Page 16 - Florida Sentinel 7-4-17

Local
Leave Fireworks Displays To Pros
Hillsborough County res- idents and visitors planning to salute Independence Day with fireworks are encour- aged to attend a public fire- works display staged by trained professionals in order to reduce the risk of burns and injuries and to comply with laws.
Fireworks purchased and used by consumers are illegal in Florida, with few permit- ted exceptions. Sparklers and devices containing very small amounts of explosive
Sheriff’s
Blast At TECO Plant Leaves 2 Dead, 4 Fighting For Their Lives
compounds – cap guns, party poppers, glow worms, and the like – are allowed, but should be used with cau- tion.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fireworks typically account for two out of five of all reported U. S. fires every Independence Day. A d - ditionally, yearly Independ- ence Day fireworks also account for 40 civilian in- juries and $43 million in di- rect property damage.
On Holiday
On Thursday afternoon, a blast at the Tampa Electric Company’s Big Bend Power Station, in Apollo Beach, left two men dead and at least four others injured.
A spokesperson for Tampa Electric said the blast took place shortly after 4 p.m.
Christopher Irvin, 40, and Michael McCort, 60, an engineer, were killed in the blast.
Four others received life- threatening injuries and were admitted into Tampa General Hospital. They were identi- fied as: Gary Marine, Jr., 32; his stepfather, Frank Lee Jones, 55; and Ar- mando J. Perez, 56.
A spokesman for Tampa General Hospital said all of the families had requested privacy and declined inter- views.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began their investi- gation on Friday. The spokesperson said the inves- tigation can take several
weeks or months to complete. Gordon Gillette, Presi- dent and Chief Executive Of- ficer of TECO said, “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone who was touched
by this incident.
“Safety is the No. 1 prior-
ity at Tampa Electric, and we are working hard to deter- mine exactly what happened and why. We will be conduct- ing a complex investigation to determine the root cause.”
The company declined comment beyond that com- ment saying they will not be able to provide any additional information.
Irvin and McCort died from being burned by what is known as “molten slag,” a by- product of coal used in creat- ing electricity.
Officials said the slag gushed from a tank onto the workers who were below. They further said it resembles lava from a volcano and can reach a temperature of 1,000 degrees.
Office To
Track Gunfire
Twice each year, on New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July, residents shoot firearms. However, every year, someone gets injured when those pro- jectiles fall back to earth.
This Fourth of July, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will utilize a piece of equipment known as a ShotSpotter to detect and lo- cate gunfire discharges. They will then use the information obtained to help fight crime and violence in Hillsborough County.
Officials said this solution will provide real-time gunshot location data, which will en- able informed decisions for faster and more accurate emergency responses. They hope it will also improve intel- ligence and increase the safety of first responders.
The equipment also pro- vides the Sheriff’s Office with more forensic evidence lead- ing to more thorough investi- gations and increased prosecutions in gun-related crimes.
DEATH LISTING
Aikens Funeral Home
Mrs. Cora Govan, Tampa. Mr. Arthur Burney, Tampa. Mr. Wilbert Greer, Tampa. Mrs. Rebecca Faison, Tampa.
Ray Williams Funeral Home
Mrs. Julia Guevara Pacheco, Tampa. Mrs. Sammie L. Dixon Huff, Tampa. Mrs. Naomi L. Cliatt, Tampa.
Mrs. Anita Hodge, Tampa.
Mr. Ulysses Adams, Tampa.
Mr. Charles Heidelberg, Tampa.
Wilson Funeral Home
Mr. Clifford L. Williams, Sr., Tampa. Ms. Coretha Larkins, Tampa.
Mr. Jerell R. Jollly, Tampa.
Mr. Jeffery Brannon, Tampa.
Mr. Christopher Irvin, Tampa.
HCC First To Offer New Program In Health Navigation
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) is pleased to announce a new program in health navigation as part of the college’s health sciences division. The new program offers students the opportu- nity to earn an associate in science degree (A.S.) or a col- lege credit certificate (C.C.C.).
The field of health naviga- tion is relatively new and has evolved from the changing landscape of the nation’s health care system in recent years.
Health navigators play an integral role assisting indi- viduals and communities in
understanding available serv- ices and benefits of the U. S. community health, health care and health insurance systems.
Dr. Todd Wells, public health faculty member said, “HCC is proud to be the first community college in Florida to offer the health navigator degree and certificate pro- grams. The college is excited to train our students and community members in this new health profession, and we look forward to our grad- uates joining multidiscipli- nary health care delivery teams to offer the highest quality care for patients.”
Health navigator careers include community health workers, patient navigators and health insurance naviga- tors.
Classes for the new pro- gram will begin in fall 2017 at the Dale Mabry Campus.
The degree and certificate programs are open enroll- ment and follow HCC’s gen- eral admissions policies.
According to the U. S. Bu- reau of Labor Statistics, de- mand from local, regional and national employers seek- ing front-line public health workers is expected to grow more than 21% in the next few years.
PAGE 16 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017