Winter and Holiday Safety
Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. But that also means a greater risk for fire. The United States Fire Administration reports there are approximately 250 Christmas tree fires and 14 related deaths each year. Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.
Click on the links to the right of this article for some seasonal "Tip Sheets" from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Have an Exit Strategy
In 2003, a fire at "The Station" nightclub in Rhode Island resulted in the deaths of 100 patrons. The establishment was overloaded with people, and many of them lost their lives because they could not get away from this quick-spreading fire. A new statewide campaign, Have an Exit Strategy, has been designed to spread a simple, yet powerful fire safety message: Always locate a second exit when entering a public place. Remember that the best way out may not be the way you entered. For more information, click on the "Have an Exit Strategy" link on the right side of the page.
Use Candles With Care
Candles may look nice, but they’re a growing fire threat in our communities. And knowing the facts about candles is a key to fire safety.
Candles are a growing source of deadly home fires. In 2001, candles started 18,000 home fires and caused 190 deaths. Many people use candles for religious or decorative reasons, but it is still important to remember it still has an open flame that will ignite anything in its way. Please make sure you watch the candles carefully, and extinguish them before leaving the room.
Every year many lives are saved by smoke detectors. Most fire deaths in homes occur when people are sleeping. You might think you would smell smoke if your house was on fire and you were asleep but most likely you will not. A smoke detector is your nose when you are asleep. If it senses a fire it will sound and alert you to a fire when it is still small and can be controlled by you or at least allow you to escape your home and call 911. This also gives the fire department a head start on saving your home. So, first you have to have at least one smoke detector, second they must be placed on all levels of your home, per the manufacturers instructions, and third it must be tested often to be sure it is operational. Batteries should be replaced twice a year, when the time changes ("Change your Clock, Change your Battery"), even if you don't hear the "chirping" noise associated with a low battery. If a smoke detector is more than 10 years old, it is best to replace it. Click on the links to the right for more information on these life saving devices.
Carbon Monoxide Danger!
Whether we want it or not, colder weather will soon be back, and many of us will be thinking of starting up our furnaces. The West Valley Fire Department recommends that you hire a professional to get your furnace ready for winter. Fall is a good time to get it checked--if there are problems, you will have time to get it fixed before winter. Every year, people die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Nationwide, 50% of CO deaths are attributed to heating appliances. Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless, invisible gas that is produced any time open flame is present; for that reason, it is often referred to as the "silent killer". Professional heating technicians will check the CO level when they start your furnace. This will give you and your family the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge you are not being slowly poisoned by your furnace. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, and fatigue. If you experience these for no apparent reason, leave your house and call your gas company and 911 immediately! OTHER SAFETY TIPS: Install carbon monoxide detectors in the area of home heating appliances, and please, do not store anything near your furnace! Remember, a furnace uses flame to heat your home--anything stored near it can easily catch on fire. For more information on carbon monoxide, click on the link to the right of this article.
Foster Family Homes and Group Day-Care Homes Self Evaluation Checklists
These checklists (Click on the links to the right)are provided to assist the foster family home operator and group day care home operator in maintaining a fire safe environment. They are also valuable for the private homeowner who would like to maintain a fire-safe household. The checklists are based on the requirements of the State Fire Marshal rule for fire safety inspection as adopted from the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code 101; 2000 edition. Use of this checklist by the owner does not substitute for a professional fire safety inspection by the local authority. Additional fire safety information is provided for your use. Please down load the appropriate self evaluation and additional information. Read all information and instructions and perform the evaluation. These checklists and information sheets are in Portable Document Format (PDF). To view and print PDF files, the Adobe Acrobat® Reader must be installed on your computer. If not you will need to download and install the Adobe Acrobat® Reader, which is available at no cost in formats suitable for most PCs. Go to the Adobe Acrobat® Site where you will be able to download the latest version of this utility before proceeding.
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Seasonal Safety Tips Safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association! Scroll down to the section on Seasonal Tips and learn how to make your holidays safer.
Christmas Tree on Fire! The US Fire Administration estimates there are 250 Christmas tree fires annually. This dramatic video, courtesy of Monterey County (California) Fire Investigators Association, shows just how quickly these beautiful trees can become deadly.
Have an Exit Strategy A link to the State Fire Marshal's Office new initiative to reduce fire deaths due to lack of awareness of exit locations