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Driver's Edge
Comes to Sunnyvale
At at the request of DPS, Driver's Edge came to Sunnyvale on September 19th and 20th to instruct local teen and young adult drivers about driver safety and awareness.
Driver's Edge is an 8-year old non-profit organization from Las Vegas that has been active in several cities across the U.S. The course consists of the following: - Classroom and behind-the-wheel defensive driving instruction on skid control, evasive lane changes, anti-lock braking skills and panic-braking techniques.
- Interaction with local law enforcement, including impaired driving awareness and seat belt safety instruction.
- Proper car maintenance session, based on Firestone Complete Auto Care's Car Care Academies.
Approximately 400 participants took part in the two-day course.
Sunnyvale DPS worked with the CHP to provide the law enforcement component. Sunnyvale Fire conducted two simulated auto extrication demonstrations as an additional component to the course.
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Annual Firefighters Pancake Breakfast
 Nearly 900 people attended this year's event. Attendees enjoyed a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee. Activities included fire engine rides, fire hose spray demonstration, fire tower tours and an automobile extrication demonstration. In addition, Crime Prevention, Fire Prevention, Hazardous Materials Inspection, SARES and SNAP units all hosted information tables. Nearly $5000 was collected for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation ( www.aarbf.org). 
Sunnyvale Explorer Post 417 provided uniformed members to assist with the event and Homestead and Fremont High School Key Clubs provided 30 volunteers. Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers Association purchased the food and provided the chefs to cook the 125 pounds of breakfast sausage and 150 pounds of pancake mix (weight of mix prior to adding water!). Everyone enjoyed this annual family oriented event.
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Your Local Sunnyvale Crossing Guard
Name: Frances Fuentes
Location:
Vargas Elementary School - Carson Drive/Leota Avenue
Years of Service: 7 years
Why/How did you become involved with the Sunnyvale Crossing Guard Program?
Before becoming a Crossing Guard, Francis was a Sunnyvale school bus driver for 30 years. After retiring from that job, she saw an ad for crossing guards in Sunnyvale. She thought it would be a good way to keep active and to continue to give back to the community.
Safety Quote:
"Communicating with the children is key for keeping them safe when they are crossing the street." |
SUNNYVALE DPS UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER
November 18 Challenge Team MeetingChallengeTeam.inSunnyvale.comNovember 26 ThanksgivingNovember 30 Fire House Toy Drive beginsDECEMBERDecember 6 Rides-for-Toys10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Toys R Us parking lot December 22 & 23 Parent Project Graduations |
For questions and comments about the Sunnyvale DPS newsletter Beyond the Badge, you can e-mail us at: pubsfty@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us
© 2008-2009 City of Sunnyvale, CA | |
Mess age From The Chief
This month, I'd like to introduce you to a group made up of members of the Department of Public Safety - the Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers Association (PSOA).
Although one of the most important tasks of the PSOA is to represent the labor interests of the officers, the organization serves many other purposes. During this last year, the PSOA raised more than $20,000 dollars - in only one day - for Muscular Dystrophy.
In addition, during this last year, the PSOA also provided support for the Special Olympics in fundraising and always provides the barbeque for 600 people who attend the annual "Dinner at the Dump," a fundraiser for several of our local non-profits. And finally, PSOA provided the food and many of the cooks for our annual Pancake breakfast, raising nearly $5,000 for the Alicia Ann Rush Burn Foundation.
One event currently in the planning stages is a joint venture between PSOA and our city recreation staff for next year - a full-on track meet for our local youth that will encourage exercise, the competitive spirit, and just plain fun. The hope is to get 300 kids to join us in spring 2010 for this great event.
All our officers are part of the PSOA, so you can smile at them anytime you like to support their efforts! PSOA's current President is Officer Scott Prange - I would be glad to put you in touch with Scott if you have any questions or special requests.
Chief Johnson
(408) 730-7161, TDD (408) 730-7501 or email pubsfty@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us |
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HazMat Drill with Local Company
On
September 24th, twelve members of the Sunnyvale Department of Public
Safety's Hazardous Materials (HazMat) team conducted their quarterly training at
Infinera Corporation, located at 1322 Bordeaux Drive. This training was unique as that it was a joint exercise between the DPS HazMat team and the company's employees.  Because Infinera has their own Emergency Response Team (ERT) for chemical emergencies, company officials contacted the DPS HazMat team to inquire about conducting a joint training exercise. Always eager to partner with members of the business community, the HazMat team immediately incorporated this joint training exercise into their quarterly training. 
The scenario, which was developed and staged by the Infinera ERT, consisted of a drum of hazardous materials that had fallen off a delivery truck in the parking lot and was leaking. The DPS HazMat team "arrived on scene" and proceeded to work with Infinera's ERT in mitigating the hazardous situation. The exercise allowed the ERT and the HazMat team to exchange information and ideas on how to respond to such an emergency. The training exercise concluded with Infinera's ERT providing the HazMat team with a tour of the facility. After the tour, Infinera provided a BBQ lunch to their employees and the HazMat team.
This training exercise is a great example of the Department of Public Safety and the business community working together toward a common goal - the safety of both the residents and business employees within our community!
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13th Annual Auto Extrication Workshop
The training grounds at Sunnyvale Fire
Station 2 were again the site for deafening sounds of cutting saws,
hydraulic pumps and screeching metal as 100 firefighters and rescue
technicians from Northern California took part in the our 13th annual Auto Extrication Workshop on October 3rd and 4th.  DPS again partnered with LN Curtis,
a fire equipment supplier and training provider, to host this year's
training. Proficient use of powerful hydraulic cutting and spreading
tools,
stabilizing overturned or crushed cars, and safely lifting heavy
vehicles to free trapped patients are just a few things firefighters
learned at the workshop. Participants earned 14 hours of EMS Continuing
Education and a State Fire Marshal Certificate. Today's vehicles might be safer for the occupants, but they also present greater hazards to the rescuer. Air bags have explosive charges, electric and hybrid cars carry strong electric currents, and rescuers need to understand how to safely dismantle these cars. The workshop focused on firefighter safety with an emphasis on learning several tools and techniques used to disentangle damaged vehicles to rescue trapped persons.
A three-hour lecture on Saturday morning emphasized new vehicle technology, air bag safety and considerations, and high strength metals used in vehicle construction. The hands-on manipulative sessions were on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. Students were separated into small groups where vehicles were methodically dismantled to safely remove trapped simulated patients.
The workshop is widely respected in the fire service industry and continues to solidify DPS as a regional resource and auto extrication authority.
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Loma Prieta 20th Anniversary
Earthquake Drill
October 17, 2009 was the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. To verify readiness for this type of catastropic event, the County of Santa Clara Office of Emergency Services (OES) held a county-wide Emergency Communications drill.
  Remote Radio Station Command Radio RoomSunnyvale's Amateur Radio Emergency Services (SARES) group participated in this drill by deploying members to earthquake hot spots throughout Sunnyvale- such as overpasses, bridges, city shelter locations, schools, etc. SARES volunteers radioed simulated disaster levels back to the Sunnyvale Office of Emergency Services SARES radio room which coordinated efforts and kept the county OES appraised of simulated city disaster scenerios. The lessons learned helps SARES be better prepared for the next disaster. Are you personally prepared? Check the E-Prep Checklist.
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