Rockland Fire Department

Rockland Fire and Police Departments Offer Safety Tips Ahead of National Poison Prevention Week

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Friday, March 15, 2019

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: [email protected]

Rockland Fire and Police Departments Offer Safety Tips Ahead of National Poison Prevention Week

National Poison Prevention Week is March 17–23

ROCKLAND – As National Poison Prevention Week begins March 17, Fire Chief Scott Duffey and Police Chief John Llewellyn wish to remind residents of the danger 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.

“Parents should always be sure to keep harmful chemicals and cleaning products out of sight and out of reach from kids,” Chief Llewellyn said. “Consider keeping them on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet. This is one of the easiest ways to prevent accidental poisonings in the home.”

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

To prevent 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 you think 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.

“The Rockland Police Department has a box in the lobby where residents can drop off and get rid of unused or unwanted prescription medications,” Chief Llewellyn said. “We welcome folks whose medicine cabinets have old pill bottles to come and drop them off.”

For more information on poison prevention, visit the HRSA website or the AAPCC website, or contact the Rockland Fire Department at 781-878-2123 or the Rockland Police Department at 781-871-3890.

 

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

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Rockland Fire Department
Chief Scott Duffey
360 Union St.,
Rockland, MA 02370

For Immediate Release

Thursday, March 7, 2019

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

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

Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday at 2 a.m.

ROCKLAND — Chief Scott Duffey and the Rockland 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 Rockland 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 Duffey 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 Rockland Fire Department at 781-878-2123.

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Rockland Police and Fire Departments Offer Guidance on CBD Products

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Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: [email protected]

Rockland Police and Fire Departments Offer Guidance on CBD Products

ROCKLAND — As CBD products become more readily available across Massachusetts, Police Chief John Llewellyn and Fire Chief Scott Duffey are urging Rockland residents to be cautious, research items before buying and remember that the drug’s legality at the federal level remains murky.

While many CBD products claim to cure physical pains, benefit mental health and even cure some illnesses, these benefits are largely unsubstantiated by science. Only one CBD drug has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug administration after it was studied closely. The drug treats seizures associated with severe epilepsy.

Because of a lack of regulation, some items that claim to be CBD can be dangerous to consumers. In December 2017 and January 2018, a group of approximately 50 people in Utah were sickened by a synthetic cannabinoid they were sold that was marketed as CBD. Some of their symptoms included an altered mental status, seizures, confusion, loss of consciousness, and hallucinations.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), CBD, also known as cannabidiol, does not cause a high because it affects a different part of the nervous system than THC, an active chemical compound in marijuana.

CBD can be derived from both marijuana and hemp. Hemp-derived CBD can contain as much as 0.3 percent THC, and marijuana-derived CBD can contain more, according to the FDA.

Marijuana-derived CBD remains illegal federally, as a cannabis byproduct. Hemp, however, was legalized nationally in December 2018.

The Rockland Police and Fire Departments are urging parents, guardians, and caregivers to be vigilant that children do not become exposed to CBD products that can often be sold in candy form. There are many gummy candy CBD products, which can be attractive to young children.

CBD products, ranging to edible treats to oils to lotions, can be bought online and in retail stores in Massachusetts.

“With these items becoming more readily available in our state, we would just like to notify parents that 99% of these CBD products have not been approved by the FDA,” Chief Llewellyn said. “Research is still being done to better understand the side effects of CBD, but the truth is, we simply don’t know what this substance is capable of yet and urge caution.”

Finding reliable information on CBD is also challenging, as much of the information available online is created by pro-CBD and marijuana companies. As a result, the Rockland Police and Fire Departments encourage residents to carefully assess the reliability and accuracy of the sources they use to gather information regarding CBD.

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Rockland Seeking Volunteers to Serve on New Community Emergency Response Team

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Rockland Fire Department
Chief Scott Duffey
360 Union St.,
Rockland, MA 02370

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019

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

Rockland Seeking Volunteers to Serve on New Community Emergency Response Team

ROCKLAND — Rockland Emergency Management Director and Fire Chief Scott Duffey would like to invite residents to attend an information session later this month about the town’s formation of a new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

WHEN:

Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.

WHERE:

Rockland Senior Center, 317 Plain St., Rockland

WHAT:

The Town of Rockland is working to put together a brand-new CERT program and Chief Duffey is seeking residents who are interested in volunteering to be a part of the team to attend the upcoming information session.

Rockland CERT will be a group of community volunteers trained to assist and augment the Rockland Police and Fire Departments during emergencies or large events.

CERT educates individuals about disaster preparedness, specifically regarding hazards that may impact their area, and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Using training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT volunteers can assist others in their community following a disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

CERT volunteers are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking an active role in emergency preparedness projects.

“We are hoping to have a large turnout of people interested in being the first members of this new Rockland CERT program,” Chief Duffey said. “CERT members can be a valuable asset to a community in helping to respond during emergency situations and events. Members will receive vital training that they can also apply to their everyday lives when the unexpected occurs.”

For more information, please call Chief Duffey at 781-878-4094.

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