Public Education and Special Events
Do you have an event planned and wish to include the Jessamine County Fire District?
We would be happy to attend any special event and educate your attendees or demonstrate our capabilities. We have a wide variety of programs we may provide to give your event that special something that would make it a memorable occasion. Services are available for:
· Station Tours
· Scout Groups
· Church Events
· Day Care Facilities
· Customer Appreciation Events
· Fund Raisers
· Birthday Parties
For more information call 859-885-9221 or click here to email the Public Education and Special Events Coordinator
Smoke Detectors
Every year in the United States, about 3,000 people lose their lives in residential fires, mainly due to smoke inhalation, and we at the Jessamine County Fire District want every person in our community to have properly maintained and operating smoke detectors. About two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with absent or non-working smoke alarms. For these reasons, the Jessamine County Fire District recommends that our citizens follow the recommendation of the National Fire Alarm Code and install a minimum of one smoke alarm on each level of a home, including one inside each bedroom for new construction and one detector alarm of each sleeping area.
The smoke detector program was developed to insure that all citizens of Jessamine County had access to proper smoke detection equipment. We especially focus our efforts on families with young children, senior citizens, disabled persons, and other residents that may be on a fixed income but otherwise unable to afford a smoke detector.
Smoke detectors will be installed free of charge for those in need, and we recommend that if you already have smoke detectors, they are inspected tested and cleaned once a month, and the batteries changed every 6 months. It is also recommend that detectors over 10 years old be discarded and replaced with new ones.
For further information on our smoke detector program, click the following link to find our printable online application, or give us a call at (859) 885-9221
CARBON MONOXIDE
What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is caused by incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuel. Carbon based fuels include all fossil fuels such as gas, gasoline, kerosene, propane, heating oil, butane etc. Other fuels that may produce CO include wood, plastic, paper, candles etc. Anything that is used to power a combustion engine, or produces a flame can emit CO. CO is colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas, which is virtually impossible for human senses to detect.
So deadly, it has been given the nickname “The Silent Killer”.
How Does CO Affect Me?
CO in high concentrations can be lethal in just minutes. Oxygen when inhaled, bonds with the hemoglobin in your blood that is then carried to the cells in your body. The bond between Carbon Monoxide and hemoglobin (called carboxyhemoglobin or COHb) is 200 times stronger than the bond between oxygen and hemoglobin. Having this strong bond with the hemoglobin in your blood, CO deprives your body of the oxygen it needs to survive. The more CO in your blood, the difficult it is for your body to eliminate the CO.
The longer you are subjected to Carbon Monoxide, the higher the level of CO in your bloodstream becomes. Slowly (in low levels) the CO starves the cells in your body of oxygen which supports sensitive organs such as the heart, brain and nervous system eventually causing loss of consciousness, brain damage, com and even death.
Below is a measurement of CO levels and their affects:
|
Parts Per Million |
% of CO in the Air |
Symptoms |
|
09ppm |
0.0009 |
None Normal |
|
1050ppm |
.001 .005 |
Slight headache, dizziness |
|
50 200ppm |
.005 .02 |
Headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue |
|
200 500ppm |
.02 .05 |
Acute headache, symptoms intensify |
|
500 1000ppm |
.05 .1 |
Headache, fatigue, nausea – unconscious within 2 hours, death within 3 hours |
|
1000 1500ppm |
.1 .15 |
Headache, fatigue, nausea – death within 2-3 hours |
|
1500 3000ppm |
.15 .3 |
Headache, fatigue, nausea – death within 1 hour |
|
3000 6000ppm |
.3 .6 |
Headache, fatigue, nausea – death within 25 –30 minutes |
|
6000 10000ppm |
.6 1 |
Death within 1-3 minutes | |
Symptoms
The symptoms of CO poisoning are much like those of other common illnesses such as the flu or the common cold. Nausea, dizziness, headache, and fatigue are the most common. If COHb levels in the blood go over 50%, unconsciousness may occur. Symptoms will affect children, the elderly, and pets first. If Rover seems lethargic and the children do not want to get out of bed, consider the possibility of CO poisoning.
Although none of these symptoms by themselves point directly to CO poisoning together they may give you the clues needed to save your life.
What to Look for…
A cold that won’t go away
Nausea, Dizziness, Fatigue, Headache
Lethargic pets, small children or elderly
If you leave the structure and feel better, return and fall ill again
What to Do…
1. Leave the structure immediately, be sure that everyone gets out.
2. While leaving the structure, close doors behind you, this will help the Fire Department and investigators find the cause of the problem.
3. Go to a neighbor’s house and call 9-1-1.
4. Describe symptoms to the dispatcher and await help. DO NOT re-enter the structure.
How To Prevent CO Poisoning
• Keep chimney clean
• Keep gas engines like lawn equipment, trimmers, snow blowers etc. well maintained
• Be aware of automobile / motorcycle exhaust. Do not run car in the garage for any duration
• Have furnaces and heaters checked yearly
• Twice a week in the winter, open a window for some fresh air
• When cooking for the holidays, crack a window (Burners/ovens create CO!)
Open Air Burning
Open air burning is allowed in Jessamine County, but a set of strict regulations has been put in place to help ensure safety of persons and the environment. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Frequently asked questions.
What is open air burning?
Simply put, any time you light a fire outside, it is open air burning.
Why does anybody care what I burn?
Depending on the material being burned, open air burning causes the release of toxic materials into the environment. These toxins have been shown to cause serious health problems, including asthma and heart problems, and are especially hard on kids and the elderly.
What material can never be burned?
A partial list includes:
Construction debris
Drywall
Shingles
Asbestos
Painted or stained wood
Rubber
Wire
Oil
Tires
Plastics
Flammable liquids
Vinyl siding
Is there anything I am allowed to burn?
Yes, you are allowed to burn brush (weeds, tree limbs, leaves, etc.), plant beds, and household paper products.
Are there any restrictions?
Yes there are several restrictions, and beware, the Division for Air Quality can impose fines of up to $25,000 per day per violation of the law.
A partial list includes:
- When a fire emergency is declared, all open burning is prohibited.
- No burning is allowed within 150 ft of woodland areas.
- Do not burn within 50ft of any structure
- No burning near landfills
- No burning near utility poles
- Someone is required to attend the fire AT ALL TIMES
- Have an available water source
ABSOLUTELY NO BURNING OF MATERIALS OF ANY TYPE ON A RED FLAG DAY DESIGNATED BY THE KY DIVISION OF FORESTRY
ALL BURNING MUST FOLLOW GUIDELINES SET FORTH IN
KRS 149.375, KRS 149.380, KRS 149.400
For a complete list of restrictions, refer to the Ky. Division for Air Quality regulations.
Disaster Preparedness
Three simple steps that may save you and your families lives:
Get a Kit
Make a plan
Be Informed
Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers
Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:
- Prescription medications and glasses
- Infant formula and diapers
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
- Cash or traveler's checks and change
- Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
- Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Fire Extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
For more information on Disaster Preparedness click on the links here
For Public Safety tip and educational material videos visit our Video Page
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