November 28th, 2011
We all love to keep warm through winter and aim to do so as cheaply and efficiently as possible. However we should not forget that each type of heat source carries it own type of risk.
Here are some helpful tips on how to keep you and your family safe this winter:
Matches and Lighters
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Keep all matches and lighters up high, out of the sight and reach of children. |
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Teach children to take matches or lighters to an adult straight away. |
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Only use child resistant lighters and safety matchbox holders. |
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Child resistant lighters are not child proof! |
Electric Blankets
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Check for frayed cords and other damage. |
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Ensure your electric blanket is secured to your bed. |
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Always turn off your electric blanket at the wall before getting into bed. |
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Have blankets checked annually by a competent service person. |
Gas Cabinet Heaters
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Don’t use in a confined space and always ensure there is adequate ventilation, for example never use a gas heater in a bedroom. |
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Don’t leave anything too close to the heater; objects (including people) should be at least 1m away. Don’t dry clothes on these (or near any other open flames). |
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Store and install cylinders in an upright position with the valve uppermost. |
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Be careful when changing cylinders. Make sure the valve on the empty cylinder is turned off before disconnecting and the full cylinder is securely connected before turning on. |
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For families with children or the elderly or infirm always use a gas heater guard. |
Tags: Earthwise, fire safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, home fire safety, kids fire safety, winter heating tips
Posted in Fire & Smoke Alarms, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved, Uncategorized
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November 16th, 2011
Building a bonfire
Fire can spread easily, so where and how you build your bonfire is important. If you have a bonfire, follow these simple guidelines:
- only burn dry material not damp, which causes more smoke
- build the bonfire away from sheds, fences and trees
- check there are no cables – like telephone wires – above the bonfire
- don’t use petrol or paraffin to get the fire going – it may get out of control quickly
Bonfire safety tips
Once the bonfire is lit, make sure you:
- keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby - in case of emergencies
- don’t leave the bonfire unattended
- keep children and pets away from the bonfire
- don’t throw any fireworks into the fire
- don’t burn aerosols, canisters or anything containing foam or paint – many produce toxic fumes and some containers may explode, causing injury
Once the bonfire has died down, spray the embers with water to stop it reigniting.
For more on bonfire safety, click here.
Tags: Albemarle, bonfire safety, burn awareness week, fire prevention, fire safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, home fire safety
Posted in Children & Fire Safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved, Pets & Fire
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November 16th, 2011
Did you change back your clocks for daylight saving time earlier this month? This time of year also marks an important safety milestone.
As our nation moved back to standard time, the U.S. Fire Administration encourages you to mark the occasion as a time to test your home smoke alarms and replace the batteries if more than one year old.
Every day in the United States home fire deaths occur and working smoke alarms significantly increase the chances of surviving a deadly fire. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in a home that can alert people to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert scanning the air for fire and smoke.
In addition to changing smoke alarm batteries, Albemarle recommends the following steps to protect lives:
• Dust or vacuum smoke alarms when changing the batteries.
• Check alarms once a month using the test button.
• Replace the entire alarm if it is more than 10 years old or does not work properly when tested.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of a home, including the basement, and both inside and outside sleeping areas.
• For the best protection, equip a home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor alarms.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Make sure everyone in a home understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond to an emergency.
• Finally, prepare and practice an escape plan so everyone can get out of a home safely should there be a fire. Plan to meet in a place a safe distance from the fire in a spot easily spotted by first responders.
For more clock changing, fire safety tips, click here.
Tags: Albemarle, electronics fire safety, fire prevention, fire safety, fire safety checklist, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, smoke detectors
Posted in Fire & Smoke Alarms, Fire Safety & Electronics, Fire Safety Devices, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved
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October 19th, 2011
As long as there has been wood to burn, man has used it to stay warm. Our predecessors who discovered fire had the edge on a renewable heating source that is not only cost-effective, but also an environmentally friendly way to heat the home.Still, many of today’s homeowners rely primarily on gas, propane and oil to heat their homes rather than looking to wood.
Here is some information about using wood to heat your home that may surprise you.
- Wood is environmentally friendly. It may seem that cutting down trees for fuel would be counterproductive to the “green” movement. However, trees are a renewable resource that, like other biomass, is carbon neutral. While growing, trees absorb carbon dioxide; when they die they release caron dioxide regardless of whether they burn or decompose. Fossil fuels by comparison are a one-way street, releasing greenhouse gasses in a matter of minutes that have been captured deep in the earth over millions of years.
- Wood can save money. When burning logs in the new generation of high efficiency hydronic furnaces (or wood boilers). The heat generated is more intense and little is lost up the chimney. Wood furnaces can be used in lieu of standard heating systems featuring gas or oil during the heating months, or as an add-on when homeowners prefer to use other heating sources as their primary method of heating. This reduced need for oil, propane and natural gas means a reduction in monthly heating bills.
- Wood can be a clean way to provide heat. There are plenty of people who have wrestled with cords of wood to stock wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, only to find that the mess left behind in the way of trailed bark and ashes leaves much to be desired. However, homeowners who use the next generation wood boilers will find that there is little to no mess involved.
- Wood is a safe heating method. Using a wood-fired furnace can be just as safe as any other traditional heating source. Just as with other furnaces, proper operating procedures should be followed.
For more information on furnaces and heating your home, view:
Winter Heating Safety Tips
Tags: burn awareness week, Burn Institute, Earthwise, fire prevention, fire safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety for All, home fire safety
Posted in Burns, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved
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October 11th, 2011
This year from October 9th – 15th, the nation recognizes fire safety for families with Fire Prevention Week, dedicated by the National Fire Prevention Association. Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8 and continued into October 9, where it did most of its damage.
In honor of this week, we offer these ideas on fire prevention to keep you and your family safe:
- Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
- Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
- Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.
- If you smoke, smoke outside.
- Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table.
- Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
For more information about fire safety week, visit the National Fire Protection Association website.
Tags: burn awareness week, cooking fire safety tips, electronic fire safety, fire prevention, fire prevention week, fire safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety for All, fire safety for families, fire safety for kids
Posted in Children & Fire Safety, Fire Safety Devices, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved
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September 29th, 2011
Maryland and Nevada recently updated their school bus fire safety standards, so why is the rest of the nation still relying on regulations from the 1960’s to protect their children? Well, CFFSI is hoping to change that, state by state, in the fall session.
With more than 1.5 Million children riding school buses in the US each day, it is shocking that national fire safety standards have not kept pace with the evolution of modern technology. Maryland and Nevada recognized the need to protect big yellows from the dangers of fast spreading flames and codified standards to set a maximum burn rate for the seats and engine components.
For more information view:
Citizens for Fire Safety
Nevada and Maryland Drive School Bus Fire Safety for our Kids with New Law
Tags: burn awareness week, fire escape plan, fire extinguisher, fire preparedness, fire prevention, fire safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety for All, school bus fire safety
Posted in Children & Fire Safety, Fire & Smoke Alarms, Fire Saefty Awards, Fire Safety & Electronics, Fire Safety Conferences & Events, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved, Uncategorized
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September 27th, 2011
As summer turns to fall, it’s a good idea to refresh your memory on fall fire safety tips. Some safety tips are the same regardless of the time of year, but many safety concerns are seasonal, particularly those that involve keeping your home warm.
Clearing water from sprinkler systems, getting the furnace fixed, and repairing damaged windows help to keep a home running through the winter months. Many people don’t realize that homes are at a greater risk of fire in the cooler months. The following fall fire safety tips can help home owners prepare their home and protect their families.
- Change the battery in smoke detectors when they changing your clocks during Daylight Savings. Changing the batteries every six months prevents detectors from going dead.
- If you have a chimney, clean it! Creosote is a deposit from smoke that can build up in a chimney and can start a fire.
- Space heaters can also be a fire hazard, it is recommended to create a safe area around the heater. Any furniture should be at least three feet away.
- Trees should be a minimum of 30 feet away from the house and branches and leaves should be cleaned up to limit fuel for a fire.
For more info on fire safety, check out:
Home Fire Sources at Its Worst
Tags: cooking fire safety tips, electronics fire safety, fall fire safety, fire escape plan, fire extinguisher, fire safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, home fire safety
Posted in Burns, Children & Fire Safety, Fire Safety & Electronics, Fire Safety Devices, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved, Uncategorized
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September 26th, 2011
Fire emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time of the day. It can happen at home, at the mall or even in a construction site. A construction area is more susceptible to fire and when this happens, the risks that it poses are greater compared to a burning house or building. That is why the fire department is stricter when it comes to implementing fire safety regulations in construction sites. Making sure that the safety of the workers is prioritized through observing and practicing construction fire safety is the number one goal.
The following tips are to help you stay safe at a construction site:
1. Inform the fire department about the construction project that will be completed. This is important due to the fact the fire department can assist you produce a fire safety program that is in line with the basic fire safety rules.
2. As much as achievable, prevent employing open up flames in a construction. Discover other choices to make sure that the fire will not expand or will be as well difficult to control.
3. If you genuinely require to use hazardous supplies or units like welding machines or propane torches, make sure that there are at least two fire extinguishers that are within fifteen feet of the location in which these materials or devices will be employed. This will help extinguish the fire.
4. Eliminate all combustible components from the region soon after construction hours are done or make sure to place a fire resistant covering on them to prevent fire from igniting.
5. When employing chemical solvents, have proper ventilation in the area to prevent the fumes from exploding.
6. Prohibit the construction staff from smoking cigarettes on the construction site. Often, reckless disposal of these small cigarette butts are the results of fire in a building.
7. Make sure to keep all flammable liquids stored in a fire proof cabinet on the outside of the building. These flammable liquids can easily trigger fire breaking out in a construction site.
For more fire safety tips, view: Would Your Child Sleep Through a Fire Alarm?
Tags: Albemarle, burn awareness week, construction fire safety, construction sits, cooking fire safety tips, electronic fire safety, fire escape plan, Fire Safety Education, home fire safety
Posted in Burns, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved, Uncategorized
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August 17th, 2011
Fire Related Accident Facts
How Many People Die in US Home Fires? One life Lost is too Many.
In 2009, U.S. fire departments responded to 362,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 12,650 civilian injuries, 2,565 civilian deaths, $7.6 billion in direct damage.
- 92% of all civilian structure fire deaths resulted from home structure fires.
- Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries.
- Kitchens are the leading area of origin for home structure fires (37%) and civilian home fire injuries (36%).
- Only 4% of home fires started in the living room, family room, or den; these fires caused 24% of home fire deaths.
- 8% of reported home fires started in the bedroom. These fires caused 25% of home fire deaths, 21% of home fire injuries, and 14% of the direct property damage.
- Smoking is a leading cause of civilian home fire deaths.
- Home structure fires peak around dinner hours between 5:00 and 8:00 pm.
- Almost two-thirds (62%) of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
- Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2009, 9 home fires killed five or more people. These 9 fires resulted in 59 deaths.
Fires between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. caused half of home fire deaths. Sundays were the peak day for reported home fires and home fire injuries while fatal home fire injuries were more likely to occur on Saturday.
What are you doing to prevent home fire fatalities?
For more information on home fire safety, view:
8 Questions to Ensure Fire Safety for You and Your Family
Home Fire Sources at its Worst
Tags: Albemarle, cooking fire safety tips, electronics fire safety, fire escape plan, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, home fire safety
Posted in Children & Fire Safety, Fire & Smoke Alarms, Fire Safety & Electronics, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved
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August 11th, 2011
Essential oils, which are easily combustible, are increasingly used in aromatherapy and other complementary treatments. The issue of these combustible oils came to light when a beauty therapy room at Swindon College was badly damaged in April after a blaze broke out in a pile of towels.
Fires in tumble dryers, linen baskets and airing cupboards where towels had oil on them have caught fire and fire officers are concerned that incidents in launderettes, salons and homes could have the same cause.
The problem seems to arise when the wash cycle has been set to a cool temperature. When the wash has been at 100 degrees or above, the oil residue is more likely to be safely broken down by the washing detergents.
For more on fire safety at colleges and workplaces, view:
U.S Senate Makes September Campus Fire Safety Month
Fire Safety Tips for Your Workplace
Tags: Albemarle, Burn Institute, cooking fire safety tips, electronics fire safety, essential oils, fire escape plan, fire prevention, fire safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips
Posted in Burns, Fire & Smoke Alarms, Fire Saefty Awards, Fire Safety & Electronics, Fire Safety Conferences & Events, Fire Safety Devices, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved
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