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WEIGHTED BLANKETS PURCHASED FOR USE ON SPOKANE VALLEY FIRE TRUCKS
For Immediate Release:
June 18, 2019
Contact: Julie Happy
Community Affairs Manager
Spokane Valley Fire
509.892.4155
WEIGHTED BLANKETS PURCHASED FOR USE ON SPOKANE VALLEY FIRE TRUCKS
BLANKETS HAVE CALMING EFFECT ON THOSE EXPERIENCING CRISIS
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The Spokane Valley Fire Department has purchased weighted blankets from the Isaac Foundation. These blankets have been delivered to most stations and ALS apparatus. The blankets are for use on Firetrucks to be available for calming individuals with autism. They can however, be used for anyone who may be in crisis, stressed, or having a bad day. They can even be used to calm a fellow Firefighter.
“We wanted to help the Spokane Valley Fire Department to be better prepared and to have training in calming techniques with individuals with autism,” said Holly Lytle, Founder and Executive Director of Isaac Foundation. “The great thing about the weighted blankets is they help everyone who is experiencing crisis, not just those with autism. The SVFD is going to find that these blankets are a huge asset to their crisis response.”
Weighted blankets are a comfort to individuals with autism, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD and can enhance a person’s quality of sleep by reducing anxiety and agitation.
“We are always looking for ways to improve crisis response,” said Fire Captain and Paramedic, Jeff Fraser. “This seemed like a great option to incorporate for helping those individuals who are in distress and in need of care.”
Weighted blankets and lap pads are made with a synthetic poly pellet that is machine washable.
The perfect weighted blanket is 10% of the body weight. Another alternative is the weighted lap pad. These are excellent for use in smaller areas or when away from home to improve focus and concentration during sit down classroom work, eating meals, or even riding in the car.
About SVFD
Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the City of Spokane Valley, City of Liberty Lake, City of Millwood and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Spokane County with a combined population of 125,000 across 75 square miles. SVFD firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 17,280 emergency calls in 2017. Established in 1940, SVFD is an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, one of only a handful in Washington State.
For more information about Spokane Valley Fire Department, visit www.spokanevalleyfire.com.
Follow us @spokanevalleyfire on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.
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Did you Know?
- You can sign up for a station tour. Great for small groups.
- You should replace the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year.
- Creating a defensible space with regards to wildfires could just save your home or property.
- We have Friends & Family CPR classes every month.
