Fire Prevention

TO THE

Bob McGovern - Chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee

THE ST.JAMES FIRE DEPT.

WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME

YOU TO THE FIRE PREVENTION

LEARNING PAGE!!!

CLICK ON SPARKY THE FIRE DOG FOR SOME FAMILY FUN AND LEARNING OR CHECK

OUT FEMA FOR KIDS!!!

SPARKY THE FIRE DOG IS A TRADEMARK OF THE FIRE SAFTEY SPOKESDOG FOR THE NFPA

Install alarms on every level of your home-including the basement (but not in unheated attics or other unheated ares).

Install an alarm outside each sleeping area.

Test all of your alarms monthly.

Make sure everyone can clearly hear and recognize the sound of all smoke alarms at all times.If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have a qualified electrian install interconnected smoke alarmsin each room so that when one sounds, they all sound.

Some studies have shown that some children may not awaken to the sound of the smoke alarm.Know what your child will do before a fire occurs. For more information on this issue, smoke alarms, and escape planning visit nfpa.org/factsheets.

Never "borrow" or disconnect a smoke alarm battery.

Install new batteries at least once a year or whenever your alarm "chirps" to tell you the battery is low.

Consider installing smoke alarms with a "long life" (10-year) batteries. These alarms must also be teated once a month.

Replace any smoke alarm that is 10 or more year's old.

ALL INFORMATION HERIN WAS OBTAINED FROM NFPA FIRE PREVENTION WEEK FIRE FACTS.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW AND PRINT YOUR COPY OF A HOME FIRE PLAN

Candle Safety

Home Safety Council Asks Families to Light and Delight Safely by Practicing Proper Candle Safety

Candles can provide a warm and festive atmosphere - but they can also be a fire hazard if left unattended or placed near anything flammable. The Home Safety Council encourages families to enjoy the warm and inviting atmosphere of candles while always keeping fire safety in mind:

Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish all candles before going to sleep or leaving the room.
Do not permit children to keep or use candles or incense in their rooms. Candles should only be used when a sober adult is present and awake.
Never use lighted candles on or near a Christmas tree or other evergreens.
Keep candles at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including other decorations and wrapping paper.
Always use stable, nonflammable candle holders.
Place candles where they will not be knocked down or blown over and out of reach of pets and young children.
Always keep burning candles up high, out of the reach of children. If you have children in your home, store candles, matches and lighters out of their sight and reach.

Grilling Safety

According to the NFPA, gas and charcoal grills caused an average of 1,500 structure fires and 4,800 outdoor fires in or on home properties in 1999. To make sure your next barbecue doesn't go up in flames, the Home Safety Council recommends the following safety tips:

Designate the grilling area a "No Play Zone" keeping kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.

Before using, position your grill at least 3 feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.

Only use starter fluid made for barbecue grills when starting a fire in a charcoal grill.

Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.

Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.

Never bring a barbecue grill indoors, or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.
© 2004 Home Safety Council All Rights Reserved

Cooking Safety

Home Safety Council Says "Get a Taste" for Safety When Cooking

To keep unintentional injuries out of your kitchen, the Home Safety Council suggests taking these simple steps to prevent kitchen fires and burns:

Stay in the kitchen while cooking; if you must leave the kitchen briefly, turn down the heat on appliances and return to the kitchen quickly.
Keep anything that can catch fire, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, curtains, etc., at least three feet away from the range top.
Douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before dumping them in the trash.
Every kitchen should be protected by Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). If you don't have them, hire an electrician to install these devices to protect electrical receptacles in the kitchen.
Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing when cooking (such as long open sleeves) which can be ignited by hot burners. If clothes do catch fire, "Stop, Drop and Roll" by dropping immediately to the ground and rolling over and over or back and forth to put out the flames. Cool the burned area with cool water and seek medical attention for serious burns.
Always turn pot handles inward to prevent small children from reaching and pulling down a hot pan.
Keep hot items, such as hot beverages and trays that have just come out of the oven away from the edge of counters, so that children are not able to reach them.
Hot liquid and food burns often occur when children pull hanging tablecloths or placemats. Use table cloths and decorations with care.
Food cooked in a microwave can be dangerously hot. Remove the lids or other coverings from microwaved food carefully to prevent steam burns.
For extra care with toddlers and infants, use travel mugs with a tight lid for coffee, tea or other hot beverages.
Keep children and pets away from the range when anyone is cooking and keep a close eye on them at all times.
For safer water temperatures to prevent scalds from hot tap water, keep your hot water heater set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Store knives and other sharp objects out of the reach of children and make sure children are a safe distance away when you are using knives to avoid injuries.
Post emergency numbers in visible areas.

How to Handle Kitchen Fires

Research shows that most home fires begin in the kitchen. To help keep the risk of injuries low in your kitchen, keep oven mitts and pan lids easily accessible and learn the preferred method for extinguishing a pan fire. Understand how to best handle different types of fires that can occur while cooking and be aware that in many cases, evacuating the home is your best defense.

Pan Fires: Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Sliding a lid over a burning pan is a relatively safe way to extinguish a small grease fire. Placing the lid from front to back will limit your exposure to the flames and scalding grease. With the lid covering the flames, it is easier to turn off the burner. As long as the lid stays on, the oxygen is cut off and the fire can die out naturally. This procedure is widely recommended by safety authorities and is preferred over portable fire extinguishers, which if used improperly could push burning grease and flames off the pan and spread the fire. Baking soda can also be used to extinguish a small pan fire; however the user risks greater exposure to the heat, flames and scalding grease. Do not use baking powder because it can burn and would actually add fuel to the fire.

Don't remove the lid until it is completely cool. Never pour water on a grease fire and never try to move or carry a burning pan as you can be severely burned by hot grease and can easily spread the fire.

Oven Fires: Turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing. Call the fire department to report the incidence so that firefighters can check for possible flame spread.

Toaster Oven or Microwave Fires: Keep the door closed and unplug the appliance if you can safely reach the receptacle. Call the fire department to report the fire. Have the appliance serviced before you use it again or replace it.

Using a Portable Fire Extinguisher: If you know how to safely use a portable fire extinguisher, you may be able to put out a small, contained fire, such as a toaster oven or trash fire. Always call the fire department before fighting the fire and make sure everyone else has left the building. Never let the fire get positioned between you and the exit.

		Designate the grilling area a "No Play Zone" keeping kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.
		Before using, position your grill at least 3 feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
		Only use starter fluid made for barbecue grills when starting a fire in a charcoal grill.
		Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.
		Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.
		Never bring a barbecue grill indoors, or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard. © 2004 Home Safety Council All Rights Reserved