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For Immediate Release
Redwood City Fire Department Praises Oracle
for its Community Spirit and Contributions - Presentation
Ceremony Planned
Redwood City, CA - November 25, 2003 -
As the world's largest enterprise software company, Oracle
Corporation has consistently been a technology leader. And,
as a Redwood City corporate neighbor it has also been a leader
in responding to local community needs. One shining example
is Oracle’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Redwood
City Fire Department (RCFD).
The Department will be publicly recognizing Oracle for its
support over the years, at a special presentation ceremony
on Tuesday, December 2 at 1:00 pm outside Oracle’s building
600, located at 600 Oracle Parkway in Redwood City. Mayor
Jeff Ira, Fire Chief Gerry Kohlmann, and fire fighting staff
will attend to honor this example of public/private cooperation
and corporate responsibility.
In 1996, the RCFD asked Oracle to be part of its emergency/disaster
planning process, resulting in a great deal of mutual preparation
and logistical planning. This relationship is crucial given
the great number of people within the Oracle facilities in
Redwood City. Beyond that involvement, Oracle has shown a
deep commitment to the community. The corporation underwrote
a portion of the funding for a three-day disaster training
program for RCFD staff, and has provided its facilities for
a variety of training and fire-fighting exercises by RCFD
and other agencies.
Oracle also contributed funding for the RCFD to purchase
its first Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC), a tool which has become
a critical weapon in the City’s public safety arsenal.
The TIC responds to heat signatures allowing fire fighters
to see “behind” smoke from a burning building
and identify people that may still be threatened. It also
allows them to determine a fire’s intensity at different
locations, and even to locate nighttime car-wreck victims
that may have been thrown from a vehicle. Oracle’s contribution
toward the TIC represents a clear commitment to ensuring the
public safety throughout Redwood City.
More recently, Oracle helped underwrite the printing of
RCFD “trading cards” which are a key tool in helping
to build relationships between our fire fighters and members
of the public, particularly kids. The trading cards, featuring
pictures and “statistics” of RCFD staff, are a
big hit at schools, at special events, and even on the street
when a fire fighter makes contact with the public.
The trading cards enhance the RCFD’s ability to not
only connect with the community, but to connect as role models
to kids while delivering a fire safety message as well as
the message that "you can be a firefighter, too!"
Oracle has also taken the lead in employee safety by installing
Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) throughout its facilities,
devices which vastly improve the odds of survival following
a heart attack.
Oracle’s involvement clearly shows their commitment
to being a leader in our community and illustrates their belief
that public safety is not solely the City’s job, but
is a responsibility shared with our corporate neighbors.
The Redwood City Fire Department has five fire stations housing
five engines and one truck, and currently has over 70 staff
members including firefighters, firefighter/paramedics, captains
and battalion chiefs, fire prevention staff, training staff,
and administrative staff. The Redwood City Fire Department’s
website is www.redwoodcity.org/fire.
Oracle’s website is located at www.oracle.com.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or
its affiliates. Visit Redwood City’s website at www.redwoodcity.org
for information about the City and its services, the community,
recreation programs, education, and City government.
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Contact: Gerry Kohlmann, Chief
Redwood City Fire Department
(650) 780-7451
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