Many members of the community have asked about our call volumes in 2020 and how they were impacted by the pandemic, so we thought we would share this information broadly.

RMES volunteers responded to257 calls for service in 2020. Our medical call volume was down compared to previous years, with only 37% of our calls in 2020 being medical in nature. This was in part because of the overall reduction in people being out and about due to the pandemic restrictions, but what also played a factor was the limiting of emergency services resources that went to specific medical calls over a large part of the year. This was an effort by Alberta Health Services to limit the risk of exposure to as few first responders as possible. Rest assured we're back to our normal response modes now and taking every precaution to keep you (and ourselves) safe in every way.

Rescues were our second-most-common call type last year at 30% of the total. Our area has seen prolific growth in popularity for recreation, especially during the pandemic, and that's part of the reason this category has stayed as high as it has. RMES crews have undertaken training with local and regional public safety specialists in order to be better prepared to answer this type of call, and in 2021 we'll be enhancing not only our training but our equipment to handle all kinds of special rescues.

Fires took up about 25% of our responses in 2020. Once again there was a less intense fire season than usual, but we can't let our guard down. In 2021, RMES will continue to promote fire safety and prevention and be leaders in preparedness and safety.

Hazardous materials calls counted for just over 2% of our totals, and include everything from spilled gasoline to odors of natural gas or other substances.

The remaining 6% of calls were 'other' or uncategorizable types. As usual, these were for situations like picking up debris from roadways, and general assistance calls.

In addition to all of the above calls, RMES crews still assembled for training as best as we could given the unique challenges the pandemic presented. Training sessions were delivered online for a large part of the year with members attending via videoconference. When it was safe to assemble in groups once again, the practical lessons based on those online training sessions were put into effect. Still, all of RMES was and is following the public health guidelines and is using best practices in all our operations, both internally and in the public.

RMES members contributed a total of 12,994 hours of service in 2020. As always, we thank our friends and families for supporting us and understanding that even in a year as unique as 2020 was, our commitment can't diminish.

We continue to advocate to Alberta Health Services to have RMES firefighters given priority vaccinations against COVID-19, like our other first responder partners, to ensure they are kept as safe as possible in caring for our community.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our community for your ongoing support. It’s an honour and privilege to serve you and your families.

Happy 2021!

A new year is finally here.  Here’s some things you can do to help prepare for a happy, healthy, and safe new year.

Service Your Fire Extinguishers: Your number one line of defense in the case of a fire are portable fire extinguishers  Be sure that you have extinguishers installed adequately throughout your property as required by fire code. Just as importantly, make sure  your fire extinguishers are serviced, properly maintained and everyone in the house knows how to use them.  Remember to PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the trigger and Sweep slowly side to side.

Check Up on Smoke and CO Detectors: Make sure you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change the batteries, as needed.

Practice an Escape Plan: Does your family have an escape plan?  Have you practiced it recently? Make sure everyone knows the route out of the house in the event of an emergency (and an alternate route if that route is blocked), the meet up place, and that they should never, ever come back in the house once they’re out.

What happens when someone is hurt? It’s a good time of year to have a family discussion about what you’re going to do if someone in the house is hurt or not feeling well, just in case.  If an adult isn’t feeling well or acting "funny", kids need to know they can dial 9-1-1 and be a big help in getting first responders there quickly.

Until next month, stay safe.  And, if you see the big red trucks coming with the lights flashing, pull over and stop, so we can get to someone in need as quickly, and safety, as possible!

The holidays are a magical time, but Christmas traditions, decor, and celebrations can lead to accidents (or worse) if you're not careful. Here's how to keep your family safe and healthy through to the New Year.

1. Your tree is a fire risk — even if it's fake: While Christmas tree fires aren't super common in our area, when they do happen, they're likely to be serious.  So, keep your tree at least three feet away from all heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, and heat vents. If you have a real tree, remember to keep it watered and use electric lights – not candles – to light it up.  Be sure to choose a sturdy stand so the tree won't tip over.

2. Don't overdo it on the lights: As much as you may want to cover every inch of your house with lights, you may have to scale back depending on your outlets. Check the packaging for the power output and never plug in more than what a power strip or outlet says it can handle. Use indoor lights, indoors.  Use outdoor lights, outside.  Be sure to unplug indoor lights when you leave the house. 

3. Candles are pretty, but they're still open flames: December is the peak time of year for candle-related house fires, according to the NFPA. Keep lit candles at least 12 inches away from surrounding objects. Trim wicks to a quarter of an inch before you light them and never leave lit candles unattended.

4. Never toss anything but logs into your fireplace: Don't try to burn evergreens or wreaths in a fireplace or wood stove. Tree needles burn much faster than logs, creating sparks, which can fly into the room or onto the roof. They can also cause a build-up of creosote, a highly flammable compound, in the chimney. Don't burn wrapping paper, because it can contain metallic materials that could be hazardous to breathe in.

Make sure the fire is out and the embers have cooled before you leave the house or go to bed. Put the ashes in a metal bin that's at least 25 feet away from the house. Have your chimney professionally serviced annually.

5. Watch the clutter: Extra decorations means more tripping hazards!

6. Festive favorites aren’t safe for everyone: Candy canes and candy can become a choking hazard for wee ones! Holiday cooking can contain allergens that aren’t safe for some in your cohort – be sure to ask about allergies.

7. Don’t forget the outside of your house: Keep your driveway and walkways clear of ice and snow.  Be mindful when decorating the exterior of your home to not impede access points for first responders – our gear takes up more room than you think.  Be extra careful as you're shoveling your property and pace yourself so you don’t tire yourself out. Wear proper boots with enough traction and “walk like a penguin” on slippery surfaces, taking small, slow steps.

8. Play safely: If you’re planning to enjoy some outdoor time, plan your trip for the conditions and your experience-level, wear the appropriate gear and tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll return.

On behalf of the members of Redwood Meadows Emergency Services and our families, we wish you a safe, happy, covid-aware holiday season and a happy new year!  If you need help, dial 9-11 (do not call the station as the phones aren’t manned) and we’ll be on our way to you as quickly as we can.

With daylight savings time ending, it’s a great time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

• Test your smoke and CO alarms monthly
• Ensure everyone in the house knows what the alarms sound like and what to do when they hear it
• Change the batteries every six months
• Follow manual instructions for cleaning and maintaining the alarms 

What To Do If the Alarm Sounds

1. Have an escape plan. Discuss and practice it.
2. Always feel the door to see if it is hot before opening it to escape. If the doorknob is hot, don’t use that exit.  Use an alternate exit.
3. Crawl on the floor. Smoke rises, so does the temperature. If you crawl on the floor, there will be less smoke and heat from the fire.
4. Meet family members at a pre-arranged spot outside the home. 
5. Call 9-1-1 from a neighbour’s home. 
6. Never go inside (or return to) a burning building for any reason. 

You can protect your family from fires!

Here’s a fire safety checklist to reduce the chances a fire may start in your home:

• Keep your furnace in good working order;
• Use a fireplace screen;
• Have proper ventilation for heaters and small appliances;
• Don’t smoke in bed;
• Close bedroom doors overnight;
• Don’t use worn out electrical wiring or run it under rugs or out windows or doors; and
• Clear away clutter!

Until next month, stay safe!

Your firefighters will be out in the community like previous years with some obvious changes to how we hand out treats. We will be wearing gloves and masks and will hand the goodies out ourselves instead of allowing little hands in the bowls.

For those wondering how to handle their own candy conundrum, the Provincial government has provided Albertans with some helpful posters to let trick-or-treaters know if residents are participating in Halloween activities this year (https://www.alberta.ca/halloween-during-covid19.aspx)!

Please feel free to print these pages off and post them in highly visible areas where trick-or-treaters might see them!