CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2020 OFFICERS
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NO DUES INCREASE IN 2020
In a time when the cost of doing business is on the rise, your Executive Board explored ways to reduce cost and improve the way we do business. Some of the actions taken were replacing the office lights with LEDs to reduce energy cost, restructuring our banking practice and investing for the future. We discussed and implemented ways to reduce travel expenses and made other operational improvements.
These efforts paid off and we are proud to say that, for the first time in years, there will be no CAL FIRE Local 2881 dues increase to the membership this year. I will not promise you this will always be the case, but we will continue to be fiscally responsible with your money and keep looking for ways to reduce cost.
Stay the Course,
President Tim Edwards
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The President's Award is given to an individual or group for superior accomplishments in support of CAL FIRE Local 2881.
This award was given to the entirety of the CAL FIRE Local 2881 Honor Guard for their hard work and dedication. Our Honor Guard has shown exemplary commitment and work ethic in support of our union. They are a group that we should be proud of and strive to be a part of.
Congratulations and keep up the good work!
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Colorado Springs Fire Department warns of 'Outlet Challenge' after incident at a middle school
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Fire departments across the country have been warning about the "Outlet Challenge."
The Colorado Springs Fire Department is reporting someone at a local middle school tried to take part in the dangerous and pointless social media trend. The school was not identified.
"Be aware of a new TikTok challenge involving teens dropping a penny behind phone charger that is partially plugged into an electrical outlet," the fire department wrote on Twitter. "Unfortunately, an incident happened at one of our local middle schools."
The ‘outlet challenge’ has kids plugging a phone charger into a wall leaving enough space to drop a penny in between the wall and the outlet. When the copper of the penny hits the prongs of the charger, a rush of electrical current occurs.
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CAL FIRE Local 2881 - 2019 Year in Review
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Local officials concerned with growing number of first responder deaths nationwide
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FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WBAY) - The numbers are alarming: In the first two weeks of 2020, seven first responders were hit and killed while doing their jobs on roadways across the country.
"These are unnecessary deaths. They are absolutely preventable," says Fond du Lac Fire Chief Peter O'Leary.
The deadly start to the new year has caught the attention of local public safety officials.
Dashcam video caught a near miss in Fond du Lac County on a snow covered road last year, the deputy scrambling out of the way.
Another squad car was totaled following a crash back in November. The squad was parked at a crash scene when another driver plowed into it.
According to Capt. William Tadych with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office, "Our deputies are constantly looking about, and their heads are on a swivel, looking for that, listening to a car screeching as it's putting on the brakes or swerving out of control. They're conscious of it because they know it's putting them in a bad position from past experience."
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Did you know as active and retired members, you can give more through payroll deduction to support organizations who support our families?
Fill out the CAL FIRE Local 2881
Benefit Program Application
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Mail completed
form
to L2881 HQ
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Did you just recently retire? Congratulations! Make sure to sign up to be a CAL FIRE Local 2881 Retired Member and stay in the know!
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If you don’t have post-traumatic stress disorder (
PTSD
), it can be difficult to understand the ways it may impact family members, friends and co-workers who have the condition. You may wonder why they can’t “shake off” their trauma, or why seemingly trivial things can
trigger such intense reactions
.
PTSD may be perplexing as someone on the outside looking in. However, it’s important to recognize that many symptoms of PTSD are caused by
structural changes
in the brain. Trauma can shake a person to their core, throwing their beliefs about themselves, others and the world into question. If you want to support your loved one, you can take steps to
understand
their disorder and find productive, helpful ways to talk to them about it.
Even people with the best intentions can discuss PTSD in a way that’s calloused or cruel. Recognizing helpful and harmful ways of talking about the disorder can make a difference for friends, family and co-workers.
Harmful: Telling a Person With PTSD That You Understand What They’re Going Through
Wanting the people close to you to feel understood is a natural instinct. Knowing that someone else has been through what we’re going through has likely been a source of comfort and solace during hard times in your life. However, when it comes to PTSD, you truly can’t understand what your loved one is going through unless you’ve been through trauma and experienced the disorder yourself.
You haven’t endured their experiences, and you haven’t dealt with the symptoms that they likely struggle with on a daily basis. Paradoxically, telling your loved one that you “understand” can make them feel profoundly misunderstood since they know there’s no way you could truly understand. In the end, this may only add to their feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
Helpful: Listening to Your Loved One
The burden of trauma is a heavy one to bear. Simply being able to tell a trusted person about an experience is enough to lighten the load, if only for a little while. Because of this concept, sometimes the best thing to say to someone who’s struggling is nothing. Let them know that you’re there to listen if they want to talk about their
trauma
. Even when you can’t fully understand their experiences, taking the time to listen to your co-worker, friend or family member can make them feel less alone. At the very least, they’ll know that you care enough about them to learn more about
what they’ve gone through
. Talking through what happened to them, or what they go through on a daily basis may even help them better understand themselves and facilitate their healing.
Harmful: Telling Them to “Get Over It”
Watching someone close to you struggle for weeks, months or even years can be frustrating. After so long, you may be tempted to resort to tough love, telling them to “stop living in the past,” or reminding them that “it’s been 17 years” since a traumatic event. While this might seem like it could be helpful, it might add to the guilt and shame your loved one likely feels about the disorder. In truth, many people deal with serious symptoms of PTSD for decades before getting the help they need. Even after professional care, many individuals experience some degree of symptoms for life.
Helpful: Realizing That There’s No Overnight Solution to PTSD
PTSD can’t be resolved overnight. Learning the skills needed to manage and cope with the condition takes time. If you want to support someone with PTSD, let them know that you’ll be there for them on the good days and the bad days. Be respectful of what they’re going through and validate their experience. If they decline to participate in certain activities or go to certain places because they think those activities or places might be triggering, respect their decision. Be as patient as you can.
While support is crucial for individuals with PTSD, it’s important not to cross the line from helping to enabling. Denying that a problem exists or using
drugs and alcohol
to cope with issues will only make things worse. If your loved one grapples with addiction or refuses to seek help, it may be time to reach out to a professional treatment center.
The IAFF Center of Excellence
was created to connect fire fighters and paramedics to specialized care for behavioral health and substance abuse disorders.
Reach out
to a representative today to learn more.
Call 855-225-4262 or visit:
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6 Part Webinar Series on Firefighter Cancer Risk Reduction.
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Join the VCOS and NVFC for a 6 part webinar series, where we will explore some of the most important information you need to know when it comes to firefighter cancer risk reduction. We will also discuss the importance of early detection and what to do when a firefighter has cancer.
February 18: Exposure Documentation
April 14: Decon Procedures
June 9: Annual Physicals
August 11: Changes and New Material for the Lavender Ribbon Report
October 13: Cancer from a Survivor’s Perspective
December 8: Topic to be Announced
Read about the sessions and register
here
.
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FROM THE DESK OF CAL FIRE SAFETY CHIEF CURTIS BROWN
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Have you signed up for
Receive text alerts about things that matter to YOU!
Sign up today to stay informed.
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The carry: A great weight training exercise for firefighters
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The carry mimics fireground movements that frequently result in slips and falls or injuries, such as pulled muscles
As a firefighter, you know that the simple act of carrying something—a saw, your medic bag, a patient—can be a workout. But are you incorporating carries into your actual workouts?
The carry is such an obvious exercise that we sometimes forget to use it. But it’s one of the best weight-training exercises for firefighters because it works your core, improves stabilization, and builds grip strength. Perhaps most important, it mimics fireground movements that frequently result in slips and falls or injuries such as pulled muscles.
In this quick video, Aaron Zamzow, a firefighter with Madison (WI) Fire Department and founder of
Fire Rescue Fitness
, explains how and when to incorporate the carry into your gym workouts and the benefits you’ll experience when you do.
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PARTICIPATE IN THE IAFF 30 DAYS OF REAL FOOD NUTRITION CHALLENGE
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Food is one of the most powerful factors affecting good health. It’s either helping you meet your goals or hindering your progress.
For 30 days you’ll be challenged to dial up your nutrition and focus only on foods that give you energy and help you perform at your best every day. Depending on your current goals and needs, you can choose a basic or advanced option.
Sign up today
and commit to 30 days of real food! Simply provide your name, email and zip code and click subscribe. Once you’re signed up, you will receive additional information about the challenge and be invited to join our IAFF Nutrition Facebook group.
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Is your physical/mailing address updated with us?
Did you get the Fire Front mailed to your home in late November? If not, then we don't have your current address.
It's important for us to have it in case you are impacted or may be impacted by a wildfire or other emergency. Use the link below, call or email us to update it today!
(916) 609-8711 / dkelsch@L2881.org
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UNION PLUS
Having pet insurance allows you to focus on getting the best care for your furry family members without worrying about the financial burden -- saving you up to 90% on your pet’s vet bills.
Click
here
for a free quote!
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The BSI Body Scan Program:
The BSI Body Scan program combines thousands of dollars’ worth of medical imaging with a full physician consultation and review. Our proprietary technology utilizing Mobile Telemedicine Vans allows us to provide our program to patients virtually anywhere, with convenient on-site scanning followed by the comprehensive and confidential consultation/scan review into the patients’ home (or workplace, if permissible and appropriate) utilizing our HIPAA-compliant WebEx portal.
We screen for many diseases of greatest concern to public safety – heart/cardiovascular diseases, lower back and neck pathologies, over 20 different types of cancer, chronic lung disease, and many others. Our personalized service is designed to provide patients with a healthcare experience unlike any other they have previously encountered, which is both highly educational and motivating. Our primary goal is to provide individuals with a preventive examination that will improve the quality and length of their life, while enhancing their productivity and vigor both inside and outside of the workplace. We have numerous success stories on file, and we take great pride in the fact that our main referral source (both individually and organizationally) is our satisfied clientele.
See firefighter testimonials:
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Has your marital status changed? Update your L2881 beneficiary information with us today! Fill out this
form and send it to Danielle @
dkelsch@L2881.org
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Share your photos & videos with us.
We want to see YOUR CAL FIRE! On calls, training, working with your community, etc.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
IAFF LEGISLATIVE CONVENTION
MARCH 9-11
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
MARCH 31-APRIL 2
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
JULY 14-16
IAFF CONVENTION
AUGUST 10-14
IAFF FALLEN FIRE FIGHTER MEMORIAL
SEPTEMBER 19
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 23-25
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CAL FIRE BENEVOLENT
FOUNDATION
Provides funds for immediate life sustaining assistance to firefighters and their families who have suffered debilitating injury or loss of life.
For more information or to donate, visit the
website
.
Like, Share & Follow us!
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CAL FIRE MUSEUM
Have you checked out the CAL FIRE museum website yet?
Read the latest
blog
written by Elizabeth Groom
Don't forget to sign up for their newsletter too!
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For more updates, events, and news visit our website:
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