San Pedro Central

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the week of December 8-14, 2008, as National Influenza Vaccination Week. Flu Facts Many Americans are not aware of the dangers of the flu. On average, every year, influenza:

• Infects 60 million people.
• Hospitalizes 200,000 people.
• Kills more Americans than breast cancer.
• Kills two to three times more Americans than HIV/AIDS.

Find Help Though influenza strains change, vaccinations are updated each year to protect against the current threat. This holiday season, whether you need a flu vaccination for an elderly parent, a child or yourself, you can turn to a free online resource: www.FindaFluShot.com Further Steps You can further reduce your risk of catching the flu by:

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Washing your hands often.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Getting plenty of sleep.
• Being physically active.
• Drinking plenty of fluids.
• Eating nutritious food.

Learn More For more information, please visit: www.cdc.gov/flu Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

The Los Angeles Firefighters Chapter of SERTOMA International is seeking community and fire service volunteers to support their annual Toys For Needy Children campaign. As the legendary force behind the now popular Firefighters 'Spark of Love' Toy Drive in Los Angeles, SERTOMA is seeking volunteers from all walks of life to serve as Santa's helpers this holiday season. No costume, membership or special skills are needed - merely a desire to help. Whether you can give a single afternoon or several weekends, the need has never been greater to bring joy into the lives of needy children. Your attendance at a single orientation meeting is all it takes to get started. Plan now to meet SERTOMA Volunteer leadership at one of these training sessions... Wednesday, November 19, 2008 Wednesday, December 3, 2008 Wednesday, December 17, 2008 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM Los Angeles Police Academy Cafe 1880 North Academy Drive Los Angeles, CA 90012 For additional information, contact retired Fire Deputy Chief Rey Rojo at (310) 508-6622. Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

We welcome you to join members of the Los Angeles Fire Department and their families at the nation's premier (and yes, free!) public safety helicopter air show from 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, July 12, 2008 in Los Angeles.



The American Heroes Air Show is a family event at the Hansen Dam Recreation and Sports Complex in the northeast San Fernando Valley

And yes, you heard it right - admission is FREE!

Guests of all ages will get an up-close look at helicopters from local, regional, state and federal public safety and military units with static displays, flight demo's and mission briefings. Make sure to bring a camera!

For complete information, including a map with directions to the event site in the northeast San Fernando Valley, please visit:

www.heroes-airshow.com/losangeles


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

The Fourteenth of June is Flag Day. We encourage American citizens across the globe to join Los Angeles Firefighters in recognizing the rich history and symbolism of our beloved Stars and Stripes. (more...)

On Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 5:30 PM, 3 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance, 2 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, all under the direction of Battalion Chief Brian Cummings, responded to a reported Cliff Rescue at 807 W. Paseo del Mar in the San Pedro. The initial report coming into the Dispatch Center indicated two swimmers were in distress in the ocean in the vicinity of "Mossy Rock." As Firefighters arrived onscene, further investigation indicated responders were searching for three fishermen who had been washed off the rocks by waves. Two of the men had managed to rescue themselves and get to safety. The third fisherman was rescued by a surfer in the vicinity and brought to the shore. Firefighters assessed the 39 year old man and prepped him to be air lifted to an area where Paramedics could render treatment before he was airlifted to a local hospital, in stable condition. The two other fishermen were evaluated and released at the scene. The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department would like to stress the importance of safety while fishing. Here are a few safety tips:

• Fishing from rocks is dangerous and many people lose their lives each year.
• Fishermen and others put themselves in a position where they could be washed from the rocks - at the lower level trying to land the fish.
• No fish is worth your life!
• Select an area that does not have a slippery surface
• Before the start of fishing, look for an area you can swim to if washed from the rocks.
• Wear a flotation device in areas where swells can become large
• Always fish with a partner

Go to www.angelfire.com/ia3/fishing/safetyonland for more safety tips. (video) Submitted by d'Lisa Davies Los Angeles Fire Department

The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department wish to thank the thousands who visited Neighborhood Fire Stations in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 10, 2008 for Fire Service Recognition Day. Because many of you were there... We're eager to highlight your personal LAFD Fire Service Day experience on-line though a collaborative display of photographs or comments to this blog post. Sharing your photos... The LAFD warmly welcomes Flickr members (free to join or learn more) to share personal photos taken during Fire Service Day events in the City of Los Angeles. Posting them directly into the Los Angeles Fire Department Photo Pool sharing system is simple and free! If you choose to do so... Please tag your photos 'LAFD' *and* 'Fire Service Day 2008' (each tag posted on a separate line exactly as mentioned) and then deposit them into the 'Los Angeles Fire Department' photo pool, so they can be displayed worldwide. We'll be writing more soon about photo sharing systems, including ways that anyone can publicly share their imagery of 'The LAFD in Action'. Again, thanks for making Fire Service Day in Los Angeles such a fun and memorable event! Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

On Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Neighborhood Fire Stations throughout the City of Los Angeles will be expecting your visit. The second Saturday of May is designated "Fire Service Recognition Day" in Los Angeles. On this day, members of the Los Angeles Fire Department host an Open House to welcome visitors of all ages to their Neighborhood Fire Station. To learn more, please visit: www.lafd.org/fsd.htm We look forward to seeing you. Please don't forget your camera!! Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

On most days, they're the last people you want to talk to. However, when things go wrong - even terribly wrong, their mere presence on the phone can drop your pulse rate by 50 beats while assuring help is on the way. We are of course, speaking of 'Public Safety Telecommunicators', or in normal citizen speak: the folks who answer your 9-1-1 call and coordinate the timely response of law enforcement, fire fighting and emergency medical service personnel. April 13-19, 2008 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week While their effort assisting 9-1-1 callers is largely known, you may not be familiar with other aspects of a Public Safety Dispatcher's work. An essential task - or should we call it multi-task, is accounting for and assuring the safety of emergency responders at simultaneous critical incidents. Locally... In the City of Los Angeles, the duty of answering calls and coordinating those responding to Fire Department emergencies falls upon a small cadre of specially trained Firefighters who staff the LAFD Operations Control Dispatch Section (OCD). As veteran rescuers trained in the actual control of emergencies, their "virtual presence" is an asset not only to 9-1-1 callers, but also to their fellow Firefighters - who respond to emergencies within our City an average of 2,074 times each day. No Matter Where You Live... Please join us in saluting the men and women of OCD and all who 'Answer The Call'. To learn more about National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and how you can support the 9-1-1 dispatchers in your area, please visit: www.911dispatch.com/info/ntw Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

Please join members of the Los Angeles Fire Department and their families for a three-day Pancake Breakfast fundraiser to support the family of LAFD Engineer Alfred Camacho. Alfred's lovely wife Danielle 38, is terminally ill with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Undeniable Heartbreak... Diagnosed three years ago and given a prognosis of living 3 to 5 years, Danielle and her family have relied on relatives and one another in coping. It has now become essential for Alfred to remain home alongside his wife and daughters Jessica 11 and Brittany 14, to offer physical and emotional support, address everyday needs and provide a comforting transition. Doing What We Can... Being with his family in their time of greatest need has brought financial hardship to the Camacho household, adding to the staggering burden already faced by the devoted husband, father and firefighter. Members of the LAFD are lending strong support, but there is only so much that we can do alone in meeting the immediate needs of the Camacho family. You Can Help... A trio of Pancake Breakfasts are being held this week at Fire Stations in Los Angeles, Hollywood and San Pedro neighborhoods that Alfred has proudly protected:

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Fire Station 29 4029 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90010 Wednesday, March 19, 2008 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Fire Station 27 1237 North Cole Avenue Hollywood, CA 90028 Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Fire Station 112 444 South Harbor Boulevard San Pedro, CA 90731

All are warmly welcome at these upbeat and enjoyable public events, which give both Firefighters and those they serve a chance to better know one another while uniting behind the Camacho's. Each Small Amount Helps... There is no fixed price for these hearty breakfasts, you are welcome to donate what you please. The most important thing is for you to be in attendance! But of Course, There is More... Thanks to the generosity of business and community leaders, there will be a raffle with proceeds to benefit the Camacho's. Prizes include televisions, a laptop computer, passes to see top entertainers in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, hosted dinners and much, much more. For us though, the real prize is your solidarity.

If you can't make these events, and still wish to help the Camacho Family, please consider a donation to: Fire Family Foundation Camacho Family Fund 815 West Colorado Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90041 For information about the fund, visit: firefamilyfoundation.org or call (800) 231-1626 ext. 2234.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department