The American Heart Association is joining with the Ad Council for a national multimedia campaign in an effort to increase awareness of and confidence in giving Hands-Only CPR. The goal of the campaign is to introduce Hands-Only CPR, a simplified method of CPR that requires no mouth-to-mouth breathing, and to educate and encourage bystanders to take action when they see an adult suddenly collapse.

WPFD encourages you to visit to www.handsonlycpr.org to learn the incredible things that people can do with their hands. You will learn that you can be empowered to perform Hands-Only CPR to help save a life.You’ll learn that Hands-Only CPR is a two-step technique that involves calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives. It is that simple.

Each year in the U.S., nearly 300,000 people who suffer cardiac arrest at homes, at work or in public locations receive treatment (CPR) from EMS providers like West Pulaski Fire Department. If you can provide CPR to an adult who has collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest before we can arrive, you can more than double that person’s chance of survival. Studies of real emergencies that have occurred in homes, at work or in public locations, show that Hands-Only CPR, can be as effective as conventional CPR. Without immediate, effective CPR from a bystander, a person’s chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest decreases 7 percent to 10 percent per minute.

WPFD has been in the news quite a bit this week with a  multi-casualty incident involving 5 teenagers on Lawson Road. A dangerous curve with a bridge has produced some terrible accidents in the past as drivers traveling too fast for the curve loose control. Follow the links below to the most recent reports from KARK news and a discussion of the dangerous curve with Chief Ronnie Wheeler.

KARK Incident Report

KARK Follow-up Report

During a recent event at the newly renovated Ferndale Extension Club Building, WPFD and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office were honored for community service by the Ferndale Crimewatch Group.  We were all brought up-to-date on recent activities and training about the Sheriff Depts. Community Assistance Program.  WPFD was very grateful to be included in the event and were fed quite well by the members that brought pot luck dinner and deserts. Thanks to all that attended. We too appreciate the efforts of the Ferndale Crimewatch Group and the Sheriff’s Deputies to look our fellow neighbors just like we do.

If you or someone you love needs emergency help, you would probably want help to get there as fast as possible. The best way to assist someone in need to receive emergency help is to Move to the Right for Sirens & Lights!

Some people might panic when an emergency vehicle approaches.  Please yield to emergency vehicles by pulling over (in a safe place) or stopping to allow emergency vehicles to safely negotiate  around you. Failure to yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle delays in emergency responses by ambulances, fire engines and fire trucks arriving at the scene of an emergency.

Firefighters with WPFD are volunteers that respond from their home areas in a moments notice.  We only use our flashing lights when dispatched to an emergency scene and the situation is critical. You are asked to allow us to pass you SAFELY when driving marked fire vehicles and personnal vehicles that display flashing emergency RED lighting and/or sirens.  Sometimes we go directly to the emergency scene (if close by) or directly to our local stations to retrieve emergency vehicles. Your help is appreciated to help us get where we are needed in a quick and safe manner.

Firefighters are careful to avoid vehicle collisions by driving slowly when traveling against traffic, or coming to a complete stop at intersections. However, the cooperation of ALL vehicles on the roadway is essential.

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