Public Health & Safety

HEATING ● SMOKING SAFETY ● CANDLE SAFETY ● COOKING SAFETY ● BURNS ● SMOKE ALARMS ● CARBON MONOXIDE ● WHEN CALLING 911 ● HOME ESCAPE PLANS

HEATING

Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round

Common causes of space heating home fires are: lack of regular cleaning, leading to creosote build-up, in wood-burning devices and associated chimneys and connectors; failing to give space heaters space by installing or placing them too close to combustibles; basic flaws in the construction or design of wood burning heating equipment; fuel spills or leaks involving liquid- or gas-fueled heating equipment.

Safety tips:

• When buying a new unit, make sure that a qualified technician installs the unit or checks that the unit has been installed properly.
• For wood or coal stoves or fireplaces, have a professional inspect the chimney, chimney connector and other related equipment every year, and have them cleaned as often as the inspections indicate.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet (or one meter) away from anything that can burn.
• Fuel portable kerosene heaters in a well-ventilated area away from flames or other heat sources, and only when the device has cooled completely. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer, and never use gasoline. Use only if such heaters are legal in your community.
• When turning a heating device on or off, follow the manufacturer's instructions. When buying heaters, choose devices with automatic shut-off features.
• Make sure any gas-fueled heating device is adequately ventilated. Unventilated gas space heaters in bedrooms or bathrooms must be small and well-mounted. Never use liquefied-petroleum gas heaters with self-contained fuel supplies in the home.
• Portable space heaters should be turned off every time you leave a room or go to bed.
• Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose ashes in a metal container.

Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2005 NFPA."

SMOKING MATERIALS RELATED FIRES

Safety tips

• Encourage smokers to smoke outside.
• Keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn (i.e., mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, draperies, etc.).
• Never smoke in bed or when you are drowsy, intoxicated or medicated.
• Use large, deep, non-tip ashtrays to prevent ashes from spilling onto furniture and check them frequently. Do not rest ashtrays on sofas or chairs.
• Completely douse butts and ashes with water before throwing them away as they can smolder in the trash and cause a fire.
• Smoking should not be allowed in a home where oxygen is in use.
• Whenever someone has been smoking in the home, always check on, between and under upholstery and cushions and inside trashcans for butts that may be smoldering.
• When smokers visit your home, ask them to keep smoking materials, lighters and matches with them so young children do not touch them.
• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of children's sight and reach (preferably in a locked cabinet).

If you smoke, choose fire-safe cigarettes. They are less likely to cause fires.

Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2005 NFPA."

CANDLE SAFETY

Candles may be pretty to look at but they are growing cause of home fires—and home fire deaths. Remember, a candle is an open flame, meaning that it can easily ignite any combustible material nearby. And because candle fires spread so quickly, it’s essential that you have working smoke alarms in your residence and a home fire escape plan ready to go. Follow these tips to help you use candles safely.

Reducing the risk

• Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Almost half of all home fires started by candles begin in the bedroom. NFPA discourages the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
• Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn including curtains, blinds, wallpaper, clothing or any other material that can catch fire.
• Don’t place lit candles in windows or near doorways where drafts could bring combustibles in contact with the flame.
• Keep candles away from flammable liquids.

“Candle with Care”

• Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over easily, are made from a material that can’t burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface—away from edges and any place where they could be knocked over by kids or pets.
• Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
• Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch.
• Extinguish candles when they burn down to within two inches of their holder or any decorative material.
• Extinguish candles carefully, using a long-handled candle snuffer or a soft, directed breath. Be careful not to splatter wax when extinguishing. Do not leave the room until wicks have stopped glowing.
• Avoid using candles during a power outage. Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting on hand for emergency lighting. – link to national fuel fund info.

Candles and kids

• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a burning candle.
• Don’t allow kids or teens to burn candles in their bedrooms.
• Don’t let kids play with candles or dripping wax – or with materials that could catch fire near candles.
• Store matches and lighters up high and out of children’s sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.

Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2005 NFPA."

COOKING SAFETY

Cooking fires are the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Most cooking equipment fires start with the ignition of common household items (e.g., food or grease, cabinets, wall coverings, paper or plastic bags, curtains, etc.).

Safety tips:

• Always use cooking equipment tested and approved by a recognized testing facility.
• Never leave cooking food on the stovetop unattended, and keep a close eye on food cooking inside the oven.
• Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles (e.g. potholders, towels, rags, drapes and food packaging).
• Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a “kid-free zone” of three feet (1 meter) around the stove. Keep pets from underfoot so you do not trip while cooking. Also, keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto a burner, Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire.
• Never use a wet oven mitt, as it presents a scald danger if the moisture in the mitt is heated.
• Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy. If a small fire starts in a pan on the stove, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Don't remove the lid until it is completely cool. Never pour water on a grease fire and never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire, as it can spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen, actually spreading the fire.
• If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing.
• If there is a microwave fire, keep the door closed and unplug the microwave. Call the fire department and make sure to have the oven serviced before you use it again. Food cooked in a microwave can be dangerously hot. Remove the lids or other coverings from microwaved food carefully to prevent steam burns.

Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2005 NFPA."

BURNS

Run cool water over a burn for ten to fifteen minutes. Never apply ice. It is dangerous to put butter or any other grease on a burn because it seals in the heat and can damage the skin further. If the burned skin blisters or is chard, seek medical attention immediately.

SMOKE ALARMS

Smoke alarms are the residential fire safety success story of the past quarter century. Smoke alarm technology has been around since the 1960s. But the single-station, battery-powered smoke alarm we know today became available to consumers in the 1970s, and since then, the home fire death rate has been reduced by half. Most states have laws requiring them in residential dwellings.

Important: Working smoke alarms are essential in every household. It is necessary to practice home fire drills to be certain everyone is familiar with the smoke alarm signal, and to determine if there are any obstacles to a quick and safe evacuation (including the inability for some to awaken to the smoke alarm signal).

 Installation and maintenance tips

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, making sure that there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area. New homes are required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must be interconnected.
• Hard-wired smoke alarms operate on your household electrical current. They can be interconnected so that every alarm sounds regardless of the fire's location. This is an advantage in early warning, because it gives occupants extra time to escape if they are in one part of the home and a fire breaks out in another part. Alarms that are hard-wired should have battery backups in case of a power outage, and should be installed by a qualified electrician.
• If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have a qualified electrician install interconnected smoke alarms in each room so that when one alarm sounds, they all sound.
• If you, or someone in your home is deaf or hard of hearing, consider installing an alarm that combines flashing lights, vibration and/or sound.
• Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Ceiling mounted alarms should be installed at least four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
• If you have ceilings that are pitched, install the alarm near the ceiling's highest point.
• Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
• Never paint smoke alarms. Paint, stickers, or other decorations could keep the alarms from working.

A life-saving test: check your smoke alarms regularly

• Test your smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions.
• Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year, or as soon as the alarm "chirps" warning that the battery is low. Hint: schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clocks from daylight savings time to standard time in the fall.
• Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms can't warn you of fire if their batteries are missing or have been disconnected.
• Don't disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding "nuisance alarms," try relocating it farther from kitchens or bathrooms, where cooking fumes and steam can cause the alarm to sound.
• Regularly vacuuming or dusting your smoke alarms, following the manufacturer's instructions, can keep them working properly.
• Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace yours once every 10 years. If you can't remember how old the alarm is, then it's probably time for a new one.
• Consider installing smoke alarms with "long-life" (10-year) batteries.
• Plan regular fire drills to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Hold a drill at night to make sure that sleeping family members awaken at the sound of the alarm. 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.
• If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home, consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system. Sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut your risk of dying in a home fire 82 percent relative to having neither – a savings of thousands of lives a year.

Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2005 NFPA."

CARBON MONOXIDE

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you. Because you can't see, taste or smell it, carbon monoxide can kill you before you know it's there. At lower levels of exposure, carbon monoxide may cause numerous health problems. Some symptoms of CO poisoning may be:

* Headache

* Dizziness

* Nausea

* Drowsiness

* Confusion

* Irritability

* Unconsciousness

Everyone is at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Pets and some individuals may be more vulnerable to poisoning though, such as unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems.

Why is it so dangerous?

The great danger of carbon monoxide is its attraction to hemoglobin in the bloodstream, which normally carries life-giving oxygen to cells and tissues. As even small amounts are breathed in, carbon monoxide quickly bonds with hemoglobin in the blood, displacing the oxygen that organs need to function. When CO is present in the air, it rapidly accumulates in the blood, forming a toxic compound known as carboxyhemoglobin (COHb).

Where does it come from?

Carbon monoxide is a common byproduct of combustion, present whenever fossil fuels are burned. It is produced by malfunctioning or un-vented gas or oil home appliances such as furnaces, clothes dryers, ranges, ovens, water heaters and space heaters as well as fireplaces, charcoal grills and wood burning stoves. Automobile exhaust also contains high levels of carbon monoxide that can seep into a home if a vehicle is left running in an attached garage. All of these sources can contribute to a CO problem in the home.

Usually, carbon monoxide is vented safely to the outside. However, insulation meant to keep indoor air warm during the winter or cool in the summer months can help trap CO-polluted air in the home. Furnace heat exchangers can crack; vents and chimneys may reverse direction causing a downdraft which traps combustion gasses in the home.

How can I protect my family?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) recommends installing at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping area. Choose an Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) listed alarm that sounds an audible warning. Look for the UL logo on the product package.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) also recommends UL listed carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the home and in areas near appliances that are potential sources of CO. Look for the IAFC logo on the package when you select an alarm.

In addition to installing carbon monoxide alarms as a first line of defense, residents should have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year or as recommended by the manufacturer.

WHEN CALLING 911

If you have an emergency and need to call 911 here are some things you can do to help us help you. 

• In the event of a fire or carbon monoxide emergency get out of the house and stay out. Don’t reenter the dwelling until the fire department gives the ok.
• When calling 911 don’t hang up the phone until the dispatcher tells you to. You may be able to provide valuable information.
• Be sure that we can find you. Make sure that your address is visible from the street and well lit at night.
• If possible have someone waiting at the street to direct responding fire fighters.

HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLANNING & PRACTICING

Developing and practicing a home fire escape plan that everyone understands can mean the difference between life and death. Fire can grow and spread through your home very quickly. It's important that you be prepared to react as soon as the smoke alarm sounds.

Safety tips

These tips can help you put together – and practice – an effective home fire escape plan.

• Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Using graph paper Draw a floor plan of your home  showing two ways out of each room, including windows. Don't forget to mark the location of each smoke alarm. (see figure A)
• Test all smoke alarms monthly to ensure that they work. Replace batteries as needed.
• Make sure that everyone understands the escape plan and recognizes the sound of the smoke alarm. Are the escape routes clear? Can doors and windows be opened easily?
• If windows or doors in your home have security bars, make sure that the bars have quick- release mechanisms on the inside so that they can be opened immediately in an emergency. Quick-release mechanisms won't compromise your security – but they will increase your chances of safely escaping a home fire. 
• Practice the escape plan at least twice a year, making sure that everyone is involved – from kids to grandparents. Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice before holding a fire drill at night when they are sleeping. The objective is to practice, not to frighten, so telling children there will be a drill before they go to bed can be as effective as a surprise drill. If children or others do not readily waken to the sound of the smoke alarm, or if there are infants or family members with
• mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in fire drill and in the event of an emergency.
• During a fire, smoke and poisonous gases rise with heat. The air is cleaner near the floor. If you encounter smoke or flames while you are escaping from a fire, use an alternative escape route. If you must escape through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees, keeping your head twelve to twenty-four inches above the floor.
• Agree on an outside meeting place where everyone can meet after they've escaped. Remember to get out first, then call for help. Never go back inside until the fire department gives the OK.
• Have everyone memorize the emergency phone number of the fire department. That way any member of the household can call from a cellular phone or a neighbor's home.
• Be fully prepared for a real fire: when a smoke alarm sounds, get out immediately. And once you're out, stay out – leave the firefighting to the professionals!
• If you live in an apartment building, make sure that you're familiar with the building's evacuation plan. In case of a fire, use the stairs, never the elevator.

Tell guests or visitors to your home about your family's fire escape plan. When visiting other people's homes, ask about their escape plan. If they don't have a plan in place, offer to help them make one

figure A

Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2005 NFPA."