Welcome to Dickinson Volunteer Fire Department Inc.

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Keep children safe when riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)

Learn important all-terrain vehicle safety tips

ATVs are popular in Texas. They are commonly used for recreation but are also used for work on farms or ranches. What many people don't realize is that all-terrain vehicles can be especially dangerous for kids. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children are involved in about 30% of all ATV-related deaths or emergency room visits. 

"Parents need to remember ATVs are not designed with children in mind. While they initially appear to be a fun source of entertainment, riding ATVs can quickly turn into a dangerous situation and we want to help prevent a traumatic injury from occurring," says Marisa Abbe, Ph.D., Manager of Injury Prevention at Children's Health℠.

ATV riders can experience anything from roll-overs to wrecks, which can include serious and in some cases life-altering injuries like impalements, burns, broken bones or other internal trauma including brain damage. The AAP recommends children under 16 not ride or drive ATVs. However, if you do use ATVs, follow these safety tips to help avoid injury. 

ATV safety tips

1. Do not let your child ride an adult ATV.
Choose the right size all-terrain vehicle for your child. Engines 70cc and up are too fast for kids younger than 12 years old. 

2. Riders – whether a child or adult – should wear a proper helmet. 
Proper helmets for ATVs are those traditionally designed for motorcycle use.  Make sure to protect your arms and legs too with long sleeves and pants. 

3. Only one person should ride an all-terrain vehicle at a time.
Oftentimes in ATV accidents, passengers who should not have been on the vehicle suffer injuries. Most ATVs are meant for one person. If there is not a seat, do not get on the vehicle. 

4. Never drive ATVs on paved roads.
ATVs are hard to control on pavement because wheels can't act the way they should, which can be dangerous. Only ride all-terrain vehicles off-road. 

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• Rules for Fighting Fires

  Fires can be very dangerous and you should always be certain that you will not endanger yourself or others when attempting to put out a fire. For this reason, when a fire is discovered:

  SOUND THE ALARM.   If you discover or suspect a fire, sound the building fire alarm. If there is no alarm in the building, warn the other occupants by knocking on doors and shouting as you leave.

• LEAVE THE BUILDING. Try to rescue others only if you can do so safely. Move away from the building and out of the way of the fire department. Don't go back into the building until the fire department says it is safe to do so.

  CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  Dial 7-9111. Give as much information as possible to the emergency dispatcher.

• Total and immediate evacuation is safest. Only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is very small and you know how to do it safely. If you can't put out the fire, leave immediately. Make sure the fire department is called -- even if you think the fire is out. However, before deciding to fight the fire, keep these rules in mind:

  NEVER FIGHT A FIRE IF:

   You don't know what is burning. If you don't know what is burning, you don't know what type of extinguisher to use. Even if you have an ABC extinguisher, there may be something in the fire which is going to explode or produce highly toxic smoke. Chances are, you will know what's burning, or at least have a pretty good idea, but if you don't, let the fire department handle it.

   The fire is spreading rapidly beyond the spot where it started. The time to use an extinguisher is in the incipient, or beginning, stages of a fire. If the fire is already spreading quickly, it is best to simple evacuate the building, closing doors and windows behind you as you leave.

  Your instincts tell you not to. If you are uncomfortable with the situation for any reason, just let the fire department do their job.

   

  The final rule is to always position yourself with an exit or means of escape at your back before you attempt to use an extinguisher to put out a fire. In case the extinguisher malfunctions, or something unexpected happens, you need to be able to get out quickly, and you don't want to become trapped. Just remember, always keep an exit at your bac

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On December 5, 2022 the Dickinson Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. held their Annual Fire Department elections for the upcoming 2023 year. The following results of the election.

LINE OFFICERS:

Fire Chief ~ Jeffery Jock

1^st. Assistant Fire Chief ~ Stewart White

2^nd. Assistant Fire Chief ~ Jonas Hastings

3^rd. Assistant Fire Chief ~ Richard Fountain

ADMINISTRATIVE:

President ~ DeAnne Fefee

Vice-President ~ Chris Strack

Secretary ~ Jonas Hastings

Treasurer ~ Richard Fountain

STAFF OFFICERS:

Engineer 71 ~ Ricky Provost

Engineer 73 ~ Jonas Hastings

Engineer 76 ~ Chris Strack

Engineer 78 ~ DeAnne Fefee

BOARD OF DIRECTOR:

Ricky Provost

Rachel Provost

Stewart White

Jeff Jock

Brent Poquette

FIRE DISTRICT:

Ricky Provost

Mike Prosper

Lyle Mitchell

Brad Marsh

Kim White

Carrie Fountain ~ Secretary/Treasurer

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