Jun 15, 2007
Weston Answer Book: Emergency Services
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What kind of calls should be made to 9-1-1?
Only emergency calls should be made to 9-1-1, such as to report a fire, medical crisis, or police emergency like a home intruder or other life-threatening situation.
People should not call for directions, to find out if roads are icy, or for routine service such as barking dogs. Routine police calls should be directed to 222-2600; routine fire calls to 222-2647.
If you dial 9-1-1 by accident, stay on the line, otherwise police will wind up at your doorstep when they can’t determine the cause of the call.
Who answers the 9-1-1 line?
Weston Police dispatchers answer 9-1-1, which is available 24 hours a day. Dispatchers can send police, fire, and/or emergency medical services depending on the situation. The police suggest that when calling, you try to remain calm and answer any questions.
An upgraded mobile 9-1-1 system enables dispatchers to quickly track a cell phone caller’s location anywhere in the state.
Where is the nearest emergency room?
The nearest emergency room is at Norwalk Hospital on Maple Street. Call 852-2160.
If you live near the Georgetown line, you are closer to Danbury Hospital, where the emergency room is on Locust Avenue. Call 739-7100.
What ambulance service is available?
For the past 40 years, the town has been served by Weston Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, headquartered at 52 Norfield Road. The non-emergency number is 222-2649. Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 to noon. The Web site is www.westonems.com.
WVEMS has its own ambulances, which are staffed with three Weston EMTs and a paramedic from Norwalk Hospital . The service has about 45 members.
Where will the ambulance take me?
The ambulance will most likely take you to Norwalk Hospital, unless Danbury Hospital or a Bridgeport Hospital is closer. If the patient is stable, the ambulance will usually take a patient to the hospital of his choice.
What kind of training do Weston EMS volunteers have?
Training is ongoing and includes monthly drills and meetings and periodic special drills, such as pediatric, new equipment, and mass casualties. Volunteers are on call a minimum of four 12-hour day or night shifts per month. Everyone is re-certified every two to three years.
Do we have paramedics and what can they do?
WVEMS does provide paramedic service. Paramedics can provide advanced life support treatment and care.
How much does an ambulance call cost me?
Nothing. WVEMS is a free service, unlike neighboring towns in which an ambulance call can routinely cost from $500 to $700.
How many calls did the ambulance service answer last year?
In 2006, Weston EMS responded to 529 calls for service. That is about the same as last year.
Does Weston EMS have any community programs?
Yes, Weston EMS offers Weston Injury Prevention (WIP), which is an ongoing education program to prevent injury in and around the home. The goal is to educate families on how to make their home injury proof, as well as what to do in case an injury does occur. It is especially appropriate for scout troops and civic organizations. For information, call 222-2649.
What else does Weston EMS do besides answer emergency calls?
A lot. EMS volunteers are on site at all manner of special events in town, such as the Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations, road races, the Norfield and Emmanuel Church fairs, and all youth and high school football games.
How can I join Weston EMS?
You may call 222-2649 to request information on how to join.
How can I help Weston EMS?
Make a donation. Weston EMS receives no funds from the town and therefore is funded solely by private contributions. Running an emergency medical service is an expensive undertaking. An ambulance costs about $200,000 and must be replaced every five to seven years.
Donations must also cover the cost of the department’s state-of-the-art equipment, all of its training, supplies, operating expenses, and maintenance costs.
Donations are tax deductible. You may make a donation online at www.westonems.com. To send a check, make it payable to Weston EMS and send it to Weston EMS, P.O. Box 1163, Weston, CT 06883.
Where is the fire department?
The Weston Volunteer Fire Department is headquartered at 52 Norfield Road town behind town hall. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 to noon. The non-emergency number is 222-2647. The Web site is www.wvfd.com.
There are two fire stations. Station #1 is the headquarters on Norfield Road. Station #2 is at 234 Lyons Plain Road.
Except for town funds to pay for fire equipment, the department relies on private donations to supplement operating costs.
How does the department operate?
The Weston Volunteer Fire Department is made up entirely of volunteers and since 1931 has been the sole source of fire and rescue services in town. The department is divided into Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services (for EMS, see above). Their combined membership is about 90, with many people serving on both divisions. The fire chief is John Pokorny.
Firefighters have monthly and weekly drills. The firefighting force is state certified Firefighter One (130 hours of training) and many members have achieved Firefighter Two certification (an additional 160 hours of training).
What equipment does the fire department have?
At the Norfield Station, there are two class A fire engines, one engine dedicated to water supply that carries over a mile of hose and can pump 2,250 gallons of water per minute, and a tanker with a 2,500-gallon capacity.
The Norfield station also houses a mobile communications bus, a dive/rescue boat, and “Old Mack,” an historic fire engine dating back to 1934.
At the Lyons Plain station, there is one class A engine that has a capacity of 1,000 gallons and can pump 1,500 gallons per minute. (Most engines need to pump at the rate of 200 to 300 gallons per minute.)
Each engine carries hundreds of feet of hose, various tools, and ground ladders up to 35 feet in length. The rescue truck, which is at the Norfield Station, carries a wide variety of specialty equipment and power tools as well as a Jaws-of-Life power unit that allows rescuers to work on two vehicles at once.
The fire department also has a supply of oxygen masks designed to fit dogs and cats. Each Weston fire pumper engine carries a set of the animal masks, which plug into the same tank used to give oxygen to humans.
How can I become a volunteer firefighter?
You must live or work in Weston, be 16 or older and in good physical condition to join the fire department. The department will provide all necessary training. For information, call Bruce Ando at 222-2647 and leave a message with your name and number, or e-mail membership@wvfd.com.
How many calls did the fire department answer last year?
In 2006, the department responded to 585 calls, including automatic fire alarms.
In 2005, the department answered 588 calls, and in 2004, it answered 569 calls, most of them rescue calls.
Must my fire alarm be registered?
Yes. Homeowners must register their automatic alarm systems with the secretary at the police department. Call 222-2600 for details.
Where is the police department?
The Weston Police Department is headquartered at 56 Norfield Road. The non-emergency number is 222-2600. The department Web site is www.westonpolice.com.
The department provides emergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Its mission is to protect life and property and foster and maintain the feeling of stability and security in the community. Weston police officers are well trained and demonstrate a high level of skill and motivation in the investigation of crimes and motor vehicle accidents.
How many policemen does the town have?
The Weston Police Department has 11 full-time officers, three sergeants, one detective, one civilian clerk, and one part-time special officer.
The interim chief of police, appointed by the Police Commission on May 8, is John Troxell. A search is currently underway for a permanent police chief.
How do I get an accident report?
Call the police station at 222-2600 and ask for the records department. They will let you know if the report has been filed and processed. Then you may pick it up.
What are the town’s police activity statistics?
In fiscal year 2005-06, the Weston Police Department responded to 8,611 incidents, down from 12,383 in 2004-05. This included 2,462 crime-related calls (compared to 1,935 the previous year); 2,889 motor vehicle-related calls (compared to 3,392 the year before); and 3,260 calls for general services, including fire, ambulance, and animal control assists (compared to 6,688 the year before).
Among the most common incidents to which Weston police responded were alarms (1,450), vandalism (145), and reports of suspicious people, incidents, or vehicles (402 total). The department investigated 42 cases of fraud, and counterfeiting/forgery.
The department made 92 adult arrests and two juvenile arrests for criminal violations. In addition, officers made 283 motor vehicle arrests and eight arrests for driving under the influence. They issued 503 written warnings and 64 parking tickets. The department also handled 249 motor vehicle accidents and made 989 motor vehicle stops.
Are police involved in any community programs?
The department periodically runs a Citizen Police Academy. The eight-week program is open to all town residents and is designed to give citizens an overview of the department and the American Criminal Justice System.
Is there a Neighborhood Watch Program?
Detective Carl Filsinger recently implemented an “cyber” neighborhood watch program called e-Watch. Those who have signed up receive regular e-mail alerts about recent crime activity in the community. Members may also alert the police about scams they have encountered or other suspicious activity.
Subscription to the program is free. To be added to the list, e-mail cfilsinger@westonpolice.com and put “E-WATCH” in the subject line.
Will the police fingerprint me for an application?
The police offer this service to Weston residents and town employees. You may visit the police department during business hours, but they can’t guarantee an officer will be available. Try calling ahead.
Does the police department have a Lost and Found?
Yes. Found items may be turned in to the dispatch office, adjacent to the fire department on Norfield Road, at any time. For inquiries about lost items, call 222-2600.
Do I need to register my burglar alarm?
Yes. Call the police department secretary at 222-2600 for details.
Am I allowed to carry a gun in town?
To carry a firearm, either on your person or in your vehicle, you must obtain a permit to do so. The records department (222-2600) can provide you with information regarding the necessary requirements. Or, check with the Connecticut State Police Special License and Firearms Unit, at www.state.ct.us/dps/SLFU/index.html.
Is there a town emergency plan?
Weston has an Office of Emergency Management that is committed to the safety and security of those who live and work here. The department is responsible for handling emergencies that arise from both natural and man-made disasters.
There is a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan that details what each department (such as Fire, Police, and EMS) is required to do during an actual emergency. There are a number of ways people may be notified of an emergency, including air raid sirens, vehicles equipped with public address systems, and/or local TV and radio station announcements.
The Town of Weston Emergency Operations Manual contains the Emergency Operations Plan. The town is presently working with municipal neighbors and the South Western Regional Planning Agency to create both terrorism and bio-terrorism responses to add to the Emergency Operations Manual. The town is in constant contact with the State of Connecticut Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, and the Office of Homeland Security at both the federal and state levels in order to ensure the safety and security of the community.
For more information on emergency preparedness, the following Web sites will be helpful: www.redcross.org, www.fema.gov, www.ct.gov/hls (CT Office of Homeland Security), www.whitehouse.gov/homeland (Department of Homeland Security), www.ed.gov/emergencyplan (Department of Education), and www.ready.gov (also 1-800-Be-Ready) provides citizens with informative preparedness suggestions and advice for families.
Sergeant Patrick Daubert (222-2637) is the director of Emergency Management for Weston.
What should I do in the event of a severe storm?
Connecticut Light and Power offers the following tips: Check medications that need refrigeration. You may want to keep a small cooler handy for that purpose. Have a supply of canned, non-perishable food and drinking water that will last a couple of days. Get extra ice and put it in plastic bags. This will help maintain the temperature in your refrigerator and freezer.
Set aside water. Fill the bathtub with water for toilets; a bucket in the bowl is all that’s needed for flushing. You can buy bottled water for drinking. Be prepared to cook outside, but don’t bring grills into the house.
Stock up on batteries for a battery-powered radio and flashlights, and have extra wood for fireplaces or wood stoves. Fill your car’s gas tank.
Stay away from downed power lines.
You should avoid talking on the phone or watching TV during a lightning storm. Consider unplugging expensive items such as computers, televisions and refrigerators to avoid power surge damage, which can occur even if they are plugged into surge protectors.
If you lose power, call Connecticut Light and Power at 800-286-2000. Have flashlights or candles readily available and don’t use a gas stove for heat or illumination.
How do I reach poison control?
Dial 800-222-1222. This national number will connect you with medical experts at a local poison control center. There is also a Web site, www.1-800-222-1222.info.
In an emergency, when fast medical assistance is required, dial 9-1-1 and tell the dispatcher what the problem is.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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