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Biddle Bits
Children and firefighters have a strong bond. This youthful group within the population has traditionally been a strong focus for the safety training undertaken by the Yeadon Fire Company. There is one area of safety where children along cannot be the target of this volunteer group’s special safety messages. Mike DiIenno, the Fire Company’s Emergency Medical Advisor explains, “Poison safety requires the special attention of the adults within the influence group of all children.”
As adults can easily relate, children in the age group of one to six years are natural explorers and mimics. Statistics show many of the poison problems in this age category occur when children are exploring. This exploration comes from a child’s spilling, shaking, smelling, tasting and wiping of their hands on their skin or clothing. These are the ways poisons come in contact with a child.
In explaining this danger, Deputy Chief DiIenno adds, “This group of children has the highest fatality rate because of ingestion and the inability of newly developing organs to cope with a massive toxic exposure. To combat this problem, adults must be extra careful in the storage and availability of poisonous substances.”
The Yeadon firefighters join with national safety experts as they provide a primer of precautionary suggestions. Proper recognition and storage, and never associating any medicine or other potentially poisonous substance as a food item, candy, or a parallel with other favorites of children are the first steps in avoiding exploration and possible sickness or death in this age group.
The second age group of children, ages five to 10, becomes another type of challenge. The Yeadon Fire Company’s DiIenno reminds adults this age group is one that wants to become helpers. This new childish help occurs in the house, the garage, or in the yard.
Most accidental poisonings occur when children in this age group try to clean with the household products they see adults using. The increasing physical maturity may help in slowing, but not preventing the body’s responses to poison. This does not translate to any avoidance in calling for help.
Figures show that many poison cases in this age group have a slow “call for help” response because of social implication. Neither the child nor their adult family members want to make the necessary call to 9 1 1 because of embarrassment. . Seconds count in all poison problems regardless of the age. “Make the call to 9 1 1 as soon as there is an awareness of a possible or known poison problem,” stresses the Fire Company’s Medical Advisor.
In concluding this primer of child-poison safety,. DiIenno adds, “Poisonous reactions can and must be prevented. Remember that not all poison dangers come from ingestion. Please practice special precautionary steps in these age groups. Remember, poisoning can also result from inhalation and skin contact. With children, poison prevent is a steady and ongoing responsibility. Never hesitate in getting professional help. Always call 9 1 1 IMMEDIATELY.”
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Thanks to the computer and the successful use of Search Engines, there can be found multiple identities for a theme for each month. A long-standing theme for month of March has a special meaning for members of the Yeadon Fire Company. The on-going theme embraced for this month deals with Poisons.
While these volunteers point to the need to practice poison awareness every month, this year’s Poison Awareness month theme has a special meaning for one of the trained members. This topic applies to all age groups; with one special identity -- infants and children -- there is always a special emphasis. This group demand special attention.
One question that can be a wake up effort is the following: What do the garage, a woman’s handbag, a bed stand, the kitchen sink area, the social area of the home, the garage, a man toiletry bag, multiple areas within the basement and other rooms have in common?
The answer to this partial list of locations is that each of them may house something that can be a poison to an infant, a child, an adult, the elderly, and family pets.
Many of the everyday items found at home, at work, or at play can become a poison. Some become dangerous in even small quantities. Others become dangerous if over used. Yeadon Fire Company Deputy Chief Mike DiIenno, the group’s Medical Advisor added, “A few become dangerous when used in combination with other seemingly innocent items.” Yeadon Mike DiIenno stressed, “Avoid comparing any medicine to a candy or a treasured edible or drinkable treat. This can promote unguided consumption of false candy items.”
Following the important steps of prevention, the second important ingredient in reversing the effects of poisons is the immediate call to 9 1 1. This must be the first step. The timely aid by trained professionals continues to be the best reversal activity.
Not all ingested poisons foster the once-universal step of promoting vomiting. Eroding chemicals and those that can accelerate problems such as petroleum products must not become candidates for vomiting. These special poisoning characteristics are just a small contribution behind the necessity for an immediate call to 9 1 1.
When in doubt, never second-guess. Always call for the help of professionals. “Never try to driving a suspected poisoning victim to a hospital. Victims of poisons need full and proper attention by trained personnel,” added Yeadon’s Emergency Medical Advisor.
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Several members of the Yeadon Fire Company have been contacted by area residents asking why the local Fire Company is using an unknown firm to do their fundraising this year. The bold truth is this telephone solicitation firm in no way represents the Yeadon Fire Company.
The receipt of calls of this nature is extremely upsetting to one group of call recipients --- members of the Yeadon Fire Company.
Any solicitation without merit is a deep concern. Calls being made at this time are doubly concerning. In a short time, the Yeadon Fire Company will be beginning their legitimate, annual appeal for funding for their Emergency Medical Services. Autumn is the time when the firefighting arm of this 100—plus year community protection service holds its funding appeal.
Thanks to the Internet, a quick search for some background information about this unauthorized telephone solicitation firm yields a collection of disturbing information. The calling group has been identified as the Firefighters Charitable Foundation. When this New York state-based organization is compared to a national collection of fundraising groups for fire service fundraising this group’s standing begins to paint an alarming image. Each of four comparison organizations sampled from across the nation held the high merit of four stars. The group making calls into this area earned NO Stars.
Contributing to this failing evaluation is a sample fiscal report. Their record of distribution to organizations they are reporting to support is non-existent. In the reported figures for Fiscal year 2007 this group reported revenue of $4,176,929. Their reported expenses for this same period were $4,290,402
A further analysis points to why there was no distribution to outside groups. The expenses of $4,290,402 that overshadowed their revenue came from the following categories: Program Expenses, $475,221; Administrative Expenses, $245,647; and Fundraising Expenses, $3,569,534
The local firefighters openly request that no resident, business, or other community group or organization direct funds to this high-overhead, non-representative group. The available information they have documented demonstrates they have no interest in any one other than themselves.
In commenting upon this funding hoax, President Mike Himes stated, "On a positive note, please remember to answer the soon-to-be-mailed funding request that is legitimate source of funding for the Yeadon Fire Company."
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One of the winter events is to play indoors. This form of recreation often includes a group of neighborhood or classroom friends. When there are young guests, food often becomes a part of the fun. The Yeadon Fire Company’s Emergency Medical Advisor Mike DiIenno reminds parents and grandparents that the American Egg Board’s marketing slogan about the incredible, edible egg is not true for all children.
Not all children can tolerate eggs. One of the periodic reminders about egg allergies deals with some, but not all vaccines. To the unknowing, vaccines can be developed from an egg host. If so, these vaccines are a threat to anyone allergic to eggs and egg products.
Yeadon Fire Company’s DiIenno volunteered, “More common than the topic of eggs and vaccine concerns is the topic of food. The content of home prepared, made from specific ingredients meals is controllable. This is not true of packaged meals. Without the reading of a container’s label, knowledge of egg-based ingredients can be a challenge.”
Eating meals that are not home-cooked becomes an important concern for parents of children having an egg allergy. “Please don’t hesitate to share with the parents of your child or children’s friends if there is any food allergy. They will understand your concerns, as well as the needs of special food choices for guests,” added Deputy Chief DiIenno as she discussed precautions to take when children visit their friends.
Recognizing the signs of reactions to an egg allergy is important. They include a possible skin reaction of a rash or a reaction similar to the bumps of hives or some other onset rash. An egg allergy can also result in stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Another indicator of an egg allergy involves the respiratory tract. Those symptoms can range from sneezing and a runny nose. A severe reaction of this nature is asthma with coughing and wheezing.
In concluding this egg allergy warning, the Yeadon Fire Company’s Emergency Medical Advisor advised, “Any family member or guest that demonstrates these symptoms must be monitored. If there is even a hint of a breathing problem, immediate medical help is a must. “
In describing the needs for medical treatment, Deputy Chief DiIenno cited that driving anyone with an allergy response should never be a family responsibility. He stressed, “Call 9 1 1 and never try to transport in a personal vehicle. Training, procedures, and medical assistance can only be home-initiated with professionally trained EMS personnel. This benefit does not exist in family transport. “