Maranda Park Party rocks Berlin Raceway Maranda, Park Party, Safety, , , , ,
09
Jul 2015

Approximately 3,800 kids and families flocked to Berlin Raceway on Thursday, July 9, for Maranda’s second Park Party of the summer. The blue skies and sunshine appeared just as Maranda kicked things off on stage and families enjoyed a picture-perfect day in Marne.

“It turned out to be a beautiful day at our second Park Party of the summer,” said Maranda.  “Berlin Raceway opened the gates and kids came and played in the pits and enjoyed an amazing time. From monster trucks to race cars and farm animals, this party was extra special.”

This was the second time in the past ten years that Maranda has hosted this large-scale event at Berlin Raceway and today’s event was bigger and better than ever. Exciting attractions included a mini Ferris wheel, zip line, climbing wall, and super slide. Party-goers also got the chance to explore Berlin’s track up close, check out the pits, infield, Monster Trucks and more!

Once again working with USDA, Michigan Department of Education, and Kenowa Hills Public Schools, thousands of free lunches were served to anyone 18 and under. Many kids also walked away with prizes from Priority Health, Cedar Point, Michigan’s Adventure, John Ball Zoo, Holland Community Aquatic Center, and more!

07-09-2015 Marne img_0816

The Park Party team will be traveling to the remaining three communities, bringing a supersized celebration to all.

07-09-2015 Marne Interns

Stop by the E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety trailer and meet Jake The Fire Safety Dog.  Families will continue to learn about fire safety and the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Operation Save A Life, the West Michigan partnership between WOTV4Women, Kidde, local fire departments and E.S.C.A.P.E.

  • July 16 – Kollen Park, Holland
  • July 23 – Smith Ryerson Park, Muskegon
  • July 30 – Northwestern Middle School, Battle Creek

 

 

 

Leave fireworks to the professionals Safety, , ,
29
Jun 2015

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Fireworks during the Fourth of July are as American as apple-pie, but did you know that 2 out of 5 fires reported on that day are started by fireworks, more than for any other cause? According to the United States Fire Administration, fireworks cause approximately 15,000 injuries including burns and eye injuries each year.

FireworksSafety

The good news is you can enjoy your holiday and the fireworks by following a few simple safety tips:

Proceed with caution!

 

  • Be safe. If you want to see fireworks, go to a public show put on by trained experts.

 

  • Parents and caregivers should always closely supervise children at events where fireworks are used.

 

  • Sparklers burn at more than 1,200 °F and cause 3rd degree burns in seconds.

 

  • Place discarded sparker wires in a metal bucket filled with water.

 

  • 16% of fireworks injuries each year throughout the United States are caused by sparklers.

 

  • After the firework display, children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over since they may still be active.

 

  • Leave pets at home and keep them inside during firework displays. Loud noises can scare them or hurt their hearing.

 

Here is a video showing the dangers of consumer grade fireworks:

For more information on fireworks safety, visit www.nfpa.org/fireworks.

E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety urges Michiganders to follow common sense safety rules this Fourth of July during holiday celebrations!

 

 

Maranda Park Parties kick off in Wyoming Maranda, Park Party, Safety, , ,
17
Jun 2015

One of the biggest free parties in West Michigan returns for another summer on Thursday, June 25! Maranda is kicking off her 21st season of Maranda Park Parties at Lamar Park in Wyoming. Each Maranda Park Party is held from noon until 2 p.m. Everyone is invited and everything is free!

"We love Park Parties" sign at Wyoming Park Party, Lamar Park
“We love Park Parties” sign at Wyoming Park Party, Lamar Park – June 26, 2014

The Wyoming Park Party is bigger and better than ever with two brand new activities: a giant obstacle course and a Ferris wheel!  Lamar Park will be filled with more than 50 different vendors providing a variety of free services, information, and activities.

Kids can rock out with a house band or get a free haircut for summer provided by Grand Rapids First Church! E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety is celebrating 20 years of keeping kids safe with a new bounce house where families can come meet Jake the Fire Safety Dog. Also in Wyoming, the first 80 families who donate a bag of new or gently used items to the Bethany’s Thrift Store will receive an Entertainment Book.

Once again in working with USDA, Michigan Department of Education and local school districts, free lunch will be served to anyone 18 and under starting at 11:30 a.m., while supplies last. Every Park Party also includes free activities, games, entertainment and, of course, prizes!

This year Maranda and the Park Party team will be traveling to five communities bringing a supersized celebration to all.

  • June 25 – Lamar Park, Wyoming
  • July 9 – Berlin Raceway, Marne
  • July 16 – Kollen Park, Holland
  • July 23 – Smith Ryerson Park, Muskegon
  • July 30 – Northwestern Middle School, Battle Creek

 

Operation Save A Life: Keeping West Michigan families safe Operation Save A Life, Safety, , , ,
09
Jun 2015

Recent statistics show the number of fire-related deaths are on the rise in Michigan. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, from Jan. 1 to June 2, 2015 the number of fire deaths were up 25-percent from 2014. A total of 61 people died in fires across the state. Twenty-three of those deaths were in West Michigan which is a 48-percent increase over this same time last year.

Operation Save A Life is working to save lives by providing free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to fire departments in West Michigan where they will be installed in high risk homes by trained firefighters.

“We’re finding the majority of fire fatalities are occurring in homes that don’t have working smoke alarms,” said Michael McLeieer, program coordinator for Operation Save A Life.” We want to make sure that families have working smoke alarms.”

“Electrical fires seem to be one of the major issues behind this. Unsafe use of extension cords, things of that nature. Be attentive to anything you’re doing with the stove,” said Fire Marshall Ted Karnitz of the Norton Shores Fire Department.

Nearly 3,000 smoke alarms have been installed throughout Muskegon County since Jan. 1.

There will also be a big push for fire safety education at all five Maranda Park Parties this summer.

For a complete list of West Michigan smoke alarm installation programs, click here. If your community is not listed or you have questions about smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, or home fire safety, send an email to [email protected].

 

Celebrate the Day of the Child Events, Safety, ,
29
Apr 2015

Join Jake the Fire Safety Dog and visit the E.S.C.A.P.E. smoke demonstration trailer as E.S.C.A.P.E. joins the Calhoun County Early Childhood Connections and Celebrates the Day of the Child, Thursday April 30th from 4pm – 6:30 pm at the Multi-Sports Complex at the Battle Creek YMCA, 182 Capital Avenue, NE.  All families in Calhoun County with children birth to five are encouraged to attend this free event.

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Smoke alarm giveaway aims to save lives Maranda, Operation Save A Life, Safety, , , ,
15
Apr 2015

Firefighters across West Michigan are participating in a program to help families stay safe in the event of a fire. Operation Save A Life is a new program through WOTV 4 Women, Kidde, Home Depot, and E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. that offers free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, installed in homes by trained firefighters.

Fire deaths are up dramatically in West Michigan, and the first line of defense is early warning from smoke alarms. A smoke alarm should be installed on every level of a home and inside and outside each bedroom. Smoke alarms should be tested once a month. Non long-life battery operated smoke alarms should be changed twice a year, and any smoke alarm should be replaced every ten years. Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on every level of your home.

>>> Fire safety tips from E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc.

Fire departments take the message of fire safety directly into West Michigan school to teach children what to do in case of a fire. Those messages include stop, drop, and roll, home escape planning, practicing fire drills, calling 911, and the importance of working smoke alarms. Community outreach is just as important. Fire departments partner with cities, counties, and organizations like the American Red Cross to spread the word about fire safety.

For a complete list of West Michigan smoke alarm installation programs, call your local fire department or click here.  If your community is not listed or you have questions about smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, or home fire safety, send an email to [email protected].

Operation Save A Life: education and partnership for fire prevention Maranda, Operation Save A Life, Safety, , , , ,
15
Apr 2015

fire-alarms

Fire prevention starts with education and partnership. That was the key message when Maranda stopped by Walker Fire Department’s Station #2 in Grand Rapids to talk about Operation Save A Life which will be featured on “Maranda Where You Live” on April 15 at 7 p.m.

Operation Save A Life is the public service campaign that WOOD TV8/WOTV 4 Women kicked off in March thanks to a partnership between WOTV 4 Women, E.S.C.A.P.E Fire Safety, The Home Depot and Kidde, the smoke alarm manufacturer that so generously donated 2,500 smoke alarms and 500 carbon monoxide alarms.

Firefighters from all across West Michigan were on hand to talk to third graders from Zinser Elementary School in Kenowa Hills. The kids made the special field trip to learn all about fire safety and smoke alarms. They also got an up-close look at the fire apparatus and met Jake the Fire Safety Dog!

Maranda also talked with State Fire Marshal Richard Miller who emphasized how having working smoke alarms in your home can cut in half your risk of dying in a fire. He also talked about how important partnerships are between fire departments and companies such as Kidde for fire education and prevention programs, noting a similar statewide program, Michigan S.A.F.E. (Smoke Alarms for Everyone) that launched last year. Olivet Fire Department Lt. Michael McLeieer, who is also the founder of E.S.C.A.P.E. and the program coordinator of Operation Save A Life, opened the show explaining just how the program came about and how it will positively impact the area.

Thanks to Operation Save a Life, participating fire departments from five West Michigan counties are busy installing smoke alarms in homes where they are most needed. The area was particularly hard hit this winter with a high number of home fires and related deaths.

For a complete list of West Michigan smoke alarm installation programs, click here. If your community is not listed or you have questions about smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, or home fire safety, send an email to [email protected].

 

Muskegon County Fire Departments receive smoke alarms to be installed in homes Operation Save A Life, Safety, , , , ,
10
Mar 2015

(left: Fire Marshal Ted Karnitz, Norton Shores Fire Department right: Fire Inspector Mark Nicolai, Muskegon Charter Township Fire Department)

(left: Fire Marshal Ted Karnitz, Norton Shores Fire Department right: Fire Inspector Mark Nicolai, Muskegon Charter Township Fire Department)

Monday morning, two representatives from Muskegon County area fire departments received 1,000 smoke alarms donated by Kidde through the Operation Save A Life program, a partnership between WOTV4Women, Kidde, The Home Depot and the non-profit fire safety charity E.S.C.A.P.E.  The alarms will be distributed to Muskegon County Fire Departments and will be installed in at-risk homes.

Fire Marshal Ted Karnitz from the Norton Shores Fire Department and Fire Inspector Mark Nicolai from the Muskegon Charter Township Fire Department will be facilitating the program throughout Muskegon County.

“The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms,” said  Karnitz.  “Programs like Operation Save A Life and Michigan S.A.F.E. (Smoke Alarms For Everyone) allow fire departments throughout Muskegon County as well as other areas of Michigan to place a combined effort on installing smoke alarms in homes and providing fire safety information which will reduce fire-related injury or death.”

For more information about the Muskegon County smoke alarm installation program, please contact:

Muskegon Charter Township Fire Department – 231-773-4316

Norton Shores Fire Department – 231-799-6809

or email [email protected]

 

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