The Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department will host its first annual 4-man scramble golf tournament on August 22, 2010 at the River Valley Country Club in Westfield, PA.  For an entry fee of $50/golfer ($40/golfer for RVCC members), participants will receive their greens fees, cart rentals, and a buffet dinner after the tournament.  The top five teams and many flag prizes will be awarded.  Skins entry is separate and optional.  There will be a hole-in-one contest on hole 12, a 203 yard par 3.  Any golfer who aces the whole (no mulligans allowed) will be awarded a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, sponsored by Walters Elkland Chevrolet.  Please click HERE to download an entry form.  Space is limited, and teams will be accepted starting May 15, 2010 on a first-come, first-served basis.  Merchants may contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for advertising opportunities.

The Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Co. is again running its 250 club during the month of June. The winners to date are as follows;

Several members of the Harrison Twp Fire Co. recently completed a 48 hr course in Basic Vehicle Rescue. This is a PA Dept. of Health certification course that prepares a student to safely and successfully disentangle and remove a patient from a vehicle accident in such a manner as to facilitate the administration of proper pre-hospital emergency medical care. While not teaching patient care, i.e. medical treatment, this program provides those rescue personnel with no formal medical training with a strong orientation to patient related rescue. The Vehicle Rescue Training Module places emphasis upon the development of knowledge and skills to be used by rescue personnel to achieve a safe and efficient vehicle rescue operation.

More photos from the BVR class can be found in our Photo Gallery.

As area residents take to doing some "spring cleaning" out in the yard in the coming weeks they are asked to use extreme caution when burning brush. With the weather getting nicer with warm sunny days also come the increased threat of wildfires. Although the ground may be wet as the result of recent precipitation warm winds and sun can quickly dry out surface vegetation. This along with even light winds can quickly cause for an increase in the wildfire danger.

Here are some tips for safe burning;

• DO NOT burn on windy/breezy days. Even a light wind can easily cause a small controlled fire to quickly spread and become out of control.
• Keep a garden hose or other source of water handy along with a rake and a shovel. This will allow you to try to keep things under control.
• DO NOT burn anything other than yard waste/material, period. For one, it's against the law and burning things like heavy lumber and other materials makes it much more difficult to control.
• ALWAYS remain in the area you are burning and NEVER leave a fire unattended!!!
• If things begin to get out of hand don't hesitate, call 9-1-1. Don't try to control a fire that has gotten too big for the resources you have available.

Hello Friends and Neighbors!

As you know, flu season is upon us, and this season brings with it a special concern for a new kind of influenza virus – H1N1, commonly known as the “swine flu.” The membership of the Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department wants to provide you with some information on how to protect yourself from the virus, how to recognize someone who is possibly infected with the virus, and some general treatment if you or a loved one should become infected.

Protect Yourself

H1N1 influenza spreads the same way as the seasonal flu, so the same precautions that everyone should take to avoid the season flu should be effective to limit the spread of H1N1. These are the simple things that we all learned as children: cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands frequently. The use of hand sanitizing gel is effective when hand-washing is not possible. Do not rub your eyes nose or mouth – this is a great way for germs to enter your body. Try to avoid close contact with sick people – the more germs you encounter, the higher the likelihood that you become infected by them.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of H1N1 influenza are the same general flu-like symptoms associated with the seasonal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. If you experience a fever, it should resolve on its own within 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

Treatment

If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick. If your fever persists, resolves but then returns, or you experience shortness of breath, seek medical care.

Due to the presence of this new influenza virus, the fire department will be taking extra precautions when responding to calls where there is a possibility for H1N1. We will be limiting the number of people who have patient contact. We will also be using more extensive infection control supplies. Responders may be wearing face masks, protective glasses, and gowns. Please do not be alarmed if responders follow these procedures. We merely want to take all possible precautions against the spread of this virus.

For further information, you can visit:

http://www.htvfd20.org

http://www.flu.gov/evaluation

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

http://www.health.state.pa.us

Many fires, burns, and injuries occur in the kitchen. The following tips will help keep you and your family safe:

• Always use pot holders or oven mitts when putting food in or taking food out of the oven and handling hot items on the stove.
• Don't put any hot foods or liquids near the edge of the counter or table as they could spill, fall, or get knocked over and cause burns.
• Always make sure the stovetop is clean as residue grease can catch fire.
• If a fire should occur on the stove, carefully slide a pan lid over the flames (make sure you are wearing an oven mitt) and then turn off the heat.
• If a fire should occur in the oven, keep the oven door closed and turn off the heat to smother the fire.
• Never leave appliance cords dangling over the counter as children or pets could pull them and injure themselves.
• When microwaving water, let it sit a minute before removing the cup as water heated past the boiling point can erupt out of the cup.
• When using a microwave oven, make sure the containers and wrappings are microwave-safe.
• Never put metal (such as aluminum foil, staples, metal utensils, etc.) in a microwave.
• Remember that food heated in a microwave can be very hot and use care when removing it or opening lids or other packaging/covers after heating.
• Puncture plastic pouches and plastic wrap coverings before heating items in a microwave to reduce the risk of steam burns.

Find more cooking fire safety tips in Fire Corps’ Fire Prevention Week Resource Center for 2008.