SAVING LIVES: FIREFIGHTERS SPEAK AT WFWP GATHERING IN HACKENSACK, NJ

Ever wonder how you could fireproof your home or what you should do if your car starts to smell like smoke?

These were some of the questions that were answered at our WFWP gathering on March 3rd at the Noches de Colombia restaurant in Hackensack, New Jersey. We were blessed with a visit from Jersey city fire fighters T.J. Higgins and Joseph Ventimella, who had been to a fire just early that morning in Jersey City yet still found the time to come to our event and share information about their work and fire safety tips with us. We’d like to share these tips with all of you.

If your car should start smoking, first thing is not to panic. Stay calm and look for a safe place to pull over. Pulling into a gas station may not be a good idea because of all the gas ️underground. Get out of the car and call the fire department and explain your situation.

Are you living in an apartment building with your family? Get together and decide on an escape plan in case of a fire; this includes arranging a meeting place outside. If a fire does happen, evacuate immediately, call the fire department and shut the doors behind you. Smoke likes to travel, so if it is contained in a room it is better.

Should you need to be assisted out, get near a window so the fire department can get a ladder up to you. Tell them about any children, cats or dogs that are missing. The firemen can check in closets, under beds, etc. for them.

If you are burned but not too badly you can apply silvertine ointment, available through prescription from your doctor. If badly burned, get medical assistance right away.

As a final piece of advice, the firefighters listed common major contributors to fires in the home: candles, hot plates, bad electrical wiring, unattended cigarettes and nonfunctioning smoke detectors.

Twelve people were at our event and they appreciated the opportunity to ask any questions they had - because it was a small group, everyone had the chance to talk.

Our guests were also impressed by the quality of character the firefighters had. One of them, Joseph Ventimella, said he had worked first as a policeman, then a fireman, always trying to show his children a good example of public service and giving glory to God.

We look forward to meeting again with other interesting speakers.