Emergency Preparedness - Lake Stevens Fire
At our last meeting, Jennye Cooper, Public Educator with the Lake Stevens Fire Department, was our featured speaker as we continue with our series of presentations during National Emergency Preparedness Month. Cooper emphasized important things we have heard before: have an 72 hour emergency kit for your home and your business, create and practice an escape plan for your home and business, know the risks and hazards that could affect your home and business, and, have a communications plan for members of your family. She added that we should consider our pets in our emergency plans and have kits for your vehicles, because you never know where you'll be when disaster strikes. She emphasized that we need to maintain the kits. Periodically go through them and make sure that the items in the kits are relevant.
She asked us if our street address on our homes and businesses are visible from the street. The Department recently used a grant to help homeowners obtain signs with reflective numbers that can be posted so the homes could be found in the event of fire or medical emergencies. The Department has some of the materials left so if anyone needs a sign they should contact her.
As part of her job, Cooper goes out to the schools and teaches students various skills about personal safety. You are all familiar with the "Stop, Drop & Roll" technique. She also teaches them how to use 9-1-1. She also reaches out to various community civic groups and demographic groups (eg: parents of infants and toddlers) on the importance of safety and preparedness. As part of doing this, she helps analyze data collected from motor vehicle crashes or collisions. These used to be called motor vehicle accidents, but the term "accident" doesn't really apply since all crashes can be avoided. As a recipient of a crash we may not think it can be avoided, but, nonetheless, that's the term being used. By looking at the data, she can track trends and look for ways to help people reduce and avoid injuries.
The Lake Stevens Fire Department started out as community supported fire brigade in the 1940's. Snohomish County Fire Protection District #8 was created in the mid-40's after the PUD was created. Today the Fire District is 42 square miles, serves over 42,000 residents with a staff of over almost 40 full time firefighter/EMT's and firefighter/paramedics serving in three platoons. They are augmented by about 20 part-time firefighter/EMT's. Annually, the Department handles close to 4,500 of which about 75% are medical related.
Jennye Cooper joined the Department four years ago and became the Public Educator two years ago. She graduated from Western Washington University in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in Arts in Human services. She is also a certified National Child Passenger Safety Technician and a Public Fire & Life Safety Educator Level I. Cooper has lived in Lake Stevens for twelve years.