The White Falcon - 09.12.1977, Qupperneq 1

Volume 33 Number 49
Kefiavik, Iceland
December 9, 1977
Make fire safety first
Plan preholiday
fire prevention
With the approach of the holiday sea-
son, it is now time to start that pre-
holiday fire prevention planning. Don't
let "fire" mar the season's festivities
by careless acts.
During this period many additional
hazards are introduced into the homes,
clubs and other places of public assem-
blance. These are brought about by the
use of flammable decorative materials,
large gatherings of people, careless
smoking habits, overloading of elec-
trical wiring and other conditions in-
herent to the prevailing spirit of
fire.
While these hazards are well recog-
nized by fire prevention personnel,
they are not always apparent, thought
of or taken seriously by people who
create the condition.
Make fire safety first on "your"
Christmas list, so you may enjoy the
Short stateside visit
rest of your Christmas gifts.
Sound planning will ensure the
achievement of a happier holiday sea-
son. To assist in making this holiday
season "fire free", attention should
be given to the following hints:
At home
1. Stand the Christmas tree in
water outside.until just before
Christmas; before erecting the tree,
saw off the trunk at an angle at
least one inch above the original
cut. Place the freshly cut trunk in
a container of water and keep the
level above the cut the entire time
the tree is indoors. Support the
tree well and don't locate it near
sources of heat (radiators, stoves,
etc.) or where it will block the
way out of a room or the apartment.
2. The lighting you use should be
That others
strictly electric. Be sure to check
lighting sets for fixed cables, loose
connections and broken sockets, and
don't plug too many extensions into
one circuit. Look for the U/L label of
approval.
3. Candles should be avoided; how-
ever, if you do use candles, make cer-
tain that your candle is situated well
away from combustibles and don't use
combustible candle holders.
4. The gifts, the real attention
getter in the end, and their wrappings
are not to be overlooked in the fire
safety rules. Toys which are operated
by alcohol, kerosene or gasoline are
dangerous for children and should be
supervised by adults when used. Again
look for the U/L label. Dispose of
gift wrappings promptly—either fold
them neatly together or place in metal
trash container as soon as possible.
5. And last, but not least, have
may live
your fire escape plan up-to-date. Dis-
cuss with all members of the family
what to do in case they wake up in the
middle of the night and learn that
there is a fire in the house. Rehearse
your plan.
Does your smoke detector work? Test
it. Remember the fire phone number is
17.
Places of public assembly
1. Noncombustible decorations should
be selected.
2. Custodians should be very care-
ful not to block emergency exits and
exit ways; make certain exit doors are
unlocked and in good operating condi-
tion.
3. Evergreens should be kept in-
doors for the least amount of time.
The Naval Station Fire Department
wishes to take this opportunity to ex-
tend to everyone a most sincere happy
and fire free holiday season.
Detachment 14's primary mission twice within 10 days
customs duties defined
An individual who goes on leave or
limited duty assignment to the United
States is considered a nonresident for
US Customs declaration.
In this capacity, an individual may
import duty free: Personal effects
(e.g. wearing apparel and toilet arti-
cles) for one's own use, not intended
as a gift for sale to another person;
300 cigarettes or 50 cigars or three
pounds of smoking tobacco or propor-
tionate amounts of each; not more than
one quart of alcoholic beverage for
personal consumption and $100 worth of
articles for use as bonafide gifts to
other persons.
To claim these exemptions, an in-
dividual must be out of the continental
United States for at least 72 hours and
must not have used this exemption in
the past six months. Other merchandise
returned to CONUS under these conditions
will be subject to customs duties,
federal and state taxes as applicable.
For more information, contact the
Military Customs Office at T-790 or
call 4639.
"That others may live" is the Aero-
space Rescue and Recovery Service motto
which sums up the primary mission of De-
tachment 14.
Twice in the last 10 days, Det. 14
has had the opportunity to live up to
this ideal and help ease the suffering
of others.
Six hundred miles to the northeast
of Iceland, in the region of perpetual
darkness above the Arctic Circle, lies
the volcanic island of Jan Mayan. It
is a desolate island except for the
small Norwegian crew who operates and
maintains the Loran (long range naviga-
tion) Station there.
These men seldom receive mail or
other communication from other global
parts, but last week Patrol Squadron 16
"Eagles" helped to close this gap.
Crew 2, commanded by Lieutenant Jim
VanSickle, flew to Jan Mayan, finally
making a delivery of more than 130
pounds of mail.
Working in close cooperation with the
U.S. Navy and the Icelandic Lifesaving
Association, Det. 14 aided in an effort
to save Mrs. Delores A. Blake, the late
wife of the American Ambassador to Ice-
land James J. Blake and a two-year-old
Icelandic girl.
Upon being notified last week that
The aircraft was manuevered among
high mountains and radio towers,
through areas of turbulence and up the
length of the island at an altitude of
only 200 feet.
The mail, protected in heavy plastic
containers, was then dropped to an
anxious group of Norwegians when the
aircraft accomplished a sharp turn to
avoid a 1,400 ft. ridgeline and headed
back out to sea.
As Crew 2 began the journey home, a
successful drop was confirmed by the
grateful Loran crew over the aircraft's
radios.
Mrs. Blake was critically ill in a Rey-
kjavik hospital and would require an
emergency medevac to the United States,
the detachment launched an HH-3E "Jolly
Green Giant" helicopter to meet a wait-
ing ambulance at the Reykjavik Airport.
Upon its return to Kefiavik, the
helicopter landed next to the Opera-
tions Control hangar. A waiting P-3C
"Orion" completed the mercy mission to
Andrews Air Force Base, Washington,
DC.
The detachment also responded Monday
to a call for assistance from the ILA.
An Isafjordur girl was suffering from
acute leukemia and needed immediate
evacuation to Reykjavik to save her
life.
Despite low ceilings and high winds
enroute, the helicopter crew was able
to pick up the little girl and a woman
with a broken leg at the Isafjordur
Hospital and speed them to waiting am-
bulances at the Reykjavik Airport.
Sixteen individuals have been saved
by Det. 14 efforts this year, with the
detachment having been involved in
rescuing 128 persons since its arrival
in October 1971.
VP-16 plays Santa Claus to Norwegians
stationed in the Loran
Father Joseph C. Martin to visit base
Gives views on alcoholism and
the cure
Father Joseph C. Martin of "Chalktalk"
and "Guidelines" fame is scheduled to
arrive at Naval Station, Kefiavik Monday.
His visit will be sponsored by the
Commanding Officer, Naval Station, Kef-
iavik in conjunction with the Alcohol
Rehabilitation Drydock located in Bldg.
636.
Having been involved in alcoholism
programs since 1959, Father Martin worked
full time with permission of his ecclesi-
astical superiors as a lecturer and edu-
cator in the Division of Alcoholism Con-
trol, Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene, State of Maryland from October
1970 until September 1973.
He has served as an alcoholism con-
sultant since the fall of 1970.
Father Martin is a graduate of
Rutgers Summer School on Alcohol
Studies and has served as a consultant
for the United States armed forces.
Father Martin made the film "Chalk-
talk on Alcoholism" for the U.S. Navy in
February 1972. It has since become a
primary educational vehicle on alcoholism
for most branches of the federal govern-
ment, especially the armed services. It
is also used by industry—American Tele-
phone and Telegraph and Standard Oil of
California and the Mayo Clinic—as well
as other medical facilities, hospitals,
rehabilitation centers and state alco-
holism programs.
While at Kefiavik, Father Martin will
give a presentation for all interested
personnel at Andrews Theater at 10 a.m.
Thursday. This presentation should be
of interest to all military and civilian
personnel, both supervisory and nonsuper-
visory, and to dependents as well. Per-
sonnel from all NATO base commands are
urged to attend.
He will also speak to management and
supervisory personnel at the NavSta con-
ference room Tuesday at 10 a.m. In
addition, he will address the Dispensary
staff at 3 p.m. Wednesday.