In a period from 2003-06, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 7,900 home fires involving grills or barbecues each year, including an average of 2,900 structure fires and 5,000 outside fires. These 7,900 fires caused an average of 10 civilian deaths, 120 reported injuries and $80 million in direct property damage each year. Of these 7,900 fires, 81 percent involved natural gas or propane grilles.

Grill the steaks - not the house!

For those readers that live in apartments, condos or any other multiple occupancy residential dwellings, the 2006 International Fire Code prohibits grilling devices on combustible balconies, decks or within 10 feet of combustible construction. For people who fall under these regulations, I recommend a common or shared barbecue that is maintained by your association in a park or common area.

For everyone else, some safety tips regarding safe grilling from the National Fire Protection Association are listed below.

SAFETY TIPS

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fires during the holidays claim the lives of more than 400 Americans, injure 1,650 and cause more than $990 million in damages. In addition, the National Fire Protection Association notes that Christmas trees are involved in more than 400 fires annually, which highlights the importance of safety practices during the upcoming holiday season.

Christmas Trees

Ensure a safe and happy holiday - properly maintain your cut tree. Water your tree!

Christmas trees provide a beautiful focal point for many homes during the holidays, but can also pose a danger. It is important to select a tree that will help prevent fires from spreading rapidly throughout a residence. A lack of knowledge on how to correctly pick a Christmas tree and safely decorate your home can be costly and even harmful.

When picking a cut tree, make sure the needles are fresh—they should not easily break if the tree has just been cut. Bounce the tree trunk on the ground to check if it is a fresh tree. If too many needles fall to the ground, the tree is a potential fire hazard. If a flocked tree is your choice, make sure the flocking is fire retardant and non-toxic.

When placing a tree in your home or business, keep it away from heat sources such as fireplaces and heater vents, as the dry air from these sources will dry out the tree quicker. It is best to keep the Christmas tree for no more than two weeks, but you can extend the freshness of your tree by mounting the tree in a stand that can be filled with water. When the tree is ready to be disposed of, take it to a recycling center or have it picked up by a service.

When lighting your tree, make sure to use low wattage bulbs and decorations. These produce minimal heat and lessen the sources for an ignition. Never use candles or other flames on or around a tree. At bedtime or when leaving the tree unattended for extended periods of time, it is best to turn off the lights.

If you are going to display a tree for a long period, an artificial or metallic tree is preferred, but make sure it is flame retardant to lessen the chances of a fire.

Holiday Lights and Decorations

While preparing to beat the neighborhood competition with the best light display, it’s important to check the holiday lights each year. Before putting up lights, keep an eye out for loose wires, broken sockets or excessive wear and tear. Never overload electrical outlets, and periodically touch the wires to check the temperature—they should not be warm.

When selecting extension cords, pick the one designated for exterior use. These cords use heavier wiring and will be less likely to overheat. Avoid stringing lights and electrical cords through areas where water can collect and submerge the wiring.

When choosing holiday decorations, ensure the label indicates that the decoration is nonflammable or flame retardant. Also, never dispose of wrapping paper in a fireplace as it may emit dangerous sparks and large embers.

Candles

The increased use of candles during the holidays can pose a fire hazard. It is best to avoid lighting candles, but if they are lit, employ safety practices to keep your loved ones away from harm.

Make sure that candles are in stable holders and cannot be easily knocked down by pets or children. Never leave candles burning alone in a residence, and make sure candles are located within sight.

Keep candles away from combustibles such as Christmas trees, curtains, clothing or decorations. Do not use candles in sleeping areas and extinguish them before going to sleep.

The holiday season is a time to enjoy some quality time with your loved ones, but it’s also a great chance to educate your family on fire safety. Test your smoke alarms and review your home escape plan in case of an emergency. Most importantly, employ safety practices to ensure a safe and joyous holiday season for you and your loved ones.

For more information on Christmas Tree Fire Hazards, please visit the U.S. Fire Administration website.

Images provided by Google Images.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

Post-race Hugs & Smiles!

The day came for us to drive to Cincinnati and meet the rest of our team.  We arrived at the welcome dinner and met Sharon Everett who inspired the team.  It is not a cliché to say she is one of the most amazing women I have ever met in my life.  Her strength, grace and sheer will are overwhelming to me.  I was, and am, in awe of her.

Sharon Everett was arriving home with pool chemicals in the back of her car.  The chemicals mixed and she was literally engulfed in flames when they exploded.  By some strange coincidence her neighbor had their garden hose in the front yard and he was able to try and fight the flames until the fire department arrived.  She was trapped in the car and severely burned.  She is missing fingers and facial hair and has significant scars from the multitude of surgeries necessary to save her life.  But she has not lost her beauty or her courage.  Her presence is powerful and her voice, uplifting.  I knew after meeting her, walking 13.1 miles would be easy!

The next morning, I was worried about Jill.  She wasn’t feeling well and hadn’t slept well.  We decided we wouldn’t worry about keeping up with each other and we headed out into the downpour and started the race.  After getting passed by runners for the first few miles, we set a good pace.

Don't Stop...you're almost there...the "Finish Swine"!

For those of you not familiar with the Flying Pig, they do an amazing job organizing the event.  At each mile there are water and Gatorade stations.  They even have entertainment or groups encouraging you along the way.  There were local sports teams cheering us in addition to a barbershop quartet, an Elvis impersonator and a funk band.

After the rain, more rain, and still more rain, the sun finally came out and I finished the race several minutes after Jill.  It was an amazing feeling.  I was proud of myself for doing it and I was proud to walk for an amazing cause.  I will do it again next year and many more years to come.  Thank you Jill and thank you Team Rise and the Phoenix Society.  I am a better person for the experience.

For more information about Team Rise and the Phoenix Society, please visit www.phoenix-society.org.  Please contact the Phoenix Society at 800-888-2876 if you are interested in being a part of this event!  Also check out the Flying Pig Marathon website for more details on the race!

A question asked most often, "Why the Flying Pig?"

We encourage you to run with us this April in Columbus, Ohio for the OSU Burn Center’s second annual family friendly  Blaze the Trail 5K walk/run in honor of the Christine Wilson Foundation, as well as joining me and the rest of Team Rise next year, for the 13^th Flying Pig Marathon on Sunday, May 1, 2011, to run for a great cause.

About the Author: Melissa is the mother of 2 active boys and owner of FourMeter Project Management, Inc. with her husband of 12 years, Michael.  She enjoys traveling, the Ohio State Buckeyes and learning more about educating children with special needs including hearing loss, ADHD and dyslexia.  Melissa loves walking, reading and volunteering for charities that benefit children, the Homeless Families Foundation, as well as promoting fire prevention and education initiatives. Melissa is also a Board Member of the Live Safe Foundation.

On Monday, October, 4, 2010, with the support of The Ohio State University Medical Center Service Board and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Central Ohio Chapter, will be hosting the 21st annual Golf Outing to benefit the Ohio State University Hospital Burn Center at the Country Club of Muirfield Village. Fire Protection industry supporters (OSU Medical Center Burn Center and Central Ohio Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers), come together annually to educate the public as to the extensive damage fire causes and how they can be a part of the solution to the problem by requiring properly designed automatic fire suppression systems not only where they work, but where they live, play, shop, go to school and worship. Since 1998 (traditionally kicked off during Fire Prevention Week) the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and its members have generously contributed $212,500 to the Burn Center at Ohio State University Medical Center. These funds have allowed the Ohio State Burn Center to continue to be actively involved in providing education on burn prevention and fire safety both to the community and the students on campus, as well as helping patients obtain special items or assistance such as compression garments which are not covered under insurance. The fund also provides direct support and assistance to patients, their families and advanced education to burn care nurses.

Funds raised from the event are allocated to enhance education and prevention programs, as well as patient care.

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration 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, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Assn. of North America (today known as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should henceforth be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls.

Fire prevention programs and educational events are available across the country during this campaign. Be sure to visit your local Fire Department during Fire Prevention Week. Fire Departments across the country will be hosting free Open Houses designed to welcome the public and give local citizens the opportunity to meet their local firefighters, ask questions, get a hands on look inside the station, trucks as well as learn more about the various aspects of the fire service.

Please educate yourself on Kitchen, Electrical and Bath Safety – focusing on Burn Prevention! Know the dangers of fire and the importance of sprinklers, smoke alarms and candle/cooking/smoking safety now – practice your escape routes in the event of a fire.  Before winter arrives, check your home for new batteries in your smoke alarms! Don’t forget to practice safety and have fun this fall!

Source: NFPA, The National Fire Protection Association – The authority on fire, electrical and burn safety. (To learn more about fire Prevention Week visit: Eight decades of Fire Prevention.)