Once again it is time to begin decorating for the holidays, prepping for the seasonal baking, and making plans for New Year’s Eve; the Christmas holiday and a brand new year are almost upon us. Amid the festive cheer and excitement for the holi- days, it is the responsibility of the staff at Valley Response Magazine to think not only about how we wish to say thank you to our readers and advertisers, but also how we can provide them with the most valuable information to help them keep safe while enjoying the season.
Inevitably, the holidays bring about extra travel on the roadways and an increase in the number of folks heading to the mountains. It is with this notion in mind, that the December/January issue of Valley Response Magazine is devoted to winter travel and cold weather activities. We’ve included articles about health-related risks, such as hypothermia, as well as tips on driving in the snow, and information about what to keep in your car as a “just in case” during your winter travels.
Also in this issue, we are fortunate to meet Officer Amada Galaviz who, back in Sep- tember, delivered a baby in the back seat of a car during one of her shifts. Officer Galaviz shares her account of the miraculous (and highly unexpected) event, as well as photos of her and newborn baby Valeria.
Due to a seasonal increase in use of electrical devices, such as heaters, heating blan- kets, and—particularly during the holidays—an influx in indoor and outdoor lighting, it seemed essential to pay tribute to local hero, Fire Captain Mike Bowman, who has helped save many lives in his quest to provide smoke alarms to thousands of homes in Fresno County. We hope his story and his mission will inspire readers to equip their homes with the appropriate fire suppression devices, and that it will “spark” an inclination to donate to programs such as Bowman’s.
The staff at Valley Response Magazine and I want to wish everyone a safe and won- derful holiday season. Please be careful on the road and enjoy your time off wisely. We’ll see you in the new year!