Handling the Heat

With temperatures rising past 100-degrees this week, you may wonder where to go to cool down. The City of Hillsboro is encouraging citizens who don't have air conditioning and need a place to cool down to stop in at one of the following cooling stations:

Tyson Recreation Center
1880 NE Griffin Oaks Street
5 pm - 9 pm (extended hours, M-F)

Hillsboro Senior Center
750 SE 8th Avenue
9 am to 9 pm (extended hours, M-F)

Main Library
2850 Brookwood Parkway
10 am to 8 pm (M-F)

Shute Park Branch Library
775 SE 10th Avenue
10 am - 8 pm (M-W)
10 am - 6 pm (Th-F)

West Police Precinct
250 SE 10th Avenue
3 pm - 9 pm (M-F)

The following Hillsboro churches will also be open his week for those needing a place to cool down:

Sonrise Church
6701 NE Campus Drive
12 pm - 5 pm

Westport Church
20085 NW Tanasbourne Drive
10 am - 4 pm (Tue, Thu & Fri)

Everyone is welcome at any of the cooling stations. However, children should be accompanied by an adult.

Special Skills for Pediatric Care

Just as adult clothes don’t fit children, emergency medical procedures and medicine doses are different for kids. That’s why Hillsboro Firefighters undergo annual mandatory training on pediatric pre-hospital care. As you know, a fire engine is dispatched any time you call for an ambulance. Strategically located to fight fire, the firefighters are also trained emergency medical technicians (EMT) and often arrive at your medical emergency prior to an ambulance. They can begin life-saving treatment and can often have a patient ready to transport by the time the ambulance arrives. This training helps them recognize the clinical situations that children present with their specific illnesses, traumatic injuries and, in the cases of infants, their inability to communicate to responders about what is wrong.

This week and next week, trainers are presenting a full day of classroom refresher training along with a full day series of skill stations. Each station is designed to test emergency medical skills such as: intubation (insertion of a mechanical breathing tube) and airway management, injury immobilization, and medication dosage calculations for the different age and size children. The emergencies include respiratory issues, traumas, altered levels of consciousness, seizures, burns and toxic exposures along with a host of chronic and acute diseases. The firefighters not only study the physiological aspect of trauma, but the psychological characteristics exhibited by children involved in disasters. Through the use of case lectures, videos, hands-on skill stations using practice props and group scenarios, the firefighters polish their skills at assessment and managing ill or injured children prior to their trip to a hospital.

Prepared for the Hot Weather

From Hot Days Response

On hot, dry and windy days like those forcast for this week, Hillsboro firefighter/medics leave their normal, ambulance-style, response vehicle in the fire station and respond with a brush fire fighting vehicle. The smaller, four-wheel drive vehicle is able to drive out into fields and over rough terrain where the heavy fire engines cannot travel. The Brush Rigs, as they are called, carry smaller amounts of water, but also have brush fire fighting tools, as well as the medical equipment normally carried on Rescue 1.

From Hot Days Response

The quicker response of BR-1 can often make the difference in stopping a brush fire when it is still small. All firefighters are trained to fight both structure fires and brush fires.

Misplaced Security Light Causes Mooberry Elementary Fire

Hillsboro Fire Investigators say a school security light removed from its position and placed face down against roofing material is the most likely cause of the early Friday (7/17/09) one-alarm fire at Mooberry Elementary School's kindergarten building located at 1230 NE 10th Avenue
View Larger Map. Investigators found the remains of a 400-watt mercury vapor light that was connected to a timer. Roofing contractors who had been working on the building told investigators they removed the light fixture from its position, left it connected to its wiring, and placed it face down against tar paper. They were unaware the light was on a timer.

Investigators say the light came on at about 10 pm and heated the tar paper to the point it began a fire on the roof deck. The fire burned slowly in the roofing material, ignited materials in the void space above the ceiling, and caused burning debris to drop down into the classroom area. That is when the smoke produced finally triggered the alarm system.

Fire damage to the roof and one classroom is extensive with heavy smoke, heat and water damage occurring to the remainder of the building. Damage estimate is $500,000.

Smoke Alarm Recall - Kidde Brand Dual Sensor PI2000

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Kidde Model PI2000 Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms

Units: About 94,000

Manufacturer: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc., of Mebane, N.C.

Hazard: An electrostatic discharge can damage the unit, causing it not to warn consumers of a fire.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received two reported incidents of smoke alarm malfunctions involving electrostatic discharge during installation. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Kidde dual sensor smoke alarms model PI2000. The alarms can be identified by two buttons, “HUSH” and “PUSH AND HOLD TO TEST WEEKLY,” which are located on the front/center of the alarm. The model number and date code are on the back of the smoke alarm. Only date codes 2008 Aug.01 through 2009 May 04 are included in this recall.

Sold at: Retail, department, and hardware stores and through electrical distributors nationwide from August 2008 through May 2009 for between $30 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should contact Kidde immediately to receive a free replacement smoke alarm.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Kidde toll-free at (877) 524-2086 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kidde.com

Bathroom Exhaust Fan Safety

In the past four weeks, Hillsboro Fire Department has responded to two residential fires that investigators say were caused by faulty bathroom exhaust fans. Both fires caused sufficient damage to force the families to move out while the home was being repaired. A couple of neighbors asked us what actions they should take to ensure the same thing doesn't happen in their own homes.

The answer is two fold:
1. Keep it clean and lubricated. Most people don't think about the accumulation of dust that occurs beyond the plastic or metal grill or housing visible from where you stand. Over a period of years, dust can accumulate causing the motor to work harder and even seize. That seized light-weight motor continues to generate heat, yet doesn't pull enough amperage to trip the circuit breaker. After enough time, sufficient heat will be generated to ignite the lint, wiring, plastic fan blades or housing. Solution: Periodically, shut off the circuit breaker and remove the fan cover or housing. Clean the fan's motor to ensure air flow can cool the windings. Clean the fan blades to reduce the drag on the motor. Reassemble and restore the circuit breaker to its normal position.

2. If it gets noisy, replace it. Over time, all electric motors will fail. If you have been in your home for 15 or 20 years and have noticed the noise level of a fan increasing or a vibration occuring, have it replaced by a qualified electrician. For information on selecting a replacement exhaust fan, visit ConsumerReports.org.