Holiday Safety
Each year, hospital emergency
rooms treat about 10,800 people for injuries, such as
falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations
and Christmas trees. In addition, there are 11,000 candle-related
fires each year, resulting in 150 deaths and 1,200 injuries
annually. Christmas trees are involved in about 400 fires
annually, resulting in 20 deaths, 70 injuries and an average
of more than $15 million in property loss and damage.
Trees
When purchasing an artificial
tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although
this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it
does indicate the tree will resist burning and should
extinguish quickly.
When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh
tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches
and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break.
The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and
when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many
needles.
When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces
and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out
rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water.
Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block
doorways.
Lights
Indoors or outside, use
only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized
testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety
standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked
sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and
throw out damaged sets. Always replace burned
-out
bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.
Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per
single extension cord. Make sure the extension cord is
rated for the intended use.
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree
can become charged with electricity from faulty lights,
and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure
they have been certified for outdoor use.
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls,
or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind
damage.
Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not
nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks
(available at hardware stores).
Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
The lights could short out and start a fire.
For added electric shock
protection, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations
into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters
(GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where
electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently
to household circuits by a qualified electrician.
Decorations
Use only non-combustible
or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel
or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
Never use lighted candles
on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable
holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked
down.
In homes with small children, take special care to avoid
decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings
with small removable parts out of the reach of children
to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces,
and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may
tempt a child to eat them.
Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating
with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container
directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating
with artificial snow sprays.
Burning candles should
never be left unattended. Keep all candles, matches and
lighters away from children.
Fireworks
Fireworks are Illegal in El
Dorado County
Fireworks lead to thousands
of injuries requiring emergency room treatment, according
to NFPA. These dazzling, but dangerous devices can burn
up to 1200 F and can cause burns, lacerations, amputations
and blindness. Stay safe by always leaving fireworks to
professionals.
Stay back at least
500 feet from professional fireworks displays.
Treat all fireworks, whether legal or illegal for consumers,
as suitable only for use by trained professionals.
If you find fireworks, do not touch them but instead direct
authorities to them.
Leave any area where amateurs are using fireworks.
Summer Safety
Fire
Safety Tips for the Bar-B-Q
Beware when you barbecue.
In 1998 alone, there were 6,100 reported home fires involving
gas or charcoal grills in the U.S., leading to $29.1 million
in direct property damage, according to NFPA.
There are three types of grills on the market.
1) Propane gas grills which use propane
tanks.
2) Natural gas grills which use gas
piped in from your house.
CAUTION: These two types of grills are not interchangeable.
Make sure all fittings are tight, and there is adequate
ventilation.
3) Charcoal grills which use charcoal
briquettes and lighter fluid.
BBQ Safety Tips
1) Read
all instructions before using your grill. Note safety,
operation and handling instructions.
2) Clean grill thoroughly before and
after using. This is to avoid grease build up that can
cause flare-ups and/or fire. NEVER put lighter fluid directly
on flames!
3) Keep all grilling activities away
from buildings, houses and garages.
4) Use all grills outdoors. Never grill
inside houses, garages or on wooden porches.
5) Store all lighting fluids away from
children.
6) Have a multipurpose A-B-C fire extinguisher,
a garden hose, bucket of water or sand nearby.
7) Keep all children and pets away
from grilling area (at least 5 feet in all directions).
8) Never leave cooking unattended.
9) Use proper grilling utensils for
safe handling.
10) Use only fluids recommended for charcoal grilling,
and dispose of charcoal properly in a metal container
dowsed with water. Check cooking area for proper
extinguishment.
11) With gas grills, be sure that the hose connection
is tight and check hoses carefully for leaks. Applying
soapy water to the hoses will easily and safely reveal
any leaks.
Scooter,
Bike and Pedestrian Safety
Scooters, bikes, in-line
skates and skateboards are associated with numerous injuries
yearly.
1) Wear a
comfortable, properly fitted helmet bearing the label
of an independent testing lab. Be sure that the helmet
sits level on top of the head–not rocking in any
direction–and always fasten the safety strap.
2) Be sure that safety gear (wrist,
elbow and kneepads) fits properly and does not interfere
with the rider's movement, vision or hearing. Wrist pads
are not recommended for scooter riders as they may affect
their ability to maneuver.
3) Ride scooters and bikes only on
smooth, paved surfaces and only ride during daylight hours.
4) Learn the proper hand signals and
use them when you turn or stop.
5) Come to a complete stop before entering
driveways, paths or sidewalks, then look left, right and
left again for bikes, cars or pedestrians heading your
way.
6) Teach crossing safety to children
by example
Water Safety
Extra caution should be used when around water, for children
and adults.
1)
Only swim in approved areas.
2) Always supervise children near water
at all times and make sure that children learn to swim.
3) Check the depth of the water before
jumping in.
4) Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved
PFD (personal floatation device) when boating, jet-skiing,
tubing or water-skiing. Air-filled swimming aids,
like water wings or inner tubes, are not substitutes for
approved PFDs. An adult should always supervise
children using these devices.
5) Be sure to extinguish all smoking
materials and shut down motors, fans and heating devices
before fueling a boat. In case of a spill, wipe
up fuel immediately and check the bilge for fuel leakage
and odors. After fueling and before starting the boat's
motor, ventilate with the blower for at least four minutes
Camping Safety Tips
1)
Always use a flame retardant tent and set up camp far
away from the campfire.
2) Only use flashlights or battery-powered
lanterns inside the tent or any other closed space, not
liquid-filled heaters or lanterns.
3) Always build your campfire down
wind away from your tent. Clear all vegetation and
dig a pit surrounded by rocks before building your campfire.
4) Store liquid fire starter (not gasoline)
away from your tent and campfire and only use dry kindling
to freshen a campfire.
5) Always put out a campfire
when going to sleep or leaving the campsite. To
extinguish the fire, cover with dirt or pour water over
it
Gasoline and Lawn Mowers:
Gasoline vapors are highly
flammable. They stay on your clothing and can ignite if
you light a match or cigarette.
1) Store gasoline only in approved
containers, outside, or in a building not attached to
the house. Never keep or use gasoline inside the
home.
2) Keep gasoline away from all heat
sources such as smoking materials, pilot lights, campfires
and grills.
3) Never fuel a lawn mower while it
is hot. Give it a few minutes to cool off first.
When your car overheats:
Always:
1) Turn off
your car and wait at least one-half hour before attempting
to open the radiator.
2) Use a heavy rag or cloth to open the radiator.
3) Stand back as far as possible. Keep your
face out of the way in case the radiator should rupture!
Opening hot car radiators
is one of the leading causes of burns to young adults.
These burns can be prevented with patience and appropriate
precautions.
