them leave them alone. Kids are curious, uniformed children are likely to get hurt! Teach them the following rules about guns.

• Stop! Never assume that the gun is a toy.
• Don't Touch!
If your child finds a gun outside somewhere it is possable that the gun could have been used in a crime. Fingerprints on the gun could be destroyed if touched. And the gun could be loaded and ready to fire.
• Leave the Area!
• Tell an Adult! If the gun is found outside the police should be called as soon as possable and directed to the scene.
• Treat every gun as if it is loaded and ready to fire, even if you know it is empty.

• Let them know that guns are capable of destruction, bodily injury, and possible death if misused.

Store guns somewhere so that they are inaccessible to children and others. Keep them locked up. With the keys for the gun and ammunition in a different area from where they are stored.

If your child knows where your gun is teach them not to tell their friends and schoolmates that there are firearms in the house.

Use a gun trigger lock. And Teach your children not to handle guns without your supervision.

Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Where if the gun discharged nobody would get hurt. A safe direction is to point it at the ground and to the side.

Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. Keep it alongside the frame.

Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use, and Store the ammunition apart from the gun.

Never allow horseplay even if you know that it is unloaded.

Discuss gun safety with other parents if your child spends time in their homes.

AT SCHOOL

If your child hears another child saying that they are going to bring a gun to school tell them that is is very important to tell a teacher, the principal or another responsible adult. These threats should be taken seriously.

EDDIE EAGLE GUN SAFETY

http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/index.asp