Fun, education and safety: SD fire fighters keep busy

 

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced January 14, that tonnage increased by four per cent to 38.9 million tonnes during the 2012 navigation season, exceeding the SLSMC’s original forecast by 300,000 tonnes thanks in part to a late season surge in grain movements. 

Strong performance within a number of core markets contributed to an overall gain of 1.4 million tonnes for the year, when compared to the Seaway’s 2011 result of 37.5 million tonnes.

Demand for low sulphur coal in Europe led to a substantial increase in coal volumes, while busy Chinese steel mills triggered an upsurge in the demand for iron ore.  

The shipments of coal and iron ore were brought to the Great Lakes and loaded on domestic Laker vessels.  The Lakers then proceeded from the Great Lakes to the lower St. Lawrence River, where the commodities were trans-shipped to larger ocean vessels, for export to overseas destinations.

On the grain front, 2012 was a story of contrasts as strong Canadian grain movements offset a sharp drop in U.S. grain movements, due to the drought which impacted the majority of the U.S. grain belt.  

Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the SLSMC, emphasized the essential role that the Seaway plays within the North American transportation network. 

“The Seaway was instrumental in providing grain shippers with the means to rapidly respond and capitalize on market opportunities late in the season”, said Bowles.

A number of newly built state-of-the art vessels came into service within the Seaway in 2012, boasting sharp increases in fuel efficiency and reductions in emission levels.  

“These new vessels, part of a billion dollar fleet renewal effort by domestic and ocean carriers, combined with our marketing efforts which have recorded 10.6 million tonnes in new business over the past five years, underscore the Seaway’s future potential,” added Bowles.

The 2012 season also witnessed an important advance in navigational technology.  

“The commissioning of the Draft Information System (DIS) further enhances vessel safety and efficiency”, said Craig Middlebrook, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “A vessel equipped with DIS can now precisely gauge the amount of water under the ship’s keel, given satellite guided navigation combined with highly precise models of the channel floor.”

The St. Lawrence Seaway closed for the season on December 29th, 2012, with the westbound vessel John B. Aird transiting the Iroquois Lock at 8:59 p.m. After transiting the Iroquois Lock, the John B. Aird proceeded further west and served as the last vessel to transit the Seaway’s Welland Canal, clearing Lock 8 at Port Colborne on December 31st at 4:23 a.m.

Some 227,000 jobs and $34 billion in economic activity are supported by the movement of goods within the Great Lakes / Seaway waterway.

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Tick exposure, and therefore the risk of being exposed to Lyme Disease, is a burgeoning issue, especially in this area.

While the Gananoque area has long been a hotbed for tick activity, the Seaway area, is now the number two area for tick exposure in the province of Ontario.

Dr. Devin Hunt of the Morrisburg Animal Hospital recently discussed the growing prevalence of tick exposure, and the huge growth the local veterinary practise has seen in canine exposure to Lyme disease.

“In 2006-2007 we may have seen three positive tests for exposure to Lyme disease. This year, so far, we have 26 cases so far in the Morrisburg office,” says Hunt. “These are positive tests for exposure to Lyme disease.”

Throughout the Dundas Veterinary Services practice, which includes the Morrisburg Animal Hospital, the vast majority of positive test results for Lyme come from dogs seen at the Morrisburg location.

“Of the dogs we see, about 70 per cent of those exposed to Lyme, come from the Ault Island – Ingleside area,” said Hunt. 

The remainder seem to come from the Williamsburg and Iroquois areas. 

Prevention of Lyme disease, in dogs and humans is about minimizing exposure to areas where ticks could be picked up, especially during May-June and September-October.

Hunt explains that adult ticks feed in blooms, and it is during these times when the risk of tick and Lyme disease exposure is higher. 

The ticks here that carry Lyme are black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks. 

These ticks are also carried by rodents and birds, so tick exposure is not limited to bush and grassy areas. “They can literatly be parachuted into an area by the songbirds that tend to carry them,” said Hunt.

For those living in, or frequenting the Ault Island area, Hunt suggests that dog owners consider the Lyme disease vaccine. He  generally recommends that the vaccine be done in March-April, to protect dogs during both of the peak times of the year, one of which is now.

Also, many veterinary strength fleas prevention treatments are also effective for ticks.

Hunt recommends that pet owners regularly check their dogs for ticks. 

“Generally, ticks need to be attached for 48 hours for a dog to have a significant risk of contracting Lyme disease.

Even if a dog tests positive for being exposed to Lyme, a follow up veterinary visit will determine whether or not treatment is warranted.

Hunt explains that only about five per cent of those dogs that test positive for Lyme will develop full blown Lyme disease.

“One known bite can result in a positive Lyme disease test result,” says Hunt, but he goes on to explain that it has to be from the right kind of tick (the black legged tick).

 Of those ticks, about five  per cent actually carry Lyme disease, and if a Lyme carrying tick bites your animal, there’s about a five per cent chance that bite will result if full blown Lyme disease. 

Kidney failure is the worst possible outcome for a dog that has been unlucky enough to contract Lyme disease.

Hunt says that anyone finds a tick attached to their dog should carefully remove it by gently pulling it off with tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible. Hunt uses a tool called a “Tick Twister” that looks like a tiny crow bar. They are sold for under $15 at the Morrisburg Animal Hospital.

Cats don’t appear as susceptible to the effects of Lyme disease, but dogs a people are at risk of contracting the disease.

Hunt explains that the nature of ticks mean that people aren’t likely to get a tick from their pet, but they are as likely to pick up a tick from the surroundings as their dog is.

Due to the increase in Lyme disease-carrying ticks in the region, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit recommends that people take precautions to protect themselves and their families from Lyme disease:

• Apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing and on all exposed skin. Read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for safe use.

• When possible, wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and closed footwear (avoid sandals or open shoes). Light-coloured clothing is best because it makes ticks easier to see and remove before they can attach to feed.

• Tuck your shirt into your pants, and tuck your pants into your socks.

• Examine your body for ticks after being outdoors, especially if you were in an area where there’s tall grass or shrubs, or where ticks are known to live. If possible, stay in the middle of trails. Showering after can also help remove ticks that have not yet attached.

Anyone who notices a tick has attached to themselves or a family member, remove it with tweezers and clean and disinfect the site of the bite. “Contact your healthcare provider if you believe the tick was attached for more than 24 hours or if you develop any symptoms of Lyme disease, including a rash that looks like a red bull’s eye and flu-like symptoms,” says the EOHU. Left untreated, Lyme disease can affect the heart, nervous system or joints, but if caught early can generally be treated successfully.

In dogs, Hunt recommends, monitoring a dog that has had a tick removed, and visiting a vet if the animal seems dull, depressed or fevered. 

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Saturday, (October 27) representatives of the Branch 48 Royal Canadian Legion in Morrisburg and the local Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Unit Sicily (C.A.V. Sicily) got together to complete their mission in support of Operation Leave the Streets Behind for the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund. 

In July, C.A.V. Sicily ran its first major fund raiser, since its inception in the summer of 2011, the SD&G Highlanders Highway 43 Memorial Ride which started in Perth and ended up at the home base in Morrisburg. 

The ride, which the C.A.V. had hoped would raise between $1,500 and $2,000, did just that and then some when Morrisburg Legion Branch 48 topped it up with a $2,000 donation for a total of $4,669.69 for the Operation Leave the Streets Behind campaign. 

C.A.V. president Bill “Justus” Aitken was absolutely delighted. He credited the 52 bikers who participated in the July 8 run and the community (businesses and individuals) from Perth to Morrisburg that supported it. 

“The Morrisburg Legion really went above and beyond,” he said. “They donated $2,000 on behalf of us in addition to helping us to facilitate the ride.” 

C.A.V. Sicily, named for the 1943 Battle of Sicily when the Allies launched one of the largest combined operations of WWII for control of Sicily, was formed last summer with seven members. The unit has now grown to 17 members which is a mix of 11 Veterans and six supporters, most of whom ride motorcycles. 

C.A.V. Sicily members have become familiar to the community thanks to their participation in various events. This past Saturday they were out and about as they joined the Williamsburg Scout groups, for the launch of this year’s Poppy Campaign. 

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