On February 17th, 2001, Lieutenant Clint Talley and Firefighter Mike McKean of the Ashton Fire Protection District gave their lives in the line of duty. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice. We ask that all of us take a moment to remember Lieutenant Talley and Firefigher McKean today, and to never forget these brave men, who laid down their lives for us all.

This is a 1 day seminar geared towards Tradition, History, Training, Leadership, and why we do what we do!

An “A” list of presenters dedicated to helping us realize why we do the job we do and the importance of knowing our trade.

Where:     Stillman Fire Department

When: February 25^th  8AM – 2PM-ish

Cost: $25 per person

Pays for Lunch and Presenter costs

Payment due date of seminar

Bringing back the firehouse master flyer 2012

This is a 1 day seminar geared towards Tradition, History, Training, Leadership, and why we do what we do!

An “A” list of presenters dedicated to helping us realize why we do the job we do and the importance of knowing our trade.

Where:     Stillman Fire Department

When: February 25^th  8AM – 2PM-ish

Cost: $25 per person

Pays for Lunch and Presenter costs

Payment due date of seminar

Bringing back the firehouse master flyer 2012

What causes fires?

One of the most common causes of dryer fires is lack of maintenance. When lint traps aren’t cleaned as often as they should be, the resulting build-up in the screen or other areas can cause the dryer to perform poorly, operate at elevated temperatures and possibly overheat – with dangerous consequences. Vent systems must also be checked and cleaned to maintain proper air flow for the same reasons.

Problems may also occur if consumers place improper items in their dryers, such as foam backed rugs or athletic shoes, or vent their appliances with plastic or vinyl exhaust materials. Make sure that whatever you put in your dryer is approved and safe to place in a dryer. When in doubt, check the washing instructions on the tag of the clothing or consult the manufacturers website for more information.

What can you do?

An important safeguard your family can take is to ensure that your dryer has rigid or flexible metal venting and ducting materials to help sustain airflow. This will also reduce operating costs and extend the life of the dryer and clothing due to lower drying temperatures.

Additionally:

• Clean the lint trap before and after drying each load of clothes.
• Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can be trapped.
• The interior of the dryer and venting system should be cleaned periodically by qualified service personnel. If you notice the drying time is longer, clean the vent system thoroughly to ensure proper airflow.
• Replace plastic or vinyl exhaust hoses with rigid or flexible metal venting.
• Do not dry clothing/fabric on which there is anything flammable (alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers, dry-cleaning solvents, etc.). Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode.
• Don’t forget to read manufacturers’ warnings in use and care manuals that accompany new dryers. Also, warning markings can usually be found on the inside of the dryer’s lid and take only minutes to read.

Did you know that?

• Clothes dryers can be found in 80 percent, or 81.5 million homes throughout the United States.
• A full load of wet clothes placed in a dryer contains about one half gallon of water. As water is removed, lint is created from the clothes.
• Clothes dryers are one of the most expensive appliances in your home to operate. The longer it runs, the more money it costs you.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that 15,500 fires associated with clothes dryers occur annually. These fires account for an average of 10 deaths and 310 injuries and more than $84.4 million in property damage annually.
• On a positive note, the number of clothes dryer fires has dropped by 35 percent from the 24,000 fires that occurred annually, on average, in the late 1970s.

How UL has helped reduce dryer fire risks

UL has worked with the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and the CPSC to reduce the number of clothes dryer fires. Changes have been made to UL’s Standard for electric clothes dryers to include instructions that lint be cleaned regularly from areas around the dryer and lint screen; routing wiring and keeping other electrical components away from heat-producing devices; and abnormal operations tests that simulate a blocked lint screen and exhaust at 25, 75 and 100 percent blockage.

Source : Safety At Home

Safety doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does take thought and planning. Not sure how to Commit a Minute to Safety? Pick one, 10 or 100 of the things below and get started today. You’ll see that sometimes it just takes a minute to avoid what could be a lifetime of regret. Click here and tell us what you commit to do.

1. Test each smoke alarm in your home
2. Replace the batteries in each smoke alarm
3. Count how many smoke alarms you have in your house. If you do not have one on every level and near sleeping areas, purchase additional smoke alarms
4. Designate an outside meeting place for your family (for example: the mailbox) in case of a fire or emergency
5. Blow out candles before leaving the room or going to sleep
6. Use a sturdy candle holder or hurricane lamp
7. Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees or less to prevent burns
8. Roll up your sleeves before you start cooking
9. Have oven mitts nearby when cooking
10. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove
11. Store all matches and lighters out of reach of children
12. Put hot food and drinks near the center of the table only
13. Put down your hot drink when carrying your baby
14. Test hot water with an elbow before allowing a child to touch
15. Post your fire escape plan on your refrigerator
16. Put water on cigarette butts before throwing them away
17. Unplug small appliances such as hair dryers and toasters after using them
18. Use flameless candles
19. Move anything that can burn, such as dish towels, at least three feet away from the stove
20. Practice “Stop, Drop and Roll” with your kids
21. Schedule an appointment to have your furnace cleaned and inspected
22. Look for the UL Mark when you buy appliances
23. Tell kids to stay away from the stove/oven
24. Turn space heaters off before going to bed
25. Remove any gasoline from your home
26. Put non-slip strips in your tub and shower
27. Install night lights in the hallway
28. Put a flashlight in each bedroom
29. Wipe up spills as soon as they happen to prevent slips and falls
30. Use a sturdy Christmas tree stand
31. Water your Christmas tree every day
32. Keep your Christmas tree at least three feet away from any heat source
33. Inspect your Christmas lights for signs of damage
34. Flip over large buckets so water cannot accumulate and become a drowning danger
35. Store cleaners and other poisons away from food
36. Post the Poison Control hotline number (1-800-222-1222) next to your phone
37. If you have young children, use cabinet locks on cabinets that have poisons such as antifreeze, cleaners, detergents, etc.
38. Keep medicine in its original containers
39. Purchase a carbon monoxide detector for your home
40. Test your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm
41. Put your infant to sleep on his/her back
42. Remove any soft bedding, stuffed animals and pillows from your infant’s crib
43. Cut your toddler’s food into small bites
44. Use safety straps on high chairs and changing tables
45. Check www.recalls.gov to see if any items in your home (including cribs) have been recalled
46. Move cribs away from windows
47. Use safety covers on unused electrical outlets
48. Test small toys for choking hazards – if it fits in a toilet paper roll, it’s too small
49. Remove all plastic bags from the nursery
50. Pick up any small items, such as coins or buttons, that can be choking hazards for infants and toddlers
51. Write down emergency contact information for your family and make sure everyone has these numbers
52. If young children live in or visit your home, move furniture away from windows so they don’t climb up to look out and accidentally fall
53. Tie window cords out of a child’s reach
54. Check your child’s bath water temperature (use your wrist or elbow) to make sure it is not too hot
55. Remove drawstrings from your baby’s clothing
56. Keep the toilet lid shut to prevent little fingers from getting slammed by a falling lid
57. If you have toddlers, install a toilet seat lock
58. If you have young children, install door knob covers on bathroom doors
59. Use a fireplace screen
60. Put toys away after playing
61. Don’t refer to medicine or vitamins as “candy”
62. Put on safety glasses before any DIY project
63. Put tools away after your DIY project is complete
64. Post emergency numbers near your phone
65. Pick up one new thing for your family’s emergency preparedness kit
66. Use a ladder, not a chair, when climbing to reach something
67. Use plastic instead of glass near the pool
68. Cover any spa or hot tub when it is not in use
69. Purchase a first aid kit
70. Drain the bath tub immediately after bathing
71. Remove clutter from the stairs
72. Use the handrail when you are walking up or down the stairs
73. If the power goes out, use flashlights instead of candles
74. Ask smokers to smoke outside
75. Wear proper shoes when climbing a ladder
76. Check your home for too many plugs in one socket and fix the problem
77. Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs if you have young children
78. Never leave food cooking unattended
79. Make sure pools or spas are properly fenced to keep out small children
80. Teach kids to tell you when they see matches or lighters
81. Turn out the lights when you leave the room
82. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use (especially in the kitchen)
83. Take your hair dryer off of the bathroom counter and store it safely
84. Check your electronics for the UL Mark
85. Identify two exits from every room with your kids in case of fire
86. Check your holiday decorations – keep breakable decorations out of reach of young children
87. Replace an old light bulb with a new energy-efficient option
88. Check the walls for loose paint chips and re-paint with low-VOC or VOC-free paint
89. Check all the outlets in your home for overloaded sockets or extension cords
90. Remove any extension cords that are pulled under rugs or tacked up
91. Place fire extinguishers in key areas of your home
92. Place an escape ladder in an upstairs room that might not have an easy exit
93. Remove any painted furniture that is pre-1978 to avoid possible lead exposure
94. Lock medications safely in a cabinet
95. Consider low-flow toilets
96. Check that all major appliances are grounded and test your GFCIs
97. Clean the lint trap and hose on your dryer
98. Check your swing set for sharp edges or dangerous S-hooks
99. Take a tour of your home from your child’s perspective looking for hazards
100. Hold a family fire drill

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a very real threat. To help keep your family safe and secure this holiday season, take our quiz and brush up on your CO IQ.

Question 1: What is carbon monoxide?

Answer: Carbon monoxide, known by the chemical formula “CO,” is a poisonous gas that kills approximately 500 people in the United States alone every year. Of that number, about 200 people were killed by carbon monoxide emitted from a consumer product, like a stove or water heater. You can’t hear, taste, see or smell it. It’s nicknamed the “silent killer’ because it sneaks up on its victims and can take lives without warning.

Question 2: What are the sources of CO?

Answer: CO is a by-product of incomplete combustion. Sources of the gas can include malfunctioning appliances — including furnaces, stoves, ovens and water heaters — that operate by burning fossil fuels such as natural or liquefied petroleum (LP). When malfunctioning appliances aren’t adequately ventilated, the amount of CO in the air may rise to a level that can cause illness or even death.

Other CO sources include vehicle exhaust, blocked chimney flues, fuel-burning cooking appliances used for heating purposes, and charcoal grills used in the home, tent, camper, garage or other unventilated areas.

Question 3: How does CO affect the human body?

Answer: When victims inhale CO, the toxic gas enters the bloodstream and replaces the oxygen molecules found in the critical blood component hemoglobin, depriving the heart and brain of the oxygen necessary to function.

The following symptoms are related to carbon monoxide poisoning and should be discussed with all members of the household:

• Mild exposure: Symptoms are often described as flu-like, including slight headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
• Medium exposure: Severe throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion and fast heart rate.
• Extreme exposure: Unconsciousness, convulsions, cardiorespiratory failure and death.

Many cases of reported carbon monoxide poisoning indicate that while victims are aware they are not well, they become so disoriented that they are unable to save themselves by either exiting the building or calling for assistance. Young children and household pets are typically the first affected.

Carbon monoxide alarms are intended to sound at carbon monoxide levels below those that cause a loss of ability to react to the danger of carbon monoxide exposures.

Question 4: What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?

Answer: CO poisoning victims may initially suffer flu-like symptoms including nausea, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, confusion and breathing difficulty. Because CO poisoning often causes a victim’s blood pressure to rise, the victim’s skin may take on a pink or red cast.

Question 5: How can I tell if there is a risk of CO poisoning in my home?

Answer: Have your fuel-burning appliances inspected by a qualified technician at least once a year. A qualified technician should have practical knowledge of the operation, installation and proper ventilation of fossil-fuel-burning devices; carry the applicable insurance; be bonded; and be licensed to perform heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) work in your area.

Be alert to these danger signs that signal a potential CO problem:

• Streaks of carbon or soot around the service door of your fuel-burning appliances.
• The absence of a draft in your chimney (indicating blockage).
• Excessive rusting on flue pipes or appliance jackets.
• Moisture collecting on windows and walls of furnace rooms.
• Fallen soot from the fireplace.
• Small amounts of water leaking from the base of the chimney, vent or flue pipe.
• Damaged or discolored bricks at the top of your chimney.
• Rust on the portion of the vent pipe visible from outside your home.

Also, recognize that CO poisoning may be the cause when family members suffer from flu-like symptoms that don’t disappear but improve when they leave home for extended periods of time.

Question 6: How can I avoid CO poisoning?

Answer: The most important steps are preventive. Have a qualified service professional inspect your fuel-burning appliances at least once a year. Install UL certified CO alarms outside of sleeping areas and near all fuel-burning appliances.

Other precautions include:

• Avoid using charcoal grills inside the home, tent or camper, or in an unventilated garage.
• Don’t allow vehicle exhaust fumes to enter the home.
• Ensure all fuel-burning appliances are properly ventilated.

Question 7: What should I look for when I buy a CO alarm?

Answer: Rather than searching for specific features, look for the UL Mark with the adjacent phrase “Single Station Carbon Monoxide Alarm.”

UL certified CO alarms are designed to detect elevated levels of CO and sound an alarm to alert you and your family to a potential poisoning risk. Although CO indicator cards and other devices on the market are also intended to detect elevated levels of CO, most aren’t designed with an audible alarm. The presence of an audible alarm may be significant — especially while you and your loved ones sleep.

UL certified CO alarms are required to have manually operated alarm reset/silence button that will allow you to silence the alarm signal. If elevated levels of CO continue to exist, the alarm will sound again in six minutes.

Question 8: How can I protect my family when we’re traveling? When we’re working in the garage?

Answer: UL evaluates and certifies CO alarms intended for use in recreational vehicles (RVs) and areas such as garages or attics where dampness, humidity and temperatures isn’t as controlled as in the living space of the home. CO alarms used in these areas comply with additional requirements designed to address the special conditions often present in these environments.

UL also evaluates CO travel alarms. These devices are equipped with a mounting bracket for temporary mounting only.

UL certified CO alarms intended for use in these environments are marked accordingly near the UL Mark.

Question 9: Do CO alarms operate differently than smoke alarms?

Answer: Although they may look and sound similar, CO alarms and smoke alarms are designed and intended to detect two separate, distinct hazards. Therefore, to help protect your family from both hazards, it’s important to install both UL Listed CO alarms and UL Listed smoke detectors. Remember: Find Peace of Mind. Look for UL.

Question 10: How do I install my CO alarm?

Answer: Follow the installation instructions found in the manufacturer’s use and care booklet that accompanies the product. Proper installation is an important factor in receiving optimum performance. It’s important to follow these instructions exactly.

Question 11: How do I take care of my CO alarm?

Answer: Like smoke detectors, CO alarms need to be tested regularly and cleaned as indicated in the manufacturer’s use and care booklet. If the unit is battery-operated, test the detector weekly and replace the battery at least once a year. Never allow anyone to “borrow” the battery. Like any appliance or power tool, a CO alarm can’t work unless it has a functioning power source.

Question 12: Will exposure to other household gases or vapors cause the CO alarm to sound a false alarm?

Answer: When UL evaluates samples of residential CO alarms, consideration is made that your home may contain moderate levels of cleaning chemicals and other substances. UL 2034, the Standard UL engineers and technicians use to test residential carbon monoxide alarms, includes exposure tests to normal concentrations of methane, butane, heptane, ethyl acetate (nail polish remover), isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), carbon dioxide and propane — all gases that would typically be found in a home.

You should, however, keep these chemicals away from your CO alarms. Low exposure over an extended period of time could damage the sensing device and cause false alarms.

Question 13: What do I do if my CO alarm sounds?

Answer: Immediately operate the reset/silence button and call your emergency services (fire department or 9-1-1).

Move to fresh air – either go outside or move to an open door or window. Check to make sure that everyone in your household is accounted for. Do not re-enter the premises nor move away from the open door or window until the emergency services have arrived, the premises have been sufficiently aired out, and your CO alarm remains in its normal condition.

If your CO alarm reactivates within a 24-hour period, operate the reset button, call your emergency services and move to fresh air. Call a qualified technician to examine and/or turn off your fuel-burning appliances or other sources of combustion. If your RV, car or truck is idling in an attached garage, turn off the engine. Although your problem may appear to be temporarily solved, it’s crucial that the source of the CO is determined and appropriate repairs are made.

Remember that an alarm indicates elevated levels of CO in your home. CO is called the “silent killer” because it cannot be seen or smelled. Some people can be exposed to dangerous levels of CO and not feel any symptoms. Regardless of whether you feel symptoms, never ignore the alarm.

Source : www.safetyathome.com