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Heroes Remembered
Mesa Fire Fighter Memorial
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On January 30th the City of Mesa hosted the annual fallen fire fighter memorial service honoring the life and service of our fallen brothers and sisters. This new memorial is located behind fire station 201 on the corner of Mesa Drive and Second Street.
This sacred space has been dedicated to honor the sacrifice made by Mesa firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty.
The Mesa Public Safety Foundation in collaboration with the IAFF Local 2260, the Chamber of Commerce, City of Mesa currently have a fundraiser aimed at enhancing the existing memorial site.
https://donate.brickmarkers.com/mpsf
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In attendance (pictured above from left to right) Retired Battalion Chief Ward Fleger,
Fire Chief Mary Cameli, Retired MFMD Fire Chief Dennis Compton, Retired MFMD
Fire Chief Harry Beck, and Assistant Chief Forrest Smith.
MFMD Honor Guard
Adult Drowning is More Common Than You Think!
Did you know more adults, than children drown in Mesa?
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2023 Mesa Fire & Medical Department Total Drowning Incidents
Total Incidents: 22
Pediatrics*: 9
Children**: 0
Teens: 1
Adults: 12
Total Fatalities: 8
Pediatrics*: 1
Children**: 0
Teens: 0
Adult: 7
*Pediatrics are 0 - 4 years
**Children ages 5 - 12 years
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Many times, throughout the year we hear the local news stories of a child drowning.
What most people do not realize is that even though Arizona ranks fourth in the nation for childhood drownings under the age of four years. Statistically, more adults than children drown each year in Mesa.
The truth is adults of all ages can drown…even those who know how to swim.
Adults can avoid this tragedy by following a few simple rules:
- Never swim alone (at any age)
- Never swim impaired
It’s important to remember that some drugs (prescription or over the counter) can make a person feel drowsy. Other medications and alcohol can impair a person’s judgement, balance, and coordination.
When you mix medications and/or alcohol with hot water temperatures, such as hot tubs/spas/baths; a rise in body temperature occurs, which may speed up or increase the effects.
This can lead to a person becoming impaired enough to slide under the water and drown.
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Following the never swim alone safety rules for adults can be difficult especially if you live alone. Here are some helpful tips to decrease your risk:
- Always, make sure you are feeling well before getting into a pool, spa, or bathtub. If you are feeling tired, wait until you feel rested.
- Tell a friend or family member you are going to the pool or hot tub. Better yet, invite them with you.
- Don’t forget to bring your cell phone for emergency situations. Make sure you keep the cell phone on. This is not the time to worry about saving battery life.
- Remember no child should ever be allowed to swim unsupervised, even when they know how to swim.
MFMD Unveils New Fully Electric Fire Truck
at Fire Station 221!
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January 4th was an exciting day at
station 221 as we witnessed the debut
of Arizona's first fully electric firetruck!
The community, City council, City management, and Fire Chief gathered
to celebrate the unveiling. |
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February is Healthy Heart Month!
Roughly, half of all Americans have at least one to three risk factors for heart disease that include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.
A heart-healthy diet can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Here are some tips to get started:
Control your portion size: Use a small plate or bowl to help control your portions. Eat more low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods, Eat smaller amounts of high-calorie, high-sodium foods, such as refined, processed, or fast foods.
Eat more vegetables and fruits: Vegetables and fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals. They are also low in calories and rich in dietary fiber.
Select whole grains: Whole grains are good sources of fiber and other nutrients that play a role in regulating blood pressure and heart health. You can increase the amount of whole grains in a heart-healthy diet by making simple substitutions for refined grain products.
Limit unhealthy fats: Limiting how much saturated and trans fats you eat is an important step to reduce your blood cholesterol and lower your risk of coronary artery disease. A high blood cholesterol level can lead to a buildup of plaques in your arteries, called atherosclerosis, which can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Choose low-fat protein sources: Lean meat, poultry and fish, low-fat dairy products, and egg whites or egg substitutes are some of your best sources of protein. But be careful to choose lower fat options, such as skim milk rather than whole milk and skinless chicken breasts rather than fried chicken patties.
Reduce the sodium in your food: Eating a lot of sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Reducing sodium is an important part of a heart-healthy diet. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:
- Healthy adults have no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day (about a teaspoon of salt).
- Most adults should aim for no more than 1,500 mg of sodium a day (about two-thirds of a teaspoon of salt).
Plan ahead: Create daily menus that feature whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein sources. You can also try cooking more meals at home, and making sure you use healthy, heart-friendly ingredients.
Allow yourself an occasional treat: Allow yourself an indulgence every now and then. A candy bar or handful of potato chips won’t derail your heart-healthy diet. But don’t let it turn into an excuse for giving up on your healthy-eating plan. If overindulgence is the exception, rather than the rule, you’ll balance things out over the long term.
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Meet Tara Acuña
MFMD Deputy Director over Management Services, Planning and Research, and Resource!
Hello, I’m Tara Acuña (a-coon-ya) and I’ve been with MFMD for just over nine years now! I’m the Deputy Director of three passionate, high-performing teams – Management Services: budget, grants, and contracts; Resource: warehouse, uniforms, facilities, purchasing and CIP; and Planning and Research: accreditation, performance, and analytics.
I am an Arizona native; born in Tucson, grew up in a small town, Safford, and moved to the valley in 2000 to attend ASU. I’ve lived in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler and finally settled in Gilbert. I worked as a server throughout college and started my public sector experience working for Maricopa County in the Office of Management and Budget in 2005. I started as a Compensation Technician and quickly advanced to Budget Analyst and then Senior Budget Analyst. I took night classes and received my Master of Public Administration degree in 2008. In 2009, I started working for the City of Mesa in the Solid Waste department as a Senior Fiscal Analyst. I served on a couple of special assignments and finished my career there as an Administrator.
My husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in April! We love to travel with our two boys, Brady (16), and Cason (12), we’ve been to Mexico many times, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Florida and go to San Diego often. They love to ride quads, camp, fish, hunt, wrestle and play soccer and football. We have two dogs, a tortoise, two fish, and a snake! I am a bit of a crazy plant lady, I have approximately 30 house plants, and I love listening to audio books and podcasts – mostly true crime but occasionally something more up-beat 😊.
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HEY GIRL!
Yes you, or maybe someone you know, that is looking into what their ideal career would be after high school. We have an opportunity for you. Mesa Fire Department and Medical and Mesa Police Department will be hosting the Spring Aspire Academy along with other Valley fire and police departments over the 2024 spring break. So, what is Aspire? Aspire is a hands-on resident camp for girls in grades 9-12. This camp allows girls to participate in a variety of activities designed to build leadership skills,
self-confidence, and respect through teamwork.
See what it's like in this video from the October 2023 Academy!
The Aspire Academy allows girls to experience firefighting, emergency operations techniques, and law enforcement operations while connecting with women currently in the professions, as well as other women working in non-traditional roles. Girls will gear up and work alongside the elite women from Central Arizona’s fire and police services, learning the value of fitness, rappelling, climbing a 100-foot ladder truck, investigating crime scenes, and riding with driving instructors in a high-speed obstacle course!
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Applications Open February 1, 2024!
A link will be activated on February 1st and registration will be available from February 1st – 14th OR will close once we reach 100 applications. Applicants selected to participate in the academy will be
notified by February 23rd.
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March 2024 Aspire
Academy
Dates: March 21 - 24, 2024
Grades: 9 - 12
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MFMD OUT & ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY!
In addition to their regular duties our crews and staff participate and volunteer in a variety of community and educational events.
Here are just a few moments from the past several weeks!
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Christmas Toy Drive
Fire Station Tour at Mesa Gateway Airport during C Shift
Attending Celebrating Our Heroes Community Safety Fair which is a 100 Club Sponsored Event
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9th Annual Christmas Toy Drive
Wreaths Across America
On December 16th the Mesa Fire and Medical Department along with the Mesa Police Department had volunteered at this event which also included the
MFMD Honor Guard Pipes and Drums.
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The mission of Wreaths Across America Day is to REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those who serve, and TEACH the next generation the value of freedom! Click here for more information about this annual event!
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Fire Captain Stieber showing visitors the foam truck at fire station 215!
City of Mesa Asian Festival
Electric fire truck being prepped to go in service
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