Maranda sits down with Firefighter Michael McLeieer from E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety to talk about ways to stay safe during the holiday season Where You Live!
Candle Fire Safety
- Keep a 1-foot circle of safety – a clear area around the candle. Avoid placing candles near curtains, table cloths, or other things that can catch fire.
- Put out the candle when you leave the room or go to bed. Never leave a lit candle unattended.
- A safer choice would be to use a battery operated candle instead of a real candle to prevent a fire.
- Closely supervise children and pets when using a candle.
Smoke Alarms
- During the holidays, think of giving the “gift of safety”. Give smoke alarms, escape ladders and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Replace smoke alarms that are older than 10 years.
- Replace carbon monoxide (CO) alarms that are older the 5-7 years.
- Replace batteries in smoke and CO alarms when the clocks are changed for Daylight Saving Time or Eastern Standard time.
Kitchen Fire Safety
- Unattended cooking is the leading cause for home fires.
- Stand by Your Pan when cooking, broiling or frying.
- Put a Lid on Pan fires on the stove, and turn of the burner and allow the pan to cool before moving it.
- For oven fires, turn off the oven and close the oven door. Evacuate everyone out of the home and call 911 from the meeting place once safely away from the home.
- Use back burners first on the stove to prevent young children from reaching up and burning their hands.
- Turn pan handles inward to prevent the hot contents from being spilled on people or pets.
- Be Alert! Never cook when you are drowsy, or have consumed alcohol or taken medication.
Space Heater Safety
- Turn off a space heater when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Never leave a space heater unattended.
- Portable heaters need space. Keep a 3-foot area clear of the space heater. Clothing, furniture and papers all can be fire hazards if placed too close to a portable heater.
Pet Safety
- Create a 3-foot kid free zone from hot things (the stove, microwave and hot foods) to prevent burns.
- Keep pets in another room, away from the kitchen and holiday action.
- Introduce pets slowly to young children. Pets can be easily scared of the quick actions of children.
Remember to give the gift of safety this holiday season, Where You Live!
E.S.C.A.P.E. President and Founder Firefighter Michael McLeieer joins Jake The Fire Safety Dog and Maranda at the Delton Kellogg Elementary School in Barry County Michigan to teach the children about fire safety during fire prevention month. They also launched a creative essay assignment for the students to demonstrate what they know about fire safety
E.S.C.A.P.E. President and Founder Firefighter Michael McLeieer brings Jake The Fire Safety Dog in studio and talks with Terri and Rachael about fire safety and ways to prevent cooking fires to keep families safe. They also remind viewers to come out to Lowe’s of Portage for the 10th Annual Family Fire Safety Day event on Saturday October 26, 2013 from 10am – 3pm.
Prevent Kitchen Fires
For young children, the message to teach about the stove or oven is clear: Keep Away and create a 3-foot kid-free zone away from the stove, oven or other hot items. Like matches and lighters, these things are tools for adults only.
But when is a child old enough to be given any cooking responsibilities that involve this equipment? Because every child’s development and personality is different, there is no single rule that can determine when a child can be given responsibility for cooking, but here are some things to consider:
How old and mature is the child?
Before the age of about 11 years old, children can’t really anticipate events they haven’t experienced. If something unexpected happens, they are unprepared. This has nothing to do with the child’s intelligence; it is simply normal brain development.
Parents are often fooled by children of this age. Elementary school children are very good at following directions. If they are shown how to do something, most often they can perform even a complex chore correctly time and again-as long as the pattern remains the same.
What they are not good at is anticipating what might go wrong and how to respond if something does. So even if they can cook, and do so regularly, they need close supervision. If the grease catches on fire or a napkin falls across a burner, it is only by chance that they will respond quickly and appropriately.
Think about hiring a babysitter for your own children. Most people want a sitter who is older than elementary school age. They understand, intuitively, that one of the key responsibilities of a babysitter is to keep their children safe in an emergency. They are able to respond and react correctly if something unexpected happens. National Babysitting Training Courses are designed for 11-to-15-year-olds, setting a national standard concerning the age of responsibility.
How well does the child comply with other types of rules?
Some children are more impulsive than others, some are more compliant, and some are bigger risk-takers. A 14-year-old who is a risk-taker may not be ready to be given this responsibility while a more compliant 12-year-old is.
Has the child been taught clear rules about cooking, such as:
- Always stay close to the stove and watch it carefully when you’re cooking food.
- Keep a pan’s lid and a dry oven mitt nearby, and know what to do if food or grease catches fire.
- Keep anything that can catch fire, including towels and wooden utensils, a safe distance from the stovetop.
- Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.
- Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
- Always use oven mitts when putting things in or taking things out of the oven.
- In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat, keep the door closed and go outside to call 911.
Do you use safe techniques yourself when you cook?
What you do can be more important than what you tell a child. Leaving food cooking on the stove unattended not only creates an immediate hazard but tells children that fire needn’t be treated seriously. Children often imitate the actions of adults. Remember to Stand By Your Pan when cooking, frying or broiling and Put a Lid On It and turn off the heat if there is a fire in a pan on the stove.
When you have questions about fire safety, please contact your local fire department on their non-emergency business telephone number.
Put A Lid On Cooking Fires – Fire Prevention Week October 6 – 12, 2013
October is Fire Prevention Month and “Prevent Kitchen Fires” is this year’s message. Cooking brings family and friends together, provides an outlet for creativity and can be relaxing. But did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries?
According to the National Fire Protection Association, unattended cooking was a factor in 34% of reported home cooking fires and 2/3 of home cooking fires started with ignition of food or other cooking materials on the stovetop.
Microwave ovens are one of the leading home products associated with scald burn injuries not related to fires. Nearly half of the microwave oven injuries seen at emergency rooms in 2011 across the country were scald burns.
By following a few safety tips, you can prevent these fires:
“Cook With Caution”
Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
- 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.
- Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
If You Have A Cooking Fire…
Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
- Call 9-1-1 to alert the local fire department
- If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
- Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
If you have any questions about fire safety, please feel free to contact your local fire department.