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Valentine’s Day Gifts to put out Your Fire

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Ah, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner as we officially said goodbye to January, the first month of the year. For many, January was a month of resolutions when we challenge ourselves to make revolutionary changes. Resolutions are great, but they can be undone so quickly. So rather than resolutions, consider providing ourselves and loved ones practical and life saving gifts.

Is the value of your Valentine’s Day tied up in a gift?

One sure-fire way you can make a difference on Valentine’s Day is to provide your sweetheart a priceless gift that says, “I want you around for a long time”. You can still have a little fun and throw in something sweet, but don’t forget to include something to “put out the fire” such as these items recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

HappyValentinesDay

Carbon monoxide detectors — to alert loved ones of a silent killer: carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas formed when fuels-such as natural gas, oil, and wood burn incompletely. While a carbon monoxide detector won’t help keep your loved ones safe from fire, it’s something you should consider for home safety.

Smoke alarms — are one of the best fire-safety items for the home. Seventy percent of all home fire fatalities occur in homes where there are no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Consider smoke alarms for everyone on your list. Smoke alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing include strobe lights, high decibels and/or vibration. All smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years.

Flashlights — prevent fires by using flashlights instead of candles during power outages.

Sturdy candleholders — help prevent tip-over when candles are lit. Lantern-style candle holders can reduce the likelihood of something coming in contact with a candle flame.

A secure fireplace screen — keeps embers out of the room.

Long fireplace matches — prevents burns.

Gift certificates for clean-up services — to remove fire-prone clutter from basements, attics or yards; or for chimney sweeps to prevent creosote build-up that can cause chimney fires.

A bathrobe with tight-fitting sleeves — that won’t touch stove burners while cooking.

Down or synthetic comforters, flannel sheets or flannel pajamas – to keep a loved one warm, and to reduce the need for space heaters, particularly at night. Generally, space heaters (fixed and portable) are involved in two-thirds of home heating fire deaths.

Large, deep, non-tip ashtrays — to help prevent smoking materials from igniting materials nearby.

Portable fire extinguishers — with safety tips on how to use them. Make sure the recipient reads and understands the instructions before having to use them. A multi-purpose and dry-chemical type is recommended.

Fireproof oven mitts — for stove or barbecue grill to help prevent burns.

Large house numbers — to help firefighters locate a home at night quickly during an emergency.

Batteries for smoke alarms and flashlight

Whistles

Facts and figures to consider for seasonal safety:

December, January and February are the deadliest months for fires.
Cooking and heating are the leading causes of home fires in the months of December through February.
Candle fires have nearly tripled in the past decade.

And what you might ask, is the hottest Valentines Day gift this year?

LIVESAFE T-Shirts, Caps, Logo Apparel and Gift Items!
Yes, for the person who has *everything*, why not purchase an authentic LIVESAFE T-Shirt, Cap or Apparel Item? It’s a gift you know they will wear with pride, and a gift you can feel good about giving.

Proceeds from apparel sales will support TEAM RISE: Members of Team RISE (Runners Inspired by Survivors Everywhere) are preparing to put their running shoes on this spring to raise money for the Phoenix Society. On May 2, 2010 for the sixth time the group will be participating in Cincinnati’s Flying Pig marathon. Team leader and event organizer, Bill Zembrodt, is encouraging other Phoenix Society members to join the team for this year’s event. www.phoenix-society.org.

Please accept our wishes for a joyous, memorable – and safe Valentines Day!

For product information and safety supplies, please visit our Programmatic Partner the National Institute for Fire and Safety Training online web store for product and other fire safety related information.

Photo Chart: Google Images

LiveSafe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire 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. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

Tags: candles, Cincinnati Pig Marathon, February, fire safety, Gifts, NIFAST, smoke alarms, Team RISE, Valentines Day
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Fire Prevention Week Begins October 4, 2009

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

“Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned” is the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2009. NFPA’s annual week long awareness week focuses on burn awareness and prevention, as well as keeping homes safe from the leading causes of home fires.

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.)

Tags: burn safety, Chicago Fire, electrical, fire safety, kitchen, nfpa, smoke alarms, Sprinklers
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College students must remember fire safety on campus!

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

In 2003-2004, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 3, 570 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, and sororities that resulted in 7 civilian deaths and 54 civilian fire injuries. For many students, college will be their first time living away from home, as they make new fiends and establish new routines. A number of factors include candle use, cooking, smoking and misuse of electrical appliances can heighten the risk of fire in any campus environment.

College students living away from home should take a few minutes to make sure they are living in a fire-safe environment by following these safety tips:

Look for housing equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system when choosing a dorm or off-campus housing.
Make sure your dormitory or apartment has smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on each level. For the best protection, all smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when one sounds they all sound.
Test all smoke alarms at least monthly.
Never remove batteries or disable the alarm.
Learn the building’s evacuation plan and practice all drills as if they were the real thing.
If living off campus, have a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
During a power outage, use a flashlight not candles.
Burn candles only if the school permits their use. A candle is an open flame and should be placed away from anything that can burn. NEVER leave a candle unattended. Blow it out when leaving the room or going to sleep. (Consider this candle solution: Glade® Wisp Flameless Candle)
Cook only where it is permitted.
Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Up to 75 percent of all structure fires involve cooking equipment.
Cook only when you are alert, not sleepy or drowsy from medicine or alcohol.
If you smoke, smoke outside and only where it’s permitted. Don’t smoke in bed or when you’ve been driving or are drowsy.
Check the school’s rules before using any electrical appliances.
Use a surge protector for the computer and plug the protector directly into an outlet.

Guest Columnist, Fire Marshal Alan Perkins of the Washington Township Fire Department.

News Update: Today, September 17, 2009, “marks the fifth anniversary of National Campus Fire Safety Month with the goal of having more schools, communities, students and parents aware of the dangers of fire and engaged in learning what they can do to make sure tragedy does not strike.” (source: Ed Comeau, Publisher, Campus Firewatch www.campus-firewatch.com.) For more information on National Campus Fire Safety Month can also be found at www.CampusFireSafetyMonth.org.

Tags: Campus, candles, college, fire safety, smoke alarms
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