Category: Plan and Prepare

Traversing icy walkways, sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots can be very dangerous and we have lots of ice during the winter months in Aroostook County.
The National Safety Council estimates that falls cause more than 1,500 deaths and 300,000 injuries per year. Here are some ice safety tips to share with your loved ones.

1. Plan to give yourself extra time for walking, do not assume a clear path.
2. Wear shoes or boots that provide traction. Wear flat-soled shoes and avoid shoes with heels. Footwear made of rubber provides better traction than plastic and leather soles. You can also purchase ice cleats or crampons for even more stability on ice.
3. Move slowly and use special care when entering and exiting vehicles as well as buildings and climbing up or walking downstairs. Use handrails or your car for support and try to keep your center of gravity over your support leg. Keep your hands out of your pockets and remove snow or water from shoes or boots when entering buildings.
4. Stay alert and walk on designated walkways as much as possible. Don’t take shortcuts over snow piles and look ahead when you walk. Avoid texting while walking and remember that a sidewalk completely covered with ice may require traveling along its edge for traction.
5. Take short steps or shuffle for stability on ice. Bend slightly forward and walk flat-footed. Be prepared to fall and if you do use multiple contact points at your thigh, hip, and shoulder instead of simply stretching out your arms to brace yourself.

Thank You to the Limestone Community School for inviting AKEMA to their Educational Fair held last night. We had a great time interacting with the students, staff, families and community of Limestone. The kids loved the safety whistles and flashlights we handed out. Until next time, Stay Safe!

Text to 9-1-1

Text to 9-1-1 is now available in Maine.  A 9-1-1 voice call is always the fastest way to get the help, but if you can’t, texting is your next best option.

Tips for Texting 9-1-1

1. Open a text box on your phone and enter the numbers 911 in the “To” field.
2. Type the location of your emergency and a brief description of why you need help.
3. Push “send.”
4. Respond to any questions to the best of your ability.
5. Pay attention to any instructions the dispatcher is giving you and do your best to follow them.

If you are driving, safely pull over the vehicle before texting!

When natural foods are scarce, especially in the spring or dry summers, bears will venture into backyards and fields in search of easily accessible food such as bird feeders, garbage, grills and pet foods.

While hundreds of conflicts between bears and people are reported each year in Maine, many can be prevented by simply removing or securing common bear attractants. Removing these food sources will also limit other backyard visitors (raccoons, skunks, etc.).

Take these steps now to prevent conflicts with black bears in your own backyard:

– Take bird feeders down.
– Store seed and feeders indoors (you can still feed birds in the winter).
– Rake up bird seed from the ground.
– Store garbage cans in a building or enclosed by electric fence.
– Take garbage to curb on morning of pickup instead of the night before.
– Keep outbuilding and garage doors closed at all times and repair broken window and doors.
– Keep dumpster lids and doors closed and latched.
– Use bear-resistant dumpsters or garbage cans.
– Store grill inside when not in use.
– If you are having bear conflicts, stop grilling until bear moves on.
– Burn off food residue from your grill after use.
– Dispose of food wrappers and grease cups
– Bring Feed for your pets inside.
– Store livestock food inside.
– Keep livestock in buildings at night.
– Install and maintain effective fencing for livestock.
– Clean pet food dishes daily.
– Remove leftover food after feeding pets.

Maine is home to the largest population of black bears in the eastern United States. Black bears in Maine are most active between April 1 and November 1. While it is great to spot bears in the wild at a safe distance, you should never approach a bear, and should quietly back away and leave the area.

• Stay on marked ATV trails. ATV trails have green and white signs. Remember, not all snowmobile trails are ATV trails.
• Respect closed trail signs.
• Never drink and ride.
• Drive to the right and at an appropriate speed.
• Tread lightly – Don’t tear up the trail!
• Remember that modified exhausts are illegal.
• Be respectful on ATV access routes – Yield to all traffic and never pass a vehicle.
• Be courteous to others when riding on multi-use trails.
• Help prevent wildlfires. Stay on marked trails. Avoid riding in dry vegetation. Discard smoking materials appropriately, and call 911 if you see a fire.
• Register your ATV.  For every ATV registration purchased, over 2/3 of the fee goes directly into the trail maintenance fund.
• Support a local ATV club by donating your time and/or money.

With thousands of miles of beautiful trails across the state, we know you are looking forward to riding! Please remember that many of Maine’s ATV trails do not open until after Memorial Day weekend and several trails will remain closed for an extended period due to storm damage. Always check with the local club to make sure the trails are open. We hope you have a safe, memorable season on the trails.

Members of the Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency visited students of the Caribou Technology Center today to discuss Hazardous Materials Awareness and First Responder Awareness Training. Students from Mr. Alther’s Fire Service Class and Mrs. Baker’s Criminal Justice Class spent a few hours learning about Haz Mat precautions, procedures, and terminology. They also spent some time covering what EMA does exactly for our community.

 The Class discussed everything from what the numbers and symbols on DOT placards represent to Unified Command to Emergency Planning and Hands on Drills.

Generators are emergency equipment that provide a secondary source of power when there is an electric failure. Generators can be helpful during a power outage, but they present serious health and safety concerns.

Safety Tips

Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use the generator.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Do not assume that you are safe. Carbon monoxide from generators is completely colorless and odorless, so you won’t know if it’s there. It could kill your family and your pets.
• Do not use a generator indoors or in partially enclosed spaces- including homes, garages, and crawl spaces – even those areas with partial ventilation.
• Do not operate near open doors and windows. Using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide build-up in the home.
• Install battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms inside your home to alert you of dangerous levels. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended placement.

​​​​​​​Electrocution or electric shock

• Always connect the generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords.
• Hooking up your generator directly into your home power supply could increase the voltage or could cause a surge to the outside power lines and potentially injure or electrocute an unaware utility lineman. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection devices. Connecting the generator to your home could cause a surge in electricity that might result in injury or death to yourself or your family.
• Use a qualified electrician to install the appropriate equipment in accordance with local electrical codes or ask your utility company to install an appropriate power transfer switch.

​​​​​​​Fire

• Keep your generator outside and fuel your generator outside.
• Do not store fuel for your generator in your house. Gasoline, propane, kerosene, diesel, and other flammable liquids should be stored outside living areas in properly labeled, non-glass safety containers.
• Do not store fuel near a fuel-burning appliance, for example a gas stove.
• If the fuel is spilled or the container is not sealed properly, invisible vapors from the fuel can travel along the ground and be ignited by the appliance’s pilot light or by arcs from electric switches.
• Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down. Gasoline or other flammable liquids spilled on hot engine parts could ignite, and invisible vapors from the fuel can travel along the ground and be ignited by the generator’s pilot light or by arcs from electric switches in the appliance.

• Do have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
• Do install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home. Check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. If the detector sounds leave your home immediately and call 911.
• Do seek prompt medical help if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseated.
• Don’t use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window.
• Don’t run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.
• Don’t burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t vented.
• Don’t heat your house with a gas oven.
• Don’t use a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine less than 20 feet from any window, door, or vent. Use an extension cord that is more than 20 feet long to keep the generator at a safe distance.