Public Education Outreach

South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue regularly connects with other organizations, groups, and the general public in order to share fire prevention and life safety information. This is accomplished through the work of an Americorps/VISTA volunteer who is responsible for coordinating public education outreach activities at community events, one-on-one interactions, and through the co-operative effort of agencies both public and private throughout Pend Oreille County.

» Public Education Outreach Safety Message

Space Heater Safety

Winter is quickly coming upon us here in beautiful Washington State. The chilly days and even colder nights will have us all looking for different ways to stay warm this winter. There are many different ways of getting warmth in our homes. Some of the different heat sources that we use are electric, wood, and propane. I would like to take a minute to talk about electric, more directly electric space heaters.

Many families in our area use standard “plug-in the wall” space heaters. There are some things that you need to know though before you purchase and use an electric space heater. There are many great resources out there available to us with this information. Thanks to the Internet that information can be readily available to you. Some sources are Consumer Reports, Underwriters Laboratories, Home Safety Council, and many other home safety sites.

You must remember that a space heater is just that; a heater that is used to heat a space. Typically this is one room in the house. When purchasing a space heater there are three things that you should consider:

- area to be heated

- amount of time it will be used

- style to use

Now there are other considerations to look at also, those are primarily safety issues in the home though. You will want to consider things like draperies, cords, and furniture locations. When you go to purchase an air heater know the answers to the three considerations. This will assist you and possibly a sales associate in choosing the appropriate heater for you. When you have made your decision and get home with your new heater, be sure to read the manufacturers manual included. This will give direct answers to the appropriate use of your heater.

Safety in the home is the next step and the most important. There are many things to consider when using a space heater in the home. The following are the top three safety issues;

- Keep all furniture, draperies, and other combustibles at least 3 feet away from the unit

- If you must use an extension cord, follow the manufactures recommendations

(typically a 12 or 14 gauge cord)

- Never leave a running heater unattended

Remember: make sure that you are buying the appropriate heater for what you need. Always read the manufacturers manual. Use the space heater for what it is made for. And finally, make sure that you follow all safety requirements for that heater. Stay safe and warm this winter and have a Happy Holidays.

Captain Alex Arnold

POC Public Education Outreach Coordinator

» CPR and First Aid Classes

South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue is now offering CPR and First Aid classes at Diamond Lake Station. These classes are open to the public and are certified courses through the American Heart Association. HeartSaver and First Aid classes will be offered the second Saturday of the month. The CPR class begins at 9:00 a.m. The First Aid portion of the class begins after completion of the CPR module. All students will receive their cards on the same day after successful completion of the course. The cost of this course is $30.00 for the CPR course and $20.00 for the First Aid course. Costs cover the textbook, cards, and instruction. If you register at least one week prior to the class, you will quality for a $10.00 discount on both courses. That is $40.00 for both with early registration.

South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue will also offer a certified Health Care Provider Course when requested. Contact SPOFR for availability and pricing. Payments are accepted the day of the course. The instructor accepts cash or check payments only. We do not have the ability to process debit or credit card payments. Please make checks payable to "South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue" or "SPOFR". Enrollment is limited to 10 students per class, so you need to register early. To make a reservation for a class please contact Captain Alex Arnold - telephone 509-447-5305, email at alex@spofr.org, or register at Diamond Lake Station on Mondays - Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 300 p.m.

509-447-5305

South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue

325272 Hwy. 2

Newport, WA 99156

Captain Alex Arnold

Diamond Lake Station

Pend Oreille County

Fire and Life Safety

Outreach Coordinator

VISTA Volunteer

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