CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) – The Carmichael 4th of July Parade, which draws an average of 7000 attendees each year, will not be held for 2020. The Carmichael Elks Lodge has been its host and organizer since 1959, but Elks Lodge Secretary Jim Warrick said, “The COVID-19 closure of county buildings and offices made the permits required for large crowds inaccessible during the shutdown, making the timing unfortunate.”

Warrick said that county permits for large social gatherings require at least one month of prior approval, and the decision needed to be made during the uncertain time the county was in shutdown. With the extra-cautionary concern of many local and state institutions to give the approval to large public gatherings, and their necessary social distancing, the Elks Lodge decided not to press on.

“Because the parade is such an important holiday event in Carmichael, and the state was starting to reopen, a lot of people had been inquiring about whether or not the 4th of July Parade would be held,” said Warrick. “But now, during the distinct reopening phases, things keep changing on a daily basis, and the best and safest thing we can do is plan for the future. These things, like the virus, happen and they are not to blame. For us it was mainly a timing issue.”

For now, the Elks Lodge is seeking ideas, themes and Grand Marshal suggestions for next year’s Fourth of July Parade. If you wish to communicate with the Lodge, please contact carmelks@mycci.net or phone Coordinator Jim Warrick at (916) 489-2103.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – On Friday, May 29, 2020, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (Metro Fire or the District) welcomed eighteen new Firefighters, as Recruit Class 20-1 graduates from the Metro Fire Recruit Academy, a California State Fire Marshal Accredited Fire Fighter 1 Academy. Metro Fire Chief Todd Harms highlighted to the new recruits the fact that it was a memorable moment in which “you all are starting your careers and this [same] weekend members are [also] retiring from their careers.”

The Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522 Honor Guard marked the opening of the ceremony with the presentation of the Colors and a processional by a bagpiper from its Pipes and Drums Society.

This was a special class, challenged not only by the usual grueling physical demands and intense academics but by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Metro Fire is particularly proud of these new Firefighters for their ability to adapt; ensuring they continued to be successful on the academy grounds while maintaining obligations to their families and other loved ones during this atypical period in all of our lives.

Under the direction of Metro Fire Assistant Chief/Director of Training Adam House and Drill Master/Captain Jason Harris, the sixteen-week academy included hundreds of hours on the drill ground and classroom combining the knowledge and skills critical for performing emergency operations on scene at fires, emergency medical incidents, and motor vehicle accidents. Recruits also trained in live structural fires, simulated structural collapses, wildland fire suppression, and learned countless other firefighting and rescue skills.

Captain Harris noted that “all these things are simple in concept, but they are very difficult to execute, especially when you are at the limits of mental and physical endurance… and all under time constraints.”

Physical fitness and overall health was also emphasized to reinforce proper physical training for the rigors of firefighting and the healthy lifestyle and nutrition choices required to ensure a long and healthy career.

Many fire service traditions were on display.  Graduating Firefighters received their badges, took their oaths to serve the public, and received their probationary station and shift assignments. Chief Harms told the recruits, “You’ve each earned your badge; the challenge now is to live up to the traditions and standards that go along with that badge that will go along with you.”

Chief Harms said to the 20-1 class passing on the advice of Metro Fire retirees, “Thirty years comes and goes by really quickly. Enjoy the good times, and know that there is going to be bad times along the way.”

Due to restrictions on large gatherings the event was celebrated without families of the graduates and only District staff essential to the graduation ceremony was in attendance.

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is proud to announce the graduation and deployment of nine CHP canine teams, along with one canine team from the University of California, Davis Police Department.  The certification of the new canine teams follows 400-600 hours of training.

Due to the current health crisis, the traditional graduation ceremony and skills demonstration was not held, but the Department does want to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of the teams, while sharing the news of their successful certification with the public as they begin deploying to communities throughout the state.

“The addition of these highly specialized teams to our existing canine units is a win for the people of California,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said.  “Sending more handlers and their canine partners to patrol throughout the state, following their intensive training, will undoubtedly make a positive impact on public and officer safety.”

This is the second of two graduations in 2020 for canines trained in handler protection and narcotics detection, handler protection and explosive detection, or explosive detection only.  The canine teams complete between 10 and 15 weeks of intensive training at the CHP Academy, depending on their specialty.  The CHP officers represent seven different geographical regions, statewide.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

California Highway Patrol Canine Fact List:

Although a formal graduation ceremony was not held due to the pandemic, eight Patrol and Narcotics Detection Canine (PNDC) teams and one Explosives Detection Canine; (EDC) team completed training and were certified by the California Highway Patrol; (CHP) on May 28, 2020.  Additionally, one Patrol and Explosives Detection Canine; (PEDC) team from the University of California, Davis Police graduated with this class;

The PNDC teams go through 11 intensive weeks, or 440 hours, of criminal apprehension and narcotic detection training.  The PEDC teams go through 15 weeks of intensive training, or 600 hours, of criminal apprehension and explosives detection training.  The EDC teams go through 10 weeks of intensive training, or 400 hours, of explosives detection training.  The canines are used to support the Department’s mission of providing Safety, Service, and Security to the public;

Among the graduates were four Belgian Malinois (Mal-lin-wah), one Dutch Shepherd, four German Shepherd Dogs, and one German Shorthair Pointer;

All handlers are experienced officers with the CHP.  The officers represent the following CHP Divisions: Northern, Valley, Golden Gate, Border, Coastal, Inland, and Protective Services;

The canines are trained to meet the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training canine team guidelines;

To maintain the canine's interest and skills at a high level for peak performance, and to expose the team to various situations likely to be encountered while working in the field, eight hours of weekly training is required throughout their career;

Following this graduation, the CHP will have 38 PNDC teams, six PEDC teams, and six EDC teams deployed throughout the state.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Electronic Caregiver®, a national virtual care and health technology company, has partnered with AlphaOne Ambulance Medical Services Inc. to provide peace of mind and protection for seniors – the portion of the population most vulnerable to COVID-19. 

Sacramento resident Dot Boyd, an independent partner of Electronic Caregiver, offers the company’s lifesaving technology to those living in the Greater Sacramento Area. Electronic Caregiver’s products include telehealth and remote patient monitoring services, which have become vital tools in slowing the spread and impact of COVID-19. The partnership will give Electronic Caregiver clients in Sacramento County the option to connect with AlphaOne as their preferred emergency medical service at the touch of a button via Electronic Caregiver’s technology. AlphaOne specializes in senior care and is trusted by many Sacramento County seniors as their go-to service. 

“Electronic Caregiver’s products protect the older adult population and activate paramedics in medical emergencies,” said AlphaOne Business Development Manager Mike Ryder. “Our partnership will allow them to activate paramedics trained in geriatric Emergency Medical Sciences (GEMS) providing a level of care our older adults prefer.”

AlphaOne provides assessments at no charge, which can be a huge value to seniors who often live on a fixed income. The company also specializes in dementia care and works with many of the county’s memory care communities. 

“Taking the time needed to properly evaluate our residents with advanced needs is a great tool in providing specialized care,” Ryder said. “Oftentimes older adults prefer to not have all the unnecessary apparatus show up in a medical emergency and trust our staff to treat them with dignity and respect while providing the care they need. We are often the preferred provider to many of the assisted living, independent living, skilled nursing communities in our area.”

Electronic Caregiver clients in Sacramento County can have the added benefit of AlphaOne when they subscribe to the Premier, a mobile security and care support system, or the Pro Health, a chronic care and remote patient monitoring system. Clients who need urgent medical care can push the emergency button on either of these devices to directly connect with AlphaOne, saving them valuable time in looking for their phone or having to manually dial a number. 

“In the independent living communities where people may not have a personal emergency response system (PERS), every individual is on their own,” Boyd said. “And so, for them to know that when they push their button AlphaOne will be dispatched gives them a lot of peace of mind.”

Along with 24/7 emergency response, the Premier includes care plan reminders, activity monitoring, geolocation and pocketMD telemedicine. PocketMD provides clients with remote access to not only a licensed physician, but also a psychologist, pharmacist, dentist, dietician, sports medicine specialist, alternative medicine specialist, pediatrician, and ophthalmologist. 

Electronic Caregiver client Joann Charamuga, who lives in an independent living community in Sacramento, said she enrolled in the AlphaOne program via her Premier subscription. She enjoys the sense of security and reduced financial costs that come with using AlphaOne as her primary emergency response service.

For those with chronic conditions or who would like access to remote patient monitoring services, Electronic Caregiver’s Pro Health is ideal. The smart health hub is easily set up in the home and can be paired with several Bluetooth devices, including a glucometer, spirometer, blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, weight scale and non-contact thermometer. Both the pulse oximeter and thermometer have been identified by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) as tools patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 can use to monitor their condition and help guide them on important medical decisions. 

The Pro Health also includes 24/7 emergency response, medication reminders and pocketMD.

“Right now, because of the COVID-19 scare, people are ignoring serious or chronic health issues because of their fear of picking up the virus at their doctor's office or at the hospital,” Boyd said. “Sadly, the reports are in that they're waiting until it's too late and too many are dying from non-COVID-19 illnesses as a result.”

“With the push of a button, any time of the day or night, my clients can consult with a doctor, and avoid sitting in a waiting room with other sick patients who may have virus symptoms,” she said. “I wish we had this when I was my mom's primary caregiver because we could have avoided trips to the emergency department when there were no other options on a Friday night or over the weekend.”

In addition to seniors, Electronic Caregiver’s technology can benefit patients of all ages. For information about Electronic Caregiver and services offered in the Greater Sacramento County Area, contact Dot Boyd at 916-799-1660 or dot@dotforseniorsafety.com.