Ecole Au-Coeur-de-l'ile school has collaborated with the Comox Firefighters Association to add yet another automatic external defibrillator (AED) in Comox. This will be located in their school located at 566 Linshart Ave., Comox.
Ecole Au-Coeur-de-l'ile see the value of having this important piece of equipment available to their students and staff.
Chief Gord Schreiner states: “It is great to see organizations like this assisting us in our efforts to have AEDs available all over Comox. I am also very proud of our firefighters for their support of this important project. We now have over FORTY AEDs located in Comox”
Schreiner’s long term goal is to have an AED available in almost every business and public building in Comox. Public access AEDS are very simple to use, maintain and can save lives!
A public access AED costs approximately $2000.00. The Comox Firefighters have been co-sponsoring the AEDS with local Comox businesses/organizations who agree to donate half of this amount ($1000.00). The Comox firefighters cover the remaining cost and place an AED in the business. They also provide both CPR and AED training to the businesses staff.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can strike at any time—during work, while at church, or while visiting your local business. Fewer than 10% of SCA victims typically survive, but studies show that 30% to 50% would likely survive if CPR and AEDs were used within five minutes of collapse. Communities across the country are responding by implementing Public Access Defibrillation programs. Public Access Defibrillation programs include both access to AEDS and training.
Comox Fire Rescue knows the value of AEDs as they carry AEDs on all of their emergency vehicles and also have one mounted in their fire station.
The Comox firefighters have had a long standing positive relationship with Ecole Au-Coeur-de-l'ile school (their closest neighbour) and had donated $2,000.00 earlier this year to the B.C. Francophone games which were hosted in part at this school.
Please contact Comox Fire Rescue at firehall@comox.ca if you have any questions.
This week on "Meet our Members", we interview Fire Fighter Perry Assu.
CFR: Could you provide a brief background of your fire service career?
My time in the fire service has been a short one so far. It started out when I got involved in the youth semester programs that Comox Fire puts on for local youth. In my grade 12 year I did two back to back semesters of training here at the fire hall learning various things and getting hooked on the fire service. I then moved away for a few years, but once coming back I knew what I wanted to do. I put my application in and waited for the next group to get hired. While waiting Chief Shreiner let me help out in the 2018 youth camp. Shortly after I got hired into the May 2018 recruit class and have been serving since then.
CFR: Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a fire fighter?
Showing up the first day to the youth semester program really got me interested in becoming a Fire Fighter one day. All the cool toys and the camaraderie got me hooked.
CFR: What is your favourite part of working at Comox Fire Rescue?
Comox Fire Rescue is a great place to work. I love that we always look for ways to improve and be better (and safer) at the job. Just because something is going well and working, doesn’t mean we stop looking for an even better way to do something. Comox Fire Rescue is dedicated to passing on knowledge and helping firefighters get better at what they do. I love meeting, helping and learning from firefighters from all over the Island, BC and beyond.
CFR: Outside of the fire department, what are your interests/hobbies?
My favourite thing about being a volunteer Paid-On-Call FF is the family you join once getting hired on. Everyone is so welcoming and has an interest in your future, starting with recruit training. Also helping the citizens of Comox means the world to me. We arrive to some of their worst days, and it is an honour I will cherish for the rest of my life that I get the chance to help those in need.
CFR: If you could change one thing about the fire service, what would it be?
I would not change anything within the service but I would like to say to the public THANK YOU! thank you for the support you give to local emergency services. And for anyone looking into the fire service I say, go for it! you will have made one of the best decisions of your life.
Chief Schreiner states: "Having dedicated, compassionate and hard-working people like Perry here is what makes our organization as good as it is. The best equipment and facilities does not make a good fire department. A good fire department needs great people like Perry. Thanks for all your hard work Perry!"
Comox Fire Rescue celebrated the graduation of 7 members completing their NFPA 1001/2 certifictation November 5th.
This class of fire fighters started in May of 2018 and have put in countless hours of training, studying and teamwork to get to this moment. Members were presented with their black helmets and black turnout gear, which signify the level of ‘Firefighter’ by completing their training.
“As an organization we are so very proud of every member to complete this level of training. It takes a great deal of dedication and commitment to become a firefighter.” states Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner. “All of these great people have been a wonderful addition to the department and will continue to train and learn in new positions as firefighters moving forward.”
Comox Fire Rescue currently has over 40 NFPA 1001/2 trained firefighters and 10 more working towards certification.
“We are very fortunate to be able to provide the certification at Comox Fire for our members. The Officers and instructors work very hard to provide great training for all our members.” says Schreiner. “It is people like this that makes our organization so strong.”
Thanks to all of you for your hard work!
Comox Fire Rescue will be opening the bay doors to the community on Halloween 5-9pm. Stop by for Free Hotdogs and BBQ Timbits! Families are welcome to come take a break inside the station.
"Everyone is welcome including zombies, werewolves, Dracula's and Disney princesses. The fire station is considered a safe zone for and from monsters of all types!" - R. Stevens
Watch for our Firetrucks around different parts of Comox also!
Have Fun and Stay Safe this Halloween.
Members of Comox Fire Rescue participated in the #TetrisChallenge on October 10.
Squad 39 was used for the event. The first line truck is used for First Responder calls, Structure fires, as well as MVI’s.
#TetrisChallenge is a social media trend that has been embraced by law enforcement and firefighting agencies around the globe.
Emergency services personnel are photographed from above as they lay on the ground with the equipment that goes into their vehicle, all arranged in a grid that resembles a Tetris pattern.
