There is an active fire incident at the Powder Mill Circle apartments. Please avoid the area at this time. Additional information will be released.
Maynard Police and Fire Departments Share Tips During National 9-1-1 Education Month
MAYNARD — Police Chief Michael Noble and Fire Chief Anthony Stowers would like to share guidelines and tips in regard to accessing help in the midst of an emergency during National 9-1-1 Education Month.
According to the National Emergency Number Association, approximately 240 million calls are made to 911 each year in the United States. 9-1-1 Education Month is recognized across the country to conduct outreach and educate community members on 911 resources and practices.
“National 9-1-1 Education Month is a great opportunity to remind ourselves of key steps to take in an emergency. If you ever need help, call 911, share your location promptly with the operator and do your best to stay calm while waiting for help to arrive,” Chief Noble said.
In order to make sure residents can access help in an emergency, Police Chief Noble and Fire Chief Stowers are providing the following safety tips from the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA):
Reach 9-1-1 Via Phone OR Text
Text to 911 is available across the Commonwealth, and the Maynard Police and Fire Departments wish to remind residents that 911 through messaging is an alternative to a typical phone call.
To contact emergency services by text message, simply enter 911 in the “To” field of your mobile device and then type your message into the message field. It is the same process that is used for sending a regular text message from your mobile device. It is important to make every effort to begin the text message indicating the town you are in and provide the best location information that you can.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or in a situation where speaking is not possible can benefit from using messaging services to reach emergency services, but if possible a traditional voice call is the best way to reach 911.
For additional information about silent call procedures, click here.
Know Your Location
With wireless calls, 911 operators can locate callers, but more information may be needed in order for emergency services to find exact locations. Be prepared to provide detailed information on your location to assist the 911 operator.
Stay Calm and Don’t Hang Up
Unless instructed to do otherwise, you should stay on the line when calling 9-1-1 in order to provide necessary information to the 911 operator. Even if you accidentally dial 9-1-1, you should stay on the line and inform the operator that there is no emergency and that you dialed accidentally. While on the phone, please answer the telecommunicator’s questions. They are trying to determine whether or not there is an emergency or if someone is in need of assistance.
In order to learn more about NASNA and their efforts to improve emergency response through supporting 911 education and awareness, click here.
About National 9-1-1 Education Month
April is designated as National 9-1-1 Education Month, recognized by the United States Congress in 2008. According to NASNA, it aims to support the efforts of the National 911 Education Coalition through the promotion of resources and materials that help to educate about the optimal use of 9-1-1 services across the country.
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Maynard Fire Department Reminds Residents to Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms When Changing Their Clocks
MAYNARD — Chief Anthony Stowers and the Maynard Fire Department wish to remind residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and check the batteries in each when they move their clocks ahead to start daylight saving time Sunday.
“A smoke or carbon monoxide alarm is designed to be one of the first warnings of an emergency. These essential systems in our homes are of no use to us in these dangerous situations, however, if they haven’t been maintained,” Chief Stowers said. “Take care this weekend to test your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, and try to remember to do so about once a month.”
Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 14, and clocks move ahead one hour at that time.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in more than 50% of home fires that were reported to fire departments in the U.S. between 2014-2018, residents were alerted to the danger by a working smoke alarm. Almost 60% of home fire deaths occurred in homes without properly-functioning smoke alarms or no smoke alarms at all during the same time period.
Fire departments nationwide responded to almost 80,000 carbon monoxide incidents in 2016, and almost 400 people died of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning in 2017, according to NFPA data.
To keep residents’ homes safe and prevent fires or carbon monoxide poisoning, Chief Stowers recommends these safety tips from the NFPA:
- Test all smoke alarms at least once a month, pressing the test button to ensure the alarm functions properly.
- Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
- Alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. When you change your clocks, also replace regular batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Smoke alarms have a shelf life of 10 years. Be sure to replace them after 10 years of use.
- CO alarms should be replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Smoke alarms should be installed in each room of the house. CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each bedroom or sleeping area, on every story of the home and in other locations required by standards, codes or laws.
- Make sure alarms interconnect so when one alarm sounds, they all do.
- If the CO alarm sounds, immediately exit the house or building and move outside to an area of fresh air, ensuring each person inside the home is accounted for. Then call for help and await instructions from emergency personnel.
- Working with each member of the household, create and practice a home escape plan.
For more information on smoke and carbon monoxide alarm safety, visit the NFPA website or contact the Maynard Fire Department at 978-897-1014.
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Maynard Fire Department Shares Injury Prevention Tips During National Burn Awareness Week
MAYNARD — As a part of Burn Awareness Week, Chief Anthony Stowers and the Maynard Fire Department would like to remind residents of safety tips and precautions in hopes of preventing burn-related injuries.
Burn Awareness Week, organized by the American Burn Association (ABA), began this year on Sunday, Feb. 7 and ends on Saturday, Feb. 13. This annual campaign serves as an opportunity for fire educators to share common burn awareness and prevention messages to their communities.
The ABA estimates that each year, approximately 400,000 people receive medical care for treatment of burn injuries in the U.S.
The theme of the 2021 Burn Awareness Week is “Electrical Safety from Amps to Zap (A to Z)!” in an effort to remind people of the potential risks from unprotected outlets, improperly used extension cords and other electrical hazards.
“It’s incredibly important that everyone knows how to safely use the electrical appliances and heat sources in their homes to prevent potential burn injuries and fires,” Chief Stowers said. “Please review the following tips and give us a call if you have any questions.”
The Maynard Fire Department wishes to share the following electrical safety tips provided by the ABA:
- Major appliances should only be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Do not use extension cords or power strips. Only one heat-producing appliance should be plugged into an outlet at a time.
- Before use, always check cords for cracks or frayed sockets, loose or bare wire and loose connections. Never use electrical cords that are broken or frayed.
- Extension cords should be rated for extended use. Never use an indoor extension cord outdoors.
- Never have plugged extension cords running underneath rugs.
- Never plug a generator directly into a household outlet. Hire a qualified electrician to install a transfer switch for emergency generator use.
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems should be inspected annually by a qualified service professional to check for any electrical problems.
- To prevent shock, keep electrical devices and outlets away from water.
- Never pull an item from an electrical outlet by the cord, instead pull from the base.
- If you see a down power line, stay back at least 20 feet and call 911.
- Circuit breakers that are frequently tripped are a sign that the circuit can’t handle the demand for power. If this occurs, move appliances to other circuits or have an electrician check your household system.
- If you notice unusually warm switches or outlets, stop using the switches and call an electrician to check the wiring.
- Stop, drop and roll if you or your clothing are on fire.
- In the event of an emergency, always call 911.
For more burn safety information and tips visit the AMA website here.
Anyone with questions regarding opening burning should call the Maynard Fire Department at 978-897-1015.
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Maynard Officials Provide Guidance to Individuals 75 and Older Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccination Next Week
MAYNARD —Town Administrator Greg Johnson, the Maynard Board of Health and the Maynard Council on Aging wish to provide guidance to residents 75-years-old and older who will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccination next week.
Individuals who are 75-years-old and older can begin receiving their vaccines on Monday, Feb. 1, in addition to all those who became eligible through Phase One of the state’s vaccination distribution plan.
There are currently no vaccination clinics for residents 75-years-old and older planned to take place in Maynard. If the Town of Maynard is given vaccines in the future to distribute and a clinic is planned, however, this will be announced promptly. Residents are advised not to wait for the town to schedule a clinic, and to seek out alternatives.
However, the Town of Maynard is also aware that there may be limited appointments available at this time.
“We are hearing from many residents who are struggling to obtain an appointment to be vaccinated,” Town Administrator Johnson said. “We know that this is frustrating as people have waited many months to finally become eligible for vaccination. We hope the following guidance is helpful and we will continue to share any new information we can in the coming days and weeks. However, residents must know that we have no clinics planned here in Maynard at this time and our staff do not have the resources to help everyone obtain an appointment.”
The Town of Maynard is fully committed to keeping residents aware of any and all updates regarding vaccination distribution over the coming weeks and months. Updates will be posted to the:
- Town website,
- Town Facebook Page @MaynardMass,
- Town Administrator Johnson’s Twitter account, @MaynardMATA,
Residents 75-years-old and older are also advised to check in with local pharmacies, hospitals and healthcare providers to learn more about when appointments for vaccination may be available.
To view a map of vaccination sites, click here. All sites require an appointment. Residents who need support navigating the online process of making an appointment are encouraged to seek guidance from trusted family, friends and neighbors.
To make an appointment at a vaccination site:
- Visit mass.gov/COVID-vaccine to find your phase and priority group
- If you’re eligible, visit mass.gov/COVIDVaccineMap to find a vaccine clinic near you
- Make an appointment online and fill out the attestation form
Residents should also note that while the state is creating more mass vaccination sites and though they may become eligible to receive the vaccination in the coming weeks, vaccination distribution is contingent on the number of physical vaccinations available. The State of Massachusetts, at this time, is prepared to distribute more vaccinations than it has.
The state has not yet announced when individuals 65-years-old and older and those with two or more comorbidities will be able to receive the vaccine. This will be announced when more information is available about additional doses of the vaccine to be provided to the state by the federal government.
The next group to become eligible will be Individuals 65-years-old and older and individuals with two or more comorbidities. No date has been announced yet for when those individuals may become eligible for the vaccine, however.
The general public will not be eligible to receive the vaccine until April. To review the full vaccination distribution timeline, click here.
Stay Informed about the Status of COVID-19 in Town
According to public health data released on Thursday, Jan. 28, the Town’s designation is still “red,” indicating a “high risk” of spread in the community. The average daily incidence rate for the Town of Maynard is 57 per 100,000 residents, the same as it was last week.
According to the Maynard officials, in the last 14 days in Maynard there have been 83 cases of COVID-19 and since Jan. 1 there have been 134 confirmed cases and six probable cases.
Residents are reminded to always take the following precautions to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the community:
- Remember that an infected individual can spread COVID-19 before they have symptoms, which is why social distancing — maintaining a minimum of 6 feet from others — is critical.
- Those who must go out are urged to:
- Avoid gathering in groups
- Maintain 6 feet from people outside your household
- Do not shake hands or hug
- Wash your hands often
- Those who are at a high risk for COVID-19, including those over the age of 65 and with underlying health conditions, are advised to stay home and avoid non-essential tasks and errands
- Wear a mask in indoor and outdoor spaces at all times.
- Face coverings should:
- Cover the nose and mouth
- Fit snugly and comfortably against the side of the face
- Be secured with either ties or ear loops
- Permit breathing without difficulty
- Be able to be washed and machine dried without damage. Face masks should be washed regularly depending on the amount of use.
For more information about COVID-19 prevention and symptoms, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website here.
For the latest COVID-19 case numbers in the Town of Maynard, click here.
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