HotShots February 2012 - Town of Gilbert

HOTSHOTS...
for the Gilbert Fire Department Volunteers
ommunity
ssistance
Kim’s Corner
By Kim Yonda
GFD Volunteer Coordinator
Volume 5, Issue 2
February 2012
Photo: CERT/GFD
Volunteering is a great way to learn new things, gain experience,
share talents, and make a difference in our community. This past
month over 34 Gilbert Fire Volunteers participated in “Operation
Hot Summer Day.” They were able to test their abilities in HAM,
and with launching and operating a Volunteer Registration Center
(VRC). Our system was tested, and I am pleased to say that the
Gilbert Fire Volunteer Program and all of its AMAZING Volunteers
demonstrated their professionalism and ability to activate in an
emergency. One hundred percent of the Volunteers responding met
the objective for response time to the scene. Kudos to each of you
for being prepared for activation, driving safely to the scene, and
providing your accountability card when checking in.
In the March edition of HotShots,
photographs and articles from some of our
Volunteers who participated in the event will
be highlighted. Definitely an edition you
won’t want to miss! For current details on
“Operation Hot Summer Day,” please refer to
Town Manager Patrick Banger, Update
(http://www.gilbertaz.gov/managerupdate/)
With “Operation Hot Summer Day” behind
us, the Volunteer Program continues to
move ahead while preparing for a busy
spring. I am looking forward to our Annual Volunteer Appreciation and
Awards day on February 25. Have you sent in your RSVP? We will also
be participating in the Walk for Water Safety at the end of March, and
then it is time for the Third Annual Citizen Corps Symposium in April!
These events are fantastic for meeting other Volunteers, making a
difference in our community, and for continued training. I look forward
to seeing you at each of them!
I also wanted to thank each of you for everything you do every
single day for the Department. Your efforts are amazing and the duties
you perform are priceless! Whether it is changing smoke detector
batteries, replacing knox box keys, office work, filing, program support,
delivering mail to the stations, being car seat technicians, or whatever.
The list goes on and on. Thank you for all of your assistance with these,
and with all of our daily operations. Did you hear me say, THANK YOU!

Reviewing CERT
By Johnna Switzer
GFD Volunteer
WAIT! DO NOT STOP READING IF YOU ARE NOT A PART OF CERT
THIS QUIZ IS FOR ALL EMERGENCY WORKERS
1. What is a VRC?
a. Volunteer Reception Center
b. Volunteer Registration Center
c. VoiceShot Recognition Center
d. Volunteer Rehab Community
2. Who will be designated to set-up and staff the VRC in Gilbert?
a. The Volunteer Coordinators from Police and Fire with assistance from CERT
members.
b. Neighbor Watch Volunteers since they know our community members.
c. Individuals who are Town of Gilbert employees under the direction of the
town’s Emergency Manager.
d. Credentialed Volunteer emergency workers for the Town of Gilbert (those
Volunteers who are part of Citizen Corps—CERT, Fire Corps, and VIPS,)
3. Where will the VRC be launched?
a. At the Fire/Police Administration building
b. At a fire station closest to the incident
c. At a site designated by individuals in the EOC (Emergency Operations Center)
depending on the emergency and the location of the emergency.
d. Wherever the Volunteer emergency workers deem appropriate.
4. What are some key traits needed to be an interviewer in the VRC? ( Pick all that
apply)
a. Talkative, social, chit chatty
b. Detail oriented
c. Customer service oriented
d. Patient and calm
e. Flexible
f. Controlling
5. T or F: The VRC is opened any time emergency workers are activated.
6. T or F: The Red Cross will be on site to supply food, etc. to those working in the VRC.
Answers:
1. B 2. D 3. C 4. B, C, D, E 5. F (It is only opened if the Emergency Operations Center or
Incident Command requests it be set up) 6. F (Although you will be working in a structured site,
you must still provide for your own food and water needs for a 12 hours period as part of your
personal bag of supplies.)

SAFETY FIRST
By Lee Frische
Town Of Gilbert Risk Manager
Ladder Safety
Each year there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries relating
to ladders in the U.S. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers
the following safety precautions to help prevent these injuries.
· Make sure the weight your ladder is supporting does not exceed its maximum
load rating (user plus materials). There should only be one person on the
ladder at a time.
Use a ladder that is the proper length for the job. Proper length is a minimum of 3
feet extending over the roof line or working surface. Do not stand on the three top
rungs of a straight, single or extension ladder.
· Straight, single or extension ladders should be set up at about a 75-degree
angle.
· All metal ladders should have slip-resistant feet.
· Metal ladders will conduct electricity. Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder in the
vicinity of power lines or electrical equipment. Do not let a ladder made from
any material contact live electric wires.
· Be sure all locks on extension ladders are properly engaged.
· The ground under the ladder should be level and firm. Large flat wooden
boards braced under the ladder can level a ladder on uneven ground or soft
ground. A good practice is to have a helper hold the bottom of the ladder.
· Do not place a ladder in front of a door that is not locked, blocked or guarded.
Keep your body centered between the rails of the ladder at all times. Do not lean too
far to the side while working.
· Do not use a ladder for any purpose other than that for which it was intended.
· Do not step on the top step, bucket shelf, or attempt to climb or stand on the
rear section of a stepladder.
· Never leave a raised ladder unattended.
· Follow use instruction labels on ladders.
Please remember these safety precautions at work and at home whenever you use a
ladder.

Cook
r
&
e
FYI
d d La
The Nationwide EAS Test
Recipe submitted by Kristen Drew
Administrative Supervisor,GFD
By Sheri Gibbons
Emergency Management Coordinator
Gilbert Fire Department
Easy Breakfast Casserole
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1 ½ cups pre-cooked meat of your choice (I used sausage)
1 ½ cups shredded cheese
2 cups chicken flavored Stove Top stuffing, uncooked from the canister
(Yes…really!)
Mix ingredients together and pour into greased casserole dish.
Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until set.
You can add anything else you’d like. I sometimes add chopped onion and
shredded zucchini.
Cookie Fundraiser
The Gilbert Fire Volunteer Program has Paradise Bakery Cookie Cards
for sale for $20.00. This is a great fundraiser for our program since we
receive $10 from every card sold. Here are the details:
Buy a Dozen, Get a Dozen Free Cookie cards allow you to buy a
dozen cookies and receive a dozen free 10 times! Paradise Bakery has
delicious cookies and the cookie card means you can purchase 2 dozen
of their cookies for a little more then $8
To purchase your cookie card, please stop by Kim Yonda’s office at
Fire Administration. These cards make great gifts for teachers! In
addition, they are perfect for when you need to bring treats to school,
church or to a meeting.

Reviewing
ommunity
ssistance
By Dianna Erikson & Katherine Keller
GFD Volunteers
1. When writing a report for a department errand, you
A. need to record the starting mileage
B. need to record both starting and ending mileage
C. don’t have to record any mileage
2. The shift calendars are due to the Volunteer Coordinator by
A. the first of the month
B. after the first version comes out
C. the fifteenth of the month
3. The format you use to fill out the shift calendars is
A. using the calendar tabs on the calendar that the Volunteer
Coordinator sends us
B. emailing the Volunteer Coordinator the dates
C. not important as long as you get them in on time
Answers: 1. B,
2. C , 3. A
You’ve Been Spotted
Thank you for doing something great!
Jerry Cirou
Dianna Erickson
Sonja Grosch
Nick Hayes
Nicole Hayes
Bob Hoebermann
Suzanne Hoebermann
Diane Howard
Janet LaTour
Larry Taggart
Suzette Skellett
Judy Slack
Denise Standage
Johnna Switzer
Jon Switzer
Bob Watson
Terry Watson
Fred Wolfe
Ann LaPado
Brandon Siebert
Larry MacDonald
Craig Jones
Sue Ness
Gerhardt Obrikat
Jack Kukkola
Matt Dirks
Cat Jones
Xanthe Zarry
Luis Padilla
Sergio Berumen
Brandon Siebert
Sharon Judy
Bev Schweitzer
Vance Carroll
You are appreciated!

FYI
By Sheri Gibbons
Emergency Management Coordinator
Gilbert Fire Department
Emergency Notification
We have recently implemented the use of a communication tool called “Send
Word Now” for notifying/activating our essential Town of Gilbert personnel for an
Emergency Operation Center (EOC) or a Potential Significant Event. “Send Word
Now” is a web based emergency notification system that sends emergency alerts in a
variety of formats to individually identified contact points. This tool allows us to
leverage technology to ensure efficiency, accuracy and speed with our vital
emergency notifications. Timely notification allows our personnel the opportunity
to begin measuring any potential impacts upon the Town’s services, citizens and the
community. This early notification can also provide for enhanced public trust as
well as employee/citizen public health and safety. Did you know that the Town of
Gilbert encompasses 73 square miles and over 210,000 people? As a large
community we understand the importance of timely notification, as it strengthens
the Town’s ability to mitigate emergencies efficiently and effectively.
Applause! Applause! Applause!
H
eartfelt appreciation goes to the Community Assistance
Team for adopting a family of seven this past holiday
season. Thank you for bringing smiles to the children, and
for participating in the season. Your gifts provided toys,
clothing, a holiday meal, and words of encouragement. You
were an inspiration to everyone to reach out and help others
any way we can. Sometimes that may be through a smile, a
shoulder to lean on, or a new basketball. Thank you!

A Little Laugh
Oxymoronishly
1. Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?
2. Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?
3. If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?
4. If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?
5. Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?
6. Why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing?
7. Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?
8. Why do "tug" boats push their barges?
9. Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there?
10. Why are they called "stands" when they are made for sitting?
11. Why is it called "after dark" when it really is "after light"?
12. Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?
13. Why are a "wise man" and a “wise guy” opposite?
14. Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?
15. Why is "phonics" not spelled the way it sounds?
16. If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?
17. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?
18. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
19. If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right?
20. Why do we press harder on the buttons of a remote control
when we know the batteries are dead?
21. Why do we put suits in garment bags and garments in a suitcase?
22. How come abbreviated is such a long word?
23. Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?
24. Why do they call it a TV set when you only have one?
25. Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?
Welcome
New GFD Volunteers
Nancy Briggs Ira Goode Felix Castro
John Joe Leah Martinez

HOTSTUFF
FEBRUARY
2 Medical Operations 1 6:00 - 9:00 PM Amphitheater
¤
6 Operations Support Team CoA 6:30 - 8:00 PM Room 2
7 Co Chairs CoA 6:00 - 8:00 PM Room 2 Co Chairs
7 Volunteer Credentials Renewal 4:00 - 7:00 PM Room 6 CERT/FC
9 Medical Operations 2 6:00 - 9:00 PM Amphitheater
¤
11 Volunteer Credentials Renewal 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Room 6 CERT/FC
16 Volunteer Credentials Renewal 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Room 6 CERT/FC
16 Search and Rescue 6:00 - 9:00 PM Amphitheater
¤
18 Ham Meeting 6:30 - 8:30 PM Room 1 Cert
23 Disaster Psychology 6:00 - 9:00 PM Amphitheater
¤
25 Volunteer Appreciation Evening 5:00 - 9:00 PM HUSD GFD Volunteers
MARCH
1 Organization/Skill Station 6:00 - 9:00 PM Amphitheater CERT
3 Tactical Communications 8:00 - 11:00 AM Amphitheater CERT/COM 251
6 CPR/AED 6:00 - 9:00 PM Room 6
12 First Aid 6:00 - 9:00 PM Room 6
Save the Dates
April 5, 6, 7
Symposium
¤ Basic CERT classes AND open for review
Open to CERT, FC, VIPS and USAonWatch Volunteers.
Register with Kim Yonda @ 480-503-6325 or kim.yonda-lead@gilbertaz.gov
An up to the minute CERT/FC training calendar will be found at
http://www.ci.gilbert.az.us/fire/volunteers.cfm
HOTSHOTS is a publication of the Gilbert Fire Department, Gilbert, AZ Suzanne & Bob Hoebermann, eds. (gfdhotshots@cox.net)