The New Melle Fire Rescue volunteer and paid firefighters decided for a seventh year in a row that they wished to offer a scholarship opportunity from their Firefighters Fund, which could be applied for by any resident within the geographic district covered by NMFPD.  The opportunity was open to anyone, regardless of age, who was applying for any higher education program.  While this scholarship could be applied to a full-time college education program, it could just as well be applied to a technical school curriculum or an EMT course, etc.

In addition, the full-time paid firefighters of New Melle FPD decided to chip in and offer an additional donation from their own separate fund, again a private account that is in no way funded from tax dollars.  They were motivated to do this based on the significant public response to the program last year, and their additional donation enabled the department to match last year’s scholarship total of $1,000.  This year, the $1,000 will be offered as two (2) $500 scholarships, benefiting two (2) recipients.

A firefighter-based committee recently reviewed the eligible applications received.  The review process this year was a significant challenge, as always.  The applicants had outstanding records of academic achievement, along with profiles of numerous extracurricular and volunteer activities.  Many accomplished all that while working part time as well.  But after much deliberation, the committee determined that the recipients of the $500 scholarships offered this year are Matthew Shipley of 12 Cherry Orchard Ct., and Alec Thompson of 515 Callaway Ridge Dr., both in Defiance.

NEW MELLE FPD FIREFIGHTER JEFF CAPSTICK (LEFT) PRESENTS MATTHEW SHIPLEY WITH SCHOLARSHIP CHECK FROM NEW MELLE FPD FIREFIGHTERS FUND

Matthew Shipley is currently enrolled as a freshman at St. Charles Community College, majoring in Accounting.  After completing his Associates Degree, he plans to transfer to the University of Missouri to continue in their five year Masters of Accounting program, and then pursue a career in public accounting.

Matthew has worked in various part-time jobs in the community ever since his junior year in high school, and was involved in numerous volunteer programs in the community at both Daniel Boone Elementary and with the Boy Scouts.  While both working and volunteering, he managed to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, graduated summa cum laude at Francis Howell High, and was senior class VP there along with involvement in various scholastic and honor organizations, including competing as a Delta Epsilon Chi leadership delegate at district, state and national levels.

Alec Thompson (not pictured) attends Francis Howell High, and has aspirations to initially attain an undergraduate degree in biology from Saint Louis University, and then apply for medical school at Washington University.  She is member of National Honor Society, and has accumulated a 3.96 GPA at FHS.

Alec regularly volunteers her time at Daniel Boone Elementary helping teachers, and has helped rebuild a fallen church in the Wright City area.  She has also worked part-time at Wind Ridge Farms.

She lists her goal to become a doctor as her greatest determination.  She knows that it is a long scholastic road, but states that it is her life long goal to help others, and thinks this is the most productive way to do so.

We have some talented, hard-working young people in our small community, and Matthew Shipley and Alec Thompson are surely two of them.  The New Melle Fire Rescue firefighters congratulate Matthew and Alec on their commendable successes to date, and wish them all the best in future collegiate work.  They also wish to thank all of the other scholarship applicants for their submissions, and wish them the best in their future endeavors as well.

New Melle FPD firefighters are proud to stand and collect for both causes, and thank its community for the truly outstanding support shown this year!

In operating with your burn permit, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ guidelines for burning are as follows:

1. Do not burn if winds are in excess of 5 m.p.h.
2. 4’ pile maximum burning area at any one time
3. All burning to be closely and continuously attended at all times, else fully extinguished
4. All burning is to take place between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Please comply with the above regulations in order to effect safe open burning.

The New Melle Fire Rescue periodically offers free Heartsaver CPR Adult/Child/Infant training classes to residents of its district.  Spots in the classes, when scheduled, are offered on a first-come basis, with a minimum age requirement of 16, and a requirement that the person reside within the New Melle FPD district.

Classes are conducted by one of New Melle Fire’s firefighter instructors.  The instruction takes place at NMFPD’s Station #1 located at 3705 Mill Street in New Melle.  You can call the Station House at 828-5528 to request a reservation for the next upcoming class, or make inquiries about special classes if the group size would merit such consideration.

New Melle Fire Rescue is grateful for generous donations made by local businesses such as Short Stop Convenience Store, Bavarian Smoke Haus, Fred Weber Quarry, and Karrenbrock Construction that help fund the CPR public instruction program, and enable offering the classes to the public free of charge.  Donations fund the purchase of CPR manikins, masks, and certificates.  Additional donations are always appreciated.

Remember….the following signs in a person can be signaling a current serious cardiac compromise; if you or someone you are with is exhibiting these types of signs, DIAL 911 immediately – don’t take chances:

• Persistent chest pain or pressure that lasts longer than 3-5 minutes, or goes away and then comes back
• Chest pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, jaw, or arms
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• Sudden onset of sweating, with nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting
• Pale, grayish, or bluish skin color
• Sudden change to a highly irritable, anxious demeanor
• Their denial of these signs

The Burn Center at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center is one of only two specialized treatment facilities in the metropolitan area and is the largest in Missouri. The unit admits approximately 300 patients each year and provides extensive follow-up rehabilitation. In addition, the Burn Center provides acute burn injury treatment through reconstruction and plastic surgery. Expert care is provided for all burn classifications. The center specializes in both adult and pediatric cases and serves a culturally and ethnically diverse patient population.

The New Melle FPD has been collecting to benefit burn victims for 10 years now.  New Melle FPD firefighters are proud to stand and collect for this cause, and thank its community for the extraordinary support shown this year.

For more information on this care center, call the Burn Center at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, 615 S. New Ballas Road,  St. Louis, MO 63141.  Their telephone number is 314-251-6055.

The benefit of this program is that it helps emergency responders to more quickly locate your residence.  The emergency beacon device quickly changes your front porch light to a flashing signal that can be rapidly found by emergency responders. The simple light switch, or an adapter that accomplishes the same effect, is installable by the resident and free for all New Melle Fire Protection District residents who request it.

Under normal circumstances, the switch or adapter allows your porch light to work like a standard light.  However, in an emergency, you would simply move the light switch to the emergency position, or if using the adapter, flip the switch off and on three times, and the connected light instantly becomes a flashing signal.  This then helps firefighters, police, and ambulance personnel more quickly find your home, and also alert neighbors and passers-by to an emergency situation.

It’s ideal for any home, especially those with seniors, children, or the disabled. Most importantly, it means that once you’ve called for help, you don’t have to leave your home or the person in distress to go outside and signal your location to emergency responders.

The emergency beacon is not a substitute for dialing 9-1-1; it is to be activated following your 9-1-1 call and getting help on the way.  Parents who have young children should take the time to instruct them how and when to activate the flashing light system.

To get your free emergency beacon switch or adapter, or to get more information on the device or program, stop by the New Melle Fire Protection District Station House 1 at 3705 Mill Street, New Melle, MO 63365, or call 636-828-5528.

Where does Carbon Monoxide come from?
Carbon Monoxide is a byproduct of combustion, present whenever fuel is burned. It is produced by common home appliances, such as gas or oil furnaces, gas clothes dryers, water heaters, fireplaces, charcoal grills, gas ranges, wood burning stoves, and space heaters. Fumes from automobiles also contain Carbon Monoxide and can enter a home through walls or doorways if a car is left running in an attached garage.

All of these sources can contribute to a CO problem in the home. If a home is vented properly and is free from appliance malfunctions, air pressure fluctuations or airway blockages, Carbon Monoxide will most likely be safely vented to the outside. But in today’s energy efficient homes this is frequently not the case. Insulation meant to keep warm air in during winter months can trap CO-polluted air in a home year round. Furnace heat exchangers can crack, vents can become blocked, inadequate air supply for combustion appliances can cause conditions knows as backdrafting or reverse stacking, which force contaminated air back into the home.

How can I protect myself and my family from CO poisoning?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends installing at least one Carbon Monoxide detector per household, near the sleeping area. A second detector near the home’s heat source provides extra protection. Choose an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed detector that sounds an audible alarm. First Alert, the leading name in home safety, manufactures a UL listed, battery operated Carbon Monoxide detector that continues to protect even in the event of a power outage. The First Alert model uses patented biomimetic technology, which simulates the body’s response to CO and will not respond to other gases. A hard wired AC model with battery backup is also available.

Common Sources of CO

1. Blocked chimney opening
2. Clogged chimney
3. Portable heater
4. Gas or wood burning fireplace
5. Improperly installed gas kitchen range or cook top vent
6. Gas clothes dryer
7. Operating barbecue grill in enclosed area such as a garage
8. Corroded or disconnected water heater vent pipe
9. Leaking chimney pipe or flue
10. Cracked heat exchanger

If you have any other questions about Carbon Monoxide, contact us at 828-5528.