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Show © Weighing the:'" FIREFIGHTERS From page 6 for the rest of the day. Hellstern said they run over 3,500 calls per year. "Then if they get stacked up you have back to back calls, and you've got stacks of paper that's just crazy," Hellstern said. Although most would think that being married to a firefighter would be tough, his wife knows exactly what he's doing at all times, because she's a 911 dispatcher. "She tells me where to go here and at home. So, it really helps because the conversation at home really flows well, she understands where I'm coming from so it really helps," he said. A lot of people have misconceptions of firefighters; that they're a "good ole boys club" and just sit and relax, Hellstern said. Although that my have been true in the past, it's not now, he added. "This isn't just a big play sand box," he said. "You don't come to work to play, you come to work to save people's lives to help them in their moment of need," he added. Logan's fire department currently has two fire stations \Comme because of the growth "Somedays you get skunked, to the where you don't run a single area. ing for the Logan Fire Department. "I've been here for five years and I enjoy it," he said. As a full time firefighter he works 48 hour shifts with 13 other firefighters, who rotate between three shifts. The minimum staff is 11 and three of the 14 are off each day. "There's not a lot of down time in this job," he said. Beginning at 8 a.m. they have a round table and are given the minutes for the day, and told what crew they are assigned to, whether it's the rescue crew (paramedics) or the engine (fires). From about 8 to 9 a.m. they check out the trucks in the truck bay from the previous day and make sure all the equipment is put away and in working order. Next they physically train for an hour in the weight room. Firefighters carry 75 pounds with just their uniform and then at least 25 pounds of equipment they carried on each job. Hellstern said they need to be in shape. Speak Up Lunchtime is time for them to kick back, watch the news or start on their train- call, but there are those days "We're ing. But from where this station has run up to getting to be a big 1 p.m. to 5 22 calls." enough p.m. it's a Rhett Hellstern, Firefighter city and a scheduled big enough day, where area in Cache County that they plan lessons for their the call volume has increased volunteer training groups. significantly," Hellstern said. "The best way to prevent One main one is located a fire from happening is to downtown at 76 East 200 teach people how to prevent North and the second, where a fire in the first place. That Hellstern works, is by Snow should be our number one and the second should be fire Hall. "The response time from suppression," Hellstern said. downtown to here was excesMost days, although, sive it was more than the five planned to be organized, are not, with frequent calls in the minutes that is optimal," he said. middle of training. They added thefiresta"Today we've already had tion in 2003 to help with the four orfivecalls and it's just response, because it took too barely noon," he said. "Some long to get up the hill to get days you get skunked, where to the homes, apartments, or you don't run a single call. the canyon, he said. But there are those days And with 30,000 more where this station has run up students coming in each fall to 22 calls." it's a benefit for USU and all Although the firefighters the people in the community, live for the sound of the call, he said. they realize it takes so much out of them. "This is my second fam"The amount of stress ily, I consider all the guys I that's involved with that is work with my brothers. We're very high, with all the emoall really goodfriendsand tions," he said. "Especially get along pretty good," he when it deals with a child, said. "You have those little the emotions are just outratrifles every once in a while geous, but there's just that like every family does but for drive that keeps you going the most part we're a pretty and you do the best you can close-knit family. That's for everybody you go to." where you get that sense When it comes to a tragof team work, that sense of edy in one of those calls togetherness that really helps they've got to keep their head do the job." on and push through it. They all live together in "You have to be on top of the same building, with one your game all the time. That's hallway, a living room, workwhy we consistently study. out room, kitchen and front That's why we're always desk. Their rooms are just big training," he said. "There's enough tofita single bed and some you save and there's just a desk. some you don't and you've "There's not a lot of jobs just got to learn how to deal out there that you count on with that emotion," he added. your buddy or your co-worker Each call lasts for about to save your life, because you an hour, and if there's 22 go into a fire and that buddy calls in a day, and the paper- that's walking in behind you work takes up to another may be the one carrying you hour per call, then that only back out/' he said. leaves them with two hours -ranaebang@cc.usu.edu RISKS and * BENEFITScf drinking 1 Light/Moderate Heavy Drinking Drinking Risks ; , r ; R i s k s / v . / - ; ;_;•;.'/-V;V^;; Established: •Heavy drinking .[-: ' Noncardiovascular •Liver cirrhosis •Pancreatitis Unresolved: •Breast cancer •Fetal damage Unlikely: -. •Bowel cancer •Hemorrhagic stroke •High blood pressure Cardiovascular •High blood pressure •Arrhythmia Probable: •Decreased risk of cor- •Hemorrhagic stroke •Cardiomyopathy onary heart disease •Decreased risk of isch- (damaged heart muscle) emic stroke •Decreased risk of gallstones Benefits Possible: •Decreased risk of diab e t e s > ; ' • • • ;"t'•)-:• "•••..' ••.. •;••"-/. •Decreased risk of peripheral vascular disease (narrowing or clogging of the arteries carrying blood to the arms and legs) studies, they point that out. We're not talking about binge drinking... There's nothing beneficial about that." But, he said, "You could argue that (alcohol as a social lubricant) is a social benefit. It brings people out." Gregson agreed, saying, "In social situations, it helps me lose inhibitions, and I'm not worried about how I look... It breaks down the wall with people you don't know." He said drinking helps him not worry about what other people are thinking of him, and that makes him more likely to reach out to meet other people. Gregson added that when he drinks, he's not as self conscious when he does stuff like dancing, and he believes others feel the same way. "I'm always under control though," he said. -rebrad@cc.usu.edu None Information from "Drink to Your Health?71 by Arthur L. Klatsky, Scientific American ; \Special Edition, Dec. ' 2006, Vol. 16, Issue 4. ;• Students seek to protect second amendment rights with gun club "People who don't know much about guns are afraid of them, exposure and safety education will increase understanding so they don't fear them," Young said. Protecting their right to own and operate firearms, stuEducation and safety is very important when it comes dents gathered together Thursday, March 28, at Chili's res- to handling firearms, especially so no one gets hurt, but taurant to discuss plans to form a new gun club at USU. for Jake Freeman, a junior in psychology, his right to own Brandon Stoker a regional field representative for the a gun is fundamental to a free society. Leadership Institute came from Idaho to help organize the "Gun ownership is crucial to the concept of being free. club here. As a member of the Leadership Institute he has It is necessary for citizens to be well armed and trained to worked with many different universities to start and then know how to use weapons for peace," he said. promote several different clubs. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Freeman said for them to He helps students who want to become a club they would need start a new club organize thema president, a constitution that selves, write charters and helps explains the purposes and goals them work through the legislation of the group, and it would have '{Comments WWfietnber of getting a club started. to be approved by the school. He Stoker placed fliers around "People who don't know much about guns are said it would probably take up to campus advertising the dinner at afraid of them, exposure and safety education 6 weeks before everything would Chili's and enticing students to be finalized. come with a box of free ammuni- will increase understanding so they don't fear Karli Bilskie, a junior in tion. About 16 students came to family finance, was at Thursday's them." the opening meeting. From those meeting. She said she has been 16 students they chose a presiMatt Young, Club President shooting with her father since dent to spearhead the club. Matt she was 11 years old, and when Young, a graduate student in psyshe heard that a gun club would be starting at USU she chology, was chosen to be the club's first president. was excited to see it happen. "I want to learn more of the Young said they understand there are challenges that safety and proper uses of certain guns, and I just want await them as they start a new club - for one being recmore practice," she said. ognized by the school as a legitimate organization - but Young said that most of the gun clubs meeting will be doesn't anticipate too many hurtles blocking them from for training, practice, safety, and teaching students what finalizing the club. to look for when purchasing a gun. He also hopes to have He and the other students gathered at Thursdays meet- concealed weapon permit classes to make more responing wanted to start the club for different reasons but sible gun handlers. agreed that gun safety and education would be a main -dwkoecher@cc.usu.edu focus. BY D A L L I N KOCCMER Senior Writer ValleyViewApartnents.com Markers- 640 E 900 N #3 (435)787-2100 phone- f 435.753.4777 sii.cilleikii.con - keep it moderate." But Waite said there are other ways for people to get some of the same good results that moderate drinking can have. He said exercising and healthy eating habits can have the same and possibly better results. And while these health benefits are possible, some may drink for other reasons. "Having a beer helps me relax after a long day of work," said Ryan Gregson, a junior in biology. One or two drinks can be relaxing, Flint said, but Waite and Flint agree the setting of alcohol consumption has effects. Flint said drinking can enhance what someone is already feeling, whether it be anger, happiness or depression. And having more than a couple drinks at the end of the week, even if someone hasn't had a drink all week, doesn't fit in with moderate drinking. "That's not the same," Flint said. "In all these helping people to lose their inhabit ions. Speak Up h CAFFE- IBIS From page 5 Statesman photo illustration DRINKING ALCOHOL CAN HAVE several health benefits but there are also social benefits including The Whole ?ac BD*STEBS •Certain cancers •Accidents ; •Homicides •Suicides > •Fetal damage •Degenerative disorders of the central ner-, : vous system •'! Benefits can get COFFEE ; •'.'•{,'•'• • ALCOHOL ( JOB SEARCH BOOT CAMP WE WANT YOU! (BttTE A BBUME scnvminra > ! • • • : ACnVRYNEIVORKWIH ALUMMfiBOUNES APPLYHFCARHRHHIHIfi THUR APRIL l a m 2PMTOSPJK. BUSINESS BUDJINC RM. I B SEATING IS LIMITED! OR CALL (433 737-7777 SPONSORED BY CAREER SERVICES' V |
