Welcome to Summertime in the South!!!
Being a native South Alabamian as many of you are, we know what to expect, hot weather and hurricanes. Well, as I pin this month’s Tail Board Talk, we have both. The heat indices are triple digits for the next couple of days and the first hurricane of the season, Beryl, is buzzing through the Caribbean. So once again, we will take this opportunity to remind everyone to look after themselves and each other. If you must work outside, stay hydrated with water and perhaps the occasional sports drink to replace those electrolytes that are sweated away. There are many signs related to heat exhaustion and heat stroke: pale skin, headache, dizziness, confusion, heavy sweat (exhaustion), no sweat (stroke), and dark colored urine, just to name a few. Our biggest advice is hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and then hydrate some more. You should be taking in 8 or more glasses of water a day, 10 to 12 ounces at a time, limit your working in direct sun to 15 to 20 minutes at a time and then seek some shade for a cool down period. We all must be very careful in this summertime heat.
Being from the coast, most of us know how to prepare for the coming hurricane season. We start with a plan and when the time comes, we put our individual plans into action. Our area is not expected to have any impact from Beryl but now is a great opportunity to go over your plan with family and make sure you have supplies. Our department has a plan and we have asked all our members to become familiar with it. Several times we have posted on our social media a list of items needed for your hurricane plan. The national recommendation is that you have enough supplies to be self-sufficient for 72 hours. While local and federal organizations begin their planning early as the threat of a hurricane grows closer, it is always in your and your family’s best interest to be prepared for whatever may come our way. For more detailed information you can look to the Mobile County Emergency Management Agencies website for helpful information and other FEMA information sites.
Lastly, we are pushing forward with our efforts to have the Dawes North community join our Fire District. The Probate Judge’s Office has advised that we must have a petition signed by two thirds of the area residents to have a referendum on the matter. We are working on this but need your help. Door to door is a slow process but we are willing. Another effort is meetings and events. We will be present at an event this week at Surge Church, 2900 Dawes Rd. We will be set up at the Church’s Freedom Celebration from 6PM to 9PM. We will have petitions in hand for those who live in the area and would like to see this idea go to a public vote. Come out and see us and let us show you some of our equipment, introduce our personnel, and explain the process. Remember, the petition is for nothing more than a step towards a public vote and give you the voice for the direction of your community.
Thanks for reading and supporting the Theodore Dawes Fire Rescue Department.
Chief Byrd