George Stevens

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Pine Belt Fire Coordinators Issue Outdoor Burning Warning Dry, windy conditions fueling grass, brush and woods fires

Fire Coordinators from Covington, Forrest, Jeff Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion and Wayne counties are warning local residents in each county about the dangers of outdoor burning.  Over the past week,

volunteer fire departments in these seven Pine Belt counties have responded to dozens of out of control grass, brush and woods fires with several of the fires threatening structures.  “Our volunteer

fire departments have been very busy responding to grass, brush and woods fires with some fairly large acreage fires reported in the Pine Belt,” notes Lamar County Fire Coordinator George Stevens.

Adds Wayne County Fire Coordinator Doug Hutto, “The past several weeks have been extremely cold with numerous heavy frosts which has dried out the already dead vegetation.  Combine the dry

vegetation with moderate to strong winds and you have perfect conditions for rapid fire spread.”

Forrest County Fire Coordinator Chip Brown notes, “We are urging the public to be very careful if conducting any outdoor burning activities and refrain from outdoor burning if possible until

we have had some rainfall in the area.  When a volunteer fire department is out on a preventable wildland fire, they are unavailable to respond to potentially more serious calls such as vehicle

accidents and structure fires.”  Should a controlled fire get out of control, residents are urged to call 911 to report the fire and take steps to protect life and property.  Keep a water hose or

appropriate fire suppression equipment handy and be sure not to conduct outdoor burning activities when windy conditions are present.  “We’ve been very fortunate that no one has been injured

in some of these fast moving fires,” notes Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna.  He adds, “It just takes a moment for a small fire to get out of control and become a monster fire.  We just

want local residents to pay close attention to this fire warning and take steps to prevent damage to their homes and property and that of their neighbors – it’s a serious situation right now.”

Filed under: Covington County, Forrest County, Jones County, Lamar County, Marion County, burn, Dan McKenna, Disaster/Accident, Doug Hutto, fire, George Stevens, Wildfire

Emergency Responders Workshop to be Held Saturday

Hattiesburg, MS – Last Saturday’s tragedy in Tucson might have resulted in one more death had the first person to the aid of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords never received first responders training.

Using clean towels from the grocery store, Daniel Hernandez applied pressure to the congresswoman’s head wounds, sat her upright and kept her interacting with him – all skills he learned during first aid training.

Arizona representative and hospital physician Matt Heinz said the fact that Hernandez was near and able to react quickly probably saved the congresswoman’s life.

Hernandez had only been an intern for Giffords for five days before she was shot by a 22-year-old man at the “Congress on Your Corner” event in Tucson last Saturday. A junior at the University of Arizona, Hernandez had previously worked as a certified nursing assistant where he learned the life-saving skills that became second nature on that tragic morning.

First responders and volunteers across the nation face these and similar situations daily. Though each scene varies in severity, each has very similar circumstances where knowledge must be applied quickly and correctly.

While emergency medical technicians often receive highly specialized training in treating medial trauma, much of what they know is available free to the general public.

Wesley Medical Center will host a first responders workshop for community volunteers and emergency response personnel Saturday, January 15, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Institute for Wellness and Sports Medicine at the hospital.

“We hope these skills are never really put to the test,” said Nita Williamson, RN, community educator for Wesley Medical Center. “But just as was the case with Mr. Hernandez, you never know when this knowledge might be needed.”

At the workshop, individual stations will be set up to educate attendees on the guidelines on basic life support and advanced cardiac life support. Attendees may also be educated on the use of automated external defibrillators, how to care for patients in cardiac arrest, how to assess trauma and general medical issues, how to prepare a scene for medical evacuation and how to properly transport patients on stretchers.

The free event is being sponsored Lamar County Fire Services, Lamar County Emergency Management District, ASAP Ambulance Service and Wesley Medical Center.

“Our local emergency response agencies have been working on this for several months,” said Williamson. “It’s because of their hard work and dedicated time that we’re able to offer this service to the community.”

To register for the event or for additional information about these courses, please contact Lamar County Fire Coordinator George Stevens at 601-270-7525.

Filed under: Featured, Hattiesburg, Lamar County, Medical, Basic life support, Certified first responder, Congress, Daniel Hernandez, Emergency medical responders, George Stevens, Hattiesburg, Institute for Wellness and Sports Medicine, Matt Heinz, Wesley Medical Center