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Fire Chief Jason Gallagher Challenges Haldimand to be “Saved by the Beep”

Fire Chief Jason Gallagher is calling on all residents of Haldimand County to test their smoke alarms on September 28 as part of Test Your Smoke Alarm Day. Be prepared to be Saved by the Beep with a working smoke alarm – it is your best chance to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire.

Haldimand County is joining communities across Ontario on September 28 by asking everyone to take a minute and to ensure that there are working smoke alarms installed in their home.

Last year, Ontario lost 133 people to deadly fires – the highest number in over 20 years. Many of these fires were found to have no working smoke alarm and stand as a reminder that only working smoke alarms will alert you to a fire and give you and your loved ones enough time to safely escape.

“In Ontario, we’ve seen a significant rise in fatal fires and the number of people we have lost in these fires is very concerning,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg. “Entire families have been lost to fire and the most troubling part is that the majority of these fires did not have a working smoke alarm in the home. Had there been working smoke alarms, and a well thought out and practiced home fire escape plan, these deaths may have been prevented.”

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM), with the support of fire services and fire safety partners across Ontario, is asking Ontarians to regularly test their smoke alarms with a challenge to test all smoke alarms in their residence on September 28.

For more information visit www.savedbythebeep.ca

Quick Facts:

  • Smoke alarms have been legally required to be installed on every storey of a residence in Ontario since 2006.
  • Residences also include vacation homes, cabins, trailers, RVs, and cottages.
  • Landlords must test alarms annually, after the battery is replaced, and after every change in tenancy. Renters must notify their landlord as soon as they become aware that a smoke alarm is not operating.

Need for Proper Smoke and Carbon Monoxide

The Emergency Services Division of Haldimand County would like to remind all residents of the importance of having proper smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in their residences. With the tragic number of house fires and related fatalities in 2022, a key priority for Emergency Services in 2023 is stressing the importance of working smoke/CO alarms under the Fire Code. Community members are asked to be mindful of the requirements as failure to comply could lead to charges.

Provincewide, fire-related deaths have been steadily rising year after year.

  • 2019 saw 72 fire deaths
  • 2020 saw 114 fire deaths
  • 2021 saw 124 fire deaths
  • 2022 saw 133 fire deaths

The top five suspected causes of residential fires are as follows:

  • Unattended cooking
  • Overloaded or faulty wiring
  • Supplementary heating from space heaters, wood stoves, and chimneys
  • Candles
  • Careless smoking

Ontario law requires fire detection devices on every floor of a dwelling and outside all sleeping areas. Offenders can be ticked $360 or fined up to $50,000, and double that for corporations.

What to do to help avoid house fires:

  • Don’t leave the kitchen unattended, most kitchen fires are a result of distraction or leaving the oven/unattended. If you need to leave the room, ask your spouse or roommate to keep an eye on the food and keep stove and oven clean. Keeping your appliances such as your stove clean reduces the risk of a grease fire. Residents should either manually clean their appliances once it is at room temperature, or opt for the oven self-cleaning setting every few months.
  • Limit the use of extension cords and read the CSA/ESA labels on items you are using to determine the electrical load on the receptacle you are using. Especially heating devices/appliances.
  • Try to replace traditional candles with battery-operated decorative candles. If you must use a traditional candle ensure it is in a “tip” proof container or globe.
  • If you smoke, be sure to do it outside and completely extinguish the cigarette in an ashtray.

To help avoid injury or death in the event of a fire, Haldimand County Fire Department recommends the following tips.

  • “Get Out and Stay Out” – never go back inside for anything.
  • Make sure to test your alarms frequently and change the batteries twice annually.
  • Have an escape plan and practice it with your family members. It is important to have a plan set in place prior to an emergency, and allow your children to hear the alarm sounding when you test the batteries so they know what it sounds like.
  • Openly discuss with your children the importance of following the rules and safety guidelines as everyone’s lives depend on it.

If you are not sure how many alarms you need or where they should be placed, do not hesitate to reach out to your local fire department.

Reminder to Check Your Smoke Alarms

A few days after Christmas, Hamilton had a house fire that claimed the lives of two adults and two children. That fire was completely PREVENTABLE! It is a prime example of the importance of having working smoke detectors and the need to test them regularly. Please, please check your smoke alarms!!

Haldimand County-Niagara College partnership brings post-secondary Personal Support Worker college program to Dunnville

Haldimand County and Niagara College Canada have once again partnered to offer the Personal Support Worker (PSW) college certificate program at Grandview Lodge in Dunnville starting in January 2023.

A drop-in information session will be held on November 16, 2022 from 5 to 8 p.m in the Grandview Lodge Auditorium (657 Lock St. W) for those interested in learning more about the program and whether it may be a good fit.

Individuals who enroll will participate in 8 months of hands-on PSW training at Grandview Lodge, gain their Ontario College certificate and enter the job market with an established portfolio of PSW work experience.

Financial assistance is available for qualifying individuals, and anyone experiencing economic barriers is encouraged to contact Grandview Lodge staff at 905-774-7547 to learn more about tuition supports offered.

Graduates of the program will not only earn their college certificate, but have the unique opportunity to:

  • Foster relationships with PSW colleagues and establish professional networks for future employment references
  • Develop marketable skills necessary for success in the workplace
  • Access job opportunities in Dunnville upon successful completion of the program

“We’re thrilled to partner with Niagara College Canada to offer this innovative program in our community,” said Jennifer Jacob, Grandview Lodge administrator. “This exciting partnership allows students to be immersed in a long-term care environment while completing their practicum, which gives graduates the advantage of real-life experience when entering the job market,” Jacob noted.

“We are excited to work with Grandview Lodge again to help meet the education needs of prospective students and the healthcare needs of the community,” said Angela Butt, Niagara College Interim Dean, Health Sciences.  “Our partnership with Grandview Lodge really facilitates Niagara College in living its vision of enriching lives and fulfilling dreams through applied learning and real-life experience!”

Individuals who are interested in the PSW profession or have an interest in pursuing a career within the healthcare sector are strongly encouraged to attend the November 16 information session to learn more.

More information about the Personal Support Worker certificate program is available on the Niagara College website. Anyone interested may also contact Grandview Lodge (905-775-7547 or grandview@haldimandcounty.on.ca) or Niagara College (myfutureNC@niagaracollege.ca for further details.

 

Haldimand County Logo

Haldimand County Emergency Services joins national week of action to help 9-1-1 callers #KnowExactlyWhere in an emergency with what3words app

From October 3 to 9, Haldimand County will be taking part in the #KnowExactlyWhere safety campaign to raise awareness of the free what3words app and how it can be effectively utilized in an emergency when calling 9-1-1 from an unknown location.

In an emergency, identifying precisely where help is needed is critical to getting resources to the scene quickly, however, this can be challenging when callers are in remote or unfamiliar areas, without street addresses or on unnamed trails. In these moments, emergency services can waste precious time and resources just trying to locate the person in need of help.

What3words provides a simple way to communicate a very precise location and across Canada the technology has been successfully used for everything from reporting fires and rescuing pets, to locating critically injured snowmobilers and hikers with pinpoint accuracy.

what3words has divided the world into a grid of 10ft squares and given each square a unique combination of 3 random words: a what3words address. For example, ///hampers/thesaurus/excited will take you to the main Haldimand County Administration Building at 53 Thorburn St S., Cayuga. These three words can be provided to an emergency dispatcher when calling 911.

The app is free to download for both iOS and Android devices, and works offline, making it ideal for use in areas with an unreliable data connection, such as hiking trails and campsites. what3words can also be used via the online map at what3words.com.

Teams across Canada have praised what3words innovative location technology for cutting response times when it matters most. Downloading the what3words app one of the simplest actions the public can take to support busy emergency response teams, and Haldimand County Emergency Services encourages residents to familiarize themselves with the free tool.

To date, what3words is available to over 50 emergency communication centres across Canada, with a presence in eight provinces and two territories.

what3words logo

Haldimand County to set up cooling centres, charging stations in response to planned Hydro One outage in Dunnville area

On Sunday, August 28, 2022, Hydro One will be performing repairs that require power to be shut off in the Dunnville area from 5:30 a.m. to approximately 2 p.m. In response to this planned outage, Haldimand County will be opening a cooling centre/charging station at the Dunnville Community Lifespan Centre.

Residents in the Dunnville area are encouraged to check Hydro One’s planned outage map to confirm whether they will be affected.

Anyone impacted by this temporary outage may utilize the Lifespan Centre (275 Ramsey Drive) to cool off and/or charge their electronic devices (from 5:30 a.m. until power is restored). The Cayuga Memorial Arena will also be open to affected residents.

Residents affected by the outage are reminded of the following:

  • Make sure your appliances, such as the stove, are in the off position.
  • Make sure your cell phone and extended battery packs are fully charged.
  • Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Use a cooler with ice for items you’ll need during the planned outage.
  • If you plan to use a generator, remember to use it in a dry area outdoors away from any open windows, doors and vents.
  • Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns instead of candles. If using candles, place them in a secure holder and cover them with a glass chimney, away from children and pets.
  • Make sure your home has battery-operated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Ensure Alarms have been tested and are working.
  • Municipal water service will not be affected. For those with private water treatment systems, check on the treatment equipment once power is restored to make sure it is operational before using the water.
  • Have non-perishable foods on hand that do not require cooking (e.g. snack bars, trail mix, fruit).
  • Treat intersections with non-functioning stoplights as four-way stops.
  • Purchase any fuel products the day before the planned outage (e.g. gas for vehicles).
  • Have your 72 hour emergency kit

Residents are also advised of the following service impacts:

  • Due to the outage Dunnville Lions Pool will be closed; it will re-open as soon as possible after power is restored (likely on Monday, August 29). The wading pool in Central Park will be open as usual.
  • Installation of ice at the Dunnville Memorial Arena will be delayed, which will result in an opening after Labour Day. The Cayuga Memorial Arena will be opened early to accommodate any Dunnville bookings already in place.

Residents within the planned outage area are also encouraged to sign up for status notifications on the Hydro One website and check the outage map for updates on restoration time.

For more information on what to do before, during and after a power outage, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s website.

Dunnville Community Lifespan Centre

Haldimand County unveils new aerial truck, donates unused medical equipment to Ukraine

On Tuesday, June 21, 2022, the county’s new, state-of-the art aerial truck made a stop out front of the Haldimand County Administration Building. Emergency Services staff provided Council with a tour of the new vehicle and showcased surplus PPE/medical supplies that will be donated to Ukraine.

The new aerial truck was custom-built for Haldimand’s specific needs and will be permanently stationed in Caledonia.

It is equipped with a 107-foot extension ladder that will allow firefighters to get on top of emergencies in more densely populated areas of west Haldimand and enhance their ability to fight fires in tall structures (including barns).

Combined with aerial trucks in Jarvis and Dunnville, the new vehicle will enable the Fire Department to respond with an aerial truck anywhere in the county within ten minutes.

In tandem with Council’s tour of the new truck, Emergency Services staff revealed some of the surplus medical equipment that is being donated to Ukraine. Staff worked to identify key supply needs and ‘matches’ with some of the county’s surplus items.

“The surplus equipment – which includes medical bags, stair chairs and spinal boards – would normally go on the GovDeals.ca auction site and generate a small profit for the County,” said Jason Gallagher, Haldimand County’s Fire Chief and Manager of Emergency Services.

“The benefit of donating these extra supplies where they’re desperately needed in Ukraine, far outweighs any revenue benefit we would receive. I am proud of our team for coordinating this initiative and know that it will make an impact,” Gallagher continued.

The new aerial truck will go into service in July and medical supplies will be shipped to Ukraine later this month.

For more information about Haldimand County Emergency Services programs and services, visit HaldimandCounty.ca or follow along on Twitter or Instagram (@HaldEmerg).

Haldimand County Fire Department aerial truck parked out front of the County administration building with extension ladder fully extended.

Above: Haldimand County’s new aerial truck.

Below: Unused medical equipment that will be donated to Ukraine.

Unused medial equipment displayed in front of the County administration building that will be donated to Ukraine.

Haldimand County Community Paramedic Program making a difference locally

Haldimand County’s Community Paramedic Program continues to make an impact locally, and thanks to $4.3 million from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the program will continue – fully-funded – for the next 2.5 years.

The Community Paramedic Program was initiated in March 2021 with the goal of connecting vulnerable or homebound patients to health and community services. Since its launch, the program has grown to serve 160 clients across Haldimand who would otherwise experience challenges accessing vital services.

The program’s primary focus is helping at-risk individuals and older adults remain at home longer and maintain independence while waiting for long-term care. Without the support of community paramedics, many of these individuals would wind up in hospital due to their inability to access care.

Regular home care visits, medication checks and ongoing monitoring of medical conditions by community paramedics help mitigate medical complications for these residents and reduce the likelihood of severe conditions requiring 911 response and hospitalization.

“We are incredibly proud of our community paramedic team and grateful to the province for additional funding that will help us reach more residents in need,” stated Jason Gallagher, Haldimand County’s Manager of Emergency Services and Fire Chief.

“Whether we are visiting someone to perform a medication check, administer IV fluids, take blood, teach them how to use their glucose monitoring system or something else, community paramedics are a vital lifeline to many who lack a support system,” Gallagher noted.

Residents who feel they may benefit from the Community Paramedic Program should speak with their primary care physician and request a referral. There is no cost to eligible individuals, and at-home visits will be scheduled based on an individuals’ needs (e.g. weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).

More services will be introduced to the Community Paramedic Program in the coming months and shared with the community as they become available.

Individuals who would like to learn more about services offered may contact 905-318-5932 ext. 6113.

Grandview Lodge Receives $3 Million In Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program Funding

In 2020, Grandview Lodge applied for grant funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – COVID 19 Resiliency Infrastructure Stream for Long Term Care Homes (ICIP). Grandview was approved for the full $3,223,000 requested, which will be used to replace HVAC infrastructure at the home.

“This contribution is one of the largest ever received by Haldimand County and we are very grateful to both federal and provincial governments for providing this opportunity,” said Cathy Case, General Manager of Corporate & Social Services.

“This $3M plus in funding will fill a large gap in the County’s capital budget program and will take any burden related to the costs of this replacement project off of local taxpayers,” Case added.

Case noted that a new and improved HVAC system at Grandview Lodge will benefit staff, residents and their families by increasing infection and prevention control measures throughout the home. Work on the HVAC system replacement will begin immediately.

$120 million was recently added to the provincial and territorial agreements of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to support ventilation improvement projects in public buildings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For the Grandview HVAC replacement project, the ICIP funding contribution from the federal government totals $2,578,400 and the provincial contribution is $644,600.

For more information on the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program, visit the Infrastructure Canada website.

To learn more about Grandview Lodge, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/grandview-lodge.

 

Haldimand County logo. A yellow sun rising or setting atop green and blue waves. Haldimand County in black lettering below.

Haldimand County recognized for Grand River water quality improvement efforts

Haldimand County has been recognized by the Grand River Conservation Authority for its efforts to improve the water quality of the Grand River.

During the Grand River Conservation Authority’s annual Grand River Watershed Wide Optimization Program workshop on Tuesday, November 20, recognition awards were handed out to a number of municipalities for their water quality improvement efforts throughout 2017. All three of Haldimand County’s wastewater treatment plants discharging to the Grand River were recognized: Caledonia, Cayuga and Dunnville.

Caledonia’s wastewater treatment plant was the only plant in the entire Grand River watershed to receive gold recognition. The Dunnville plant received silver and Cayuga obtained bronze. To be recognized, municipalities are required to meet specific criteria related to environmental compliance regulations and performance reporting. Haldimand County met – and in some cases exceeded – recognition criteria.

The GRCA continuously works with municipal water managers and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to improve the operation of wastewater treatment plants.

The goal of the Wastewater Optimization Program is to raise the quality of the treated effluent that leaves the plant and enters a river or stream.

“This recent recognition fully demonstrates our commitment to protecting the natural environment by reducing pollutant discharges to the Grand River”, said Mayor Ken Hewitt. “These achievements are primarily a result of enhancing process control through data based decision-making and efforts to understand plant needs, which over time have saved the County a significant amount of money through infrastructure deferral,” he continued.

For more information about the County’s water and wastewater treatment operations, including water quality reports, visit the Water and Wastewater page.