Newsletter Volume 11, Issue 1 August 2009 www.fhfd.org FIRE COMPANY PRESIDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF FIRST AID CAPTAIN Jim Butler III Shaun Foley Brian O’Reilly FIRE POLICE CAPTAIN WATER RESCUE CAPTAIN AUXILIARY PRESIDENT Gene Stefanelli John P. Felsmann Dale Connor It’s Fair Time! The 2009 Fireman’s Fair opens this week! Friday, August 28 --- Saturday, September 5 The fun starts at 6:00 pm every night. - The Fair will be closed Sunday - HELP WANTED: The Fair Haven Fireman’s Fair is the Would you like to be part of the fun? longest running Fair in New Jersey! There’s still time to sign up to volunteer for Don’t miss out on these traditions: one or more nights! Where would you • Homemade clam chowder at the Firehouse Sea- like to work? food Restaurant (Doors open at 6:00 pm) Game Booths • Food Prep and Set Up • Wednesday is Family Night! One less ticket gets Waitresses you on a ride! Restaurant Hosts • Outback Snack Bar • Super 50/50 Drawing is Saturday night, Septem- ber 5th! Last year’s winner won over $20,000! • Sign up today at: www.fhfd.org • First Aid Squad Raffle: A SONY 40” Or LCD HDTV Flat Screen TV! Stop by the • Personnel Booth any • Many rides and game booths for kids of all ages! night Old favorites such as the Rainbow Ride, the Zipper of the Fair and sign and the Ferris Wheel...plus some surprises! Have you up with Joe or Rich. noticed the new Teacup Ride? - 1 - WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE! FAIR HAVEN FIRE DEPARTMENT n June 13th, the Fair Haven Fire Depart- O ment hosted its first wetdown in over 15 years. Not only did neighboring fire compa- Wetdown Thoughts by President Jim Butler III: nies hose down the new fire truck, 1375, but the commu- s President of the Fire Company, one essential role is to put nity was of- A together the dozens of committees that help our company run ficially in- smoothly, effectively and safely. Last year Deputy Chief Jim Cer- troduced to ruti took on the task of leading the committee that would put on the the new first Wetdown Fair Haven had hosted in over 15 years. What building and made our Wetdown a success was the tireless attention to details our 1356 by the committee. The only thing that was of concern that day ambulance, was the weather, and Jim had no control over that. But even the meteorological fates were in our favor that day. which was purchased in 2007. Judging by the happy A wetdown is a kind of "ritual", if you will, when visiting fire com- smiles on the faces of those who danced to the panies come to celebrate a new piece of equipment being placed in tunes of the Tommy Santelli Band, or the service. Traditionally, visiting fire companies "anoint" the new squeals of delight by the many children (and truck by spraying water from their equipment onto the new piece some spirited adults!) who scampered joyfully of equipment. underneath the streams of water, or the old timers who enjoyed sharing stories, it was a It was nice to see a great turnout by over a dozen visiting fire com- successful day. President Jim Butler shares panies, but most enjoyable was seeing the hundreds of Fair Haven residents who stopped by. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day. The some thoughts at right. band, the food, the crowd was really great and the kids seem to enjoy it. What made the day special, in the tradition of our Fire Company, was when the hoses of 1374, our “retired” truck, sprayed 1375 to officially "christen" the new truck into service. It was especially poignant to see the long-time members of the Fire Company who have experienced first-hand the history of 1374 for many years, ride “their” truck onto the apron and then aim its hoses at our new truck. I haven't been to too many wetdowns in recent years, but of the ones I’ve been to, nothing will compare to the images of our 1375 being welcomed to the community. I think it was a great (and very wet!) ending to a great day The Tommy Santelli Band played a wide and I hope we see this tradition continue in variety of tunes enjoyed by all, young and our neighboring towns. old. - 2 - WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE! FAIR HAVEN FIRE DEPARTMENT HOSTS FIRST WETDOWN IN OVER FIFTEEN YEARS! Young and Old mingle: Here, a vintage FHFD Fire Patrol truck is parked in front of 1373, await- ing the hoses to fire up. An aerial truck from Long Branch takes aim. Former FHFD Chief (1956) Fred Maffeo inau- gurates the Wetdown. He was Assistant Chief the year 1374 was put into service in 1955! The New Truck Committee consisted of current and former Chiefs and First Aid Captains, from left: Larry Hartman, Dave Binaco, Jack Mulvihill, Joe Perrotto, Bob Frank, Jim Cerruti, Mike Reddy and Hal Trenton. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that our volunteers can quickly access any needed equip- Congratulations on a job well done. ment and fire fighting tools at an emergency. Fair Haven First Aid Squad President Derek DeBree is joined by, from left, Tom Fahey, Andy Pruzick and AJ Hunter, as the festivities begin. - 3 - Fair Haven First Aid Squad’s Checklist for Babysitters BE CLEAR BE READY • First Aiders or police officers will always • Make sure the parents or guardians ask: “Tell me exactly why you called.” have left you with cell phone or BE CALM Be ready to answer this question. reach numbers. Put this information • • Take a deep breath during any Does the child have any allergies? in a place where you can quickly • emergency. What medications does the child usually access it. • • If you are calm, the victim and take? Help the First Aiders reach the child. • • the other children under your If you see or help a child take his or her Send another child to clear a path to care will stay calm. medications, write down time and the victim. • • Speak s-l-o-w-l-y and carefully dose. Lock any dogs in another room. • • when giving 911 operators or Be observant: Is the child acting differ- Make sure the front of the house is family member/neighbor in- ently than normal? What was the child lit up. • formation. doing at the time of the emergency? If possible have someone waiting by • When did the child last eat or drink? a door to wave to the first aid or police officer. FHFA Prepared for SYMPTOMS OF ANAPHYLAXIS Anaphylaxis Emergencies (Call 911 Immediately!): In 2008, NJ Department of Emergency Management approved • HIVES 80% OF THE TIME the use of Epinephrine Pens by EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians). Each of our ambulances, plus the Captain’s car • RAISED RED OR WHITE SKIN BUMPS are now equipped with these devices, for both children and adults. • WHEEZING Squad EMTs have been trained in the admini- • stration of the “Epi-Pens”. Most importantly, SWELLING TONGUE if anyone in your household has had allergic reactions to bee stings, food or other items, • RAPID PULSE, THEN SLOW PULSE please ensure that that information is updated and available to emergency personnel. • LOW BLOOD PRESSURE, THEN HIGH FHFD Volunteerism educators evaluate the taurant over the last few years, you Scholarship Awarded application forms sub- have no doubt seen Kelsey, helping out mitted by the contest- in endless ways. air Haven resident Kelsey ants and make their Kelsey will be studying nutrition Ambrose has won the Fire selection based upon and dietetics at James Madison Univer- Company’s 2009 Volun- criteria that include sity. She adds, “Winning the FHFD teerism Scholarship. The community involvement, volunteer- Faward was announced at the Annual scholarship was really important to me ism and scholastic accomplishments. Awards Assembly at Rumson-Fair because it made feel like I made a dif- Haven High School in June. As a long-time member of the ference as a volunteer.” Little Silver First Aid Cadet Corps, The scholarship offers the win- Kelsey has not only responded to ner a 4-year stipend of $4000, based calls but she has also spent many Previous award winners are: Anat upon the continued college enroll- hours at every monthly drill, helping Waldman (2008), Theresa Hartman ment and acceptable scholastic per- train new Cadets and helping the (2007), Whitney Breckenridge (2006), formance of the winner, who must be First Aid Squad behind the scenes. Erin Puck (2005) and Ben Smith either a Fair Haven resident or the In Fair Haven, she has been a loyal (2004). child of a member of the Fire Com- and dedicated Fair worker. If you pany. Four non-Fire Company local have eaten at the Fair Seafood res- - 4 - A LEGACY OF SERVICE Chris, in FHFD CONTINUES: dress “whites” at FIREFIGHTER CHRIS BRETT FHFD’s 100th JOINS the NAVY Anniversary cele- bration. Dozens of members of the Fire Company have served our country in every branch of the military, an astounding testament to Chris’ father, the the spirit of service that infuses the FHFD. late Barry Brett: Chris Brett continues this tradition, as he Navy officer, First Aid Captain & leaves this Fall for United States Navy FHFD Chief basic training at Great Lakes Boot Camp (1994, 1987) in Illinois. Chris follows in the footsteps JW Connor (FHFD Chief,1958) on leave of both his father, Barry Brett, as well as from duty in 1943, standing next to another his wife Shannon’s grandfather, JW Con- future FHFD Chief, toddler Vin Feeney! nor.