Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

Another scorcher today!  Over the last couple of weeks, we at Asbury Park Fire Dept. have preached to everyone to stay cool and stay hydrated.  Hopefully, everyone will be able to do that.


Just in case, We thought it would be useful to post the signs and symptoms of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.  Warning signs can vary among individuals but common signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke may include: 

Heat Exhaustion:

• Heavy sweating
• Muscle cramps
• Pulse rate: fast and weak
• Breathing: fast and shallow
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Headache and/or dizziness 

Heat Stroke:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees)
• The absence of sweating
• Rapid pulse 
• Difficulty breathing 
• Throbbing headache
• Strange behavior and/or hallucinations
• Confusion, agitation and disorientation
• Unconscious                             

If you recognize that you, or someone else, is showing signs of a heat-related illness, stop the activity immediately, find a cool place to rest, hydrate and seek medical attention if necessary.


Remember, Heat Stroke is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY that can be fatal if not treated promptly.  Call 911 right away if you suspect Heat Stroke.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2012      State of emergency still in effect Only Middletown HS North giving out water Monday Conservation efforts helped lift the boil water advisory in 18 towns    MIDDLETOWN, NJ – With the boil water advisory reduced to just four towns, only one water distribution site – Middletown High School North – will open on Monday. Hours at the school, located at 63 Tindall Rd., are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This afternoon, the New Jersey American Water Company in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the county’s Office of Emergency Management removed the boil water advisory in 18 of the 22 towns that have been under a boil water advisory since Friday. Only residents in Aberdeen, Highlands, Holmdel and Middletown should continue to boil their water. Limit remains at one case per car.   “I want to commend residents throughout Monmouth County because it was through their effort to conserve water that enabled New Jersey American Water Co. to lift the advisory for 18 of the 22 towns affected,” Freeholder Director Jon P. Curley said. “But we are not out of the woods yet. It is still critically important to continue conserving water in order to keep the restriction off.” The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon following the collapse of three large water pipes at New Jersey American Water Co.’s water treatment plant at the Swimming River Reservoir. The ongoing water emergency means that: All New Jersey American Water Company customers are under mandatory water restriction that bans all outdoor water use and encourages indoor water conservation. It is illegal to water your lawn, shrubs or gardens, fill swimming pools and wash cars. Indoor conservation measures include refraining from using washing machines and dishwashers, limiting showering times and flushing toilets less frequently. Outdoor water conservation is highly encouraged by residents of the 31 towns not directly impacted by the water emergency.  “The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is working with local law enforcement agencies to ensure that the outdoor water ban is strictly enforced in areas serviced by New Jersey American Water Co.,” Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said.    Three large water pipes at New Jersey American Water Co. broke around noon Friday, causing a reduction or total loss of water pressure or supply. Other water companies have been rerouting water to New Jersey American Water Co. customers, but not enough to meet normal demand. “That’s why it is so important to conserve water regardless of what utility you receive your water from,” Monmouth County Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Oppegaard said. Additionally, New Jersey American Water Co. recommends the customers in the four towns still under the boil water advisory take the following steps: ·         Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute then cooled prior to using; ·         Keep water that has been boiled in the refrigerator for drinking; ·         Rinse hand-washed dishes for a minute in diluted bleach (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle.   ·         Do not swallow water while you are showering or bathing; ·         Provide pets with boiled water after cooling; ·         Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms, and ·         Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries. #     #     #

UPDATED: New Jersey American Water Monmouth County Customers Under Boil Water Advisory; Company Bans Outdoor Water Use

Alert Notifications

PWSID:

Issue Date: 06-29-2012

New Jersey American Water Monmouth County Customers Under Boil Water Advisory

New Jersey American Water is urging its customers in Monmouth County to discontinue all nonessential water use and outdoor water use after three water mains collapsed at the company’s Swimming River Water Treatment Plant in Tinton Falls.

New Jersey American Water has also issued a precautionary boil water advisory for customers in Monmouth County in the communities listed below.

This notice impacts customers in the following communities:  

• Aberdeen
• Holmdel 
• Middletown (in the Lincroft, Port Monmout, Navesink, New Monmouth sections only)
• Highlands
• Little Silver
• Rumson
• Fair Haven
• Tinton Falls
• Eatontown
• Sea Bright
• Oceanport
• Shrewsbury
• Long Branch
• West Long Branch
• Deal
• Allenhurst
• Loch Arbour
• Neptune Township

Please note that this is a standard procedure whenever water pressure is lost as a precaution. New Jersey American Water will provide information as to when the advisory is lifted. 

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requires that the company issue the following advisory:

New Jersey American Water has determined that a potential or actual threat to the quality of water being provided to you currently exists. Therefore until further notice, bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow to cool before using for consumption; drinking, ice cubes, washing vegetables and fruit, and for brushing teeth. Please continue to boil your water until you are notified that the water quality is acceptable.

New Jersey American Water also recommends the following steps:
• Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water during the day of the advisory;
• Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking;
• Rinse hand-washed dishes for a minute in diluted bleach (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle.
• Do not swallow water while you are showering or bathing;
• Provide pets with boiled water after cooling;
• Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms;
• Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.

Please be advised that the company is doing all it can to ensure your water is of the highest quality. New Jersey American Water will notify customers immediately when the advisory is lifted.

New Jersey American Water is working on temporary measures to restore normal operations at its Swimming River Water Treatment Plant. The plant delivers 36 million gallons of water each day to 55,000 customer accounts.

Bottled water stations will be set up tonight until 11 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting tomorrow at the following locations:

• Middletown High School North, 63 Tindall Road, Middletown Township
• Middletown High School South, 900 Nut Swamp Road Middletown (also bring your own water jug to be filled at this location)
• Wolf Hill Park, 3 Crescent Place, Oceanport

For updates, customers can visit www.newjerseyamwater.com or www.facebook.com/newjerseyamericanwater.

Contact Information:
Name: Customer Service Center
Company: New Jersey American Water
Phone: 1-800-652-6987
Alt. Phone: n/a

Declaration of Emergency from the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management

DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY

TO ALL CITIZENS BUSINESSES, DEPARTMENTS, DIVISIONS AND OFFICES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY OF MONMOUTH STATE OF NEW JERSEY  

WHEREAS, PURSUANT TO THE POWERS VESTED IN ME BY CHAPTER 251 OF THE LAWS OF 1942, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, NJSA APP A:9-30  ET  SEQ; NJSA 40:48-1(6) AND ordinance PURSUANT THERETO; NJSA 2C:33-1 ET SEQ; AND ALL SECTIONS AND SUBSECTIONS, I HAVE DECLARED THAT A COUNTY-WIDE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY EXISTS WITHIN THE COUNTY OF MONMOUTH,

WHEREAS, THE AFORESAID LAWS AUTHORIZE THE PROMULGATION OF SUCH ORDERS, RULES AND REGULATIONS AS ARE NECESSARY TO MEET THE VARIOUS PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE OR MAY BE PRESENTED BY SUCH EMERGENCY, AND,

WHEREAS, BY REASON OF THE SERIOUS CONDITIONS WHICH PRESENTLY EXIST WITHIN THE COUNTY OF MONMOUTH WHICH MAY AFFECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND OR WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE, AND

WHEREAS, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED MANDATORY WATER USE RESTRICTIONS FOR ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN MONMOUTH COUNTY.  THIS ACTION IS A RESULT OF DAMAGES THAT OCCURRED TODAY, JUNE 29, 2012 TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AT THE NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER SUPPLY SWIMMING RIVER PLANT IN MIDDLETOWN, MONMOUTH COUNTY.   NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER HAS BEGUN PIPELINE REPAIRS, BUT HAS DETERMINED THAT CONSERVATION EFFORTS WILL HELP US MAINTAIN ADEQUATE PRESSURE DURING THE REPAIR PERIOD

AND FURTHER, THAT CERTAIN MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN TO INSURE ORDER AND TO PROTECT THE PERSONS AND PROPERTY AFFECTED BY SAID CONDITIONS AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN BY NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER CUSTOMERS;

•         Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water during the day of the advisory;

•         Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking;

•         Rinse hand-washed dishes for a minute in diluted bleach (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle.  

•         Do not swallow water while you are showering or bathing;

•         Provide pets with boiled water after cooling;

•         Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms;

•         Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT,

A.        The mandatory restrictions include the following:

           

            No watering of existing lawns shrubs, trees, and gardens

            No use of water for non-essential reasons

            Washing of cars is prohibited except at commercial car washing facilities that employ the use recycled water.

B.  Other necessary orders

These mandatory restrictions will be in place until further notice.  It is important to note that the restrictions may remain in place until necessary repairs are made to the distribution system and it is deemed that all public safety operations can be maintained.

NOW THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AFORESAID LAWS, I DO HEREBY PROMULGATE AND DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE CITED APPLICABLE REGULATIONS SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THE COUNTY OF MONMOUTH AND ITS MUNICIPALITIES.

________________________________   _______________    __________

Emergency Management Coordinator                   Date                     Time

Michael E. Oppegaard

__________________

John P. Curley Director

Monmouth county Board of Chosen freeholder

Reminders, Tips for Safe Disposal of Ash from Grills Provided by the Asbury Park Fire Department.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Reminders, Tips for Safe Disposal of Ash from Grills Provided by the Asbury Park Fire Department.

With grilling season in full swing, the Asbury Park Fire Department issuing reminders and tips about the importance of safely disposing of the ash generated when using outdoor grills. 

Residents are reminded to never put out ashes from outdoor barbecues (and fireplaces) for collection with their regular household trash unless they have been thoroughly soaked with water or held for at least a week to ensure there are no residual embers.

“Many residents are enjoying the summer weather, spending more time outdoors, and having barbecues. It’s extremely important that they allow the ashes from their grills – as well as any fireplaces or fire pits – to cool down completely before they properly dispose of them.” 

“Hot ashes that are not properly cooled and disposed are significant fire hazards, capable of starting fires while mixed in loads of waste in refuse collection trucks or while waste is actually being processed at the county’s reclamation center.

The risk of fire becomes even greater due to the hot, dry weather conditions during the summertime. Improper disposal of ashes or hot coals from fireplaces, grills or mobile fireplaces designed for decks or patios has become a common cause of many recent fires. 

Embers often concealed in what appears to be cold ashes, can remain hot enough to rekindle a fire for several days. We want residents to enjoy their fireplaces and grills but to always dispose of the ashes wisely.

Fire Department officials remind residents to:

• Allow ashes and coals to cool in place for several days, if possible.

• When it’s time to dispose of the ashes, transfer them to a metal container and wet them down. Only use an approved metal ash bucket that has a tight fitting metal lid.

• Store the container outside, away from structures, decks, fences, wood piles or other combustible materials.

• Never use a vacuum cleaner to pick up ashes.

• Never dump ashes into a plastic container, cardboard box, bag, or anything or in any place where combustible fluids of fumes are present.

• Don't dump ashes outside on a windy day. The wind can whip up what may have seemed like cool embers, making them fiery hot and sending them traveling to ignite nearby combustibles.

• And lastly, always have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly.

“Please Abide – Pull Aside”

Hear Us, See Us, Clear for Us!

“Please Abide – Pull Aside”

Do you know what to do when approached by an emergency vehicle? The Asbury Park area is often crowded and congested with traffic conditions caused by commuters and visitors to the area, collisions, work zones and sometimes just “normal” traffic.

Emergency vehicles are impacted by these conditions, as well. When somebody calls 911 for help – the members of the Asbury Park Fire Department respond. How can everyday drivers help us to help you? – Normally drivers will HEAR us first, next they will SEE us, and then we need drivers to CLEAR for us.

HEAR US - SEE US - CLEAR FOR US 

C – L – E – A – R for emergency vehicles.

C – Calmly pull to and as close to the edge of the roadway as possible and stop.

L – Leave room. Keep intersections clear and never try to follow emergency vehicles.

E – Enter into traffic with caution after the emergency vehicle has passed. Remember to use signals.

A – Aware (be). Be aware of your surroundings. Keep radio volume low and check rear view mirrors frequently.

R – Remain stopped until the emergency vehicle ha passed. Be mindful that there may be additional emergency vehicles approaching.

When approached by an emergency vehicle – the law says to pull over to the closest parallel edge of the roadway and yield the right of way to the emergency vehicle. An emergency vehicle is one with an audible siren and/or siren and emergency flashing lights. When driving and approaching an emergency scene – slow down and move over. In other words - “Give us a brake!”

Reduce the risk of an accident near an emergency scene and around emergency equipment.

Stay alert – expect anything to occur when approaching emergency vehicles.

Pay close attention – watch for police or fire direction.

Turn on your headlights – let on scene workers and other motorists see you.

Don’t tailgate – unexpected stops frequently occur near emergency scenes.

Don’t speed – slow down.

Keep up with the traffic flow – dedicate your full attention to the roadway and those traveling around you.

Minimize distractions – avoid changing radio stations and using mobile cell phones while approaching these areas.

Expect the unexpected – keep an eye out for emergency workers and their equipment.

Be patient – remember, firefighters and EMT’s have been called to the scene and are working to help someone.

Rip Current Awareness – What You Need to Know.

Rip currents can be found on many surf beaches every day. Rip currents most typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as groins, jetties and piers. The definition of rip current is: A powerful channel of water that flows away from the shore. They can be narrow or more than 50 yards wide.

The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) estimates that rip currents account for over eighty percent of all beach rescues and over 100 deaths annually at our nation’s beaches. Signs that a rip current is present are difficult for the average beachgoer to identify.  Look for differences in the water color, water motion, incoming wave shape or breaking point compared to adjacent conditions.

So, what do you need to know before you go to the beach?  The USLA offers some good tips and precautions that every swimmer should head or at least hear.

Rip Current Myth

A rip current is a horizontal current. Rip currents do not pull people under the water–-they pull people away from shore. Drowning deaths occur when people pulled offshore are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim to shore. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic, exhaustion, or lack of swimming skills.

How to Avoid and Survive Rip Currents

Learn how to swim!

• Never swim alone.
• Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out!
• Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard protected beach.
• Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards.
• If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
• Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
• If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
• If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, wave your arms, and yell for help.
• If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1. Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape.Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.