What is a volunteer fireman?

It is a person that is willing to "volunteer" a portion of their time to their community. The individual may be retired and have extra time; they may have a full-time job and only be able to respond at night or on weekends; or they may be self-employed, and have some flexibility in the amount of time they can commit and the times in which they can respond to fire calls. The reasons for wanting to be a volunteer fireman vary: from the thrill of it (typically for the younger of age); to a desire to give something back to the community; or as a hobby.

Responding to Calls

You may be asking why in addition to fire apparatus you see cars and pickups on the scene of an emergency. The organization is volunteer meaning our members respond to an emergency leaving home or work. Once the fire apparatus is en-route to the emergency scene all other members proceed to the scene in their vehicle or respond additional apparatus. Because our members live though out the Union Grove community some go straight to the scene to provide immediate assistance. Our active members have emergency warning lights in their vehicles to use while responding to an emergency. By utilizing warning lights to navigate through traffic we achieve quicker response times to the emergency. All members respond with due regard when responding CODE 3 traffic as not to become part of another emergency situation. If you encounter an emergency vehicle or a member's private vehicle with emergency lights en-route to an emergency scene PLEASE yield and allow passage when conditions are safe as not to endanger yourself or the responding personnel.

, North Carolina State Law for Emergency Vehicles:

The law requires motorists to approach cautiously when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the shoulder of the roadway with its lights flashing. Drivers are required to change lanes away from the emergency vehicle on a multi-lane highway or slow down on a two lane highway and can do so safely. Motorists must slow down while maintaining a safe speed. Fines for failing to pass stopped emergency vehicles safely are $250.

Every member is issued a pager that looks similar to a miniature walkie-talkie. Each department in the county has a unique tone assigned specifically to them. When there is an emergency in our district or to assist another Iredell County fire department, ECOM sets off our tones by computer and our pagers activate, emitting a fire tone or a first responder tone for medical emergencies. Then a dispatcher announces the type of emergency along with the address or approximate location. Our firefighters or medical responders then respond the appropriate apparatus to the incident location.

Safety Tips

General Safety Tips

• Post your address on your house or mailbox so that it is visible from the street.
• Be prepared for potential emergencies.  Check the batteries in your radio and flashlight.  Keep a fresh supply of canned food and bottled water.
• Post emergency phone numbers and your address by all phones.  To contact Fire-Paramedics-Police Dial 9-1-1.
• Always leave babysitters with information including:  How to contact you in an emergency, alternate contacts, emergency phone numbers (Fire-Paramedics-Police Dial 9-1-1).  Instructions of what is expected and always provide a new sitter with a tour of your house.

Fire Safety Tips

• A smoke detector should be located on each floor and audible in all bedrooms.  Smoke detectors should be kept clean and in proper operating condition. Follow the manufacturer's directions, and test once a week. Replace batteries twice a year, or when the detector chirps to signal that the battery is dead. Don't ever take the battery out for other uses!
• If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll.
• Make sure you do not overload electrical circuits.
• Always know two means of escape from any building.  Do you have a home evacuation plan established for your family?  An evacuation plan should be developed, posted and practiced.  Always designate a family meeting place outside where your family can assemble.
• Do you have a fire extinguisher?  An ABC fire extinguisher should be available in case of a fire.  To operate a fire extinguisher remember P-A-S-S.

• All doors should be kept closed at night to prevent smoke from entering your bedroom.

Follow the Candle Circle of Safety

• Burn candles inside a one foot circle of safety, an area free of anything that could come in contact with the flame and burn.  Use candles in the center of an area one-foot in diameter free of anything that could burn, such as decorations, curtains that could blow around, other items on a table or bureau.  Use a sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic container.
• Stay in the room with burning candles; never leave them burning unattended.  Most candle fires start when they are left burning unattended.  Don't leave a candle burning out of your sight when you fall asleep at night.
• Use candles out of reach of children and pets.  Many candle fires are started when pets knock them over, or when children touch or play with them.
• Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children.  Store in a high cabinet, preferably a locked one.  You wouldn't leave a loaded gun lying around and a lighter can be just as dangerous in a child's hand.
• Teach everyone in the family the rules of safe candle use.  Children, teenagers, grown-ups, and older adults should know the rules of safe candle use.
• Candles have become one of the leading causes of fire deaths in the home.

Medical Tips

• Prevent a fall:  Wear well fitted shoes or slippers, (loose shoes and slippers can invite a slip or fall).
• Keep electrical cords near wall baseboards and away from traffic paths.
• The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of stroke, heart attack or congestive heart failure.  Have your blood pressure checked annually.
• Cut the cholesterol and trim the fat from your diet.
• Check for diabetes and keep it in check.  Being overweight doesn't just put a strain on your belt, it puts a strain on your heart.
• Warning signs of a heart attack (If one of these signs are present contact your family physician and/or 9-1-1):

Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or pain in the center of your chest.  Pain may radiate to your neck, shoulders and arms.

Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating or respiratory difficulty.

Seasonal Tips

Winter

• Have your fireplace chimney inspected and cleaned on a yearly basis.
• Have all heaters and air conditioning units inspected annually to ensure proper operation.

Christmas Holiday

• Buy a tree whose needles are not dry or brittle.
• Locate your tree away from any heat source and air duct.
• Only use UL listed Christmas lights.
• Turn off the tree lights when you leave your house and when you go to bed.
• Always provide the tree with fresh water.
• Discard your tree as soon as the holidays are over, and even sooner if the tree begins to dry out.

Summer

• Protect yourself from the sun and drink plenty of fluids.
• Do not overload electrical outlets using window air conditioning units.
• When barbecuing, keep charcoal burners at a safe distance away from the house and any other flammable/combustible.
• Never cook using loose fitting clothes.  They can come in contact with the fire.

© 2007, Union Grove VFD | 1869 West Memorial Hwy Union Grove, NC 28689 | Tel. 704-539-4400 | All Images are Property of Union Grove VFD