Fire safety for older adults Safety, , , ,
02
Dec 2014

maranda-elderly-couple-in-kitchen

Knowing what to do in the event of a fire is particularly important for older adults. At age 65, people are twice as likely to be killed or injured by fires compared to the rest of the population. With numbers growing every year in the United States, adults age 65 and older make up about 12% of the population, it’s essential to take the necessary steps to stay safe.

To increase fire safety for older adults, here are some tips from the National Fire Protection Association and E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety to review with friends, family members, and neighbors who are at risk:

  • Keep it low – If you don’t live in an apartment building, consider sleeping in a room on the ground floor in order to make emergency escape easier.
  • Sound the Alarm – The majority of fatal fires occur when people are sleeping, and because smoke can put you into a deeper sleep rather than waking you, it’s important to have a mechanical early warning of a fire such as smoke alarms throughout your home to ensure you wake up. If anyone in your household is deaf or if your own hearing is diminished, consider installing a smoke alarm that uses a flashing light or a bed shaker to alert you to a fire emergency.
  • Do the drill – Conduct your own, or participate in, regular fire drills to make sure you know what to do in the event of a home fire. If you or someone you live with cannot escape alone, designate a member of the household to assist, and decide on backups in case the designee isn’t home (or if you live alone). Fire drills are also a good opportunity to make sure that everyone is able to hear and respond to smoke alarms.
  • Stay connected – Keep a telephone nearby, along with emergency phone numbers so that you can communicate with emergency personnel if you’re trapped in your room by fire or smoke.
  • Oxygen Helps Fire Spread Fast! Many older adults with respiratory problems now use home oxygen systems. Unfortunately, some people smoke while on oxygen which can be deadly to them and to people around them.
    • Never smoke or light a match or use open flame while using oxygen.
    • Keep all flames and heat sources away from oxygen containers and oxygen systems.
    • Do not allow smoking inside of a home where oxygen is used. Even if it is not being used at a particular moment, the home is still an oxygen enriched environment, and fire can get out of hand quickly.
  • Portable Heaters Need Space! Keep electric space heaters at least three feet away from drapes, furniture or other flammable materials. Never use a space heater when you leave the room or go to bed. Supervise children and pets when a space heater is in use.

All of our homes and circumstances are different. Take a few moments now to plan and prepare for an emergency. The preparation could save your life or the life of a family member or loved one Where You Live!

 

Fire safety in manufactured homes Safety, ,
08
Nov 2014

smoke-alarm

If you are buying or renting a manufactured home (sometimes called a mobile home), make sure you keep fire safety in mind. According to the National Fire Protection Association and E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire & Safety, by following a few tips and knowing the facts and the safety requirements for manufactured homes, you can help keep your family safe Where You Live.

Safety Tips

  • Choose a home built after 1976 that has the HUD label certifying that it meets certain minimum safety standards.
  • Be sure your home has enough smoke alarms. Manufactured homes are required to be sold with smoke alarms, but sometimes people remove them. You need a smoke alarm inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and in or near the family/living room area(s). For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace batteries at least once a year.
  • Have a home fire escape plan that includes two ways out of every room and an outside meeting place. Make sure all ways out of the home are easy to use. Practice your fire drill at least twice a year with your family.
  • Make sure you can open and get out of windows and doors. Don’t block access to them.
  • If the smoke alarms sound when you are cooking, consider moving the alarm further from the kitchen area or install a photoelectric type alarm with a hush button which is less sensitive to cooking.
  • Never remove or disable a smoke alarm.
  • Consider having a licensed electrician inspect the electrical system to be sure it is safe and meets the applicable National Electrical Code® requirements.
  • Have smokers smoke outside the home. Provide large, non-tip ashtrays and empty them frequently. Douse butts with water before throwing them away. Check around and under cushions for smoldering butts.
  • Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn. When purchasing new space heaters, select appliances with automatic shut-off switches. Turn off portable heaters before falling asleep or when leaving the room. Supervise children and pets when space heaters are operating.

 

Cook with caution to avoid fires Safety, , , , ,
06
Nov 2014

Remember to watch what you heat when cooking or frying.

Remember to watch what you heat when cooking or frying and keep a 3-foot kid free zone away from anything that is hot.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries each year. Adults over the age of 65 are twice as likely to die in a cooking-related home fire. Adults 85 years and over are four times as likely to die from a burn injury. E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire & Safety offer a few tips you can follow to prevent these fires, fatalities, and injuries:

  • Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the oven or stovetop.
  • Stand by your pan! Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
  • If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
  • Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains— away from your stovetop.
  • Turn handles of pots and pans to the side so you don’t accidentally bump them and spill the contents.
  • Cook on back burners first to avoid young hands from touching hot burners or hot pans.
  • Keep kids away from the cooking area. Maintain a three-foot kid free zone away from things that are hot and can burn (the stove, oven, microwave, or food).
  • Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can easily catch fire if it comes in contact with a gas flame or electric burner.
  • Check the kitchen after you finish cooking to make sure the oven, burners and other appliances are turned off.

Remember to take a few minutes and use common sense to prevent a fire or burn injury Where You Live!

 

Put safety first this Halloween with these tips Maranda, Safety, ,
25
Oct 2014

 

Halloween can be fun when you stay safe!

Halloween can be fun when you stay safe!

Halloween is coming soon. Our friend Maranda from WOTV4Women offers these tips to make your night safe, fun and enjoyable.

Flame Resistant Costumes
Look for flame-resistant costumes. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends costumes made out of synthetic materials like nylon or polyester, which are less flammable than other materials.

Make sure you glow!
Make sure the Trick-or-Treaters have a flashlight. Add reflective tape to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags. Have everyone wear light-colored clothing in order to be seen.

Face Paint Fright
Instead of masks, which can cover the eyes and make it hard to see, consider using face paint.

Trick-or-Treating Route
Plan the Trick-or-Treat route and make sure adults know where children are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children along the planned route.

Get the Pumpkin Glow
Use a glow stick instead of a candle in the Jack-O-Lantern to avoid a fire hazard.

Sidewalk Safety
Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street and cross only at the corner. Don’t cut across yards or use alleys. Don’t cross between parked cars.

Bright Front Porch
If someone is welcoming Trick-or-Treaters at their home, they should make sure the outdoor light is on. Accept treats at the door – never go inside.

Safe Walking Zone
Sweep leaves from the sidewalks and steps. Make sure you clear the porch or front yard of any obstacles that a child could trip over.

Animal Safety
Restrain any household pets. Be cautious around neighbor’s pets and any other animals, no matter how cute they may be!

 

Take steps to stay safe from fire Fire Prevention Month, Maranda, Safety, Videos, , , , ,
24
Oct 2014

smoke-alarm1

October is Fire Safety Month, and Jake the Safety Dog and E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety want to make sure your family is safe with these fire safety tips:

  • Make sure you have a working smoke alarm
  • Test your alarm monthly
    • Change batteries yearly
    • Replace alarm every ten years
  • Have a smoke alarm in each bedroom and on each floor
    • Don’t put an alarm in the kitchen to reduce false alarms
  • Call your local fire department’s non-emergency line with questions or concerns
  • Review home escape plans
    • Have at least two exits that are easily accessible
    • Have a meeting place for the family

 

Maranda learns how to build a fire truck Maranda, , ,
24
Oct 2014

fire-truck-web

It’s family business at Spencer Manufacturing in South Haven. Our friend Maranda from WOTV 4 Women visited the family-owned company, which has been building custom fire trucks since 1986.

Spencer creates each fire truck based on what a fire department needs. Each truck takes about three months to complete and is made in three steps: building the body, painting, and checking the plumbing and electrical. The staff at Spencer have to follow strict guidelines in building the fire trucks. Each truck can cost anywhere between $100,000 and $1 million.

 

Jake The Fire Safety Dog visits Fifth Third Junior Events, Maranda,
24
Oct 2014

IMG_7111

Jake The Fire Safety Dog joined his friend Maranda from WOTV4Women and kids in Kalamazoo came ready to run the Fifth Third Junior on October 22.

Kids ages five to 13 got to participate in a half mile or one mile fun run on the track at Kalamazoo Central High School. The program is hosted by the Fifth Third River Bank Run. It introduces kids to running through the Feelin’ Good Mileage Club, which took place in more than 20 area schools. Students who completed at least five miles in the Feelin’ Good Mileage Club got to participate in Fifth Third Junior for free!

The lost art of turning logs into lumber Maranda, , , ,
23
Oct 2014

logs-for-web

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. (WOTV) Students in the Kalamazoo area are getting a first-hand lesson at how trees turn into lumber. The Log to Lumber program was started five years ago to teach kids in wood shop about where lumber comes from. The program also shows them how their classes relate to real-life situations and lets them explore career opportunities they might not otherwise know about.

The program teaches students about forestry, forest management, how to measure a tree, determine its value, and cut it down. It then takes them through the process of hauling a tree to the saw mill and cutting it into boards.

 

Here is the full video of the Log to Lumber program on Maranda Where You Live – 10/23/2014:

Here is the 1st part of the Log To Lumber program on Maranda Where You Live – 10/23/2014:

Here is the 2nd part:

Here is the 3rd part:

Here is the 4th and final part:

Campfire safety: be smart outdoors Safety, , , ,
23
Oct 2014

campfire-safety

Nothing says fall quite like a campfire. Whether telling spooky ghost stories or roasting marshmallows around the fire, it’s important to understand how to stay safe around a fall campfire.

  • Select an appropriate location. Before creating a campfire, make sure you understand any rules or regulations for your area. Avoid building the fire near low-hanging branches, tree roots, structures, and other flammable items. Try to choose a location where your fire will be sheltered from the wind and use campfire rings or other designated campfire accessories whenever possible.
  • Use the appropriate campfire fuel. Soft woods like pine, fir, and cedar are best for starting a fire. Start the fire by building a small teepee of dry sticks and igniting it with a match. As the fire gets started, add larger pieces of wood. Remember to keep the fire small. Don’t burn items that may explode or give off toxic fumes. Items should never be thrown in a fire. That includes batteries, plastic bags, glass, and aluminum cans.
  • Supervise the campfire area continuously. A responsible adult should always be present while a campfire is burning. Encourage small children to stay seated several feet away from the fire. Extinguished campfire areas should still be monitored after the flames have gone out to make sure the campfire does not re-ignite and to make sure that children are not burned by embers, which still retain heat even after the fire is extinguished.
  • Completely extinguish the campfire. A roaring fire is both a success, and a responsibility. It is your job to properly maintain and extinguish your campfire when you are finished. Make sure you always have a large bucket of water and metal shovel on hand to put out the fire. Pour lots of water on the fire, drown all embers, not just the red ones, until the hissing sound stops. Stir the campfire ashes and embers with a shovel and pour more water on the ashes, then feel the area to make sure they are cold to the touch.

From the pumpkin patch to ghost stories around the campfire, E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety reminds you that fall activities are more fun when you know that your kids are safe Where You Live!

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