Administrative Services Division of Fire Safety

Hazardous Materials Response Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

CHARLES D. BAKER

GOVERNOR

KARYN E. POLITO

LT. GOVERNOR

DANIEL BENNETT

SECRETARY

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

Department of Fire Services

P.O. Box 1025 State Road

Stow, Massachusetts 01775

(978) 5673100 Fax: (978) 5673121

www.mass.gov/dfs

PETER J. OSTROSKEY

STATE FIRE MARSHAL

To: Heads of Fire Departments

From: Peter J. Ostroskey, State Fire Marshal

Date: January 1, 2017

RE: Keep Warm, Keep Safe Public Awareness Campaign

Together, we have been promoting a group of winter fire safety messages under the Keep

Warm, Keep Safe campaign that have reduced winter heating fires by 46% since 2007.

The messages come in the fall as people are getting their homes ready for winter, and then

again when the cold weather really hits.

Media Campaign

Starting in January and running into February, the Department of Fire Services (DFS) will

be supporting local fire department community education efforts with transit ads and

television and radio public service announcements. These will reinforce local messages as

they have in past years.

Toolkit for Fire Departments

There is a Keep Warm Keep Safe campaign toolkit for local fire departments on the DFS

website: www.mass.gov/KeepWarmKeepSafe and click on Toolkit. It includes:

A new customizable local press release;

An op-ed to submit to your local paper;

The television PSA;

An English/Spanish bi-lingual handout (available in quantity from Health Promotion

Clearinghouse http://massclearinghouse.ehs.state.ma.us/OX/FR4504.html );

A KWKS handout in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Haitian

Creole;

Links to DFS pamphlets and FireFactors on winter heating, general fire safety and CO

poison prevention;

An updated PowerPoint™ presentation for use at local events;

The KWKS logo;

Referral information for fuel and heating system maintenance assistance.

Administrative Services Division of Fire Safety

Hazardous Materials Response Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

CHARLES D. BAKER

GOVERNOR

KARYN E. POLITO

LT. GOVERNOR

DANIEL BENNETT

SECRETARY

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

Department of Fire Services

P.O. Box 1025 State Road

Stow, Massachusetts 01775

(978) 5673100 Fax: (978) 5673121

www.mass.gov/dfs

PETER J. OSTROSKEY

STATE FIRE MARSHAL

MEMORANDUM

To: Heads of Fire Department

From: Peter J. Ostroskey

State Fire Marshal

Date: January 1, 2017

RE: Massachusetts Firefighter Service Award Nominations

______________________________________________________________________________

The Massachusetts Fire Service Commission and the Department of Fire Services would like to

thank the Fire Service Community for their participation in the Massachusetts Firefighter Service

Award Program. This award is available to any Massachusetts firefighter who has served for any

period of time totaling 20 or more years, in five year increments, i.e., (20, 25, 30, etc.). This

length-of-service award is available to call, career and volunteer members of your department

who meet the applicable criteria for their respective award. Enclosed please find the Firefighter

Service Award Package, which includes the following:

1. Nomination form

2. Appeal for reconsideration form

3. Criteria for nomination of call, career or volunteer firefighters;

4. Order form from V.H. Blackinton & Co., Inc. for insignia (order direct from your local

dealer).

The nomination forms should be filled out and returned to Justine Lambert, c/o the Department

of Fire Services, PO Box 1025, State Road, Stow, MA 01775. Upon review and acceptance of

your nomination form, a certificate in the name of the nominee will be returned to you so that you

may sign and award it, along with the service pin (ordered at your cost directly from your local

Blackinton dealer) to the nominee.

This award will be signed by the Chairman of the Fire Service Commission as well as the State

Fire Marshal. It is our suggestion that the service pin be worn on the right side of the uniform,

above the pocket flap on the dress uniform shirt, and in the corresponding location on the dress

blouse or uniform jacket.

In closing, we would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation in ensuring the success of

this very worthwhile recognition award.

If you have any general questions involving this award, please contact Justine Lambert at

(978) 567-3722, as all forms and certificates will be processed by the Department of Fire

Services.

Recipients can be viewed on our website at http://mfa.chs.state.ma.us/mfsa/search.asp

Massachusetts Firefighter Service Award

Nomination Form

(Please print or type)

Name of Fire Department

Head of Fire Department

Name of Nominee Rank First Name Middle Initial Last Name

Nominated for: (check one)

Massachusetts Call Firefighter Service Award

Massachusetts Career Firefighter Service Award

Massachusetts Volunteer Firefighter Service Award

Total Years of Service years

All nominees must have 20 or more years of service in Massachusetts or out-of-state (given in five-year increments)

Date requested on Award

I, as head of the

Fire Department hereby certify that the above named individual is a member in

good standing and is qualified by virtue of length of service as provided for in the

Massachusetts Firefighter Service Award Criteria.

Date Signature

Please reproduce this blank form and use one form for each nominee.

Please send completed form to:

Justine Lambert, Department of Fire Services, PO Box 1025, State Road, Stow, MA 01775

or Fax to (978) 567-3121

Appeal for Reconsideration

I, ________________________, a firefighter on the____________________ Fire

Department hereby appeal the decision of___________________________, head of

the department, in failing to submit my name as nominee for the Massachusetts

Firefighter Service Award based upon ____ years of service as a Call, Career,

Volunteer, Massachusetts firefighter (attach statement as necessary).

_________________________ _______________________________ Date Firefighter

I, _________________________, head of the ______________________________Fire

Department certify that I have reviewed the criteria for the Massachusetts

Firefighter Service Award and in my opinion the above named firefighter is not

qualified based upon years of service for the following reason(s):

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

_________________ ______________________________ Date Head of Fire Department

Please submit this form along with any attachments to Justine Lambert, Department of Fire

Services, PO Box 1025, State Road, Stow, MA 01775

Note: Reconsideration for denial of the Massachusetts Firefighter Service Award is limited

solely to issues of length or service as provided in the criteria for respective award, i.e., call,

career or volunteer.

Criteria for

Massachusetts Firefighter Service Award

Below is the criteria to be applied by the head of the fire department wishing to nominate

any firefighter (call, career, volunteer) for a length of service award. Please review all

criteria carefully before submitting nomination for consideration. All nominees must

have 20 or more years of service in Massachusetts or out-of-state (given in five-year

increments) and be a member in good standing as a call, career or volunteer firefighter.

Massachusetts Call Firefighter Award

Service may include:

Call firefighter service in one or more departments.

Prior service as a volunteer or career firefighter in the same or any other

department.

Massachusetts Career Firefighter Award

Service may include:

Prior service as volunteer or call firefighter in the same department.

Prior service as a career firefighter in any other fire department.

Massachusetts Volunteer Firefighter Award

Service may include:

Volunteer or call firefighter service in one or more department(s).

Prior service as a call or career firefighter in the same or any other department.

This length of service award may not include years served as an auxiliary or military

firefighter and is applicable only to active Massachusetts firefighters. All information

used in applying the above criteria is subject to verification and approval by the current

head of the fire department. Any firefighter aggrieved by the decision of the chief may

submit may submit an appeal for reconsideration form.

Note: No person convicted of any felony crime in any state or under the laws of any

country shall be eligible for the Massachusetts Firefighter Service Award.

SEND ORDER TO:

STATE, ZIP: STATE, ZIP:

$19.00

  DIE # YRS FINISH QTY   DIE # YRS QTY  DIE # YRS FINISH QTY

A9846H 5 GOLD A9847J 5 A9848 20 GOLD

5 SILVER 5 20 SILVER

A9846 20 GOLD A9847G 10 A9848A 25 GOLD

20 SILVER 10 25 SILVER

A9846A 25 GOLD A9847H 15 A9848B 30 GOLD

25 SILVER 15 30 SILVER

A9846B 30 GOLD A9847 20 A9848C 35 GOLD

30 SILVER 20 35 SILVER

A9846C 35 GOLD A9847A 25 A9848D 40 GOLD

35 SILVER 25 40 SILVER

A9846D 40 GOLD A9847B 30 A9848E 45 GOLD

40 SILVER 30 45 SILVER

A9846E 45 GOLD A9847C 35 A9848F 50 GOLD

45 SILVER 35 50 SILVER

A9846F 50 GOLD  A9847D 40

50 SILVER 40

A9847E 45

45

A9847F 50

50

TOTAL QUANTITY:Pricing effective through December 31, 2017

TOTAL COST:

MASSACHUSETTS

All orders must be forwarded to a participating Authorized Blackinton® Dealer ONLY.

ORDER FROM: 

FIRE DEPT. : Participating DEALER:

STREET:

TOWN/CITY: 

GOLD

FOR DEALER USE ONLY

SHIP TO:

Volunteer Firefighter Award

MASSACHUSETTS

FINISH

MASSACHUSETTS

Career Firefighter Award

FOR DEALER USE ONLY

STREET:

2017 Price Per Award =(Plus Shipping)

TELEPHONE #: 

SILVER

GOLD

GOLD

SILVER

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SILVER

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TOTAL QTY:

SUBTOTAL:

TOWN/CITY:

DEPT. P.O.#:   P.O.#: 

SILVER

GOLD

Call Firefighter Award

 BILL TO:                                       (BLACKINTON® DEALER #)

GOLD 

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TOTAL QTY:

SUBTOTAL:

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SUBTOTAL:

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Massachusetts Firefighter Award Form

Registration Register online at List of Current MFA Courses. To register by mail or fax, please complete a standard DFS/MFA Student Application and mail to: Registrar, Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, P.O. Box 1025, State Road, Stow, MA 01775 or fax it to: (978) 567-3229. To register by email, please scan and email applications to mfa.registration@state.ma.us.

Department of Fire Services Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

NIGHTCLUB FIRE SAFETY

This class is designed to deliver an overview of nightclub fire safety laws and regulations to fire officials and inspectors, building commissioners and inspectors, nightclub owners and operators, Massachusetts ABCC officials, and nightclub crowd managers. The focal point of the training will be to provide a better understanding of what type of conditions to look for when conducting an inspection, a clearer picture of how code violations impact nightclubs and similar regulated venues, and insight on how to reduce or eliminate violations, with the main focus on occupant safety. Through the use of lecture, case studies, exercises, and a knowledge assessment, the attendees will build upon their basic knowledge of the safety codes to develop a more thorough understanding of the specific risks associated with these special occupancies and the steps necessary to properly conduct inspections.

Please share this flyer with, and invite the building officials and nightclub owners, operators and crowd managers from your jurisdiction to register and attend.

This training is supported by federally awarded Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - Fire Prevention and Safety Grant funds under award number EMW-2014-FP-00247.

Course Code: 200-023-960-2016-SP-B Date: January 05, 2017

Time: 0800-1600 Location: Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, Link 105

One State Road, Stow, MA Course Code: 200-023-960-2016-SP-C Date: January 11, 2017

Time: 0800-1600 Location: Bourne Fire Dept., Sagamore Station 51 Meetinghouse Lane, Bourne

Course Code: 200-023-960-2016-SP-A Date: January 19, 2017

Time: 0800-1600 Location: Department of Fire Services, Rm. 119

100 Grochmal Avenue, Springfield, MA Course Code: 200-023-960-2016-SP-D Date: January 24, 2017

Time: 0800-1600 Location: Andover Fire Dept. 32 Main Street, Andover

Department of Fire Services Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

Notes: This course consists of eight (8) hours of instructor-led classroom training. Program materials will be provided. Prerequisite: There are no prerequisites to take this course. Credits FCC = TBD FPO = TBD OEMS = 0

December 19, 2016 The courses listed below are available at the time this calendar is created. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy is constantly updating our offerings and you should check the Register for Current Courses page to see the current list. If you cannot find the course on a specific date, it may have been removed due to an overwhelming amount of applications or registration has been closed.

MFA Course Calendar • January 2017

~ January 2017 ~

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5

NIghtclub Fire Safety

6 7

8 9 ICS for Structure Collapse

10 Commanding & Controlling the Mayday-Day 1 High Voltage Emergency Awareness

11 NFA Campus Fire & Life Safety I NIghtclub Fire Safety

12 13 14

15 16 17 18 Protective Breathing Search & Rescue CO Fundamentals of Transitional Fire Attack Surface Ice Rescue

19 Real World Approach to ICS Nightclub Fire Safety

20 21

22 23 24 Public Fire & Life Safety Educator NIghtclub Fire Safety HazMat OLR 8-hour Refresher

25 Company Officer I HazMat OLR 8-hour Refresher

26 Commanding & Controlling the Mayday-Day 1

27 Surface Ice Rescue HazMat OLR 8-hour Refresher

28 Company Officer I

29 30 31

December 19, 2016 The courses listed below are available at the time this calendar is created. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy is constantly updating our offerings and you should check the Register for Current Courses page to see the current list. If you cannot find the course on a specific date, it may have been removed due to an overwhelming amount of applications or registration has been closed.

MFA Course Calendar • February 2017

~ February 2017 ~

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2

HazMat OLR 4-hour Refresher

3 Surface Ice Rescue HazMat OLR 8-hour Refresher

4

5 6 HazMat OLR 4-hour Refresher

7 ICS for Structure Collapse

8 NFA Campus Fire & Life Safety II: Pub Ed

9 HazMat OLR 4-hour Refresher

10 11 Surface Ice Rescue Aerial Ladders

12 13 Firefighter Survival Skills SOS

14 HazMat OLR 8-hour Refresher

15 16 17 18

19 20 Fire Instructor I

21 22 23 Fire Instructor I Advanced Structural Firefighting Practices

24 25

26 27 ICS for Structure Collapse HazMat Technician

28

of

Fire SaFety

CALENDAR

2/16

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES Division of Fire Safety

978-567-3380 • www.mass.gov/dfsDEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES Peter J. Ostroskey • State Fire Marshal

• Make a home escape plan

• Test smoke alarms

• Purchase and install carbon monoxide detectors

• When you change your clocks, change your smoke alarm batteries

• Use cold water to cool a burn

• Don’t overload outlets or power strips

• Store flammable liquids outdoors in approved containers

• Never use gasoline to start a fire

• Leave fireworks to the professionals

• Teach children that matches and lighters are tools, not toys

• Keep space heaters 3 feet away from things that can burn

• Never leave candles burning unattended

Quick Fire Safety Tips

Calendar of Fire Safety “PRACTICE FIRE SAFETY EVERY DAY”

MAY• Electrical Safety Month

• Replace worn, cracked cords

• Don’t overload outlets or power strips

FEBRUARY• Burn Awareness Week

• Keep water heaters set below 130 degrees F.

• Be careful with hot liquids

• Treat burns with cool water

OCTOBER• Fire Prevention Month

• Test smoke alarms monthly

• Be safe at night on Halloween

• Use battery operated candles.

MARCH• When you change your clocks, change your smoke alarm batteries

• Test smoke alarms monthly

• Vacuum dust from alarms monthly

• Replace smoke alarms after 10 years.

JULY• Leave fireworks to the professionals

• If your car overheats don’t open the radiator cap until it cools; then use a rag to open it slowly

• When fueling your vehicle shut off the engine

NOVEMBER• Keep space heaters 3 feet away from things that will burn

• Avoid using extension cords with heaters

• Dispose of ashes in metal cans with lids

APRIL• Spring Cleaning Time

• Conduct a hunt for home hazards

• Store flammable liquids outdoors in approved containers

• Keep combustibles away from heat or flame

AUGUST• Keep all matches and lighters away from children

• Teach children that matches and lighters are tools not toys

• Smoke outdoors. Put it out. All the way. Every time.

DECEMBER• Keep Christmas trees away from heat and open flames

• Never leave candles burning unattended

• Keep off the ice on ponds and streams

JANUARY• Make a home escape plan

• Know two (2) ways out of each room

• Practice exit drills during the day and at night

• Have a family meeting place outside

JUNE• Keep barbecue grills at least 10 feet away from the house

• Never use gasoline to start a fire

• Allow lawn mowers to cool before refueling

SEPTEMBER• Have your heating appliances serviced

• Have chimneys inspected & cleaned

• Purchase and install carbon monoxide detectors

Department of Fire Services

Prevent Burns!

Always turn off an iron when it’s unattended.

stay away from burner or flame. Don’t wear loose clothing near fire.

Don’t let appliance cords dangle where children can reach them.

Keep children away from stoves, outdoor grills, campfires, and fireplaces.

Lock up dangerous items. Keep out of children’s reach. Fire kills. Fire can hurt for life.

Keep hot liquids out of reach of children.

Turn down water heater to less than 130°. Higher temperatures can cause third degree burns (the worst) in two seconds!

FIrst DeGree: Epidermis (top layer of skin) is damaged. Skin is red and may swell. Victim feels pressure and

pain.

seCOnD DeGree: Epidermis and dermis (second layer of skin) damaged. Blistering may occur.

tHIrD DeGree: Epidermis, dermis, and nerve endings destroyed. Victim may or may not

feel pain. Skin is discolored (white, brown, black or red) and leathery in texture. Muscle, fat, and bone may also be destroyed.

KInDs OF Burns

Protect your skin from the sun. Use tanning products with a high SPF rating.

never smoke in bed.

never use gasoline to start a fire. Use starter fluid with care.

turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.

FIrst AID FOr Burns

Cool burn area with cool water. Continuously flush a chemical burn.

never put grease, butter, or ointment on a burn.

Don’t remove clothing from the burn.

Cover burn with clean sheet or towel.

Call 911 immediately.

remove victim from area of danger.

stop, drop and roll!

BurnsAFety

Reprinted with permission from:

the Burn CenterHennepin County Medical Center701 Park AvenueMinneapolis, Minnesota 55415612-873-3000

Office of the State Fire MarshalDepartment of Fire Services

P.O. Box 1025Stow, MA 01775

www.mass.gov/dfs

12/08

Please contact the Burn Center for permission to reproduce any part of this brocure.

national Burn Awareness Week

February 5 - 11, 2017

12/16

FireFactorsOffice of the State Fire Marshal • www.mass.gov/dfs • (978) 567-3380

Hot Beverages• Put coffee down when you hold a baby. A wiggling baby can jiggle your

arm and spill the drink all over himself.• Put drinks and soups toward the center of the table away from curious

fingers. Babies like to grab things.• Consider replacing tablecloths with place mats to prevent children from

pulling everything on the table onto themselves.• Hot beverages caused almost one-quarter of the burns to children under

age five.• Seventy percent (74%) of people burned by hot beverages were under five.

Tap Water• It takes only one second for water at 155˚F to cause a third degree burn.• Set your hot water heater to temperatures of 125˚F or less.

(Massachusetts law states that the temperature must be between 110˚F and 130˚F.)

• Always supervise young children in the bath and face them away from faucets. Babies and toddlers like playing with knobs and levers. They may turn on the hot water when you turn your back.

Cooking• Turn pot handles inward. • Establish and enforce a NO zone around the stove. Do not let children

play near a stove or barbecue. This protects children from cooking liquids, grease and hot metal.

• Children under age five are over 5 times more likely to be burned by cooking activities than others.

• Twenty-nine percent (29%) of all cooking-related burns were suffered by children under five years old.

Statistics obtained from the 2014 Annual Report of the Massachusetts Burn Injury Reporting System.

Hot LiquidsBurn Like Fire

Scalds caused 88% of all burns to children under five.

2/16Fire Data and Public Education Unit978-567-3380 • www.mass.gov/dfs

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICESPeter J. Ostroskey • State Fire Marshal

Ice and Cold Water

SafetyH

ELP

Hud

dle

• Get into HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Position). Bring your knees to your chest, hold your arms to your sides and clasp your hands. Cover your head if possible to protect your body from heat loss.

• DO NOT try to swim unless a boat, floating object, or the shore is close by. Swimming causes warm blood to circulate to your arms and legs, where it cools off quickly and reduces survival time by as much as 35-50%!

• If you are in the water with other people, huddle tightly together with your arms around each other to preserve body heat.

Each Winter many people are injured

from exposure in cold water. Skaters and ice fishermen fall through the ice; boaters and

canoeists capsize.

Learn how to protect yourself and others.

What do you do if you fall into cold water

What is hypothermia?Hypothermia is the excessive lower-ing of body temperature. Core body temperature below 95˚F causes shiv-ering, confusion, and loss of muscle strength. If not treated and reversed, hypothermia leads to unconsciousness and death.

Safety experts estimate that half of all drowning victims die from the fatal effects of cold water, not from water-filled lungs!

What do you do if someone falls through the ice?• Call 911 immediately. Make sure

properly trained and equipped rescue personnel are alerted to respond.

• DO NOT go out onto the ice. Many would-be rescuers have become victims themselves.

• Reach, throw or row. Extend a branch, pole or ladder to the victim. Throw them a buoyant object such as a life ring or float tied to a rope. If a boat is nearby, row out to the victim or push it towards them.

How cold is cold water?Any water that is cooler than normal body temperature (98.6˚ F) is, by definition, cold water. Cold water drains away your body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air! Cold water does not have to be icy, it just has to be colder than you are to cause hypothermia.

The lower the temperature of the water, the faster the onset of hypothermia.

Personal safetyAlways wear a personal floatation device (PFD) when boating, any time of year.

Waterlogged clothing makes it difficult to keep your head above the surface of the water.

Dress properlyClothing that is made from man-made fi-

bers does not protect the wearer for long when wet. Wool insu-lates better from the effects of hypothermia when dry or wet. Keep your head cov-ered, 50% of body heat is lost through the head.

How thick is safe ice?

Ice on moving water in rivers, streams and brooks is never safe. The thickness of ice on ponds and lakes depends upon water currents or springs, depth and natural objects such as tree stumps or rocks. Daily changes in temperature cause the ice to expand and contract, which affects its strength. Because of these factors, no one can declare the ice to be absolutely “safe”.

The only safe ice is at a skating arena!

2/16Fire Data and Public Education Unit978-567-3380 • www.mass.gov/dfs

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICESPeter J. Ostroskey • State Fire Marshal

Aux

ilio

Cómo Protegerse delAgua Fría y

el Hielo

Reducir el escape del calor del cuerpo• Si se cae al agua fría, asuma una posición

para reducir el escape del calor del cuerpo. En inglés esta posición se llama “Heat Escape Lessening Position” o HELP.

• Encoja las rodillas hasta el pecho, apriete los brazos contra el cuerpo y apriete las manos. Si puede cúbrase la cabeza para proteger al cuerpo y evitar la pérdida de calor.

• NO TRATE de nadar a menos que un bote, un objeto flotante o la costa estén cerca. Cuando nada, la sangre “caliente” circula por los brazos y las piernas donde se enfría rápidamente y, ¡reduce el tiempo de supervivencia en un 35 ó 50%!

Todos los inviernos muchas personas sufren

lesiones por exponerse a las inclemencias del agua fría.

Algunos patinadores y pescadores en el hielo se caen

por los agujeros en el hielo; otros que andan en botes y canoas se vuelcan y caen al

agua helada.

Abr

azar

se

Su seguridad personalSiempre que vaya a pasear en un bote, sea

cual sea la época del año, póngase un chaleco salvavidas o PFD (siglas en inglés que significan per-sonal flotation device).

La ropa empapada de agua le dificulta mantener la cabeza por

arriba de la superficie del agua.

Vístase adecuadamenteMantenga la cabeza cubierta. El 50% del calor del cuerpo se pierde por la cabeza. La ropa he-cha de materiales sintéticos, una vez que se moja, no lo protege a uno por mucho tiempo. La lana, ya sea seca o mojada, lo pro-tege a uno mejor de los efectos de la hipotermia.

¿Qué espesor se necesita para que el hielo no sea peligroso?El hielo sobre el agua en movimiento como en los ríos, arroyos y riachuelos jamás es seguro. El espesor del hielo en lagos y charcas depende de las corrientes de agua o de los manantiales, de la profundidad y la presencia de objetos naturales como cepas de árboles o rocas. Los cambios diarios de temperatura causan que el hielo se expanda y se contraiga, lo que afecta la fuerza del hielo. Debido a estos factores, nadie puede decir que el hielo es absolutamente “seguro”.

El único lugar donde el hielo no es peligroso es en

el salón de patines.

¿Qué se debe hacer si al-guien se cae en un agujero en el hielo?• Actúe rápidamente y llame al 911 para

solicitar ayuda inmediata. Asegúrese de alertar a personas debidamente entrenadas en cómo rescatar gente y debidamente equipadas, para que acudan pronto.

• NO SALGA a caminar sobre el hielo. Con frecuencia los que intentan rescatar a otros terminan siendo víctimas también.

• Alcance a la persona, tírele algo de qué agarrarse o reme hacia ella. Extienda una rama, un palo o una escalera a la víctima. Tírele un objeto que flote, como un salvavidas o una boya, amarrados a una cuerda. Si hay un bote cerca, reme a donde esté la víctima o empuje el bote en esa dirección.

¿Cuán fría es el agua “fría”?Por definición, cualquier agua que esté más fría que la temperatura normal del cuerpo (98.6 grados F.) es agua fría. El agua fría elim-ina el calor del cuerpo 25 ó 30 veces más rápido que el aire. El agua fría no tiene que estar helada. Para causar hipotermia sólo se necesita que esté más fría que su propio cuerpo.

Cuanto más baja esté la tem-peratura del agua, más rápidamente comienza la hipotermia.

¿Qué es hipotermia?La hipotermia es una baja excesiva de la temperatura del cuerpo. Un descenso en la temperatura base del cuerpo a 95 grados F. causa estremecimiento, confusión, pérdida de fuerza en los músculos. Si no se trata y se para la hipotermia, conduce a la pérdida de conocimiento y a la muerte.

Los expertos en cuestiones de seguridad calculan que la mitad de las personas que mueren ahogadas, mueren debido a los efectos mortales del agua fría y no a los efectos mortales de llenarse los pulmones de agua.