Fire House Facts

Sunday, Nov. 3, through Saturday, Nov. 9

The Yuma Fire Department responded to 325 emergency calls for service:

10 General Fire Response

Including: 1 for an RV trailer fire, 1 for an apartment fire, 1 for a gas leak outside a home, 1 for a fire in a soda vending machine, 2 for stove top fires, 1 oven fire, 1 vehicle fire, and various alarms

1 Mutual Aid

Including: 1 call to assist Rural Metro with a medical emergency in the County

29 Motor Vehicle Crashes

Including: 4 involving pedestrians, 2 involving 3 or more vehicles, and 1 involving a bicycle

223 Other Medical Emergencies (serious to minor)

Including: 25 for difficulty breathing, 15 for chest pain, 33 for falls, 14 for unconscious people, 9 seizure cases, 3 possible stroke cases, 5 for intoxicated persons, 2 for people under the influence of drugs,

2 drug overdose case, 19 for people with psychiatric problems, 4 for medical alarms, 3 for children locked in vehicles, 2 for choking, 19 for altered or decreased level of consciousness, 1 for fever, 4 for broken bones, 4 for diabetic emergencies, 1 for a tick bite, 14 for man down calls, 5 for uncontrolled bleeding, 5 for assaults, 2 for back pain, 17 for abdominal pain, 1 pregnancy related, 2 for deceased persons, 1 for drug and alcohol withdrawals, 1 for a person hit in the head by a softball, and other illnesses and injuries

35 Special Duty, Public Assistance, and Residential Assignments

Including: 1 for a snake removal, 1 for a vehicle fire, 1 for a broken door handle trapping a person in a bathroom, and various alarms.

In the last 2 weeks at least 74 emergency medical responses were for injuries related to falls, and there have been many HUNDREDS of others this year. Every week about 10% of our calls for service are fall related. This could be something as simple as tripping in a parking lot or cases often more serious, like falling from a ladder or roof. No matter your age or activity, it pays to watch your footing and be careful.

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States, and among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths. Older adults can take several steps to protect their independence and reduce their risk of falling. They can: exercise regularly and improve balance; ask their doctor or pharmacist to review their medicines – both prescription and over-thecounter – to reduce side effects and interactions; have their eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year; improve the lighting in their home; and reduce hazards in their home that can lead to falls.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, unintentional falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries among children. Some tips for safeguarding children in the home include keeping stairs clear of toys and other items that could cause someone to trip, teaching children to hold the handrail when on stairs or escalators, and always tie their shoelaces to avoid tripping over them. Also, make sure tall furniture, clocks, televisions, etc. are secured to the wall to prevent falling on children; and watch children closely while they are on the playground.

BY THE CITY OF YUMA

A weekly list of City projects or encroachment permits issued by the City of Yuma affecting busy streets.

CITY PROJECTS 16th Street, Avenue B to Avenue C

Traffic control is in place on 16th Street between avenues B and C through mid-winter. A contractor working for the city will make utility improvements through mid-December, requiring intermittent lane closures. A minimum of one lane will be maintained in each direction. The public is encouraged to seek alternate routes during construction. The bulk of work directly in front of schools is scheduled to take place during the schools’ winter break.

1st Avenue reconstruction project

The City is reconstructing 1st Avenue between 16th Street and Orange Avenue, including improvements to underground water/sewer infrastructure, to sidewalks and driveways, and to surface pavement. 1st Avenue is currently closed between 6th Street and 8th Street. The section between 8th Street and 10th Street is the next section scheduled to reopen. 1st Avenue south of 10th Street has reopened to traffic with the new lane configuration of one lane of through traffic in each direction, a center turn lane, and bicycle lanes. Overall, the project is currently scheduled to be complete by the end of 2019.

Southwest Gas contractors continue their underground gas line work north of and adjacent to this project. Their work on the intersection of 1st Avenue and 6th Street has been extended through Nov. 22.

10th Avenue, 1st Street to 3rd Street

10th Avenue will be closed to all traffic from 1st Street through the intersection with Court Street, and closed to through traffic between 1st Street and 3rd Street for a water line replacement project. This pattern is expected to be in place into early December.

CITY STREET MAINTENANCE

Street maintenance operations for Nov. 18-22 will take place in the following areas:

Thermo patch / pothole maintenance

• Meadowbrook subdivision: Pendergast, Pueblo, 23rd Street and Brook Street.

• Palo Verde Street and Catalina Drive.

• 28th Street from 4th Avenue to Madison Avenue.

• 3rd Avenue from 16th Street to 19th Street. 1st Street at Gila Street. • 3rd Street at 7th Avenue

Chip Seal Operations

• Arizona Avenue from 33rd Street to 40th Street (Flagger will be posted starting at 8 a.m.)

• Avenue D from 19th Street to 22nd Street (Flagger will be posted.)

Signs and Pavement Marking Operations

• Replacement of raised pavement reflectors on 8th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

• Thermoplastic application to intersection of 8th Street and Avenue A.

OTHER UTILITY PROJECTS AND ENCROACHMENT PERMITS 8th Street, Avenue C to Avenue D (Yuma County)

Yuma County is reconstructing and widening 8th Street between Avenue C and Avenue D. The work includes widening the roadway to a 5-lane section with sidewalks, streetlights and drainage improvements. Construction of the north half of the roadway continues; upon completion, traffic will shift to the new lanes and reconstruction of the existing roadway will take place. Access will be maintained to local homes and businesses. Completion of the collaborative project is anticipated in December.

Avenue C, 28th Street

Southbound Avenue C will be narrowed approaching 28th Street through Nov. 15 for work on a turn lane.

Avenue A, 10th Street

Construction of a private driveway will require temporary lane shifts on Avenue A in the vicinity of 10th Street. Exact date not available.

16th Street, Riley to I-8 (SW Gas)

A contractor working for Southwest Gas will replace a gas line in the right eastbound lane of 16th Street at Riley Avenue. The right eastbound lane will be closed between Riley and the railroad bridge and 16th Street speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph. Permit expires mid-January.

24th Street, Avenue B to 33rd Drive (APS)

APS has a 30-day work project that will mostly require lane shifts on 24th Street between Avenue B and 33rd Drive, in several phases. Work in the southeast corner of 24th Street and Avenue B will be restricted to the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Exact start date has not been determined; the permit expires Dec. 31.

21st Drive, north of 25th Street (APS)

APS has a 5-day work project to replace a pole and install other infrastructure that will require a northbound lane closure of 21st Drive at 25th Street. Detour using 26th Street and Avenue B. Work is expected to be complete by Dec. 7.

3rd Street west of 4th Avenue (Century Link)

Telephone cable maintenance will require narrow lanes and partial lane closures on 3rd Street through late December. Following work between 13th Avenue and 25th Avenue, contractors will work between 7th Avenue and 9th Avenue. Lanes will be narrowed and speed limit reduced.

33rd Place, Tangerine to Lemon (SW Gas)

Gas line pipe work will cause the closure of 33rd Place between Tangerine Avenue and Lemon Avenue Nov. 18-19. Detour using 33rd Lane.

Downtown gas line replacements (SW Gas)

Gas line replacement work will require detours as posted from August through December in the following downtown locations:

• Madison Avenue between 1st and Giss Parkway. • Court Street and 4th Avenue. • 2nd Street between Madison Avenue and 1st Avenue (night work).

• Madison Avenue between 2nd Street and City Plaza (night work).

• 1st Street and 4th Avenue.

25th-28th streets, Virginia Drive area (SW Gas)

From Aug. 1 through as long as Dec. 1, Southwest Gas contractors will be replacing main lines in the areas between 4th Avenue and 1st Avenue and between 24th Street and 28th Street. Affected streets will include 25th Street, Virginia Drive, 27th Street, 28th Street, Hacienda Drive, and the alley between Maple and Hacienda.

The week of Nov. 18, 25th Street will be closed between 1st and 2nd avenues.

Interstate 8, Giss Parkway to Ligurta (ADOT)

Beginning Monday, Nov. 18, the Arizona Department of Transportation will be conducting crack seal operations on Interstate 8 between Giss Parkway and milepost 21, near Ligurta. Eastbound I-8 will be narrowed to one lane of traffic in 5-mile work zones through Dec. 20, with the exception of the Thanksgiving travel window of Nov. 25-29.