Medical Myths

5: Staying out in the cold and wind will give you a cold.

___ True ___ False

Answer tomorrow

Medical Myths - Answer

4: Staring at an eclipse can blind you.

____ True ____ False ____ Only if you're not wearing specially made sunglasses

ANSWER: True. Never view the sun directly with the naked eye or with any unfiltered optical device, such as binoculars or a telescope!.

As sunlight enters the eye, it can damage the light-sensitive nerve endings in the back of the eye -- known as the retina -- causing vision loss.

Total and partial eclipses can lead to serious damage if precautions are not taken to prevent blindness. This is why there are only a few safe ways to view an eclipse, such as with a referred image. Regular sunglasses, exposed film, and even a welder's helmet are not safe.

New York Fire Chief Dies After Live Fire Drill - Firehouse.com In The Line Of Duty

New York Fire Chief Dies After Live Fire Drill - Firehouse.com In The Line Of Duty:

Updated: 04-07-2006 01:27:03 PM

The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control has reported the death of Chief Richard G. Sullivan of the Horseheads Village Fire Department.
Sullivan, 57, collapsed after returning home from a live fire drill April 5"

Medical Myths

4: Staring at an eclipse can blind you.

____ True ____ False ____ Only if you're not wearing specially made sunglasses

Answer tomorrow

Vernz' Dude Ranch

This reporter has recently discovered that Don "Tex" Vernz (spelling may vary) has opened a business that very well may rival those of fellow colleagues Bob Carroll and Mike (Michelle) Anderson.

When asked about his new endeavour Don beamed, "Hey, I'm twice as smart as those other two guys so I decided that I could open some kind of business too." Don explained further, "I always used to love Roy Rogers on Saturday mornings! Dale Evans used to give me goosebumps but Trigger would set my heart a flutter" coos Don. "I always used to fantasize about riding Trigger the way old Roy did.. Yahoo", sighs Don as his eyes glass over.

Taking the reporter on a tour of his newest adventure, a Dude Ranch aptly named, Spacey Acres, Don points out some of the attributes of the ranch. "Here is the restaurant where I've hired Willoughby to do all the cooking. He assures me that those days of burnt offerings are finally over.", Don stated. When asked further about Willoughby's culinary skills he said, "Willoughby explained about the guys in the firehalls penchant for filing up in the washroom after most of his meals were basically a practice of washing their hands after the meal. I asked him why most of the guys were washing their hands in the toilet and gagging at the same time he told me that they were into Eau de Toilet and had discovered a new type of after shave lotion."

As we toured the corral I noticed that most of the animals had an uncanny awareness of Don’s presence. “They love me”, sighed Don, “The horses are quite jealous of each other, you know. They sometimes fight over me trying to vie for my affections when it’s time to go for a ride.” Pointing to his favorite mare Don proclaimed, “This is Buttercup … isn’t she a beaut???” At that point Buttercup rolled her eyes at me as if to say, “Can you believe this guy?”

When last seen Don was headed back to the restaurant his silver spurs shining in the setting western sun

Medical Myths - The Answer

3: Cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis in later life.

__ True ___ False ____ Maybe

ANSWER: False. Depending on your point of view, knuckle-popping sounds disgusting or cool. There is no evidence that cracking your knuckles inflames the joints and leads to arthritis. The cracking causes the bones to pull apart, forming a gas bubble and breaking the adhesive seal in the joint. Crack! About a quarter of the people in the U.S. crack their knuckles and might begin to lose their grip a little. Constant cracking can weaken the fingers.

A Firefighters Love of The Job

I got this site in a recent email... I dont usually forward this sort of stuff.. .but this looked pretty interesting. Over the years we've all heard how much the job has changed and how the new kids are so much different than we are. Well, maybe that's the way it's supposed to be... after all how much are you like your parents and the way that they thought? I feel the new kids love the job just as much as we do but they look at authority a little different than we used to. And I'm sure that we can think of more than a few way back in the day that resented authority also and were a pain in the butt. Anyway, take a look and listen to the broadcast if you wish.

Radio@Firehouse.com: "Join Radio@Firehouse.Com Through The Smoke’s Host Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder along with Chief Rick Lasky for a discussion about “Pride and Ownership - A Firefighters Love of The Job,” and what defines someone who loves the job, those who claim they love the job, and those whose actions prove they couldn’t give a damn and simply “dress up” as firefighters when the tones go off."

Medical Myths

3: Cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis in later life.

__ True ___ False ____ Maybe

Answer tomorrow

Texas Firefighter Collapses in Training - Firehouse.com In The Line Of Duty

Texas Firefighter Collapses in Training - Firehouse.com In The Line Of Duty:

Updated: 04-04-2006 06:04:44 PM

SUSAN NICOL KYLE
Firehouse.Com News


The assistant chief of Valero Refinery Fire Brigade in Texas died April 3 at College Station Medical Center, the day after he collapsed following an exercise at the Brayton Fire Training Field.

David Moore, 40, was in the rehab area after participating in a live bun drill when he collapsed after complaining that he wasn't feeling well. He was rushed to the medical center, but never regained consciousness."

Medical Myths - Answer

2: Cutting salt intake can help your high blood pressure.

___ True ____ False _____ Pass the pretzels

ANSWER: True. Americans are not in love with the idea of a tossing the salty snacks and tend to ignore this advice. But in 1998, at the 13th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension in Blacks, researchers said that in blacks with high blood pressure who get higher amounts of salt in their diets, even a small decrease in salt can help regulate blood pressure. Blacks are particularly prone to hypertension, but the advice goes for everyone. Tossing the salt shaker is not the whole answer. That's because most of the salt we eat comes from processed foods -- such as deli meats and canned foods. The best advice is to change your taste for salt. Don't automatically salt before tasting. Use herbal seasonings and condiments to flavor yourfoods.
Pretty soon, things will begin to taste too salty and you'll be on the right track.

Name The D.C

Who is this? You have one minute to guess the name of this D.C

Medical Myths - The Answer

2: Cutting salt intake can help your high blood pressure.

___ True ____ False _____ Pass the pretzels

ANSWER: True. Americans are not in love with the idea of a tossing the salty snacks and tend to ignore this advice. But in 1998, at the 13th International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension in Blacks, researchers said that in blacks with high blood pressure who get higher amounts of salt in their diets, even a small decrease in salt can help regulate blood pressure. Blacks are particularly prone to hypertension, but the advice goes for everyone. Tossing the salt shaker is not the whole answer. That's because most of the salt we eat comes from processed foods -- such as deli meats and canned foods. The best advice is to change your taste for salt. Don't automatically salt before tasting. Use herbal seasonings and condiments to flavor your foods. Pretty soon, things will begin to taste too salty and you'll be on the right track.

Who's In Charge???

Taped conversation of incident shown at left

"Move out of the way"!
"No ... I was here first!"
"Stop shoving!"
"I'm in charge and ordering you to get outta the way....NOW!"
"You're not in charge but you always THOUGHT you were in charge!"
"Hey, what's going on?"
"Donuts!!!"
"What? No Cops?"

South Carolina Firefighter Dies On-Duty - Firehouse.com In The Line Of Duty

South Carolina Firefighter Dies On-Duty - Firehouse.com In The Line Of Duty:

Updated: 04-03-2006 10:23:41 AM

The Associated Press
via Knight Ridder

A Georgetown County firefighter died Friday while on duty at Fire Station 4 in the Pleasant Hill community.

An autopsy revealed that Shon Rice, 34, died of natural causes, said Georgetown County Coroner Kenny Johnson. Rice had ongoing health issues, Johnson said."

Recent Old Guys

Ok, as far as I can tell these guys have vacated the fire department. In other words they finally retired.

Gary Percy worked forever in the fire service, probably from the age of 15 or so. After 156 years of service Gary has moved over to Lakeshore to follow in Bob Tapaks shoes and is now the Deputy Chief of that hamlet. Belle River is ordering more white shirts as we speak.

Gary Newton I think has retired but he may show up for work anyways because of a habit of not being able to quit : )

Joe Fauteaux left the premises while his chair was still warm. Apparently he had a novena and left without cleaning out his desk. When last seen Joe was wandering around the parking lot trying to find his way home in a vehicle that didnt have a Fire Department emblem on it.

Bill "Mother" Ferguson who withdrew his papers just to keep everyone on their toes. Bill thought about retiring and then realized he would no longer be a boss anywhere so he decided to stay put. Just kidding Bill... after all, if we cant kid each other who can we kid?

Ahhh... Dennis Axford; "Fatback" by any other name. Dennis leaves the department after 52 years of service mainly at #7 station where he was the boss without any rank. Dennis is remembered mostly for cutting coupons for anything while barking orders to the captains of the day. We should have nicknamed him "Bulldog".

All kidding aside.. Good luck to all ... youre going to love retirement except for Percy and Tapak. Someday even Mother will reconsider : )

Medical Myths

2: Cutting salt intake can help your high blood pressure.

___ True ____ False _____ Pass the pretzels

Answer tomorrow

Medical Myths - Answer

1: Chewing gum takes seven years to pass through your digestive system.

____ True ____ False _____ Only Juicy Fruit

ANSWER: False. The gum component itself is pretty indigestible, but will "pass" in a mass and will not stick your insides together, either. This one probably got going when exasperated parents tired of buying more gum after half an hour because their kids had chomped, then swallowed, their allotment. Also, swallowing gum was seen as ignorant and lower class.

"My husband's mother told him he would grow a gum tree in his stomach!" Loraine Stern, MD, clinical pediatrics professor at UCLA, tells WebMD.

Incidentally, the desire to chew for chewing's sake is quite ancient. Our ancestors used to chap away at tree resin. Did you know that Santa Anna of Alamo fame first turned gum manufacturers onto the gum resin. He thought it would be a good substitute for rubber. It's OK to swallow the occasional watermelon seed, too, unless you suffer from intestinal inflammation. Doctors are pretty sure watermelon seeds do not grow into full-fledged watermelons.

Movin On Up

Hi... OK.. were moving over the Easter weekend to the Toronto area. We'll be back in town now and again for special events e.g. banquets, stags, etc... and if Reitzel behaves himself maybe even the Public Ed Barbecue LOL... I'll still keep in touch with Admin to keep all of the retirees informed and up to date about what's happening in the department. The blog will continue as usual... isnt technology wonderful?

NOTE: Just because Im not near doesnt mean that I still dont have my spies out there watching the dept for good stories. And Im not above making some stuff up either..soooooo... take care all and keep in touch. As for you guys on the back of the rigs? Be safe out there!!! Don't let your guard down.

Love,
Jack & Jeannie

Hospital Regulations

Hospital regulations require a wheelchair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman - already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet - who insisted he didn't need my help to leave the hospital. After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator. On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him."I don't know," he said. "She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown."

Medical Myths

Yes, those old wives knew a thing or two, but they never went to medical school or conducted a scientific study. Are you sure you know the answers to the following?


1: Chewing gum takes seven years to pass through your digestive system.
____ True ____ False _____ Only Juicy Fruit

Answer tomorrow