Chesterfield Fire & EMS

Prior Months Fire Safety Tips

HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY

PREVENTING CHRISTMAS TREE FIRES

Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house.  A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.

Selecting a tree for Christmas
Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut.  The trunk should be sticky to the touch.  Bouncing the tree trunk on the ground can identify old trees.  If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

Caring for your tree
Prior to setting up a tree, the trunk should be cut off with a diagonal cut at least one inch above the original cut.   Place the tree in a container that holds the tree securely and is of adequate size to avoid tipping over of the tree. Spraying your natural tree with a flame-retardant product will help ensure your tree will remain less susceptible to starting on fire.

Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent.  The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks.  Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.  Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks.  Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times to a level at least two inches above the butt of the tree.  Use hot tap water for the initial fill of the support stand.  Keep all candles and open flames at a distance equal to the height of the tree in case the tree should tip over.

Disposing of your tree
Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.  When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly.  The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

General safety considerations
Before you begin decorating, read and follow the manufacturers instructions concerning installation and maintenance of electrical decorations.  Use only the lights and other electrical decorations that have been certified by a recognized independent testing laboratory.  Outdoors, use only lights and other electrical decorations certified for outdoor use.

Use caution when decorating near power lines.  Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.  Don’t allow children or pets to play with electrical decorations.

Maintain your holiday lights
Inspect each decoration before plugging into an outlet.  Cracked, frayed, loose or bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious electric shock or start a fire.  Replace damaged items.  Always unplug an electrical decoration before replacing light bulbs or fuses.  Don’t mount or support light strings in any way that might damage the cord’s insulation.  Never nail or staple light strings or extension cords.  Discard broken or faulty lights and decorations.

Plug outdoor lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).  Portable GFCIs can be purchased wherever electrical supplies can be sold.  Use the gripping area on a plug when removing decorative lights and electrical decorations from outlets. 

Do not overload electrical outlets
Do not connect more than three light string sets together, unless the directions indicate it is safe.  Light strings with screw-in bulbs should have no more than 50 bulbs connected together.  Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet.  Make sure to periodically check the wires – they should not be warm to the touch.

Extension cords should be of the right size for the job and in good condition.  Do not cover extension cords or cords from decorations with rugs or carpets.

Do not leave holiday lights on unattended
Turn off all electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

Use only non-flammable decorations
All decorations should be non-flammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.

Never put wrapping paper in fireplace
It can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.

Artificial Christmas trees
If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

USE CARE WITH CANDLES

Candles can be dangerous
Always stay in the room where candles are being burned.  If you leave the room, blow the candle out.  Keep lit candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn.  Keep candles away from children.  Use sturdy candleholders that won’t tip or burn and burn candles on sturdy, uncluttered surfaces.  Place candles away from table edges where children or pets can’t knock them over.  Don’t place lit candles in windows or near doorways where drafts could bring combustibles in contact with the flame.  Don’t allow children or teens to burn candles in their bedrooms.  Supervise children around burning candles.  Trim candle wicks to one-quarter inch before lighting.  Keep your hair and clothing away from the flame when lighting candles.  Extinguish candles when they burn within two inches of their holder. 

Burning candles in bedrooms or other areas where people may fall asleep is discouraged.

Never put lit candles on a tree
Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame – candles, lighters or matches.

Have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, at least one out side of every sleeping area, in stairways and in every bedroom.  Test them monthly and keep them clean and change the batteries at least twice a year.  Practice your home escape plan at least twice a year

PROPER USE OF SPACE HEATERS IS CRITICAL TO SAFETY

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services reminds citizens of the importance of operating space heaters properly.

Whether they are kerosene, electric or gasoline, all space heaters should be used with the following precautions in mind:

• Keep heaters at least three feet away from furniture, curtains, bedding and other combustible materials
• Never leave home without turning off an operating portable heating device
• Do not place wet clothing on the heater to dry them
• Provide adequate ventilation
• Teach children the hazards of being burned
• Ensure that a properly operating smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector are installed

PROPER FIREARM STORAGE IS CRITICAL TO INJURY PREVENTION

More than 200 children are killed and another 1,500 are injured each year in unintentional firearm-related incidents.

Important steps in preventing firearm-related injuries and death among children are to promote safe storage of firearms in the home and to reduce their availability and accessibility. Please consider taking the following precautions.

• Gun owners should always store firearms unloaded and locked up, with ammunition locked in a separate place and out of reach of children.
• Gun owners should use trigger locks, load indicators and other safety devices on all firearms.
• All parents should teach children never to touch a gun and to tell an adult immediately if they find a gun.

FALL-RELATED INJURIES CAN BE EASILY PREVENTED

Each year more than 3 million children are treated in hospitals for fall-related injuries.

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services asks you to check your home and your children's surroundings to ensure they are safeguarded against preventable fall-related injuries. Please consider the following tips:

• Do not use baby walkers
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of all staircases, indoor and outdoor
• Move furniture and chairs away from windows
• Consider adding window guards on windows from the ground floor and up, unless they are designated as a fire exit
• Check the surface under playground equipment (Avoid hard surfaces such as asphalt, concrete or soil. Safer surfaces include shredded mulch, pea gravel or other loose surfaces.)

HOME ESCAPE PLANNING IS KEY TO FIRE SURVIVAL

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services reminds citizens that proper planning is one of the best ways to escape injury or death in a home fire.

Take time with your family to develop a home escape plan for your house. Every room should have two ways out. Rooms without direct access to the ground should be equipped with a safety ladder. The family should decide on a designated meeting place outside the house to avoid confusion and ensure that no one goes into the home to look for someone who is already outside.

The escape plan should be practiced at least once to work out any problems. Also, it's a good idea to run through the plan periodically to ensure that everyone is familiar with it.

Repeat this process when traveling and sleeping in an unfamiliar location, such as a relative's home or a hotel.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT: A NECESSARY ELEMENT OF ANY SPORT

Wearing proper safety equipment during recreation often is a forgotten component of a sporting activity, but it shouldn't be. Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services reminds citizens that safety equipment not only should be worn by every member of the family, it must be properly fitted.

All helmets should carry the "ANSI" or "Snell" safety approval label. Correct fitting helmets are snug, but do not bind the wearer, and should set level on the head. The chin strap should always be buckled and the helmet should have reflective tape on the outside. Light-colored clothing should be worn when biking, running or skating. Enthusiasts of these activities are encouraged to use park trails and areas off main roads. As an extra precaution, wear wrist, elbow and knee protection when using skates of any kind.

PROPER USE OF SPACE HEATERS IS CRITICAL TO SAFETY

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services reminds citizens of the importance of operating space heaters properly.

Whether they are kerosene, electric or gasoline, all space heaters should be used with the following precautions in mind:

• Keep heaters at least three feet away from furniture, curtains, bedding and other combustible materials
• Never leave home without turning off an operating portable heating device
• Do not place wet clothing on the heater to dry them
• Provide adequate ventilation
• Teach children the hazards of being burned
• Ensure that a properly operating smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector are installed

YARD WORK INJURIES ARE PREVENTABLE WITH PRECAUTIONS

Thousands of injuries occur every year while homeowners are working outdoors. With warm weather arriving, more and time will be spent working in flower and vegetable gardens and around the yard, gardeners are at a high risk of injury to hands, feet, eyes and ears.

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services reminds citizens of the following safety tips to use while working outside:

• Always wear shoes, especially when cutting grass
• Prevent cuts, blisters, burns and contact with poison ivy by wearing gloves
• Wear eye protection to prevent objects from flying into your eyes (Eye protection also prevents puncture injuries from sticks and branches.)
• Cover ears with lightweight ear protection when operating any power tools such as weed eaters, lawn mowers and leaf blowers

SAFETY BELT LAWS DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES

The laws regarding safety seats recently changed, but the premise remains the same: safety belts save lives.

The law states that all passengers under 4 years old, must be secured in a child- restraint device. Those passengers between the ages of 4 and 16 years old must wear a properly fitting safety belt -- regardless of the child's location in the vehicle. Everyone in the front seat of a vehicle, no matter what age, must wear a safety belt.

Statistics show that properly secured passengers are at a much lower risk of being injured or killed in an automobile accident. Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services stresses that the driver should take responsibility for making sure everyone is using a proper fitting safety restraint.

SAFEGUARD YOUR HOME AGAINST ACCIDENTAL POISONING

Each year, thousands of children are poisoned accidentally with common household products.

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Service urges parents to make sure that all medicines and cleaning supplies are properly secured and out of the reach of children. A few simple rules can save injuries and lives. Prevention is the best medicine. Please consider the following:

• Discard all out-of-date and unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs
• Place all medications in a secured cabinet
• Install safety latches on all cabinets where chemicals or medicines are stored
• Carry portable latches while vacationing or visiting friends or relatives
• Remember to take these same prevention steps in the garage or utility shed

In case of an accidental poisoning, call 9-1-1 immediately, and then contact the Poison Control Center
at 1-800-552-6337.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS SHOULD BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services urges citizens to remove Christmas greenery as soon as possible.

With the holiday season over, the danger of fire in live (cut) trees and garland is critical. To reduce the risk of fire from dried out trees and garland, remove them from the home. In Chesterfield County, trees and other greenery can be taken to the Northern Area Transfer Station, 3020 Warboro Road, or the Southern Area Transfer Station, 6700 Landfill Road, until Jan. 11 free of charge.

Store lights and other electric decorations in a cool, dry place to keep the wiring in good working condition.

MAKE SAFETY YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services challenges you to choose a safety theme for your New Year's resolutions, and resolve to:

• Ensure that you and everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt or is in a properly installed child safety seat
• Test your smoke detector at least once a month
• Replace the batteries in your smoke detector when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time in the spring and fall
• Ensure that you and your little ones always wear a helmet when bicycling.
• Establish a home escape plan and practice it each month
• Place your fireplace ashes in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid
• Ensure matches and lighters are always out of reach of little hands
• Visit your local fire station at least once this year

GIVE A GIFT THAT COULD SAVE A LIFE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

While doing that last minute shopping this holiday season, Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services urges you to break tradition by giving your friends and loved ones gifts that may save a life.

A few examples include smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, bicycle helmets (for children and adults), fire extinguishers, home escape ladders and safety equipment for roller blading. Take the gift one step further by installing the smoke detector as soon as the present is open. The fire department also urges you to pick up a few extra nine-volt batteries and replace the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for loved ones while visiting during the holidays.

FIREPLACE ASHES

With cold weather approaching, Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services would like to remind you to properly dispose of fireplace ashes.

Fireplace ashes, although they may appear to be cold, will remain hot for several days. To ensure proper disposal, always place ashes in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid and place it on a non-combustible surface, such as gravel or bricks. The container should be at least three feet from any combustible materials. Also, make sure leaves and pine tags do not accumulate around the container.

Remember, the only way to ensure that ashes are completely extinguished is to wet them down with a garden hose. Under no circumstances should ashes ever be placed in a paper bag or cardboard box. Ashes should never be removed from the fireplace and left inside the house, even if they are in a proper container.

RENTERS INSURANCE COSTS A LITTLE, SAVES A LOT

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services encourages those who live in rental property to purchase renter's insurance.

If you rent a house, apartment or condominium, you are responsible for providing renter's insurance for your personal belongings. This will ensure that your belongings can be replaced in the case of a fire or other disaster. The owner of the property is responsible for insurance for the structure. Renter's insurance can be purchased through most insurance companies. The average cost for renter's insurance is less than the cost of a movie rental a week.

The Fire Department urges you to check on your insurance coverage to ensure that your family is properly protected. Rental policies usually cover your belongings up to a certain dollar amount. Some policies provide room and board while property is being repaired.

CHANGE YOUR CLOCK, CHANGE YOUR BATTERY

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services encourages you to change the battery in your smoke detector when you change your clock for Daylight Savings Time this weekend.

Smoke detectors don't save lives, properly operating smoke detectors save lives. One way to guarantee your detector is operating properly is to change the battery either Saturday night, Oct. 25, or Sunday morning, Oct. 26, when you change your clock. If your smoke detector is not battery operated, you should install a battery powered smoke detector to ensure that you have protection in case of power failure. Chesterfield County firefighters also encourage you to test your smoke detector each week and to clean the unit each month.

If you or someone you know needs a smoke detector, please contact the department's Fire and Life Safety Division at 748-1426.

PREVENT INJURY ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT

Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services wishes you and your family a safe and fun Halloween night and reminds you of the following tips.

• Dress children in light-colored costumes or apply reflective tape to the outfit
• Have children carry a flash light
• Young children should be accompanied by an adult
• Older children should have a trick-or-treat buddy, and never go door-to-door alone
• Do not approach homes that are not well-lit
• Parents should inspect all candy before it's eaten -- so they can pick out the good stuff
• Discard all candy that is not wrapped or that appears to have been tampered with
• Be cautious while driving on Halloween night