Whitman

Whitman Fire Department Offers Tips to Build an Emergency Kit During Emergency Preparedness Month

⋅ Fire News ⋅ , , , , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Whitman Fire Department
Timothy J. Grenno, Fire Chief
56 Temple St.
Whitman, MA 02382

For Immediate Release

Monday, Sept. 9, 2019

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

Whitman Fire Department Offers Tips to Build an Emergency Kit During Emergency Preparedness Month

WHITMAN — Chief Timothy Grenno and the members of Whitman Fire Department would like to offer residents tips about how to build a kit of essential supplies for use in the event of an emergency during Emergency Preparedness Month.

September has been declared by Governor Charlie Baker to be Emergency Preparedness Month. Residents are encouraged to use resources provided by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to prepare themselves, their family, their property and their community for the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

“Emergency kits should contain items that can help you in all types of emergencies, large or small,” Chief Grenno said. “Hurricane Dorian’s impact in the south is an important reminder that residents should do everything they can to prepare.”

MEMA recommends that emergency kits include essential items that will provide your family members with basic necessities for up to three days in an emergency event.

Essential Items to Include in an Emergency Kit

  • Water: Bottled water (one gallon per person/per day for at least three days), water purification tablets
  • Food: At least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods that do not need cooking (ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits or vegetables, or juices, protein or granola bars, cereal, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers, baby food and comfort foods)
  • Tools and Supplies: Manual can opener, radio (powered by battery or hand crank), flashlight or lantern, extra batteries, cell phone with charger, wrench, pliers and other basic tools
  • Personal Items: Prescription medications (two-week supply), personal hygiene items, eyeglasses, contact lenses, dentures, extra batteries or supplies for medical equipment, change of clothes, sturdy shoes
  • Documents: Insurance policies, bank account records, identification cards (IDs), medical information and other copies of important documents
  • Money: Extra cash and traveler’s checks (ATMs may not work during a power outage)
  • Other Items:  First-aid kit, emergency whistle, waterproof matches/lighter, local area maps, sleeping bags or blankets, comfort items such as books or games
  • Also consider: A watch or clock, disposable kitchenware, duct tape, plastic sheeting or tarp to protect against the elements

Residents should also ensure their emergency kit is specific to their needs. Families with unique needs such as infants, pets, family members with disabilities or family members with specific medical needs should consider any additional supplies needed for basic survival.

MEMA also offers an Emergency Kit Checklist to assist families in building a kit of their own.

###

Outdoor After School Activities for Whitman-Hanson Schools to Continue As Scheduled

⋅ Client News, School News ⋅ , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Whitman-Hanson Regional School District
Superintendent Jeffrey Szymaniak
610 Franklin St.
Whitman, MA 02382

For Immediate Release

Friday, Sept. 6, 2019

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

Outdoor After School Activities for Whitman-Hanson Schools to Continue As Scheduled

Notifications Will be Made if Changes are Warranted

WHITMAN — After consulting yesterday with the Whitman Board of Health, the Hanson Board of Heath, Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno and Hanson Deputy Fire Chief Rob O’Brien, it has been recommended that there be no change to current outdoor evening activities in either town, including school activities and sports for the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District, Superintendent Jeffrey Szymaniak announces.

If any changes or modifications to after school outdoors activities is warranted,  parents and residents will be notified immediately.

During this time of year, Superintendent Szymaniak is recommending that families follow Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines in regard to wearing bug spray, long sleeved shirts and long pants while outdoors.

 

###

Whitman and Hanson Police Departments Offer Back to School Safety Tips

⋅ Police News ⋅ , , , , , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 26, 2019

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

Whitman and Hanson Police Departments Offer Back to School Safety Tips

As students prepare to return to school, Whitman Police Chief Scott Benton and Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch would like to remind residents to follow several important safety tips.

“We encourage parents to have safety conversations with their kids before they go back to school,” Chief Benton said. “This includes how to safely cross the street and how to be careful when getting on and off the bus.”

Whitman-Hanson Regional School District students return to class Wednesday, Aug. 28.

With students often on their phones texting, browsing the internet or playing games, the Whitman and Hanson Police Departments recommend that parents talk to their children about the following safety tips provided by the National Safety Council (NSC) when headed to and from school:

  • Never walk while texting. If you need to respond to a text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk.
  • Never cross the street while using an electronic device.
  • Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
  • Cross only at crosswalks.
  • Do not wear earbuds while walking across the street and stay alert

Drivers should be on increased alert when traveling through school zones and should NEVER text and drive. Additionally, the NSC reminds operators to:

  • Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk or intersection.
  • Never go around a school bus that has its lights activated and stop sign out.
  • Always stop for a crossing guard holding up a stop sign.
  • Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.
  • Do not honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.
  • Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

To ensure that children who travel to school by bus get there safely, the Whitman and Hanson Police Departments advise that students follow these tips from the NSC:

Getting on the bus:

  • When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness.
  • Line up away from the street as the bus approaches.
  • Wait until the bus has stopped completely and the doors open before approaching.

Behavior on the bus:

  • If available, always wear your seat belt.
  • Don’t put your head, arms or hands out the window.
  • Always wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat.

Getting off the bus:

  • If you have to cross in front of the bus, walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the driver. Make sure the driver can see you too.
  • Wait for a signal from the driver before crossing. When the driver signals, look left, right, then left again. Walk across the road and keep an eye out for sudden traffic changes.
  • If your vision is blocked, move to an area where you can see other drivers and they can see you.

The return of classes also means that there will be many new teen drivers operating on the roads going to and from school.

According to the NSC, teen crashes occur most often because they are inexperienced. They may misjudge gaps in traffic, the right speed for road conditions and turning safely, among other things.

The Whitman and Hanson Police Departments, in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminds parents to set rules before their kids hit the road with “5 to Drive”:

  • NO cell phones while driving
  • NO extra passengers
  • NO speeding
  • NO alcohol or drugs
  • NO driving or riding without a seat belt

Statistically, half of all teens will be involved in a car crash before graduating from high school. Car crashes are the number one cause of death among teens, yet many crashes are preventable. Teens who continue to practice driving with their parents after obtaining their license increase their chances of avoiding a crash.

“A major part of driving safely in general is to not be a distracted driver. This is especially important during the school year,” Chief Miksch said. “Drivers need to be able to give their full attention to school zones, buses and crosswalks. Anything that takes away from your attention on the road puts kids in danger.”

Chiefs Benton and Miksch and the members of the Whitman and Hanson Police Departments would like to wish all students and faculty a fun and safe school year!

###

Whitman Fire Department Extinguishes Fire Inside Condominium Garage

⋅ Client News, Fire News ⋅ , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Whitman Fire Department
Timothy J. Grenno, Fire Chief
56 Temple St.
Whitman, MA 02382

For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 19, 2019

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

Whitman Fire Department Extinguishes Fire Inside Condominium Garage

WHITMAN — Chief Timothy J. Grenno reports that the Whitman Fire Department extinguished a fire inside a condominium garage Monday morning.

At approximately 11:10 a.m., Whitman firefighters were dispatched to 877 Auburnville Way, inside the Village at Auburnville community for residents age 55 and older.

Upon arrival firefighters located a fire inside of the garage with the sprinkler system suppressing the flames and keeping the fire from spreading rapidly throughout the building.

Firefighters quickly used a hose line to extinguish the fire and overhauled the area to ensure that the flames had not spread elsewhere.

A female resident, who is wheelchair bound, had been evacuated by her home health aide to the first floor porch and was then moved from the porch away from the home by bystanders and responding firefighters. The woman was uninjured but was evaluated by a Halifax Fire ambulance crew on scene as a precaution.

The fire and smoke caused approximately $50,000 in damage to the garage. The home itself had minimal smoke and odor damage.

The resident will be able to return to her home once the fire alarm and sprinkler system is repaired, which is expected to be done today.

The incident was the second fire that Whitman firefighters responded to recently in which a sprinkler system helped to prevent potentially devastating damage. On July 24, the department extinguished a fire at the Bostonian Loft Apartments, 7 Marble St.

“The unit where this fire occurred was one of four attached condos in same building,” Chief Grenno said. “If it weren’t for the sprinkler system suppressing the fire until we arrived, the fire could have spread far more quickly and done a lot more damage. This is the second fire we’ve had in less than a month where a sprinkler system helped to keep a fire at bay until firefighters could arrive on scene. Having a properly functioning and regularly maintained sprinkler system can and does save lives.”

The fire was caused by careless disposal of a cigarette into a trash barrel in the garage.

Whitman Fire was assisted on scene by Abington Fire Tower 1 and Hanson Fire Engine 3.

 

###

1 2 3 4 5 >»