Holiday Updates

With the Holidays just around the corner, several items have been added to help you and your family celebrate the holidays safely.  

We have added a Christmas Tree safety video on the Photo Gallery/Video Page, a few items regarding Christmas tree and home safety on the Informational Bulletin Page, as well as a link to a video that shows how NOT to deep fry your Thanksgiving turkey on the video page.  If you would want more information regarding Turkey Fryers here is a link to the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) site.

REACT FAST TO FIRES

If you hear a fire alarm, get out and stay out. Smoke detectors and fire alarms protect you from fire. They sound an alarm when it's time to escape.

Do you know the sound of your home fire alarm?
The grown-ups in your home should test your smoke detectors and fire alarms once a month. Listen and learn what your home fire alarm sounds like.

Do you know what to do when you hear the fire alarm?
Every home should have an escape plan. Help the grown ups you live with draw a map of your home. Mark at least two ways to get out of every room. Ask the adults to help you plan and practice your escape.

When you hear a fire alarm:
·Stop what you are doing.
·Follow your fire escape plan.
·Don't stop for anything.
·Once out of the building, stay out!

Do you know what to do if there's smoke?
Smoke is poisonous! If there is smoke between you and your exit, turn around and use another way out. If you have to escape through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees and keep your head about 12 inches (30 centimeters) above the floor, where the air will be cleaner and easier to breathe.

Do you know what to do if your clothing catches fire?
·Stop right where you are.
·Drop to the ground gently
·Put your hands over your face and roll over and over until the flames are out.

Do you know where to go after you escape?
Talk to the grown-ups in your home, and decide on a place to meet outside when you hear a fire alarm. If you hear a fire alarm, get out ot the building and to your meeting place. An adult should call the fire department from a neighbor's or a portable phone.

What do you do if you're home alone?
If there are no grown-ups in your home and you hear a fire alarm, leave immediately.

· Do not try to find the fire.
· Go to a neighbor's home, and ask an adult to call the fire department.
· It there are fire alarms boxes in your neighborhood, learn where they are and how to use them. NEVER play with fire alarm boxes.

Apartment Buildings
Some large apartment buildings have special plans for what you should do when you hear a fire alarm. If you live in a large apartment building, talk to the grown-ups in your home so you'll know what to do. If you hear a fire alarm, follow the plan or do what the adults in your household tell you to do. If firefighters come to help you escape, follow their instructions.

Public Buildings
It you hear a fire alarm in a restaurant, mall, library, or other public building, leave the building immediately, following any instructions you may hear over a public address system or from adults who work in the building.

NFPA recommends everyone should practice their home evacuation plans at least yearly.  Things like decks being added and the houses being remodeled may create new ways to exit a house during an emergency.

Here's what to do:

     1.  Make a family meeting.

     2.  Ask your kids if they know

          what they are to do in case

          of a fire or an emergency.

     3a. If they know, GREAT !!  It

          shows repetition pays off,

          and you and your family

          have a greater chance

          surviving what could be a

          tragic accident. 

     3b. If not, use the following link

           to create an escape plan.

          The link asks you to show

          two ways out of every room. 

     4.  Once the plan is drawn go

          over it with everyone.  Then

          PRACTICE it. 

     5.  Then, PRACTICE it again

          using the second way out

          you drew on the plan.  This

          way if one of the ways are

          blocked, everyone knows

          how to get out another way.