Gone are the days of running to the nearest landline in an emergency. With the advancements made in technology, anyone can dial 911 on their smartphone and connect with an operator in almost no time. Sometimes, quick is not quick enough. Now, individuals can create an emergency health profile, providing first responders with the critical information they need to help care for you in a medical emergency.

LeeCom consolidated dispatch recently shared information on an app that can be downloaded by anyone.

RapidSOS, an app for smartphones, is an emergency response data platform which securely links life-saving data from connected devices or profiles to 911 and first responders in an emergency.

The app even has a silent panic alarm button, which can be pressed in a situation in which someone must stay quiet. There is an example given of a gas station employee who triggered the silent alarm during a robbery in progress. A safety agent then verified the claims and shared a photo of the intruder, through security camera footage, with the closest 911 center.

Having access to this platform, however, does not mean 911 telecommunicators will simply rely on the data given by the application. 911 Telecommunicators will still ask important questions prior to responders arriving on scene.

Learn more about RapidSOS and sign up with your health profile at emergencyprofile.org

Iowa experienced another week of dry and windy conditions which allowed farmers 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 6, 2024. Corn and soybean harvest continued to be the primary field activities for the week. Combine and other equipment fires were reported as weather conditions increased the risk of such fires.

Corn mature reached 90 percent, 6 days behind last year but 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn harvested for grain reached 22 percent, 2 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of normal. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 18 percent. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 93 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans harvested reached 58 percent this week, 4 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the average. Iowa farmers were able to harvest 31 percent of the State’s soybean crop during the week ending October 6, 2024. Soybean condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition continued to fall and rated just 38 percent good to excellent this week, a decrease of 6 percentage points.  Livestock water resources continue to be a concern.

The weekly report is available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov, as well as www.kilj.com.

According to the Henry County Engineer’s Office, starting Tuesday, October 8^th Oasis Avenue between 200^th Street to 220^th Street will be closed during the day for the rest of this week for a road stabilization project. The road will be open every night.

This week is fire prevention week, which has been a national observance since 1925, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Marshall from PAW Patrol, a popular kid’s show, visited Lincoln Elementary early this week. The firefighters encouraged the students to develop a fire safety plan with their families.

The Mt. Pleasant Fire and Rescue Department is hosting an open house at the fire station, 204 South Jackson Street from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.  Check out the fire station and the trucks, spray a fire hose, try on bunker gear, see Marshall, and have some cookies!