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Put a Freeze on Winter Fires
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

As we move closer to winter, and home fires begin to increase, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are reminding individuals and communities that fire safety awareness and efforts are especially important in the coming months. To support this effort, the USFA and NFPA are sponsoring a special initiative - Put a Freeze on Winter Fires – to help get the word out about home fire safety.  

Each winter, an estimated 108,400 home fires occur in the United States, resulting in approximately 945 deaths and $1.7 billion in property loss. Cooking is the leading cause of winter home fires, and holiday decorations and winter storms can cause people to turn to alternative heating sources, such as space heaters, which account for about one third of home heating fires and approximately 80 percent of home heating fire deaths.

Winter fires can be prevented! The following fire safety tips can help maintain a fire-safe home this winter season:

Winter Fires Can Be Prevented!

  • Stay in the kitchen when cooking something on top of the stove or when grilling or broiling food.
  • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from space heaters, woodstoves, etc.
  • Replace damaged electrical or extension cords.
  • Never use the oven or stovetop to heat a home; carbon monoxide gas can kill people and pets.
  • Don’t put a live Christmas tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water.
  • Avoid using lighted candles; try flameless candles instead.

For more information, visit the USFA Web site and the NFPA Web site.

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.

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Space Heaters Need Their Space
Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Portable space heaters may be convenient and even help save energy in some cases, but they are also the leading cause of home fires during December, January and February and second only to cooking equipment as the cause of home fires year-round. Although space heaters were responsible for 32% of home heating fires in 2008, they were the most deadly, accounting for 82% of the fire deaths relating to home heating, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

One of the most common causes of space heater home fires is failure to give space heaters their space, by placing them too close to things that will burn and using the wrong fuel (in the case of kerosene heaters).

Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

A safe place for space heaters is a minimum of three feet away from anything burnable (furniture, drapes, papers etc.), away from children and pets, and out of doorways and exits. Space heaters should also be kept away from water sources like spigots, tubs and showers to avoid serious risk of electric shock.

Avoid using extension cords with space heaters. Plug electric-powered space heaters into an outlet with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord, which can heat up and start a fire by igniting nearby combustibles.

Kerosene heaters need their space while operating and when being fueled. Fill kerosene heaters in a well-ventilated area away from heat sources and only when the heater is completely cooled. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer. Never use gasoline!

Even if you have placed your heater a safe distance from anything that can burn, always turn it off before you leave the house or go to sleep.

Looking for a new space heater? Purchase one that has a safety device that turns it off automatically if it is tipped over and also that bears the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

Check for product recalls at www.cpsc.gov.

Space heaters can be useful and convenient, but they need their space.

Article Credits: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, is a 32-year veteran of the fire service. A Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the National Fire Protection Association and a member of several similar safety organizations. Perkins is the Fire Marshal for the Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com

Images provided by www.google.com.

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.

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Take Precautions to Prevent Fires during Cold Weather
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

With record-setting low temperatures, furnaces and space heaters are being used to keep homes warm. Before turning up a thermostat or plugging in a space heater, remember to think twice about both safety and energy efficiency.

The National Fire Protection Association states that heating equipment, like space heaters, are the No. 1 cause of home fires during December, January and February and the second-leading cause of home fires year-round. Most accidents involving space heaters are the result of human error – heaters are placed too close to combustible material like drapes and furniture, or they have not been properly maintained.

Don’t end up a statistic. Follow these tips and share them with your friends and family:

  • Give space heaters their space. Space heaters pose a higher risk of fire and death than central heating systems. Keep the space heater at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including walls.
  • Unplug the heater every time you leave the room and when you go to bed.
  • Plug electric-powered space heaters into an outlet with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
  • Make sure the plug fits snugly in the outlet, since a loose plug can overheat. If you’re using the space heater in the bathroom, be sure to use a ground-fault circuit interrupter. Remember, electricity and water do not mix.
  • Don’t hide the cord under a rug or carpet. This can cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.
  • Keep it stable. Don’t put your space heater on plush carpet or other surfaces where the space heater may tip over easily.
  • Check the tag. Make sure an independent testing laboratory (Underwriters Laboratories) has approved your new space heater.

To conserve energy, try to keep your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower. Space heaters should be on timers when you’re at home. Use programmable thermostats to lower temperatures automatically when you’re not at home, leave drapes or curtains open to take advantage of solar heat, and throw an extra blanket on the bed rather than turn up the heat. As a rule of thumb, heating and cooling are responsible for 40 percent of energy use in the home. Stay safe and warm, but conserve where you can.

For more information about NFPA, please visit their website at www.NFPA.org.

LiveSafe Foundation is a 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.

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Senior Citizens More Likely to Suffer Fire Fatalities
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Fire safety is especially critical for older adults because they are at the greatest risk among all age groups for injury and death by fire. Fatality rates for Americans, 65 and older, are more than twice the national average. For those over 75, the rates are three times the national average.

SeniorCitizenSafety

The three leading causes of home deaths for older adults are smoking accidents, faulty or misused heating equipment, and cooking accidents. How can you reduce your risk of falling victim to one of these causes?

  • Never smoke in bed or when drowsy from medication. Use deep ashtrays and keep them off furniture arms and other unstable surfaces. Douse cigarette butts with water before throwing them away or dispose of them in a metal container.
  • Keep space heaters at least three feet from anything that burns and out of entrances and doorways.
  • In the kitchen, shield yourself from steam when uncovering food to prevent scalding.
  • Wear clothing with close-fitting sleeves or secure your sleeves so they are not likely to come in contact with burners. If your clothing does catch fire, smother the fire with a heavy coat or blanket or by rolling on the ground if you are able.
  • Use a timer or handy kitchen item like a potholder to remind you to check on cooking in progress.  If you are interrupted while cooking, turn off the burners.
  • Don’t let grease collect in your broiler, stove, oven, or exhaust fan duct. Have on hand a multipurpose fire extinguisher (Type ABC) and know how to use it.
  • Most importantly, have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area. They have been shown to reduce your risk of fire death by half.  Early detection is important if you need to escape from a burning structure.

Have your glasses, a telephone, and walking aids close to your bed so you can respond quickly.

Guest “Line of Duty” Author: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com.

Images provided by Google.

Live Safe 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. 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.

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