Phoenix, AZ, USA
The frantic sound of a dog whining and barking may not be what Chriss Trott is accustomed to hearing when he answers 911 calls, but it was enough to save the life of Joe Stalnaker on Wednesday when he suffered a seizure.
Stalnaker's home is flagged in the 911 database as having a trained assistance dog who may call for help in an emergency. Buddy, Stalnaker's faithful German shepherd, has been trained since puppyhood to recognize the symptoms of a seizure, get the telephone, and press specially programmed numbers that contact the 911 emergency hotline.
"It's pretty incredible," says Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark "Even the veteran dispatchers — they haven't heard of anything like this."Clark further reports that Mr. Stalnaker spent a couple of days in the hospital, making a full recovery from his seizure thanks to Buddy. Man's best friend, indeed.
To read more, visit http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jeDqeOQlgzwM4VjSCR1TETh6rM4AD936NST82
Thanks going out to Papa Goose for this story!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Junkyards Go Green
New Hampshire, USA
How green can garbage get? A new campaign in New Hampshire has been inspiring-and requiring-salvage lots to clean up their act. Junkyards are particularly difficult areas to keep in line with environmental law due to the increasing number of regulations regarding the disposal of mechanical leftovers. Cars alone have 13 parts with specific regulations pertaining to their storage.
Both local communities and the Federal government were concerned over water contamination from spilled gas and oil, but the real impetus for change came from within the industry itself: the New Hampshire Auto & Truck Recyclers Association reached out to the Department of Environmental Science in 2003 for advice and help on cleaning up junkyards and staying in compliance. Now over 160 yards across the state of New Hampshire are involved in a nationally recognized and governmentally lauded program called New Hampshire Green Yards.
"We have wonderful compliance from the junkyards as far as this town is concerned," said Dee Voss, manager for the building inspector's office in Plaistow, which has three salvage yards. "They get surprise visits from us almost quarterly and they are quick to act when we ask something of them."
Turning over a new leaf hasn’t been easy. ASAP Auto salvage yard owner Ken Chapman points out the difference between the old days and the new, greener ones:
"Every time you turn around there's a new law," he said. "Junkyards used to pour the used oil on the ground just to keep the dust down, and it was fine."
That is precisely one of the ways in which the Green Yard program supports those they oversee is by helping them to cope with the continually expanding list of disposal regulations. Together they have compiled its Best Management Practices: with recommendations and guidelines along with free training videos and site assessments by state experts.
"Our members all feel positive about the whole thing," Ken reports. "At first some didn't feel that way, but now that they've been through it and have seen how it works, they are finding that it works well for them."
The Green Yard project has even inspired some salvage yards to go above and beyond by taking voluntary precautions. Some are only draining fluids indoors and using water-soluble degreasing solvents. In response, taking such self-starting measures is specially recognized by the state’s official Green Yard Certification, a sort of gold star rating for salvage yards. The recognition comes complete with official flags and magnetic truck door signs which are displayed with pride. It’s great to see another example of green practices sprouting up, even amongst scrap metal and old carburetors.
How green can garbage get? A new campaign in New Hampshire has been inspiring-and requiring-salvage lots to clean up their act. Junkyards are particularly difficult areas to keep in line with environmental law due to the increasing number of regulations regarding the disposal of mechanical leftovers. Cars alone have 13 parts with specific regulations pertaining to their storage.
Both local communities and the Federal government were concerned over water contamination from spilled gas and oil, but the real impetus for change came from within the industry itself: the New Hampshire Auto & Truck Recyclers Association reached out to the Department of Environmental Science in 2003 for advice and help on cleaning up junkyards and staying in compliance. Now over 160 yards across the state of New Hampshire are involved in a nationally recognized and governmentally lauded program called New Hampshire Green Yards.
"We have wonderful compliance from the junkyards as far as this town is concerned," said Dee Voss, manager for the building inspector's office in Plaistow, which has three salvage yards. "They get surprise visits from us almost quarterly and they are quick to act when we ask something of them."
Turning over a new leaf hasn’t been easy. ASAP Auto salvage yard owner Ken Chapman points out the difference between the old days and the new, greener ones:
"Every time you turn around there's a new law," he said. "Junkyards used to pour the used oil on the ground just to keep the dust down, and it was fine."
That is precisely one of the ways in which the Green Yard program supports those they oversee is by helping them to cope with the continually expanding list of disposal regulations. Together they have compiled its Best Management Practices: with recommendations and guidelines along with free training videos and site assessments by state experts.
"Our members all feel positive about the whole thing," Ken reports. "At first some didn't feel that way, but now that they've been through it and have seen how it works, they are finding that it works well for them."
The Green Yard project has even inspired some salvage yards to go above and beyond by taking voluntary precautions. Some are only draining fluids indoors and using water-soluble degreasing solvents. In response, taking such self-starting measures is specially recognized by the state’s official Green Yard Certification, a sort of gold star rating for salvage yards. The recognition comes complete with official flags and magnetic truck door signs which are displayed with pride. It’s great to see another example of green practices sprouting up, even amongst scrap metal and old carburetors.
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