Resolve to be Ready in 2012

Help your friends and neighbors “Resolve to be Ready” in 2012.” Visit www.ready.gov/resolve for more information designed to encourage citizens to make disaster preparedness a New Year’s resolution. Spread the word to local businesses, schools, faith-based, and other community organizations.

Statewide CERT Training

On December 9th and 10th, the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) conducted its end of year waiting list training in Smyrna. The class was held at the St. Poly Carps Church.

Citizens from Sussex, Kent and New Castle Counties attended, with approximately forty individuals receiving CERT training.

The class was made up of members of the State Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Sussex County Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Del Tech- Terry Campus students, and Smyrna Police Department's Volunteers in Police (VIPS). Additionally, citizens from Smyrna, Wilmington, and New Castle, and a DEMA Staff member attended. The Smyrna/Clayton Times Newspaper and Smyrna Mayor Pat Stombaugh visited the training. Jack Dinge’e was the local point of contact for this class.

We would like to extend a special thanks to Father Thomas Flowers for offering his Parish for allowing Citizen Corps to conduct the training.

Winter Fire Safety

Each winter, an estimated 108,400 home fires occur in the United States, resulting in approximately 945 deaths and $1.7 billion in property loss. Cooking is the leading cause of winter home fires, and holiday decorations and winter storms can cause people to turn to alternative heating sources, such as space heaters, which account for about one third of home heating fires and approximately 80 percent of home heating fire deaths.

Winter fires can be prevented! The following fire safety tips can help maintain a fire-safe home this winter season:

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking something on top of the stove or when grilling or broiling food.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from space heaters, woodstoves, etc.
• Replace damaged electrical or extension cords.
• Never use the oven or stovetop to heat a home; carbon monoxide gas can kill people and pets.
• Don't put a live Christmas tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water.
• Avoid using lighted candles; try flameless candles instead.

For more information, visit the U.S. Fire Administration Web site and the National Fire Protection Agency Web site.

Hospital Preparedness Presentation

On November 30th, the Delaware Citizen Corps Staff and lead Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Instructor Dave Young provided a third Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. Seventeen members of the Legal Council and Risk Management Team received the presentation at their bi-monthly staff meeting.

The point of contact for the presentation was Gay Lynn Rice.