Community risk reduction “is a process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by the integrated and strategic investment of resources to reduce their occurrence and impact” according to the National Fire Protection Association. With temperatures forecast to be 89F or higher now through Friday, we urge all of our residents and visitors to make sure that they are properly hydrated if they are going to be spending time outside enjoying the sunshine. Although not yet in an official heatwave, the Lebanon Fire Department will use our UTV to head out on the Mascoma River Greenway and the Lebanon section of the Northern Rail Trail in the afternoons with bottled water as staffing allows. The purpose is to provide people with water if they have run out to help them stay hydrated.
During official heat waves (3 or more consecutive days of 90F or higher temperatures), the City opens cooling shelters and provides bottled water at various locations for any resident or visitor that would like some. By using the UTV, we are able to offer water to people out exercising who may have run out and are still some distance from their destination. Our goal is to help people stay hydrated and not succumb to any heat related emergencies while out using the trails. Medical emergencies on trails typically require the use of all on duty staff and can sometimes be a more challenging response due to not having an exact location of the emergency and not always being able to get an ambulance to that location.