Wednesday, November 26, 2014

RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY SANTA ANA WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF RIVERSIDE AND SAN DIEGO COUNTIES


Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
310 AM PST WED NOV 26 2014
...RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY SANTA ANA WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND INLAND VALLEYS OF RIVERSIDE AND SAN DIEGO COUNTIES... .SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO WEAKEN...BUT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO CONTINUE LOCALLY GUSTY EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES FOR THE COASTAL SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS INTO THE FAR INLAND VALLEYS IN RIVERSIDE AND SAN DIEGO COUNTIES. WEAKER WINDS WITH A SLIGHT RECOVERY IN HUMIDITIES WILL CONTINUE INTO THANKSGIVING DAY.
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Last map update: Nov, 26th 2014 at 6:41:08 am PST
CAZ248-250-256-258-262230- /O.CON.KSGX.FW.W.0008.000000T0000Z-141127T0200Z/ SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE- SAN DIEGO COUNTY INLAND VALLEYS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE SAN JACINTO RANGER DISTRICT OF THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST-SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE PALOMAR AND DESCANSO RANGER DISTRICTS OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST- 310 AM PST WED NOV 26 2014 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES... A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING. * WINDS...NORTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...LOWEST DAYTIME HUMIDITY OF 5 TO 10 PERCENT. * TIMING...STRONGEST WINDS CONTINUING PAST SUNRISE...THEN DECREASING DURING THE MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. * OUTLOOK...WEAKER OFFSHORE WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THANKSGIVING DAY WITH A SLIGHT RECOVERY IN HUMIDITIES. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.
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Monday, November 17, 2014

The Next Big Thing In Wildland Fire Should Be This Small Thing #RescueMeBalloon #CaFire

#Rescue Me Balloon

 This simple cheap device could save wildland firefighters lives and should be required to be attached to every fire shelter by next season.


Rescue Me Balloon Uses Helium To Raise Bright Beacon With LED Lights 150' Above Your Shelter Deployment Location.


The balloon, made of durable plastic, is stored in a small canister with a clip for attaching to your belt, backpack or a your fire shelter.
 When deployed, the balloon rises up to 150 feet in the air, tethered by a lightweight cord. Easily spotted from ground and air.
The RMB also has a built-in flashing LED signal, which developers say is visible up to two miles away. The LED flashes an SOS signal, and the balloon is also designed to show up on radar.
Comes in different colors could be used to mark fire base camps, coyote camps, division breaks or drop points with specific colors. Deployment color and or markings could be made a standard in wildland firefighting regulations.
Specific markings could be deployed by different agencies and or by job function. 
"I can't help wondering if Rescue Me Balloon would of assisted the Prescott Nineteen or other firefighters on many other fire shelter deployments" "I personally think this is a SAR game changer"- Robert O'Connor Editor California Fire News.

Rescue Me Balloon Promo Video


Kickstarter Campaign Launching soon!

Bear with us as we sort out some technical aspects of our Kickstarter Campaign.  In the meantime, send us your Contact Information below and we'll keep you posted on our progress!

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Heart Attacks and Motor Vehicle Crashes, Leading Causes of Death for Sleep Deprived US Firefighters

Lack of Sleep Implicated in Heart Attacks and Motor Vehicle Crashes, The Leading Causes of Death for United States Firefighters

Firefighters Need Good Restful Sleep
Researchers found that 37% of 7,000 firefighters had at least one sleep disorder, making them about twice as likely to get in a crash than their well-rested peers.

They were also twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and more than three times as likely to report depression and anxiety, according to the study, published in The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

That increased risk is especially important because over 60 percents of firefighter deaths are caused by heart attacks and traffic accidents, according to The New York Times. The National Fire Protection Association tracks firefighter fatalities; its records show that stress and other medical-related issues, which often result in heart attacks, are the leading cause of firefighter deaths.

Findings of the study, led by Laura K. Barger, PhD, associate physiologist in BWH’s Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, are published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine today.
“Our findings demonstrate the impact of common sleep disorders on firefighter health and safety, and their connection to the two leading causes of death among firefighters,” says Barger in a release. “Unfortunately, more than 80% of firefighters who screened positive for a common sleep disorder were undiagnosed and untreated.”
“If you can get these people evaluated and treated when necessary, you can improve the health of workers,” Laura K. Barger, an associate physiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told the newspaper.

(1) 
Based on specific criteria, 66 US fire departments were selected to participate in a workplace-based sleep disorders screening and educational program. Approximately 7,000 firefighter participants were assessed for common sleep disorders.
(2) Firefighter Sleeping Picture: http://firefighterwife.com/blog/2012/12/01/sleep-well-my-love/
(3) Firefighter Sleeping Sign: http://www.honeymellow.com/collections/fun-signs
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Original Article Published Below in full:
Firefighters with Sleep Disorders at Higher Risk for Motor Vehicle Accidents

Sleep disorders are independent risk factors for heart attacks and motor vehicle crashes, which are the two leading causes of death for firefighters in the United States. In a national sample of almost 7,000 firefighters, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) examined the prevalence of common sleep disorders and their association with adverse health and safety outcomes and found that sleep disorders are highly prevalent, and associated with substantially increased risk of motor vehicle crashes and cardio-metabolic diseases among firefighters.
Findings of the study, led by Laura K. Barger, PhD, associate physiologist in BWH’s Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, are published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine today.
“Our findings demonstrate the impact of common sleep disorders on firefighter health and safety, and their connection to the two leading causes of death among firefighters,” says Barger in a release. “Unfortunately, more than 80% of firefighters who screened positive for a common sleep disorder were undiagnosed and untreated.”
Based on specific criteria, 66 US fire departments were selected to participate in a workplace-based sleep disorders screening and educational program. Approximately 7,000 firefighter participants were assessed for common sleep disorders. Firefighters were also surveyed about health and safety, and documentation collected for reported motor vehicle crashes.
Participants reported current health status, previous diagnoses of sleep and other medical disorders, the likelihood of falling asleep while driving, motor vehicle crashes, near crashes, and injuries.
Researchers found that a total of 37.2% of firefighters screened positive for sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, shift work disorder, and restless leg syndrome. Firefighters with a sleep disorder were more likely to report a motor vehicle crash and were more likely to report falling asleep while driving than those who did not screen positive. Additionally, firefighters with sleep disorders were more likely to report having cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and anxiety, and to report poorer health status, compared with those who did not screen positive.
“Occupational sleep disorder screening programs can identify individuals who are vulnerable to adverse safety and health consequences, including those that are leading causes of death in firefighters,” says Charles Czeisler, PhD, MD, FRCP, chief, BWH Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders. “This study provides the rationale for further research evaluating the effectiveness of occupational sleep disorders management programs on disease risk, mental health, and safety outcomes.”
Original Article at: http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/2014/11/firefighters-sleep-disorders-higher-risk-motor-vehicle-accidents/#sthash.lrIGY9a7.dpuf---------------------------------------------

Sunday, November 16, 2014

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR MODERATE TO STRONG SANTA ANA WIND EVENT OVER LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES

OSCC - NWS Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
944 AM PST SUN NOV 16 2014

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM PST MONDAY OVER MUCH OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES DUE TO GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES.

STRONG SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GREAT BASIN COMBINED WITH STRONG AND COLD NORTHERLY WINDS ALOFT WILL CONTINUE TO GENERATE A MODERATE TO STRONG SANTA ANA WIND EVENT OVER LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TODAY WITH WEAKER BUT
STILL GUSTY WINDS TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING AND POSSIBLY
THROUGH TUESDAY. MEANWHILE HUMIDITIES WILL RAPIDLY LOWER TO 8 TO
15 PERCENT BY THIS AFTERNOON... DESPITE THIS BEING A RELATIVELY
COLD WIND EVENT. LOWER HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED ON MONDAY. AS A
RESULT...RED FLAG CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TODAY THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING. THE RED FLAG WARNINGS MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH
TUESDAY FOR PARTS OF THE AREA...BUT WILL WAIT TO SEE HOW
CONDITIONS DEVELOP ON MONDAY BEFORE MAKING THAT DECISION.

CAZ240-244-245-288-547-170145-
/O.CON.KLOX.FW.W.0013.141116T1800Z-141118T0400Z/
VENTURA COUNTY COAST-VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-
VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-SANTA CLARITA VALLEY-
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN FERNANDO VALLEY-
944 AM PST SUN NOV 16 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST MONDAY FOR
THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND THE VENTURA COUNTY VALLEYS AND
COAST...

* WINDS...AREAS OF NORTHEAST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH
  TODAY BECOMING 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH TONIGHT THROUGH
  MONDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...5 TO 10 PERCENT. LOWEST MONDAY. POOR
  OVERNIGHT RECOVERIES UNDER 25 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...RAPID FIRE GROWTH AND EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR SHOULD
  BE EXPECTED IF FIRE IGNITION OCCURS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE
OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.
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****REMINDER**** Every fire has the ability to be catastrophic. The wildland fire management environment has profoundly changed. Growing numbers of communities, across the nation, are experiencing longer fire seasons; more frequent, bigger, and more severe, fires are a real threat. Be careful with all campfires and equipment.

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer." --Abraham Lincoln

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