NORCAL PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE
MID-MONTH MINUTES
June 20, 2002

1.0 CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS

  1. Meeting called to order at 1000 hours by Co-Chair Diane Grinbergs and Leina Morris.

Present:

Sandy Wargo - Napa Fire

Kathy Shishido - Fairfield Fire

Diane Grinbergs - Berkeley Fire

Leina Morris - Vallejo Fire

D.J. Marrs-Smith - Calistoga Fire

1.2 Introductions:

2.0 MINUTES

2.1 Minutes from May 16, 2002 meeting approved as written.

3.0 PUBLIC EDUCATION – 9-1-1 Reporting Procedures

3.1 Kathy shared some great first aid kits from Target and the Red Cross. Apparently the one from the Red Cross comes in several sizes that she displays at her presentations to the public. Diane has a list of freebies from Kaiser for their members. Also, Health Net will provide these kits for free.

3.2 Exchanged ideas on the who, what, when, where and why of dialing 9-1-1. The type of emergency, name, address, and telephone number.

4.1 Fire Safety Cards and Coloring Book revision is currently under revision by the subcommittee members.

4.2 Sandy Weeks is still investigating the legitimacy of Herbie Hydrant. There have been several attempts to contact the owner creator of Herbie to no avail.

(Action steps in italics)
  1. The committee members strategized on specific points regarding potential legislation for the novelty lighter issue. The members decided on three primary categories 1) Prohibit the sale and procession of lighters/novelty lighters to minors 2) Confiscation of lighter that do not meet the CPSC compliance certification requirements 3) The current eight pounds per press should be increased so that a child age five and under would have great difficulty with ignition.

Discussion that the State will not go higher that the Federal law. The local fire jurisdiction can more stringent. Statistics on life and property damage, tobacco and drug paraphernalia incidents will be needed. Review the A.B. regulating fat markers, spray cans, and airplane glue.

Video tape a child under five operating the novelty lighters to provide the visual evidence that the lighters do not comply with child safety regulations.

5.3 Complete the worksheet for the Norcal legislative committee and submit to same by September 2002.

5.4 Present proposed legislation to State Capitol by the fall of 2003.

6.0 TRAINING

7.0 COMMITTEES

7.1 Norcal FPO’s Public Education Committees next meeting can be viewed by visiting the Norcal website www.norcal-fpo.org under Public Education Committee.

7.2 Norcal general meetings can be viewed by visiting www.norcal-fpo.org .

8.0 GOOD OF THE ORDER

8.1 Thank you to Napa Fire for hosting the meeting and for providing delicious snacks.

8.2 Meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m. and off to Gillwoods for lunch.