Fuse's meltdown was blown out of proportion

Unicep Packaging, Inc. would like to thank the emergency response teams in our town for the fast response to our 911 call yesterday when an employee felt faint. It is wonderful to know that all individuals and businesses in our community have access to an emergency team ready to take control in the event of the unexpected.

On behalf of UPI, I would like to apologize for the miscommunication that occurred from our end. Obviously, a small blown fuse (identical to an automobile in-line fuse) and a small whiff of plastic smoke did not necessitate a total disaster response team; but once again, it is satisfying that the system is able to respond so quickly and it was an excellent opportunity for the emergency teams to hone their skills in the event of a real emergency. I suspect all of us learned from the exercise.

Of course since EMS was present, UPI encouraged any employee (even those far removed from the blown fuse) to have vital signs taken and/or have a review by Bonner General Hospital staff merely as a precaution.

As expected, all employees that had precautionary evaluations from yesterday's events are back at work in good health and fine spirits. Also, the engineering team that remained at the malfunctioning machine throughout the entire incident yesterday, to expedite the repair of the fuse, never experienced any symptoms and had production restored quickly. Thanks again to the Sandpoint Police, Sandpoint Fire and Bonner County EMS.

Maybe next time the Bee is having a slow news day UPI can call your news desk and destroy another $.50 fuse for your reporter. But this time we will try to communicate more accurately to prevent another unnecessary, full-blown emergency response and waste of taxpayer money. Thank you.

JOHN SNEDDEN, DDS, CEO

Unicep Packaging, Inc.

Editor's note: Twenty-three UPI employees received medical attention and nine were taken to Bonner General Hospital as a result of this accident. All of the proper emergency crews in the area responded to the scene and performed admirably. The Bee interviewed and accurately reflected what Marcus Anderson, UPI general manager, said in our story. The Bee stands by the story and would run the same story if 23 of our employees became ill and nine were taken to the hospital, even on a busy news day.