Q: How do EMTs protect themselves from being exposed to something contagious when they’re treating someone or riding in an ambulance with a patient that may not know he’s sick, may not admit he’s sick or may not even be conscious to tell the EMT he’s carrying something infectious?

Doug Woods, a field supervisor paramedic at American Ambulance of Visalia gave me the 411.

It comes down to two things: Training and equipment, said Woods, an emergency medical services worker for 10 years.

He said that a lot of the training paramedics get involves how to be safe when confronted by contagious elements. They’re taught to contain any toxic substances like blood or other fluids and protect themselves with gloves, masks, and goggles.

Edward Brown, CSRM, elaborated on the training EMTs get. He’s an alternative risk specialist with Care West Insurance Risk Management, a company that does risk management and insurance for the health care industry. And he did emergency work for 25 years and now trains EMTs to avoid risks and stay safe and healthy.

Brown said EMTs are trained in three types of “interconnected controls,” or ways of reducing the risk of catching an infectious disease. They are personal controls, administrative controls, and engineering controls. The personal controls are the gloves, masks, and goggles that Woods referenced—the barriers that EMTs wear to keep from coming in contact with a potential hazardous germ and letting that germ infect them.

“Treat all blood and body fluid as if it’s infectious” and “if it’s wet and it’s not yours take the precaution” of using the personal controls, Brown said. These are the rules of thumb when treating potentially infectious patients.

EMTs figure out if the patient might have TB or some other contagion through the administrative controls. These controls consist of the training on the symptoms of infectious diseases so that an EMT knows what to look for. The observable symptoms and the patient’s history figure into a simple formula: too many red flags and the EMT uses the personal controls.

When the EMT takes the patient’s history, she’s not just looking for a diagnosis or how best to treat the injury, she’s finding out her risk of catching an infectious disease. She might ask how long the patient has had a persistent cough, if he uses intravenous drugs, or if he has traveled out of the country. She might look for the signs of IV drug use or for bloody sputum. If she sees too many warning signs, she’ll put on additional safety gear, like a high filtration mask, Brown said.

Paramedics “operate under the assumption that people are infected,” Woods said. So they’re as cautious as possible. In addition to the protective gear the EMTs wear, paramedics sometimes will put a mask on a patient if the patient has enough indications that he might have something that could spread through coughing, like tuberculosis.

The third kind of controls—the engineering controls—are built right into the equipment, Brown said. They work at all times. They’re not triggered by an evaluation of any one patient. One engineering control is the high filtration system in ambulances. It circulates the air at regular intervals, taking in new air and blowing out the air that’s been exposed to the patient. This keeps the germs from accumulating in the enclosed ambulance.

I confirmed with Brown that once the airborne pathogens are pushed out into the city’s air, they don’t live very long. They’re pretty much harmless because they can’t live in the air for long enough for someone to pick them up and get sick.

Brown said TB is one of the major diseases EMTs look out for and that Hepatitis B, which is blood borne, is prevalent. He said HIV isn’t as good at staying alive outside of “its element” long enough to infect, but EMTs still take the precautions and treat it as contagious.

Woods says that EMTs see HIV, full-blown AIDS, hepatitis, and bacterial or viral meningitis, in addition to TB. He said that by the time you hear of a new disease in the area, the paramedics have already seen it in their ambulance.

And they’ve been trained to keep themselves safe from it.

The bird flu, Woods said, was the topic of continuing education courses for paramedics. They got an early head’s up so they could protect themselves from being infected by someone they treat.

It’s a good thing, too. Because if the public is hit with an epidemic, the people who treat the sick need to be at their healthy best.

What’s the 411?

The 411 attempts to answer your questions about EMTs, firefighters, police, and the lives and work of these first responders. If you’ve got an infectious inquisitiveness, don’t keep your question to yourself, send it to me at info@valleyresponsemagazine.com.

I’ll delve past the symptoms and into the root cause to cure your curiosity with the answer.

By Aaron Collins

Phishers and skimmers and hackers … oh my! These days, the perils of modern living multiply as fast as technology expands and humans can adapt it to ignoble ends.

Reported identity thefts in Visalia were up from 321 cases in 2007 to 403 in 2008, a jump of 25%.

In Central California, as elsewhere, the increasing identity theft rate has its roots in many interconnected ills. Internet-enabled fraudsters are often no strangers to other vices such as methamphetamine production and abuse. Scammers use names and social security numbers to acquire medical coverage, rent apartments, and most recently, obtain others’ tax refunds.

Proliferating Internet use has provided new opportunities for the bad guys to compromise security. Online, all someone needs is your phone number, address, and social security number to gain access to existing accounts in your name or to open up new accounts. Key-logging software enables surreptitious recording of keystrokes on shared public computers. Further complicating matters, our already-limited job market and now staggering economy combine to tempt financially desperate people to cross over to the dark side.

And of course, the victims themselves play a role, with something akin to magical thinking. Honest people with little exposure to crooks disbelieve that anyone will act against them. These beliefs can translate to casual trash-handling practices that could enable a more literate trash digger to ghostwrite an autobiography, given the sheer volume of information that pours into the typical household garbage each week. Our throwaway society takes an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach to household trash: It reliably disappears at the curb so that we need never think of it again—or so goes the thinking.

Jerome Howell (name changed to protect his identity) of Exeter was walking his dog in an open field near his home in May when he stumbled across remnants of his own trash, which he had emptied just a few days prior. “I had shredded most bills, receipts, and mail, but a few overlooked personal records were intact. It wasn’t my life flashing before my eyes, exactly. But at least a short chapter was on full public view for anyone to see.” His address, phone number, legal name, and other private information were blowing wherever the breeze took them.

“Car prowls (people cruising around looking into parked cars) were once for stealing stereos or other personal items. But more and more they yield much more valuable identity information,” according to Detective Bryan Somvia with Visalia Police Department’s Property Crimes Unit, “What we are seeing is more and more property crimes turning into later identity theft crimes.” So the lesson is: Leave no trace of your identity in your car.

Such casualness isn’t the only problem. Conscientious shredders who obliterate every trace of their identity on tossed-out records and mail may not realize that seemingly secure practices have pitfalls.

When Visalian Stephanie Hannock (named changed to protect her from further exposure) dropped payment on her electric bill in a trusty blue U.S. Postal Service collection box outside the main post office—a routine she practiced without incident for years—she thought little of it. Hannock thought her check was in the mail … because it was.

But she received a late notice from Southern California Edison followed by a letter from the Postal Service Inspector indicating that she may have been a mail theft victim. It was unclear whether she would then join the 9 million Americans who fall victim to identity theft each year. (The Federal Trade Commission received more than 313,000 identity theft complaints last year, but that represents only a fraction of the crimes, since most do not bother to report.)

“My fear was that my information, like checking account number, name, address, phone number, had perhaps been sold to another party,” Hannock says. Because she could not be certain, she had to endure the same hassles and respond as though her information had, in fact, been compromised—distributed, sold, or resold many times by one criminal to another, as is often the case in identity theft.

She contacted her bank to change her checking account number and have all checks stopped. “It was a huge inconvenience, but a precaution that was well worth the effort. I also ran a complete credit report to make sure no new cards had been opened under my name.” She now checks her credit report regularly, monitors her bank statements online, and faithfully keeps a manual running check register, since oftentimes, online statements are current, but not up-to-the-minute.

“I felt violated and was disappointed that this particular type of crime was becoming so prevalent that even I was affected by it. Don’t we all think we’re untouchable?” she asked. When someone’s identity is stolen, the effects can be very hard to forget. “Sadly, I’ve become a lot less trusting. Perhaps I was too naive in the past, but nonetheless, based on experiences I’ve had over the years with ordinary theft and now identity theft, I am not nearly as trusting. I am much more cautious when it comes to my mail: I take everything inside the post office instead of dropping it in the convenient blue box outside,” she says. Hannock says she now shreds everything with her name or address on it.

The hard-to-shake effects are not just psychological. Expunging financial effects from the credit report can take years, due in part to the sheer number of cases. And sometimes victims clear up their credit only to find that their data has fallen into new hands and the vicious cycle recurs. Additionally, the burden falls on the cardholder to prove that fraudulent activity was not of their own doing. So it is important to be persistent and diligent. And the sooner you catch transactions, loans, and new accounts opened in your name by criminals, the better.

For those who want a hedge against any chinks in your karma armor, here is what you need to know.

According to Mark Shelton, an expert on identity theft with Visalia-based Valley Business Bank, the main technological vulnerabilities are “phishing,” and “skimming,” while the old-school pitfalls are wallet theft or loss, as well as the mail theft that victimized Hannock.

Phishing. Phishing is the practice of trolling for suckers on the Web via mass e-mail, of playing the numbers. As Shelton says, “Phishing takes place often through e-mails that seem to be from a familiar source such as your credit card company or a bank, when in fact it is from a thief trying to get your information. It is important not to give out any information to anyone that you are not completely comfortable with. Banks and other institutions will not ask for social security numbers and other personal information through e-mail. They will only ask for this information on their secure Web sites.”

Ironically, online banking and bill paying has become more secure than standard mail, Shelton says. “A great deal of expense and effort in the banking industry has been taken to make banking sites secure. There is little issue with online banking services in terms of safety. They are very safe. It is better to use online bill pay for example than to send a check in the mail. It is safer, faster, more secure.”

But he warns that shopping online can still pose a hazard. “One has to be comfortable and familiar with where you are purchasing online. It is important to check your account the day after your purchase to make sure it was charged correctly,” he advises.

Skimming. If phishing is a game of statistics, skimming is more like one-on-one pickpocketing—with a high tech twist. “Skimming is when someone takes your credit or debit card from you for a legitimate purchase and ‘skims’ it through another devise to capture the information on the magnetic strip of your card,” Shelton says. “That person often works for someone else who buys that information from them. This type of activity (occurs) in places where you offer your card for payment and the transaction is done out of your sight, such as a restaurant.” So again, his advice is to be aware and comfortable with the person to whom you give your card. Skimming will not affect the transaction you just made, but the crooks will have captured your card information for later use. Impetuous criminals might circulate your information immediately; more clever ones might wait a month or more, knowing that you will be hard pressed to recall them after time has elapsed.

The Good News is the Bad News

Perhaps the main ray of hope for identity theft victims is the increasing number of cases. The sheer scope of the problem creates political and market pressure for legal and technological enhancements that are necessary to curb this rampant form of high-tech piracy.

For Stephanie Hannock, the only satisfaction came in hearing that the mother-son team who stole her check was apprehended. What does she have to say to them?

“I hope it was worth it.”

According to Valley Business Bank’s Mark Shelton, an expert on identity theft, you can avoid becoming a victim, or at least minimize the consequences should you be unable to avoid it. Here’s how:

• Copy the contents in your wallet and keep the copies in a safe, locked place. This way if your wallet is stolen you know exactly what is stolen and will also have the phone numbers on the back of your card to call and report them stolen right away.

• Bank online and check your account often—daily if possible—to identify any activity that is not yours and to confirm the accuracy of transactions you did have.

• Pay bills online. This cuts down the amount of checks going through the mail and outside sources seeing your personal information. Online bill paying sites through your bank are very safe.

• Consider adding anti-spyware software that will keep increasingly tech-savvy thieves from hacking your computer.

• Do not give out personal information in e-mails that you get from anyone you don’t know very well. Bank and credit card companies will only ask this information on their secure sites.

• Check your credit card activity online once a week to check for any suspicious transactions.

• Ask the major credit bureaus to flag your credit report in a way that requires lenders to contact you for verification before any new accounts are opened. You can even freeze your credit altogether.

• Shred mail before you toss it in the recycle bin—or at least tear it up if you don’t have a shredder.

• Check your credit report at least once per quarter to ensure that nothing looks suspicious. And do not have more credit cards than you absolutely need.

• Be Aware. This will go a long way in preventing theft happening to you. Thieves look for the unsuspecting.

If Your Identity is Stolen

• Notify your bank immediately.

• Send a letter to the major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).

• Notify law enforcement and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

• Don’t ignore your potentially damaged credit. It will not go away on its own.

By Kimberly Sherman

Those piles of pants puddled around boots at the fire station are not the result of sloppy firefighters quickly shedding gear, anxious to settle in for the night. Quite the opposite, actually.

Aptly named a “turnout,” the layered pieces are kept in a “ready” position by turning out the pants over the boots. This way, the firefighter simply steps into the boots and pulls the pants up. A firefighter is expected to gear up in a turnout within a minute’s time.

Danny Wristen, Battalion Chief for the Visalia Fire Department, explains, “Turnouts are personal protective equipment designed for a wide variety of emergencies such as burning buildings. They are made of fire retardant material; they will burn, but not as readily.”

The basic layers of a turnout include a cotton T-shirt, a coat, pants with accompanying suspenders, waterproof leather or rubber boots, a protective hood, a strong helmet with eye protection, gloves, and an SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus). An additional belt equipped with life-saving tools packs on additional weight and girth in preparing a firefighter for any unforeseen incident. The turnout can weigh up to seventy-five pounds.

Deconstructing the Turnout

Wristen says, ”We have different things we wear depending on the situation. We wear the entire turnout with all layers for rescue situations, traffic accidents, anything with the potential for fires, and as protection from getting cut.”

The turnout, generally a single jacket, corresponding hood, pants, and waterproof gloves, is composed of three layers.

Thermal protection layer—The innermost, “thermal” layer, protects the firefighter from heat. A special batting is quilted to achieve a thick insulation and help immunize the firefighter from the flames’ intense heat.

Vapor layer—Vapors such as carbon monoxide can combust and pose a dangerous threat to firefighters during a raging fire. This layer helps keep profuse hot steam and harmful vapors away from the firefighter’s body.

Moisture layer—The moisture barrier gives the turnout the ability to repel water on one side, while letting moisture seep through the other. This design allows the firefighter to sweat, and dissipates the accrued moisture, while still repelling potential steam burns and the water used to fight the fire.

SCBA—Beyond the layers of the turnout, the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus allows the firefighter access to air via a full face mask designed to protect against smoke inhalation, toxic fumes, and gasses. The SCBA contains fifteen to twenty-five minutes worth of air, depending on the rapidity of the firefighter’s breath. Another device, the PASS, or Personal Alert Safety System, is an alarm that sounds and alerts colleagues when a firefighter becomes horizontal, stops moving for a specified period of time or manually operates the device.

“Those on a fire engine at a busy house may respond to five, up to fifteen calls a day,” said Wristen. “They may get into their turnouts three to five times a day.”

Cameron Long, Fire Captain for the City of Tulare Fire Department, says that his department recently conducted a lengthy investigation to determine the type of turnout gear most conducive to the environment that local firefighters face each day.

“There are a number of different types of turnout material, all rated on their ability to protect you in fire and the ability to exhaust body heat,” says Long. “The material that protects you better in fire doesn’t allow you to exhaust body heat, but a material that protects against heat stress doesn’t give you as much protection in a structure fire. We fight significant structure fires in the extreme heat, so we chose a material right down the middle.”

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends replacing turnouts every seven years. At roughly $2,000 for a coat and pants, and forty suppression firefighters for whom to tailor a turnout in Tulare, it is critical, says Long, to find the most cost-efficient, effective gear for the men and women who protect the citizens on a daily basis.

Trench Rescue Gear

A grassland or wildland fire poses a lesser threat of injury; consequently the firefighters keep a lighter set of gear on hand for such occasions. The trench rescue gear is primarily used when the threat is that of being cut as opposed to the threat of burns.

The basics of trench rescue gear include fire resistant pants, a fire resistant shirt, a helmet, eye protection, gloves, and leather boots.

“It just has one fire retardant layer that offers a little thermal protection, but no vapor protection,” says Wristen. “It’s like a pair of jeans that won’t burn as easily.”

Acclimatization

One of the main problems facing firefighters is the necessity of wearing hot uniforms while in heated conditions … specifically a regular day’s work in the hot Valley.

The cumbersome turnouts can be extremely uncomfortable and hot to wear. It’s a small price to pay, though, considering the protection of the turnout while enduring the extreme temperatures of a raging fire will keep the firefighter safe. The structural complexity of a turnout will fail at approximately 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit or (650 degrees Celsius).

“We have to acclimatize our bodies to get them ready to work in hot conditions,” said Wristen. Replicating less than ideal conditions in March or April is a good way to begin preparing firefighters for the scorching triple digits of the typical Visalia summer.

Proper hydration and controlling work periods are also key to keeping the firefighter in prime condition and ready to tackle every emergency situation that may arise.

Wristen describes the difference in firefighter participation between winter and summer conditions by using “tank rotations” as a benchmark for how long a firefighter can endure trying conditions before swapping out with a teammate.

During the winter, a firefighter can continue working for two tanks. The firefighter rushes into the burning building, exhausts the fifteen- to twenty five-minute air supply, exits, and swaps out the empty tank for a full one, then continues a second round until that air supply has been exhausted.

“During the summer months, we go to a one tank rotation,” says Wristen. “The firefighter exhausts a single tank of air supply, and then goes immediately into rehab.”

Rehab involves taking the turnouts off or opening them up, drinking a lot of water and Gatorade, and using misters to help cool off. An easy-up rudimentary shelter provides a quick bite of shade for larger incidents.

“In the summer it may take thirty-five to forty people instead of twenty to put out a fire,” said Wristen.” The key is more people, more rotation, and longer rest times.”

Recycling

Because the turnouts are such an integral, yet costly part of a firefighter’s arsenal, when the new turnouts arrive, the old turnout becomes the backup. Long says that every member of his department has two sets. The back-up turnout, provided it still meets the minimum standards, comes in handy when the primary set becomes wet, dirty, or damaged.

But nothing is wasted within the department, says Long. Once a year, hoses, turnouts, and even the occasional fire engine are donated to a Mexican charity called the Bombaros.

“We used to donate our gear to local fire academies, but now they just rent the turnouts each year,” says Long. “We donate to Mexico the stuff we’re not comfortable using, but is much better than the gear they’re using.”

The fingers of the flames crouch and leap, drawing ever closer. What happens when the firefighter is cornered and needs help from a raging fire?

A fire shelter is the firefighter’s last resort when all other means have failed and his life is in danger.

Concealed as a small pack clinging to the firefighter’s tool belt, the fire shelter is relatively inconspicuous. It folds up to a mere 8 ½ inch by 5 ½ inch boxy shape.

Once deployed, the 7 foot by 15 ½ inch unwrapped shelter resembles the cover of a Jiffy Pop container. Its shiny silver surface is crafted of aluminum foil, silica, and fiberglass. Designed to reflect radiant heat, protect against convective heat, and hold in breathable air as opposed to dangerous gasses, the fire shelter is the last resort as flames climb up and over the shelter, which acts as a cocoon, protecting the firefighter inside.

Firefighters are required to attend classes and become fully versed in the use of the tiny lifesavers. Most firefighters spend an entire career without having to use a fire shelter.

“A fire shelter is designed as a last resort, when everything else has failed; you get into a fire shelter or you will die,” said Wristen. “There have been a lot of people who’ve survived by getting into one. It’s miserable, but it’s the one tool we have that can save lives.”

Infobox:

On October 22, 2007, 12 Orange County firefighters in the Santiago area were forced to rely on their fire shelters to save their lives. The incident was captured and relayed on this You Tube video:

By Bill Corliss

It is important to know how to react safely when there are emergency vehicles on the road responding to life-threatening situations. Drivers tend to have a vague understanding of what to do. A small mistake, however, could cause the loss of life, hindering the response time to an emergency scene. Here is a quick review of the laws of California that pertain to emergency vehicles.

The 2009 California Driver Handbook states:

“You must yield the right-of-way to a police car, fire engine, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle using a siren and red light. Drive as close to the right edge of the road as possible and stop until the emergency vehicle(s) has passed. (VC 21806) However, don’t stop in an intersection. If you are in an intersection when you see an emergency vehicle, continue through the intersection and then drive to the right as soon as you can and stop. Emergency vehicles often use the wrong side of the street to continue on their way. They sometimes use a loud speaker to talk to drivers blocking their path. “

Young drivers frequently ask if both sides of the highway must pull as far right as possible. As the driver handbook states above “emergency vehicles often use the wrong side of the street.” This means all drivers must get over. Drivers often confuse this with stopping for a school bus with flashing red lights.

“ When you come upon a school bus stopped on either side of the road with flashing red lights, you must stop” the vehicle code states. But “You need not stop if the bus is on the other side of a divided or a multilane (two or more traffic lanes in each direction) highway. “

There is a difference between emergency vehicles and a school bus: There are no exceptions for an emergency vehicle. You must pull over, no matter which side of the road you are on.

There are two other issues that are covered by our vehicle code that deserve attention. One issue concerns following distance and the second relates to sight-seeing at emergency scenes.

“It is against the law to follow within 300 feet of any emergency vehicle which is answering an emergency call.” (VC 21706)

“If you drive for sight-seeing purposes to the scene of a fire, accident, or other disaster you may be arrested. Casual observers interfere with the essential services of police, fire fighter, ambulance crews, or other rescue or emergency personnel.”

Another emergency related law that is timely states:

“Do not wear a headset over, or earplugs in, both your ears.” (VC 27400)

This would make it difficult to hear a siren of an approaching emergency vehicle.

By Carole Firstman

Meet Sergeant Jeff Robertson of the Visalia Police Department: With twenty-five years of experience, this lawman has seen just about everything. He spent his six years on a patrol motorcycle, another six years in investigations, did a nine-year stint with the SWAT team, and has served as a Youth Safety Officer on school campuses. Since 2007 he’s been back on patrol, this time on four wheels.

Now meet Patrol Officer Jarrett Robertson of the Tulare Police Department: This 24-year-old newlywed has been on the job for not quite a year. After working several years in the motorcycle industry, he decided that while bikes made a great hobby, his true professional calling was law enforcement. So Jarrett quit his job at the motorcycle shop, enrolled in the police academy, and now he drives a squad car not unlike Jeff’s.

Both Jeff and Jarrett have taken an oath to serve and protect. But what else do these law officers have in common? They’re father and son, for start. And when they’re not keeping the peace on the streets of Tulare County, they’re blazing trails on motocross tracks.

Jeff, the father of this duo, started riding when he was only 9 years old. He’d long loved the sport by the time his son Jarrett was born, so it’s no surprise that one of his young family’s first outings was to the Mojave Desert. Jeff and his bride Judy took then 2-month-old Jarrett for a four-day Thanksgiving weekend of dirt biking, an inaugural trip that would become a family tradition. In 1999 Jeff took the sport to the next level and entered his first vintage race, an event that also marked his initiation into the art of vintage motorcycle restoration. In father-like-son fashion, Jarrett began his riding career at the age of 4.

Fast-forward a couple of decades and we find both men with a lifetime of racing expertise, impressive national rankings, and a jaw-dropping cache of meticulously restored vintage machines.

Mad for Motocross

Jarrett wasn’t even a twinkle in his father’s eye when motocross entered the country’s spotlight. Previously known as “scrambling” in Great Britain, the sport caught America’s attention in 1969 when ABC’s “Wild World of Sports” included event coverage for the first time. The sport gained popularity the following decade, and with improved suspension, the riders went faster and jumped higher with each rolling year. Motocross has since evolved with sub-disciplines to include indoor arenas, freestyle events, and Supermoto racing on both tarmac and off-road tracks. Vintage motocross riders compete on bikes usually pre-dating 1975 models.

Both Jeff and Jarrett are members of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association, one of the biggest vintage racing groups in the world. The bikes active in AHRMA events span a full 50 years, from the 1920s to the mid-‘70s, a time period that enthusiasts consider one of the greatest eras of the sport.

The machines that were “raced in that time period were basic transportation-based models with just slight modifications,” Jeff explains. Those motorcycles were raced in farmland-type settings with natural challenges. High speeds, terrain, and sharp turns provided the main challenges on the typical tracks of the early ‘70s. The “vintage” era ended with the advent of specially designed bikes on specially prepared tracks. Consistent within the natural tracks of the period was the amount of suspension travel on the machines. “My vintage bikes, for example, have minimal suspension,” Jeff says, pointing to the distance between the rear wheel and the seat. In contrast, his post-vintage bikes have more suspension.

Vintage enthusiasts like Jeff are dedicated to preserving the elements of a bygone era: the sights and sounds of their machines, the racetracks, the riding techniques, and the racing strategies. “Our rules are carefully crafted to make sure each motorcycle fits the guidelines,” Jeff says of the AHRMA handbook, a lengthy document that details specific regulations. Qualified vintage bikes were manufactured up through 1975, he explains, and must remain essentially unchanged from their original technology.

National AHRMA racing events take place at some of the finest and most historic venues, including Daytona, Glen Helen, and Chehalis. “Jarrett and I have been all over in the last eight years. From here to New Mexico, Arizona, and as far east as Colorado” says Jeff.

Through the Gate

It’s not the boxes of trophies that motivate the Robertson men to race, nor the plaques that line the walls of Jeff’s shop. Rather, it’s the friendships they cherish, the camaraderie they’ve developed with fellow riders over the years. Since that first outing to the Mojave Desert with Jarrett in tow, the Robertson family has attended countless events, which included four major trips almost every year.

Now with more than 300 races under his belt, Jeff has an appreciation for the old-time sportsmanship, the gentlemanly rules of conduct that permeate motocross philosophy on and off the track. “It’s respectful,” he says, even in the heat of the race. “You’re not trying to knock the other guy into the corner. When the race is on and you’re out of the gate, you pick your areas and pass safely.”

Make no mistake, though, when Jeff is on the starting line, his razor sharp focus leaves little to chance. His secret? “Watch the starter,” he says. “Learn his timing so you can anticipate the gate going down. If you go too soon, you get hung up on the gate. If you go too late, you miss the ‘hole shot,’ and you need that to clear the first turn.” The average race runs twelve to fifteen minutes, and includes five to seven laps.

Jeff has owned more than forty motorcycles over the years, and there are currently seventeen two-wheeled machines in his shop, each in various stages of assembly. “I have four that are race-ready,” he says, “two vintage and two post-vintage.” When pressed to name his favorite, he points to a 1974 Maico 400, a vintage machine he built in 1990. It’s spotless and shiny, with white fenders and a silver tank. “It’s my most dependable bike,” he says, one that he’s ridden in over 200 races. One of his other favorites is on public display at the Visalia Police Department, a vintage three-wheeler he restored in 1988.

Across the Finish Line

Times have changed since the Robertson family’s first trip to Mojave some twenty-seven years ago. Jarrett followed in his father’s footsteps and took the oath to serve and protect. But with a new bride, a new profession to conquer, and a couple of shoulder surgeries due to racing injuries, Jarrett has taken a break from racing for a while. He still practices with his father, and they attend their share of races, but for the time being, Jarrett is content to cheer from the sidelines.

Jarrett’s ability to concentrate on the race track has garnished him an “Expert” ranking in national motocross racing, the kind of focus that police patrol demands. When asked what the best part of his profession is, he says, “Nothing is the same every day. It’s always different, you never know what to expect. You’re always adapting.”

As for the elder member of this dynamic duo, Jeff has a slightly different take when naming the most rewarding facet of his job. “As a supervisor, I get to work with lots of new, young officers. It’s exciting to help them develop as professionals. Every officer draws on past experiences for each situation, and I like watching them grow.”

Peace officers, motocross enthusiasts, family men. Jeff and Jarrett Robertson are out of the gate, past the first turn, and headed for the finish line.

By Aaron Collins

Although summer is in full swing, football season gears up with pre-season practice in just a few weeks. So naturally, thoughts of cool fall Friday nights come to mind. But for the players, the August practice regimen finds them on the field in temperatures that are anything but fall-like. Scorching San Joaquin Valley temperatures easily reach more than 100 degrees this time of year.

Old-school macho coaches’ attitudes about the heat might be best summed up by the adage “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” But after heat-related illnesses that, in some cases, have resulted in players’ deaths, the new-school thinking is tending toward whatever keeps players alive and well—and keeps both coach and school district from getting sued by aggrieved parents.

Times have indeed changed, but more education is imperative, says Tulare District Hospital’s Benny Benzeevi, M.D., FACEP. “Some used to think that if you are fit enough or strong enough, you can take the heat. That is utterly false. No matter the physical shape, the body can only tolerate heat to a certain point, after which symptoms begin.

“We cannot educate enough, especially as heat strokes are preventable in most cases,” says Dr. Benzeevi. “For example, heat acclimation—being out in the heat for short intervals—over a period of days is essential before initiating sports-related exertion in hot weather.”

Warming Up

Dr. Benzeevi says it takes most healthy people about two weeks of 100 minutes per day exposure to hot weather to acclimate.  In addition, pre-exercise hydration with a carbohydrate/electrolyte sports drink two hours and again twenty minutes before exercise, and then every ten to twenty minutes during exercise, as well as after the exercise session, is essential for the athlete to remain appropriately hydrated.  Coaches should also be very aware of the early signs of heat exhaustion (the precursor to heat stroke), and immediately remove an athlete from the heat if she shows such signs.  It is critical that this message be reiterated, over and over again, says Benzeevi.

His emphasis is good news, considering that more people have died from extreme heat-related illness than from tornadoes, lightning, floods, and earthquakes combined over the last twenty-five years: 8,015 souls lost, most of which were preventable deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. So it’s time to recognize heat-related illness as the deadly serious problem it is.

Heat-related illnesses occur when the body cannot compensate quickly enough to adapt to a hot environment and properly cool itself through normal sweating. In certain conditions, perspiring just is not enough. Body temperature rises quickly, leading to potential brain and other vital organ damage.

Young and healthy athletic types are not invincible, especially in California’s Central Valley—one of the hottest summer regions in the U.S., whose temperatures promise to increase along with the Earth’s rising average temperature.

Air Conditioning Helps!

File this fact under “D” for Duh: Word has it that air conditioning helps avoid heat-related illness! But there is actually more to it than just the obvious. Research shows that time spent indoors with air conditioning seems to offer the body cumulative effects. In other words, someone who spends six hours cooling is better able to withstand the heat longer than someone who cools after forty-five minutes then enters the heat.

What to Look Out For

Heat Stroke is the loss of the body’s ability to regulate its own temperature: It can rise to 106 degrees rapidly as the sweating process fails, no longer able to cool the body. Heat stroke can result in permanent disability or rapid death if medical attention is not sought immediately.

The signals vary, but those to watch out for include throbbing headache; intense, rapid pulse; dizziness; confusion; red, hot, and dry skin; and an oral temperature above 103 degrees. Unconsciousness can follow any combination of the above.

Heat Exhaustion is a milder form of heat stroke, which is not to say it’s considerably more fun. Intense perspiration, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, fatigue and paleness are among the symptoms. And like heat stroke, heat exhaustion can make you faint or lose consciousness. Vague but rapid pulse and short, rapid breaths are also evident.

Heat Cramps result, it is believed, from low salt levels due to perspiration during strenuous activity. The cramps themselves can be a sign of heat exhaustion, so pay attention if these symptoms develop. These muscle spasms can occur in the body from arms to legs to the torso. If these occur, cease physical activity, get rest, and drink either water, clear juice, or a sports drink such as Gatorade. If symptoms do not improve within an hour, seek help—the condition can signal the onset of the more serious heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.

Sunburn, thankfully, seems to be on the wane as more people get the news of rising skin cancer rates. That real-deal ‘70s-era tan look is pretty much passé now (the spray-on variety aside). But people can still get caught somewhere unexpected without sunscreen. If you do, and the burns are not severe enough to warrant a hospital visit, apply ice to remove the sting, or soak in a cool bath. Ignore the old remedy of butter, salve, or ointment. Resist picking at any blisters that form; allow them to heal naturally.

Heat Rash is the least serious of the heat-related illnesses, and is more annoying discomfort than anything. Most common in young children, heat rash looks like reddish clusters of small pimples or blisters typically found on the upper chest, neck, groin, or crease of the arms. The best approach is prevention, by providing a cool dry place for kids. Powder is usually sufficient to ease any discomfort.

Avoid Trouble

Dr. Benzeevi says that Valley residents can avoid trouble if they follow these steps: Stay indoors and out of the sun during the day. Use your air conditioner—fans alone are not enough. If you do not have an air conditioner, go to a building that does. Drink plenty of fluids. Choose electrolyte-balanced sports drinks. Wear light-colored, loose clothing and a hat. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, which cause dehydration. Also, take note of medications that can affect your heat tolerance. Finally, take frequent cold showers or baths.

Dr. Benzeevi says some factors can make it hard to determine if you’ve got a heat emergency. Alcohol consumption, obesity, having an illness with a fever during a heat wave, and lack of sleep can affect your heat tolerance. Drugs such as amphetamines, caffeine, and certain heart medications aggravate the effect of extreme heat.

Immediate Treatment

The person on the scene first can help, says Dr. Benzeevi. The first step in treating heat-related illness is recognizing it. Immediately get the person to a shaded, cool area.  Apply water to the patient and manually fan her to initiate and increase evaporation. If the victim is awake, begin rehydrating him with electrolyte-balanced fluids, if any are available. If a paramedic unit is available, they should initiate gradual IV hydration.  Finally, transport the patient to the nearest Emergency Department as soon as possible.

Vulnerable Elders

Athletes and outdoors enthusiasts are at greater risk than average people, and infants and children are vulnerable, but the most vulnerable group is the elderly, whose ability to withstand the effects of the heat diminish with age. They are at greater risk because people 65 and older respond to heat stress less efficiently, and they are less able to sense the signals of impending trouble in time to counteract them.

Complicating matters for them, American society is far less integrated with its elderly than are other cultures. The elderly, while enjoying the benefits of independence, may also go unmonitored for longer periods while the aged in other cultures often have extended family close at hand to offer protection in extreme weather circumstances. Home alone, they can more easily fall victim.

What can we do as a society to raise awareness that would minimize this vulnerability and look out for them?

Says Dr. Benzeevi: “Neighbors should check on neighbors, especially on elderly people who live alone. Families should consider bringing their elderly relatives to live with them during periods of heat waves. (We need) constant education to the public at large and to individuals most exposed to the heat: Agricultural workers, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, athletes, kids, etc.—that is key.”

The Future

As for medical advances on the horizon, Dr. Benzeevi says that research is being conducted on medications that increase the body’s production of heat shock proteins—natural proteins that protect cells against excessive heat exposure. In addition, some experimental suits are being tested that rapidly decrease the body’s core temperature.

That means that the most important tools still remain prevention and early recognition. Medical advances help, but it is still up to individuals to stay cool … and stay alive.

By Jill K. Applegate

Summer is about playing, enjoying time off from school and having fun with family and friends. As the mercury rises, it’s also about keeping parched vegetation from becoming fuel for wildfire. And just like heat, tempers can rise during the summer, making it all the more important to be a good neighbor and be responsible with pets, smokes, and toys. Have fun, be safe, and be kind—these are keys to a happy summer.

• Tracking Down Toys: On a heated search for missing toys or your prized bike? Check the Sheriff’s Department—and don’t dawdle. Tulare County law and California law states that if a bike or toy has been turned in and isn’t claimed within 90 days, it goes to the County’s probation department for use in programs that deter juvenile delinquency. That’s a good cause, to be sure, and a good way for the county to save a little money by putting unclaimed items to good use—but if they’re your lost items you may not feel like giving them up. If you’ve lost toys or bikes in the fun-frenzy of summer, check with the Sheriff’s Department to see if it’s been turned in and waiting for you to claim it. [Tulare County Code 1-17-1010, California Welfare and Institutions, 217]

• Dog Days: In July and August, the dog days of summer, cats prowl through the heat of the night and send Tulare County’s dogs into a territory-defending fury of barking threats. For the humans who are trying to sleep through hot nights, these yowls and yips go beyond an insomniac annoyance—they’re illegal.

Tulare County law states that once you’ve told the dog’s owner that his canine crooner is causing a disturbance, it’s illegal for the owner to let the barking, howling, or whining continue to disturb the neighborhood. [Tulare County Code 4-07-1280]

• Safe Smoking: Vegetation is pretty dried out crispy right now—it’s basically kindling. It only takes a spark to ignite it and start a raging wildfire, which can take lives and cost a community so much. So when you’re out in the wilds of the county, camping under a starry sky, keep that cigarette safe.

Tulare County Safety Regulations outlaw smoking or lighting tobacco or other smoking material on grain-, grass-, or brush-covered lands that don’t belong to you. This code applies only in the hottest months—between June 1 and Halloween—and there are some exceptions. You’re allowed to smoke safely in improved campsites, at someone’s home, in a vehicle with an ashtray on improved roads, or if you’re in a 3-foot diameter clearing. [Tulare County Code 4-05-1000]

It’s official. Summer, along with the heat the season packs in tow, has arrived in the valley. It’s time for outdoor activities and a stretch of months to spend soaking up sun. While most of us simply lather on the sunscreen and call it good, often a sunburn isn’t the only thing we need to be cautious of when spending time outdoors. Whether we’re exercising or just spending some time in the garden, it’s critical that we remain hydrated and keep an eye out for signs that our bodies might be over-heating.

For this issue’s theme of heat-related emergencies, writer Aaron Collins spoke with Dr. Benny Benzeevi of Tulare District Hospital about the different types of heat-related emergencies, as well as symptoms and ways to prevent one’s body from falling victim to such emergencies.

In Three Alarm, we spoke with Chief Danny Wristen from Visalia Fire Department and Captain Cameron Long of Tulare City Fire about what it’s like underneath all of the gear firefighters are required to wear while fighting fires. In light of the upcoming wild fire season, a glimpse into what these professionals go through for our protection seemed fitting and important. It is truly incredible the amount of gear they must wear, especially amidst the heat of the burning flame.

In our Code Seven feature, chef Paul shares the secrets of the grill, as well as a delicious recipe for baked beans that are unlike anything you’ve had before. Lucky for us, the staff here at VRM typically reaps the benefit of the “taste-test” on many of Paul’s recipes, as the majority of his recipes are created from scratch. (We wouldn’t want our readers to be given a recipe that we couldn’t all vouch for, right?) On that note, I will tell you that his grill creations are all a must try.

So, whether you’re harnessing the heat of the grill or laying low in the cool of an air conditioner’s breeze, raise a hydrating toast to the first responders who battle blazes when the whole valley is shimmering with heat, and who help our most vulnerable back to health when the temperatures have gotten the best of them.

And here’s to a safe summer!