Employee Sidelines...The Fun Stuff

Our Own Female Firefighter

Before joining IIa as our Biodiversity Information Specialist, Shelaine Curd spent time as a wildland firefighter. You heard right, a firefighter. During the summer of 2000, Shelaine completed her basic training and a pack test to be part of a prescribed burn crew. The basic training included two courses covering basic wildland fire hazards, techniques, and skills. The pack test consists of carrying a 40-pound pack for three miles in under 45 minutes. After training, she joined the National Park Service as a member of the newly formed Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Fire Use Module.

Shelaine spent a lot of time working on prescribed fires (ones set under controlled conditions) and some time on wildland fires. Most of her prescribed burning was done in the Everglades of Florida (see photo, right). "It was great…of course, extremely hot and amazing how quickly that kind of vegetation burns," Shelaine remembered.

She also worked on a wildland fire in Yosemite National Park. According to Shelaine, "Once in the main park they flew us by helicopter to the base camp. The helicopter ride (my first) was incredible...We flew right over the edge of half-dome and then swooped down to the wilderness area where the base camp was

located. ... Every morning we hiked to the perimeter and either worked on the fire line, watched and recorded the fire behavior, scouted spot fires (on the wrong side of the line) ... In addition, one evening I was able to participate in a back burn (see photo, right) on the side of the mountain. We watched the fire burn well into the night. It was incredible… I was there 19 days. At this time, Yosemite is still my favorite park!" If you'd like to find out more about the life of wildland firefighters, Shelaine recommends www.nationalgeographic.com/firecall/.

Sand Bagger

Patrick Air Force Base Library Director Marta Demopoulos has had a little outdoor training of her own. On Wednesday, May 15, Marta joined approximately 75 others on base in mandatory sand bag training, a new life skill. She now knows "the proper way to fill and place sand bags in case of disaster." The two-hour training session got under way bright and early at 7:00 a.m. on that sunny Florida morning. Marta said she had a few sore muscles just from watching the trainers heft those 50-pound bags of sand!

Keep Your Identity Safe…

With the rate of identity theft growing, here are some tips from different sources on things you can do to safeguard your identity.

• Photocopy both sides of your driver's license, credit cards, insurance cards, etc. in case your wallet is stolen. Place the photocopy in a secure, fireproof place.
• If your wallet/purse is stolen, file a police report and cancel credit cards immediately.
• Also if your wallet/purse is stolen, call the three national credit reporting agencies and the social security administration to place a fraud alert on your account:
• Equifax 800-525-6285
• Experian (formerly TRW) 888-397-3742
• Trans Union 800-680-7289
• ocial Security Administration 800-269-0271.
• Be careful at ATM's and using Phone Cards. "Shoulder Surfers" can get your "Pin Number" access to your accounts.
• Have all of your checks delivered to your bank , not to your home address.
• Do not put checks in the mail from your home mailbox. Drop them off at a U.S. Mailbox Post Office. It's easy to change the name of the recipient on the check with an acid wash.
• Do not put your telephone number on your checks.
  

• Get credit and business cards with your picture on them.
• Sign your new cards as soon as they arrive and store them in a secure place.
• Carry only the cards you will use.
• Do not write your personal identification number on the back of your bank or credit cards.
• Do not print your Social Security number on checks.
• Shred anything with your account number before throwing it away, including preapproved credit card offers.
• Don't give your card number over the phone unless you initiate the call and ask why your information is needed before providing it.
• Don't write your card number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.
• Remember to get your card and receipt after a transaction, and double-check to be sure they're yours.
• Notify card issuers immediately if your billing statement is incorrect or if you don't receive your billing statement.
• Request a copy of your credit report every few years. Reviewing your report will tell you if anyone has applied for credit in your name and if any accounts are being used without your knowledge, with the billing statement being sent to a different address.