National Pet Fire Safety Day: Tips from Jake the Fire Safety Dog Jake the Fire Safety Dog, Safety, WOTV 4,
14
Jul 2020

07-14-2020 Jake with Kids

by:  Firefighter Michael McLeieer, President and Founder, E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety

Wednesday, July 15, is National Pet Fire Safety Day and Jake the Fire Safety Dog is teaching kids and adults how to stay safe in the event of an emergency!

Get Low and Go is what children and families learn when they watch demonstrations by Jake the Fire Safety Dog, a black Labrador retriever service canine dedicated to teaching fire safety techniques.

Jake was introduced in June of 2007 at the Maranda Park Parties and he was the newest addition, at that time, to the E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety program.  E.S.C.A.P.E. stands for Education Showing Children and Adults Procedures for Evacuations and this year marks the 25th anniversary for the non-profit fire safety charity.

Each year, children are seriously injured or killed in home fires.  Jake is able to bridge the educational gap, engage children and teach the traditional fire safety messages in the classroom and at large community events in a non-traditional way through his vivid demonstrations.

Some of the techniques Jake performed include:

  • Crawl Low Under Smoke
  • Get Out and Stay Out from a smoke-filled building
  • Assemble at a meeting place away from the home
  • Children should never go up to a strange animal without a trusted grown-up’s permission

“All kids love animals so when they see Jake the Fire Safety Dog come into the classroom and perform his demonstrations and crawl low under the smoke and fire, it just hits home more with them and they remember what to do in an emergency,” said Adam Munoz, a West Michigan elementary school teacher who has seen Jake in action in his classroom many times.

For more information about fire safety and Jake the Fire Safety Dog, visit:  https://www.woodtv.com/wotv4women/maranda/escape-fire-safety/animals-teaching-important-life-saving-practices/ or www.escapeinc.org.

Remember to practice fire safety with everyone in your family everyday Where You Live!

 

Animals teaching important, life-saving practices Maranda, Safety, WOTV 4
19
Feb 2018

Pets and animals are an important part of our lives. One special dog in particular, can help us save lives in the event of a fire.

Jake the Fire Safety Dog visited Maranda in studio during the Pet Show. For 11 years now, Jake has been helping children across West Michigan learn how to get out of their homes if a fire breaks out.

Jake is part of the  E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety Team that brings the smoke trailer to events like the Maranda Park Party. The smoke trailer demonstration shows families what would happen if a fire occurs in their home. The trailer fills with theatrical fog. Participants get to see where the smoke enters, how to stop it from entering, and watch Jake show them how to crawl low under the smoke.

For more information about Jake the Fire Safety Dog visit www.jakethefiredog.org.

 

Focus on fire safety this holiday season Maranda, Safety, WOTV 4, , ,
05
Dec 2017

The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations. Kids especially love to be involved in holiday preparations. However, safety in the kitchen is important, especially when there is a lot of activity and people at home.

As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember to play it safe! E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety offers a few simple tips so you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safer from fire.

  • Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop or cooking your turkey so you can keep an eye on the food and check on it frequently.
  • Keep kids away from the stove. Maintain a three-foot kid free zone away from things that are hot and can burn (the stove, oven, microwave, or food).
  • Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee could cause serious burns.
  • Have activities that keep kids out of the kitchen during this busy time. Games, puzzles, or books can keep them busy. Kids can get involved in preparations with recipes that can be done outside the kitchen.
  • Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the oven or stovetop.
  • Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pets, pocketbooks, or bags.
  • Keep knives, utility lighters, and matches out of the reach of children. Place these tools up high in a locked cabinet.
  • Never leave children or pets alone in a room with a lit candle. When you leave the room, extinguish the candle.
  • Make sure your smoke alarms are working and are located on every level of your home. Test them by pushing the test button, replace batteries annually and replace alarms every 10 years.
  • Never place smoke alarms in the kitchen or immediately outside the bathroom where cooking odors or steam from the shower can cause nuisance activations.
  • Keep exits clear and accessible. In case of a fire, everyone in the home needs immediate access to the closest exit leading outside.

If your family needs a new smoke alarm and you are unable to obtain one, contact your local fire department or e-mail escape@wotv4women.com to learn about the Operation Save A Life smoke alarm installation program close to Where You Live!

 

Jake the Fire Safety Dog’s lesson pays off in Olivet Jake the Fire Safety Dog, Safety, Safety For You, WLNS, , ,
16
Aug 2017

jakesitting

Ask any teacher and they’ll tell you that the lessons can be taught but the real magic is when the student shows that the lesson was learned.

And in the Eaton County community of Olivet that lesson could have been a lifesaver.

You might remember Jake the Fire Safety Dog.

jakestare

He’s an important part of the 6 News “Safety for You” effort in mid Michigan.

Every year Jake visits dozens of classrooms to demonstrate the importance of having a fire escape plan and how to crawl to safety during a fire.

Last week fire hit an Olivet garage and forced a family from their home at 2 a.m.

When firefighters arrived they found the family gathered together in a safe place while the fire was put out.

Afterwards, while talking with Fire Chief John Collins, the family was explaining what happened and what they did during the fire.

That’s when their 5-year-old daughter piped up and proudly said that they had a safe meeting place because Jake the Fire Dog taught them about it when he visited a preschool class.

No one was injured and this is the 50th documented time a family was “saved” by a child who saw a Jake the Fire Dog or other E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety presentation.

ONLINE: Jake the Fire Safety Dog

 

13 Common Valentine’s Day items that can harm your pet Jake the Fire Safety Dog, Safety, ,
14
Feb 2017

JakeWave

Photo courtesy Jake the Fire Safety Dog

We provide our pets food, attention, medical care, and love. In exchange, they offer companionship, protection, enjoyment, and their own love for us.  For all they have to offer, they must rely on us for protection from harm.

Did you know pet poisoning cases dramatically increase around Valentine’s Day? Some well-intentioned gifts actually can be toxic for pets.

The E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety team and Jake the Fire Safety Dog offer some common causes of pet poisoning along with tips to keep your pet safe:

Roses: Although roses don’t often cause serious poisoning beyond gastrointestinal upset, there’s risk for trauma to the mouth and paws from the thorns.  Additionally, if a large enough portion of the rose head or stem is ingested, a bowel obstruction may result.

Lilies: A beautiful but deadly alternative to Valentine’s Day roses is a fresh bouquet of Lilies.  The toxin can be found in the petals, leaves, pollen, or even the water in the vase.  Lilies are extremely toxic to cats and cause acute kidney failure within one or two days of exposure.  If not treated, the exposure and ingestion will likely result in death.

Chocolate and cocoa: The classic Valentine’s Day treats can be toxic to pets.  Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a chemical similar to caffeine that’s highly toxic to dogs and cats.  The darker or more concentrated the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains.  Therefore, the most dangerous chocolates are baker’s chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, and gourmet dark chocolates.  Ingestions of small amounts of chocolate may cause mild vomiting and diarrhea.  Larger amounts can cause severe agitation, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures, collapse or eventually death.

Xylitol: Xylitol is a commonly used and naturally occurring sugar substitute.  It can be used alone or in combination with aspartame or other sweeteners and is used in many sugar-free chewing gums, and baked goods.  Around Valentine’s Day, beware of its use in breath mints, colorful candy presents or sugar-free cake or muffin mixes.  Xylitol may cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar as well as liver damage in dogs.  Within 10-15 minutes of ingestion, dogs may develop hypoglycemia, lose coordination and start vomiting.  Collapse and seizures may quickly follow.  In rare cases, these signs won’t appear until several hours after ingestion.

Other items to avoid feeding to your pet include:

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
  • Moldy or spoiled foods
  • Onions or onion powder
  • Fatty foods
  • Salt
  • Yeast dough
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Raisins and grapes

If you suspect a poisoning situation involving your pet, contact your local veterinarian, a local emergency veterinary service or the ASPCA National Poison Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Regional Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222 for poisoning involving people.

 

National Burn Awareness Week on WKZO Radio Safety, WKZO, , ,
06
Feb 2017

 

WKZO- new logo jpg 1freq

National Burn Awareness Week is February 5 – 11, 2017.  Please listen to some important burn prevention tips shared on WKZO AM 590 radio Monday morning February 6th at 9:10 a.m. by our founder Firefighter Michael McLeieer.

 

Keep your home safe for kids this holiday season Maranda, Safety, WOTV 4, , , , ,
16
Nov 2016

The holiday season can be one of the most dangerous season’s for fires. Michael McLeieer of E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety has some special holiday fire prevention and safety tips.

Christmas Tree

  • Check the wiring on your tree
  • Look for loose ornaments that could become choking hazards
  • Use outlet covers

Kitchen

  • Stand by your pan
  • Use back burners first
  • Create a three foot kid-free zone

Bathroom

  • Keep medication out of reach of children

Pets

  • Reintroduce pets to young children, especially if they’re not used to them

Family fire safety day provides free smoke alarms Fire Prevention Month, Safety, , , , , , , ,
21
Oct 2016

This family event combines safety with a whole lot of fun! Join E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety, WOOD TV8’s Chief Meteorologist Bill Steffen and Jake the Fire Safety Dog for the 13th Annual Family Fire Safety Day on October 22nd from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Free nine volt batteries and smoke alarms will be available (while supplies last) and you can visit with Portage firefighters and tour their fire truck. If you need a smoke alarm installed in your owner occupied home, call toll free 1-844-978-4400 or email escape@wotv4women.com.

Family Fire Safety Day
Saturday October 22nd – 10am – 2pm
Lowe’s in Portage – 5108 S. Westnedge Ave.

 

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