Attleboro Fire Department

Attleboro Fire Department Offers Safety Tips During National Poison Prevention Week

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Attleboro Fire Department
Chief Scott T. Lachance
100 Union St.,
Attleboro, MA 02703

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Attleboro Fire Department Offers Safety Tips During National Poison Prevention Week

National Poison Prevention Week is March 17–23

ATTLEBORO — With National Poison Prevention Week ongoing, Chief Scott Lachance wishes to remind Attleboro residents of the dangers of unintentional poisonings for people of all ages.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), poison centers across the nation receive more than 2 million calls about potential poisonings every year. Young people are at a higher risk of unintentional poisoning, especially children under age six.

Over 90 percent of poison exposures occur in the home. The top five causes of poisoning are painkillers, household cleaning products, sedatives, hypnotics and antipsychotics medicine, cosmetics and personal care products and foreign objects.

“It is important to keep all things like liquid and powder chemicals in their original containers to prevent someone from mistaking them for something else,” Chief Lachance said. “Also considered storing your cleaning products and other chemicals in a high place or a locked cabinet to prevent children from getting a hold of them.”

Poisonings can be prevented. To keep your family safe, Chief Lachance recommends following safety tips provided by HRSA and AAPCC:

Preventing an Unintentional Poisoning:

  • Teach your family to never touch nor consume something if they don’t know what it is.
  • Store common harmful substances out of sight and out of reach of children. These substances may include over-the-counter and pharmaceutical medications, tobacco products, alcohol, cleaning supplies and other disinfectant chemicals, insect repellent and oils.
  • Keep all substances in their original, labeled containers.
  • Never mix chemical substances as they can create dangerous gases when mixed.
  • Always follow the label directions on over-the-counter and pharmaceutical medications. Never share prescription medication.
  • Safely dispose of prescription medications that are no longer needed.

If Someone Has Been Poisoned:

  • Immediately call 1-800-222-1222 to reach your local poison center. Follow the first-aid advice you receive from the poison center.
  • Remain calm. Not all medicines or chemical and household substances are poisonous. Poisonings can often be treated.
  • Get fresh air if the poison was inhaled. Take off clothing and rinse skin for 15 to 20 minutes if poison is on the skin. Rinse eyes for 15 to 20 minutes if poison is in the eyes.
  • Always call 911 if the person is unconscious or not breathing.

National Poison Prevention Week was established by Congress in 1961. It takes place during the third week of March each year and raises awareness to reduce unintentional poisonings and encourage poison prevention through community involvement.

For more information on poison prevention, visit the HRSA website or the AAPCC website, or contact the Attleboro Fire Department 508-222-2110.

 

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Attleboro Fire Department Encourages Residents to Test Smoke and CO Alarms During Daylight Saving

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Attleboro Fire Department
Chief Scott T. Lachance
100 Union St.,
Attleboro, MA 02703

For Immediate Release

Friday, March 8, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Attleboro Fire Department Encourages Residents to Test Smoke and CO Alarms During Daylight Saving

Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday at 2 a.m.

ATTLEBORO — Chief Scott Lachance and the Attleboro Fire Department wish to remind residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors this weekend as daylight saving time approaches.

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having working smoke alarms reduces the risk of dying in a fire by 50 percent and, on average, three out of every five fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

The Attleboro Fire Department asks that all business owners not only change the batteries in their clocks, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, but also replace the batteries on wall mounted emergency lights and exit signs. All businesses should have emergency backup lighting as a safety feature to provide temporary lighting in case of power failure.

In order to continue to keep your home safe and prevent fires, Chief Lachance recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by NFPA:

  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace alarms immediately if they don’t respond properly when tested.
  • Replace batteries in smoke and CO alarms when you change your clocks.
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they reach 10 years old. Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area, on every level of the home, and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
  • If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay in that spot until emergency personnel arrive.
  • Develop and practice a home escape plan with all members of the household.

For more information on smoke detector and CO alarm safety, visit the NFPA website or contact the Attleboro Fire Department at 508-222-2110.

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Attleboro Firefighter Richard Whitney Named Paramedic of the Year by Local EMS Council

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Attleboro Fire Department
Chief Scott T. Lachance
100 Union St.,
Attleboro, MA 02703

For Immediate Release

Monday, Jan. 28, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Attleboro Firefighter Richard Whitney Named Paramedic of the Year by Local EMS Council

ATTLEBORO — Chief Scott T. Lachance is pleased to announce that Attleboro Firefighter/Paramedic Richard Whitney was named Paramedic of the Year by Bristol North EMS at an awards ceremony last week.

Bristol North EMS held their second annual awards conference at Plainridge Casino in Plainville on Wednesday, Jan. 23. Firefighter Whitney was honored with the Captain Jack White Paramedic of the Year award for his exceptional service and care provided to the residents of northern Bristol County.

“Rich’s calm demeanor,and proven skills and experience have been a valuable asset to our department and we congratulate him on this prestigious recognition by Bristol North EMS,” Deputy Chief Tim Birch said. “With over 10 years of experience in EMS, Rich is currently mentoring the newer paramedics and any students that cross his path that are eager to learn. His positive attitude and dedication to quality patient care are the ideal qualities we look for in a paramedic.”

One example of Firefighter Whitney’s consistent and excellent work happened in October of 2016 when he responded to a motorcycle crash where a 63-year-old man was seriously injured. Upon arrival, Firefighter Whitney quickly determined that the patient was suffering from a collapsed lung, in addition to having multiple fractures.

While en route to the hospital, Firefighter Whitney continued to provide medical care to the patient, including performing a thoracostomy, which involves using a needle to insert a thin plastic tube into the space between the lungs and the chest wall, to help with the patient’s breathing.

Firefighter Whitney’s actions likely helped to save the man’s life.

He has been with the department since 2015.

About Bristol North EMS

Bristol North EMS is an EMS council made up of local fire departments and public and private ambulance services in partnership with three hospitals in northern Bristol County – Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and Morton Hospital in Taunton. The group offers training sessions and instructors for EMS professionals in the region.

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Attleboro Fire Department Responds to Serious Rollover Crash

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Attleboro Fire Department
Chief Scott T. Lachance
100 Union St.,
Attleboro, MA 02703

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Attleboro Fire Department Responds to Serious Rollover Crash

ATTLEBORO — Chief Scott T. Lachance reports that the Attleboro Fire Department responded to a serious motor vehicle crash early Thursday morning where two people were injured.

Shortly before 1 a.m., Attleboro Fire responded to the intersection of Thatcher Street and South Main Street for a report of a rollover crash.

Upon arrival, firefighters came upon a Jaguar sedan convertible that had crashed and come to rest on its roof.

A woman passenger, believed to be in her 30s, was trapped in the back seat of the vehicle and was unconscious. 

Firefighters used a hydraulic extrication rescue tool to free the woman from the vehicle. Due to the heavy damage and the vehicle being on its roof, it took firefighters about 20 minutes to safely free the woman.

She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with what are believed to be life threatening injuries.

A male driver, also in his late 30s, was able to get himself out from under the vehicle before firefighters arrived on scene. The man was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.

The man and woman were the only occupants of the vehicle and no other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Attleboro Police also responded to close off the roads and investigate the cause of the crash.

 Both roads were closed for more than an hour while crews worked to assist the victims and investigate the crash. The roads have since been reopened.

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