The Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) is a national voluntary nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that those who are emotionally traumatized in emergency situations receive the assistance they need. To accomplish that goal, TIP works closely with local communities to establish emergency services volunteer programs. In these programs, well-trained citizen volunteers are available on a 24-hour, 365-day basis to be called to emergency scenes to assist family members, witnesses, and other bystanders who the emergency system often must leave behind.

The Portland/Vancouver TIP Chapter currently has over 200 volunteers that responded to 2,007 calls last year and served 12,214 citizens the Portland and Vancouver area. This chapter has served Multnomah, Clark, and Clackamas counties for over sixteen years and has just expanded into Sandy, Oregon. These dedicated volunteers don’t only offer their time during a crisis, but also help to organize annual fundraising events to benefit and celebrate TIP. 

And you, your family, and friends are cordially invited to take part in the next upcoming TIP fundraising event!

On Thursday, April 8, 2010, TIP will be partnering with the Lincoln restaurant located at 3808 N. Williams Avenue in Portland, Oregon for a night of fun and food!  From 5:30 pm until close, the Lincoln restaurant will generously donate 10% of their profits to the Portland/Vancouver TIP Chapter. Click here to view the Lincoln restaurant’s delicious dinner menu.

Donated funds from the Lincoln restaurant to the Portland/Vancouver TIP Chapter will be used to purchase grief literature and supplies that TIP volunteers carry with them when responding to citizens in crisis. 

Plan ahead to treat yourself and family to a night out for dinner at the Lincoln restaurant on Thursday and support a worthy cause!

April 5, 2010

Window Safety for Children

Fires and falls of all kinds are among the leading causes of injury and death in young children. While some falls occur from windows, it is important to realize that in the event of a fire, a window can also save a child’s life. This is why windows play a critical role in home safety. Read and use the tips provided below to help keep your family safe around the windows in your home. 

• Don't leave young children alone - injuries can happen in seconds.
• Whenever young children are around, close and lock windows. An open window may pose a hazard to an unsupervised child. If you need ventilation, open windows that children can't reach.
• When opening windows for ventilation, open windows that children cannot reach.
• Set and enforce rules about keeping children's play away from windows and/or patio doors.  
• Don't rely on insect screens to prevent a fall. Insect screens are designed to provide ventilation while keeping insects out.  They will not prevent a child's fall from a window.
• Keep furniture such as beds - or anything children can climb - away from windows. Children may use such objects as a climbing aid.
• Never paint or nail windows shut. You must be able to open them to escape in an emergency.

You can find further window safety tips for you and your family by visiting http://www.portlandonline.com/fire/index.cfm?c=51470.

Protect Yourself and Your Family Today!

April 5, 2010

April 5, 2010

When a structure fire flares up in the City of Portland, a specified number of crews will respond.  Using our Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, 9-1-1 dispatchers will send the four closest available engines and at least one ladder truck to put the fire out and rescue any occupants. 

Every major fire response and all residential fires in the City of Portland will also have two battalion chiefs assigned.  The first chief to arrive on the scene of the fire will assume Incident Command.  The Incident Commander (IC) evaluates the scene, plans the strategy for attacking the fire, and makes the assignments for crews by communicating over the radio. The second arriving chief officer becomes the Incident Safety Officer (ISO).  The sole responsibility of the ISO is to ensure fire fighter safety. 

In the dynamic world of an active fire, anything can happen.  Sometimes there are warnings signs before a backdraft or before a building collapses, but you have to recognize the indicators.  With an ISO, you have someone who is watching the structure for signs of imminent collapse. The ISO will look for bulging walls, sagging rooflines, and other indicators that it is time to withdraw from the burning structure.  The ISO also keeps an eye on fire conditions and watches for changes in smoke production. Even the color and quantity of the smoke indicates where the whole operation is headed.  Radio communications, crew assignments, water supply details, and utilities are other details the ISO has to keep an eye on.  The ISO has the ability to walk the fire ground looking for hazards and act as the eyes and ears for the IC who must remain at the command post. ISO updates to Command are vital because the IC will use them to formulate the plan of attack.  One more important aspect of the ISO's job is that they can halt unsafe operations.  If they see something unsafe the ISO has the power to stop the operation immediately.  Having an ISO on scene at all working structure fires is one of the best safe guards we have against fire fighter injury. By dedicating one person to observe conditions and actions we have a greater chance of fending off disaster before it hits. Until next time - be safe!

April 6, 2010