JFPD3&8

Norovirus is here. What is it? how do you get it? how do you treat it?

The norovirus is here in Stevens County.  No, it isn’t the end of the world, but it may feel like it if you catch it.

Here is information direct from the Centre For Disease Control about it, how you get it, and how to treat it.

NEVER be afraid to call 911 if you think you need us!  Don’t second guess yourself and don’t think you’re bothering us.  It’s our job to be there for you.

Remember, it’s a lot easier to call us off than to call too late.  If you think you have an emergency, you have an emergency.  Call 911!

Symptoms

Norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines or both. This is called acute gastroenteritis.

The most common symptoms—

  • diarrhea
  • throwing up
  • nausea
  • stomach pain

Other symptoms—

  • fever
  • headache
  • body aches

A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.

If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill and throw up or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses.

Symptoms of dehydration—

  • decrease in urination
  • dry mouth and throat
  • feeling dizzy when standing up

Children who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.

Transmission

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus. Anyone can get infected with norovirus and get sick. Also, you can get norovirus illness many times in your life. One reason for this is that there are many different types of noroviruses. Being infected with one type of norovirus may not protect you against other types.

Norovirus can be found in your stool (feces) even before you start feeling sick. The virus can stay in your stool for 2 weeks or more after you feel better.

You are most contagious

  • when you are sick with norovirus illness, and
  • during the first few days after you recover from norovirus illness.

You can become infected with norovirus by accidentally getting stool or vomit from infected people in your mouth. This usually happens by

 

  • eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus,
  • touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus then putting your fingers in your mouth, or
  • having contact with someone who is infected with norovirus (for example, caring for or sharing food or eating utensils with someone with norovirus illness).

Norovirus can spread quickly in closed places like daycare centers, nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships. Most norovirus outbreaks happen from November to April in the United States.

Treatment

There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is a viral (not a bacterial) infection.

If you have norovirus illness, you should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost from throwing up and diarrhea. This will help prevent dehydration.

Sports drinks and other drinks without caffeine or alcohol can help with mild dehydration. But, these drinks may not replace important nutrients and minerals. Oral rehydration fluids that you can get over the counter are most helpful for mild dehydration.

Dehydration can lead to serious problems. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization for treatment with fluids given through your vein (intravenous or IV fluids). If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, call the doctor.

Break time

No one said firefighting wasn’t exhausting

Extrication training

JFPD 3&8 continues to expand its skills!  Our firefighters are training in extrication!  Under certain circumstances, victims will no longer need to wait an hour or so for Team Rescue to get to the scene.  We’ll be able to get them out and to the first responders ourselves, getting them to treatment that much faster!

Extrication training every Wed in December

Those who are taking part in extrication training are to report to the Training Center each Wednesday in December at 1800 hours

Annual Christmas Party

December 11th is the Christmas Party to recognize the efforts of our firefighters and volunteers who make this district great!

1730 at the Training Center.

Please bring a dish of your choice.

District will provide ham and roast beef!

Special Commissioner’s Meeting

Special meeting at 6:30pm on Tuesday November 14th, 2017

Purpose: Voucher discussion and approval, Due to internet being down

But can he reach the peddle?

Someone needs to get this new recruit some gear!

Can You Burn Or Make A Campfire? (Updated 10/20/17)

Updated for 10/20/17

If you are wondering if you can do a trash/slash burn on your property or otherwise make any kind of fire, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a decision chart to help you decide.

Remember, some burning is permitted and some burning is illegal.  Make sure you are okay to burn before you do.

While the weather is getting cooler and we have had some rain, it doesn’t take much still to start a large fire.  Be careful!

The decision chart is in Microsoft Word format.  You can download it here: FDR_IFPL Decision Form10_19

September Commissioner Meeting Minutes

  MINUTES September 14, 2017

The regular meeting of Joint Fire Protection Ferry County District 3/Stevens County District 8 was called to order at 6:55 p.m. on September 14, 2017 at the District Office by Chairperson: Charlie Cole.

Present: Commissioners Chez Young, Helen Sowards, Shirly Nevin, Steve Benell. Chief Herb Hippler, Purchasing Agent Mark Stevens and Secretary, Shauna Hippler.

Guests: Alivia

 Minutes: Helen made the motion to accept the amended minutes from August, 2017 minutes, Chez seconded. Vote was unanimous.

Resolutions: Charlie read over the current Boot Policy. Shirly read over what will be in the new Boot Policy and will write it out. The new policy will have updated requirements.

State Audit: Shirly received notice from the State Auditor for documents for the annual audit.

Contracting vs State MOB: The Red Cards that come from the district will have a special stamp with the walk test minutes which is 45 minutes vs a Red Card from a Contractor the walk test is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Red Cards from the district cannot be used for private contracting. Commissioners discussed that fire fighters will need to turn in their gear and boots if contracting.

 New Business: Chez went over “kit” specs for Northport Flatcreek Rd Station. The sheet he handed out shows how big the building would be and design.

  • Fogle Meeting on witching: Dave Meyer from Fogle insisted on having the property witched by 2 separate parties. Rod Dupuis found 2 unusable locations and Herb found usable locations. Charlie read over the Fogle contract for drilling.
  • Address: The temporary address for the NP/FC station was given as 3276F Northport Flatcreek Rd, KF WA 99144. After the road permit is given we will receive a permanent address.
  • Contact Avista: Get their crew over to look at the site. Commissioners are thinking it will take around $9,000 to get the power hooked up for the new building.
  • Snow diverter for stove chimney on storage apparatus building: Mark will get a snow diverter.
  • Gary Cotter- design septic system
  • Inspections of the stations: Barstow station will get a new “slab” in front to prevent gravel from getting on the concrete floors.

 Budget Report: Steve made the motion to approve payables, Helen seconded. Motion was unanimous.

Vouchers Audited and Certified BY THE AUDITING OFFICER AS REQUIRED BY RCW 42.24.080 and those expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090, have been recorded on a listing, which has been made available to the board. As of this date September 14, 2017 the board by a unanimous vote, does approve for payment those vouchers included in the above list and further described as follows: Accounts Payable vouchers #320237 through #320264 in the amount of $14,528.95. Also voucher 320265 in the amount of $15,925.00.

Committee Reports:

  • Buildings: Chez is doing a great job with handling the new NP/FC station.
  • Communications: None
  • Fire Safety: None
  • Recruitment: None
  • Insurance: None

Other:

Medical Officer Report:

Chiefs Report: We should have received a check in the amount of $4225.54 for the last payment of the Phase 2 grant from DNR.

The new truck in Jackson WY will be picked up September 22nd and should be in district on the 24th.

State MOB crews are home from Oregon, they had a 16 day tour, making the district $29,000.

DNR will be shorthanded next week due to crew member returning to college. Herb let them know our district would be available for emergencies outside the district.

It seems like all trucks have needed repairs and new tires or tire repairs. We will work on one vehicle at a time until all are fixed.

We will be starting a new structure training class for the new fire fighters at the end of the month.

Herb appointed a new burn tower project manager and expects to see more movement in getting it up and running. We have had to turn down State MOB requests due to staffing shortages caused by members going to contracting.

 Open Issues:

  • Burn Building – None
  • Warning signs – The new signs for the Tipton station have been installed.
  • Executive Session: 9:17 to 9:27

Helen made a motion to adjourn meeting at 9:28pm Steve seconded. Motion was unanimous.

Respectfully submitted:

Shauna Hippler, Secretary ___________________________________

Charlie Cole, Chairperson ____________________________

DNR Eases Statewide Burn Ban, Some Burn Restrictions Still in Place Across Northeast Washington

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that as the statewide burn ban on DNR-protected lands has been rescinded, some burn restrictions are still in place for parts of northeast Washington.

All outdoor burning is still prohibited in the following counties.

  • Stevens County
  • Ferry County
  • Pend Oreille County
  • Spokane
  • Okanogan
  • Lincoln

Campfires are still prohibited in Leader Lake campground in Okanogan County. In all other areas in DNR’s Northeast Region, campfires may be allowed in designated approved campgrounds. Always check first with campground host before lighting a campfire. Individual campgrounds may still prohibit campfires.

DNR staff wish to remind the public that individual landscapes or campgrounds may continue, or enact new, campfire or burning bans at any time as needed per local conditions.

To check on current DNR burning conditions, call 1-800-323-BURN or visit www.dnr.wa.gov.

In addition, individuals involved in forest operations are reminded to continue following Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) system restrictions, which can be checked at www.dnr.wa.gov/ifpl.

DNR’s wildfire mission

Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands. DNR is the state’s largest on-call fire department and participates in Washington’s coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Janet Pearce
Communications Manager
360-902-1122
janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov




JFPD 3&8
25266 Hwy 395 N
Kettle Falls, WA 99141
(509)738-4591

Copyright © 2024 by
The Joint Fire Protection District 3 and 8
Stevens and Ferry Counties, WA
All Rights Reserved.

Website Last Updated: April 15, 2024



Hosting Services Provided by SecureWebs
Powered by HuckleSoft