Dousing the Flame on Apartment Fires
Fire prevention must become a top national concern
By Bette Dewing
“We often need as much to be reminded as to be informed” are among the wisest words ever spoken. Thank you, Dr. Samuel Johnson.
And we must remember Martin Luther King’s dream of a nation where content of character matters, not skin color. Surely that means not valuing “physical attractiveness” over character. Recent research shows that so-called attractive members of Congress are the ones who get the most TV coverage (“Looks Matter as TV Covers Congress,” New York Times, Jan. 6). Once, the women’s movement denounced this general attractiveness bias, and I’m seeking others concerned that the now decades of related research stored in one of my file cabinets do not go to waste.
Indeed, I recently started going to the EIS Housing Resource Center’s organizing group because of decades of research on a number of frustrating crusades about public safety. How I wish you’d heard the January meeting’s powerful talk on fire prevention by Kevin Anderson, an FDNY Safety Education member. It takes an impassioned speaker like Anderson to effectively inform and remind.
“We must remember,” he said, that fireplace embers caused the fire that killed three little sisters and their grandparents.
“It would likely not have turned deadly if smoke detectors had been working.” These foremost fire prevention tools must be placed up high and checked every month—and several are better than one.
Julie, a savvy business executive, marveled, “He said so much I didn’t know!” like the fact that carbon monoxide detectors must be replaced every five to seven years and extension cords should be used only temporarily, never for high power users like TVs and space heaters, and must be in mint condition and UL approved. I add: Make installing additional wall outlets affordable!
Power strips must be checked for capacity levels. Some lamps, too. Anderson fears screw-in-type fluorescent bulbs because their bases can dangerously overheat, another reason to support the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice bill! (A recent East End Avenue penthouse fire was reportedly lamp-related.)
“And use only battery-powered candles!” he implored.
Throw baking soda, never water, on small grease fires. Keep a large pot cover handy to smother small stove fires, but call 911 and get out with anything larger, especially in a non-fireproof building. No building is entirely fireproof, but those with steel beams and all-concrete walls and floors keep fire contained. Marble floors “crumble with heat.”
Use only fire department-approved window gates and never place anything on fire escapes.
Instructions for devising an escape plan and other vital information is found in the Fire Safety for Seniors brochure that was shared with our group.
“It’s for all ages,” said Anderson but, he stressed, “50 percent of fire victims are age 65 and over.” So let’s study and discuss this life-saving booklet, at least monthly, when we check our smoke detectors. Call 718-281-3870 for a copy.
Build we must on the unprecedented outpouring of public grief and nationwide media coverage of the deaths of Lily, Grace and Sarah Badger and their grandparents, Pauline and Lomer Johnson, to finally make fire prevention a top nationwide priority.
And now two deadly local fires: The Times’ “Fleeing a Fire, Only to Realize That One Child Was Left Behind” tragically reminds us that the family of the 7-year-old boy in Brooklyn did not have an escape plan. The death of a woman, age 38, in a fire in an abandoned Harlem building where she and a friend had reportedly taken shelter did not receive print coverage.
First we must be informed and then reminded, reminded, reminded!
dewingbetter@aol.com
2012 Resolutions to Keep
Using Facebook and Twitter to better society
By Bette Dewing
Protecting life and health always tops this column’s mission.
The tragic Christmas morning Stamford, Conn., fire that killed three young sisters and their maternal grandparents prompts an overdue focus on fire-related danger. While unsafe disposal of fireplace embers was the fire’s reported cause, had smoke detectors been installed in the mansion that was under renovation, it might not have been deadly. Read more
Stories We Need to Hear
Police valor beyond the call of duty
By Bette Dewing
Because this Christmas/Hanukkah one of New York’s finest decorated police officers, Peter Figoski, has made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting us on the home front, it seems right for the illuminated Park Avenue Memorial trees honoring our war dead to also honor this beloved husband, son and father of four daughters, as well as countless others who gave their lives in the never-ending war against crime.
We need reminding that police officers put their lives on the line whenever they go on duty. And that beyond the call of duty work, most of what they do, never goes public until they are tragically struck down.
Officer Figoski was considered the finest of the fine in his devotion to his work at the 75th Precinct. Indeed, he was eligible and eminently qualified, after 22 years, to work with the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, but he preferred to stay on the mean streets of Brooklyn.
“He was always helping the younger cops,” one person said. “[He was] the smartest cop ever, but he never wanted promotions,” another opined. One precinct resident was especially mournful, because Figoski’s two visits with fatherly advice helped turn her troubled teen daughter around.
So many stories told how “Pete” cared for others inside and outside the precinct house. And he was a role model when it came to his devotion to his family. Such stories cry out to be told.
Consider, too, the possible blundering of Brooklyn judges in allowing the person who reportedly pulled the trigger in the botched robbery to still be out on the streets. Consider that violent crime is up in some precincts and that government leaders and wannabes need reminding that their first duty is to protect public safety and those who protect us.
More, not less, police presence is in order, including citizen volunteers with the Auxiliary Police. Citizen presence at Police Community Council meetings helps keep the peace and raise goodwill. Call 311 for more information.
During these festive holidays, infinitely more attention must also be paid to the over-drinking factor in crimes like domestic violence, the most dangerous calls police officers make. How blessed we are to have a city health commissioner so actively concerned with the myriad dangers of alcohol overuse—especially, but not only, at holiday time.
Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley warns that “excessive drinking impairs judgment and coordination, greatly increasing the chance for violence and injury.” One of the department’s subway ads shows a young man with a neck brace being placed in an ambulance and bears the bold print: “Two Drinks Ago This Wasn’t Your Ride.”
The poster’s small caption, “Stop drinking while you are still thinking,” needs enlarging, as does the standard advice about not letting an inebriated friend drive to include tips on helping a repeat offender get into treatment. Intervention must be urgently and widely encouraged—or even prescribed.
Farley’s press release includes appalling statistics of thousands of hospitalizations and fatalities from overdrinking as well as countless crimes committed under the influence. This should be written and spoken about often, and from pulpits and on faith group premises where Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are often held.
Urge public attendance at open City Council meetings to hear before-and-after drinking stories, the kind that occur even without any violence or physical injury. To contact AA, call 212-647-1680.
An anonymous 1980s letter to this paper bears repeating: “I just want you to know that since my punch bowl became non-alcoholic (thanks to AA), my holidays are what they were intended to be.”
Happiness in Your Own Backyard
Small businesses help create community
By Bette Dewing
Always making a list of what we ought to talk about—and then, “Take action!” reminds Ellie Sankey, civic activist. Read more
Thanksgiving for Family Values
By Bette Dewing
Andy Rooney once said, “In some small way, I always hoped my words were doing some little bit of good.” He added that most writers feel that way. And now I can’t find the exact quote, but that might have prompted Rooney’s son Brian to say, “Well, maybe he should have retired some time ago.” Yup, he said that about his dad on a recent episode of CBS’ The Early Show, which I serendipitously happened to catch.
Read more
Legacies of Love
Protesting wrongs against family support systems and the lost of elder parents
By Bette Dewing
More will be said about legendary social critic Andy Rooney, who left us this month, and his memorable words: “In some small way I always hoped my words were doing some little bit of good” in my next column.
Read more
Occupy the World Against Indifference to Violence
Elders and pedestrians need to stand up for their rights
By Bette Dewing
Animal welfare may get more coverage than the human kind, like the wild animals that were recently killed after their owner released them and then killed himself.
More attention was paid to this highly unusual tragedy than to more tragic murders of family members by family members. Although crimes against children are thankfully covered—like 2-year-old Caylee Anthony’s murder and now 10-month-old Lisa Irwin missing from her crib in Missouri. Lisa’s mother admits to drinking heavily the night before, but the alcohol factor is abysmally ignored in all manner of violent crimes, suicides and domestic violence cases.
Violence was not this column’s intended focus until photos appeared showing Libyan parents and their children lining up to gleefully view Muammar al-Gaddafi’s half-naked bloody corpse lying in a Misurata meat locker. No matter how horrendous the crimes committed by this terrible tyrant, rejoicing over human remains is contrary to Judeo/Christians creeds and the cause of nonviolence.
So is any murder taken as lightly as a recent item from this paper’s new Tweet column seemed to be: “Shaun Dyer charged w/killing his roommate. What will happen to the dog?”
The Upper East Side murder of David Shahda, 47, allegedly by his 46-year-old roommate, received minor media coverage, but none was about the devastating effect on their families. These two may not have been gay, but domestic violence between gays is “too often kept secret” said a recent Daily News report. So is domestic abuse of straight men by women—all men must now come out of the domestic violence/abuse closet.
Again, the alcohol factor often triggers actions that are unthinkable to the sober mind. This wasn’t addressed in Ken Burn’s highly acclaimed PBS Prohibition documentary series. Indeed, except for drunk driving, this most widely used of legal drugs generally gets pretty much of a pass.
But not by those preachers of my Minnesota childhood, though; current clergy might not overlook it either if they attended open AA meetings (often held on faith group premises) and heard the “before and after” true stories.
Indeed, everyone with a public voice or who holds public office needs to learn that overdrinking causes all manner of destructive behaviors and nonviolent ones, like neglecting and betraying the people we love. And they must insist that the invaluable intervention process made famous by Betty Ford is used whenever possible.
So bang the drum loudly for all of that and for drinking, which doctors now say should not exceed one drink daily for women and two for men.
Only a small space remains to address how, due to the Internet taking over the world, elders are being left out of the loop more and more, including in the new online “Bonfire” forum of Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, head of the council’s Committee on Aging. Her constituents are urged to share their concerns and ideas there on solving various city problems.
But what about the many elders without Internet? I make do in large measure thanks to Robert Nicholas, a computer-savvy friend who believes in my work. Indeed, he and his dog Mickey believe in giving a helping hand, or paw, wherever they’re needed, sometimes intervening to get indifferent families involved.
And how city elders need Nicholas’ public relations/management skills to stage long overdue “Occupy” protests—starting with taking back the streets, sidewalks and park paths from traffic lawbreakers and reckless wheelers and even heedless foot travelers.
To be continued, but for now here’s to a sober and smiley, non-scary Halloween, with special prayers on All Saints Day for a nonviolent, just and peaceable world. Amen.
dewingbetter@aol.com
Learning When to Repent
Our ageist society rears its ugly head again and again
By Bette Dewing
If my Yom Kippur column had to be bumped from the last issue, I’m glad it enabled more apartment building workers space to be honored, because we tenants often take their services, which are so indispensable to everyday life, for granted.
Read more
Atoning with an Eye on Yom Kippur
Remembering Hortie Ginsberg, who knew the answer so well
By Bette Dewing
“You don’t have to be Jewish to wish or be wished a happy New Year” a civic acquaintance reminds me. Nor, I reply, to do some repenting on Yom Kippur—an act that results in a happier (as in “what we need most”) New Year.
Read more
Honoring the Fallen by Being Better Neighbors
Imagining a city of smiles and helping hands
By Bette Dewing
This photo of a tree in Carl Schurz Park cruelly cut down by Hurricane Irene has great personal meaning, having been taken by my son, Todd Walter. The tree is located near the rocks where he and his brother, Jeff Joseph, played as children (before the bike and scooter explosion).
Read more
