Feb. 13
We’re lucky to have a robust, professional fire service here in Minnesota. It means that when there’s a fire, we can take for granted that our local fire department will show up and do its best to prevent loss of life and property. But the number of firefighters is dwindling. Firefighters are retiring or otherwise leaving the fire service, and there aren’t enough people stepping up to take their places. In fact, firefighter recruitment and retention is one of the biggest issues facing Minnesota fire departments. And did you know that most Minnesota firefighters are volunteers?
Feb. 10
Many of us would never drive after drinking, but we’re not as hesitant about getting behind the wheel after being awake for too long or not getting enough sleep. It turns out that can be just as dangerous as driving while impaired. Part of the issue is that we tend not to count drowsy driving among the “big four” problem behaviors: driving impaired, speeding, distracted driving and not wearing a seat belt. But researchers claim that drowsy driving actually belongs in that first category; it’s just that the impairment comes from fatigue, not alcohol or drugs...
Feb. 6
If you’ve lived in Minnesota for at least one winter, you know that snow and ice affect pretty much every aspect of our lives in the winter months. If you’re not scraping it off your car, you’re shoveling it off your sidewalks or making a snowman from it or simply hiding from it indoors where it’s warm and cozy. But there’s one more thing affected by snow and ice that you may not think of: your natural gas meter. If gas is what keeps your home warm in the winter (or at least runs some of your appliances), you’ll need to give it a little love when it snows...
Feb. 3
Emergencies can be scary and overwhelming. Fortunately, you’ve probably had the numbers “911” drilled into you from a very young age. That way, even if your brain can do nothing else, it can remember to dial those three numbers. But what happens when there’s a temporary service disruption and those three numbers don’t work? As the managers of the 911 system in Minnesota, the Department of Public Safety division of Emergency Communication Networks (DPS-ECN) expects it to be reliable and dependable, just like you do...