Tiffany Beck and her son Sylas wave to the crowd while riding in a fire engine in the Land of the Loon parade Saturday, June 17. Photos by Paul Pluskwik During the week of June 12-18, the Virginia Fire Department was called for service 97 times: 21 transfers, 27 fire calls, and 49 EMS 9-1-1 calls. This weeks fire calls varied greatly from multiple public assists, 11 false alarms where we were dispatched and cancelled, four times dispatched to motor vehicle incidents, and a cooking fire, a tent fire, an unauthorized burning, and a power line down. The 21 transfers brought us to Cook Hospital, Essentia Health-Northern Pines in Aurora and Essentia Health- Virginia. These patients were transported to Miller Dwan, St. Lukes and Essentia Health- St. Marys in Duluth. The 49 EMS 9-1-1 calls brought us to Britt, Eveleth, Gilbert, Mt. Iron, Tower, and Virginia. These patients were treated and transported to St. Lukes, Essentia Health- St. Marys, Essentia Health-Virginia, or to air medical. During this week, Saturday was our busiest day, with falls being the top reason for dispatch. We performed 73 procedures and administered 43 medicines. We treated more women (39) then men (31) with the average age being 60 years old. The fire marshals office responded to four fire calls, investigated a car fire, an illegal fire pit, and attended some in-house leadership training as well as worked on fire prevention activities for upcoming events. The fire marshal and the fire explorers assisted the police and on-duty fire crews with Land of the Loon and staffed a first-aid station. Thank you again to all the area first responders that help us every day.

Virginia firefighters participate in the Land of the Loon parade in Virginia. So now that winter is over and construction season is in full swing, please remember that the construction workers are not trying to inconvenience you. They are trying to improve the roadways and other infrastructure. Please be aware of emergency vehicles and personnel around fire and motor vehicle collision scenes. In the past we have had fire hoses run over and personnel almost struck by drivers who were not paying attention. Last week in Michigan, Comstock Fire Chief Ed Switalski, who was a friend and National Fire Academy classmate of Hibbing Fire Captain Tony Sikich and mine, was struck by a pickup truck while on the scene of a motor vehicle collision. As Chief Switalski was putting his gear away in the back of his command vehicle, he was struck by what some accounts describe as an out-of-control vehicle. His funeral was Wednesday. With that being said, here are a few tips that can help make your commute safer.

1. Plan ahead.

Do you regularly whiz through your morning routine in a whirlwind of chaos, trying to make up time while on the road? Do you allow just enough time to drive to an appointment? Then youre probably also more prone to a lead foot and a lost temper. If you add 10 minutes to your expected travel time, youll have time to stop for gas or detour around road construction. Also, try preparing clothing, briefcases, childrens school bags and lunches the night before to minimize your morning rush. Extra time equals calmer driving.

2. Your car is not your therapist.

Many of us love and identify with our cars, but sometimes you can take the car as extension of self idea too seriously. If your boss or your spouse left you steaming, take care not to use driving as a way to blow off steam. No matter how much power youve got under the hood,

your vehicle is first and foremost a mode of transportation.

3. Turn down the bass. Without getting into the argument over aggressive music makes people aggressive, it makes sense that listening to relaxing music or even a comedy channel on satellite radio will make you less pumped up for action than a driving bass line. Try tuning in to classical or jazz to reduce stress. Or listen to an audiobook.

4. Loosen up, then breathe: If you notice yourself clenching the steering wheel in a death grip, try flexing your fingers and loosening your hold youll find that you can control the car just as well. If your right foot is cramped, set the cruise control if traffic allows. If youre on a prolonged road trip, try not to exceed three hours of travel time without a break where you get out and stretch. Struggling to see through a dirty windshield is also an unnecessary stress factor, so fill up with washer fluid before you go. Periodically roll down the window and breathe deeply and slowly.

5. Its not about you. Perhaps another driver cut you off. Or the car in front of you is braking erratically. Before you assume the driver is getting off on your rising anger levels, realize that you, as an individual, are not the target. Perhaps the driver simply made a mistake or was just being oblivious. Maybe theres a screaming baby, a loose pet or a crazed bee in the car. Maybe he was on a cell phone. The point is, dont take things so personally.

6. Hostility is toxic. And risky. People most prone to anger are almost three times more likely to have a heart attack than those with low anger, according to the American Psychological Association. Other health risks seen in those who display hostility include obesity, depression and stroke. Wow, who knew? Safe driving promotes healthy hearts! Not only will giving into anger not resolve an irritating situation, it can increase the risk of retaliation. Think to yourself, Is making my point worth endangering my life? If all else fails, do a mental 180 and try to laugh it off.

7. Use restaurant etiquette. While its upsetting when a stranger is rude or cuts in line in a restaurant or store, most folks wouldnt lose their cool and become abusive as a result. It isnt only because they have good manners. Driving a car makes people

feel more isolated and protected, allowing them to act in ways they would normally find embarrassing. So when another driver acts like a jerk, respond as though youre in a restaurant.

8. Take the self-test.

Try analyzing your driving. Do any of the following statements sound like you?

I regularly exceed the speed limit in order to get to work on time. I tailgate other drivers, especially those who sit in the left lane. I flash my lights and honk my horn to let drivers know when they annoy me. I verbally abuse other drivers whether they can hear me or not. I frequently weave in and out of traffic to get ahead. I feel the need to set bad drivers straight. If you answered yes to any of these questions, your driving may qualify as aggressive. The American Institute for Public Safety (AIPS) has a more detailed RoadRageous Test that determines if your driving habits fall under the aggressive zone, hostile zone or worse yet war zone.

9. Practice kindness.

Dr. Leon James, a.k.a. Dr. Driving and author of Road Rage and Aggressive Driving, says that remembering simple courtesies, like allowing someone to merge or apologizing when we make a mistake, can go a long way in making the driving experience positive for ourselves and others. His basic motto is the old do unto others rule: Treat fellow drivers how you would like to be treated. As additional incentive, reducing your aggressiveness on the road can also keep you out of serious trouble.

By planning ahead and keeping things in perspective, we can prevent our emotions from getting the best of us. Putting aggressive driving in park will help to ensure your own safety, as well as the safety of everyone around you.

Submitted by Fire Chief Allen Lewis, Virginia Fire Department.

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Virginia Fire Department Run Report: June 12-18, 2017 - Hometown Focus