FIRE SAFETY TIPS
Fire hydrants
Make sure fire hydrants have a three-foot area clear of debris and obstructions. Firefighters may need to get to the hydrant for water supply. An obstruction of fencing, tree branches, bushes, weeds or brush may cause a delay as firefighters try to get water to extinguish a fire. Someone may be injured or killed because water is not available as soon as possible.A fire hydrant that is leaking, broken, missing caps or malfunctioning should be reported to the Water Department. Don't block a fire hydrant by parking a vehicle next to it. Vehicles cannot be parked any closer than 15 feet to a fire hydrant from any direction. Remember, your actions may cause a delay in being able to supply water to an emergency that continues to grow until intervention takes place.
Yield to Emergency Vehicles
When an emergency vehicle is heard and/or seen, drivers should carefully pull their vehicle to the right of the road and stop. If they are at an intersection, or stopped in traffic when they see lights or hear a siren, drivers should remain stopped and wait until the emergency vehicles have passed. Do not make quick or erratic maneuvers. The law is very specific; drivers must yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle. Drivers also should stay 500 feet behind emergency vehicles.
Barbecue Safety
Beware when you barbecue. In 1998 alone, there were 6,100 reported home fires involving gas or charcoal grills in the U.S., leading to $29.1 million in direct property damage, according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
- Propane Grills
- Check cylinders for leaks, and replace them if they appear damaged or rusty
- Check hoses for damage, wear, and spiders that may have nested inside
- Check connections to make sure they are clean and snug
Charcoal Grills
- Use only charcoal starter fluids designed for barbecue grills
- Do not add fluid to the coals once they have been lit
- Smoldering coals give off carbon monoxide do not leave a hot grill in an enclosed space
All Grills
- When using barbecue grills on decks or patios, be sure to leave sufficient space from siding and eaves
- Do not use your barbecue grill in your garage or an enclosed porch
- Do not leave your grill unattended
- Keep children and pets far away from grills
- Store all barbecue grills outside
If you are burned, cool the burned area with large amounts of cool water.
Do Not use butter or other ointments on the burned area.
Burns are most serious when the victims are very young or elderly. Burns are most severe for all when they are on the face, neck, hands, feet, genitals or when they are spread over a large part of the body.
- First Degree burns are the least severe. Overexposure to the sun is a common cause of first
degree burns. Redness and mild swelling and pain are signs of a first degree burn
Second Degree burns are more serious. They look red and have blisters. Second degree burns
are often the most painful because the nerve ending are intact, despite the severe tissue damage
Third Degree burns are the most serious. The area my look white or charred. These burns may
extremely painful or there may be no pain if the nerve endings are destroyed
• If the person is having difficulty breathing
• Burns cover more than one body part
• If person is very young or elderly
• If burns are to the face, neck, hand, feet, or genitals
• If person was burned from chemicals, electricity, or an explosion
Clothes Dryer Safety
Facts & Figures
- There were 14,300 clothes dryer fires in U.S. homes in 1998, resulting in 19 deaths, 312 injuries and $67.7 million in direct property damage.
- The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires was lack of maintenance (30%), followed by unidentified or unknown-type mechanical failure (11%) and part failure, leak or break (10%).
- Clothing (not on a person) was the most common source of ignition in home clothes dryer fires, followed by dust, fiber, or lint.
Safety tips
- Do not operate the dryer without a lint filter. Clean lint filters before or after each use and remove accumulated lint from around the drum.
- Make sure that the dryer is plugged into an outlet suitable for its electrical needs as overloaded electrical outlets can result in blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.
- Turn the dryer off when leaving the home.
- Keep the dryer area clear of combustibles (i.e., boxes or clothing).
- Dryers should be installed and serviced by a professional.
- Have gas-powered dryers inspected by a professional regularly to ensure that the gas line and connection are intact.
(*From NFPA's U.S. Home Product Report: Appliances and Equipment Involved in Fires, January 2002.)