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TODAY'S ISSUE
Private funds needed
for firefighters
to have thermal imaging cameras
By Jennifer Robinson
President
Life LInes Council, Incl
Special
to GwinnettForum.com
DEC. 20, 2002 - - A non-profit corporation, Life Lines Council
Inc., was formed in September, 2001 specifically for collecting
donations from Gwinnett County businesses, civic organizations and
individuals in order purchase Thermal Imaging Cameras for each of
our county's fire stations.
My company, Hospitality Marketing and Sales Inc., saved corporate
funds for four years and presented Fire Station No. 4 at Ga. Highway141
and Spaulding Drive in Norcross with one camera and one carbon monoxide
detector in January 2001.
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Firefighters
Dennis Wolfe, left, and Cory Kendrix, talk about the thermal
imaging camera that Jennifer Robinson, center, gave to Fire
Station No 4 in Gwinnett. Wolfe said that the firefighters use
the camera "on just about every call" to detect not
only people, but to detect "hot spots" that could
be hidden in walls.
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Thermal Imagining Cameras are needed at every fire station in Gwinnett.
Everyone will benefit from their responding Fire Station having
one of these life saving and property saving pieces of equipment
on their premises. Therefore, I asked people throughout Gwinnett
to contribute to this cause, so we can get all of these cameras
ordered ASAP!
What is the cost per unit for your closest fire station to have
such a camera as an integral part of its fire-fighting equipment?
It's not cheap, but it is very much worth the effort. Each camera
costs approximately $15,000. After acquisition, the firemen in each
station must be trained to use the cameras propertly.
The challenge is getting the word out to everyone and getting more
than $300,000 to supply the other 26 stations with these technically-advanced
cameras.
Here's what the camera does, and why it is so wonderful. The camera
detects in smoke-filled rooms people [and especially children hiding
from the smoke] instantly, based on the person's body heat. The
time saved in finding these people quickly, makes all the difference
in getting them out fast and saving their lives.
All businesses and families of Gwinnett County depend on their
local fire station for the protection of their businesses and their
homes in the county.
Our local firefighters, who face potential dangers on any call,
are brave enough to go into dark, smoked-filled rooms to save us.
They should know immediately where people are located, so they can
get in and out quickly. They need every tool available to make their
jobs safer and more successful. Thermal Imaging Cameras have been
used in the military for years, and have just come available for
fire-fighting use.
The cameras also have an additional feature: they can detect "Hot
Spots" in the walls, preventing destruction of property during
investigative searches, which can prevent fires from starting---a
big property-saving feature!
Efforts to raise monies for Thermal Imaging Cameras have been hampered
because of a slow economy over the past year. But we need to pick
this effort up and speed the task to completion.
If you have questions, or want to make a donation,
please contact or mail to:
Jennifer F. Robinson, president
Life Lines Council, Inc.
4028 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Suite 302 Norcross, Ga. 30092
Phone: 770-416-8023
E-mail: jennifer@hmsbiz.com.
Let me urge you to help...It could save your life or the life of
someone you car about!
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Loganville
becomes focus of efforts
to protect citizens with smoking ban
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
DEC. 20, 2002 - - The atmosphere is heating up in Georgia concerning
smoking in public places. A key area is the City of Loganville,
partially in Gwinnett, which has already seen movement toward adopting
an ordinance aimed at making it a smoke-free city.
Next step is a meeting in January where the Loganville City Council
could approve the matter. It was first on the agenda in December,
and appeared ready for passage. However, Big Tobacco lobbyists moved
in, threw scares into a few businesses, which resulted in the Council
delaying action.
Loganville is considering the same action that many other cities
across nation have looked into: making the atmosphere healthier
and cleaner for its citizens. Recently Boston, Mass. became one
of the bigger cities in the country to adopt clean-air ordinances.
Presently New York City is studying a similar action.
In Loganville, the proposed "Smoke-free Air Act of 2002"
would have eliminated smoking in virtually all public places, including
restaurants, work places, and within 25 feet of doorways. There
are logical exceptions to this ordinance, which deal with freestanding
bars and tobacco stores, hotel rooms designated for smoking, conference
rooms in which a private function is going on, and private residences.
Should the Loganville action pass, this would become the first
Gwinnett city, and the first in Georgia, to adopt such measures.
Yet in Georgia this isn't the only front for clean-air advocates.
Efforts are underway for DeKalb County to adopt similar smoke-free
measures. The first public hearing on the matter in DeKalb came
on December 17. It would be a feather in DeKalb's cap if this county,
where the Center for Disease Control is located, were to adopt a
strong smoke-free measure.
Meanwhile, Gwinnett has taken an early lead in Georgia in allowing
people to be aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke. In a pamphlet
distributed earlier in the year, Dr. Alan Sievert, then the head
of the East Metro Health District which includes Gwinnett, said:
"Secondhand smoke is a firsthand problem."
The pamphlet outlined the higher rate of dangers secondhand smoke
can cause, often in infants, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia
and other respiratory tract ailments, middle ear infections, and
even lower birth rate babies.
It also noted that among the highest risk were people employed
in restaurants and bars.
A poll of people in the health district, which includes Gwinnett,
Newton and Rockdale Counties, shows residents realize that secondhand
smoke is a major problem.
- A vast majority (86%) say they are annoyed by secondhand smoke.
- A majority (79%) of those in the poll preferred to work in a
smoke-free environment.
- Gwinnett citizens in the poll thought that youth smoking was
a serious problem (73%).
- In Gwinnett, 74% believed that secondhand smoke can cause cancer
and other serious diseases.
In the initial educational program in Gwinnett, restaurants were
the key. "Fresh food deserves fresh air," the pamphlet
said. It listed restaurants in Gwinnett which had adopted 100% smoke-free
dining. Right now approximately 55 per cent restaurants in Gwinnett
having a 100% smoke-free policy. That number should grow, as restaurant
operators protect their customers with a smoke free policy.
.
It also pointed out that, since 75% of the American public does
not smoke, restaurants that adopt 100% smoke-free policies do not
lose customers. Recent studies have confirmed that restaurants with
smoke-free policies may actually increase their business.
Walking into a Gwinnett restaurant in Gwinnett one recent night,
the section to the right, designated for smokers, was empty. But
every table was taken in the smoke-free section. It made a vivid
impression, and makes you wonder why more restaurants don't voluntarily
go to 100% smoke-free dining. And yes, a smoke-free sports restaurant-bar
would no doubt double its business simply because there are so few
of them!
Get set to see more activity throughout Gwinnett, not just in Loganville,
concerning establishment of clean-air, smoke-free communities.
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FEEDBACK:
12/20: Applause for
article on Doctor Perdue
Editor, the Forum:
Your Forum article of December 17 displayed well your writing
skills. Applause, applause! However, I could not tell if your
letter had actually been sent to "Dr.Perdue". I certainly
hope so. Please continue your sane commentary.
-- Janet Gibson, Lawrenceville
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
Not particularly
good for the frog
"Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are
interested and the frog dies of it."
-- Essayist E. B. White (1899 - 1985).
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