Having a Safe 4th of July

What you should do before a wildfire starts from the American Red Cross –

You may have to leave your home quickly to stay safe. Know where you will go, how you will get there, and where you will stay. Have different escape routes from your home and community. Practice these routes so everyone in your household is familiar with them. Be sure to understand how your community will respond to a wildfire.

Be Ready to Evacuate Quickly –
Evacuate means going from an unsafe place to a safe place –
• You may have to leave your home quickly to stay safe.
• Know where you will go, how you will get there, and where you will stay.
• Have different escape routes from your home and community.
• Practice these routes so everyone in your household is familiar with them.
• Be sure to understand how your community will respond to a wildfire.
• Have an evacuation plan for pets and livestock.
• Ensure your gas tank is full and you are ready to leave at a moment’s notice

Plan to Stay Connected –
The most important information will come from your local government.
• Authorities will let you know when you should leave to stay safe.
• Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government.
• Have a backup battery or a way to charge your cell phone.
• Have a battery-powered radio.
• Plan to monitor weather conditions and fires near you.

Gather Emergency Supplies in Advance –
Gather food, water, and medicine. Stores and pharmacies might be closed. Organize belongings into a Go-Kit in case you need to leave quickly.
• Go-Kit: 3 days of supplies that you can easily carry with you.
• Have a 1-month supply of medication in a child-proof container.
• Keep personal, financial, and medical records safe and easy to access.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Fire safety tips for keeping children safe from fire by the U. S. Fire Administration.

The relative risk of children dying in a fire is now less than the general population. Lower risk may be attributed, in part, to an increase in public fire education and prevention efforts by fire departments and other fire safety organizations. Although the relative risk of dying in a fire for children is less than that of the general population, the fire service must continue its important role in teaching parents and caregivers about how to protect kids from fire.

Make a fire escape plan:

It is important to have a plan when there are children in your home. Children sometimes need help getting out of the house. They may not know how to escape or what to do unless an adult shows them.

• Have a plan for young children who cannot get outside by themselves. You will need to wake babies and very young children and help them get out. In your plan, talk about who will help each child get out safely.
• It is important to find 2 ways out of every room in your home in case the first exit is blocked or dangerous to use.
• Choose a meeting place outside your home. Children should know what to do when they hear a smoke alarm and there is no adult around. Help them practice going to the outside meeting place. Teach them to never go back inside a building that is on fire.

Keep children safe from fire and burns:

Some children are curious about fire. There are simple steps you can take to keep you and the people you love safer from fire and burns.

• Keep children 3 feet away from anything that can get hot. Space heaters and stovetops can cause terrible burns. Keep children at least 3 feet away from stoves, heaters or anything that gets hot.
• Keep smoking materials locked up in a high place. Never leave cigarette lighters or matches where children can reach them.
• Never play with lighters or matches when you are with your children. Children may try to do the same things they see you do.

Messages to share with kids:

• Fires burn fast and hot, and smoke can make a room very dark.
• You should know 2 ways out of every room and 2 ways out of your house.
• Before you open a door, feel it. If it is hot, use your other exit.
• Stay low and get to your exit if you smell or see smoke or if your smoke alarm sounds.
• Stay outside. Don’t go back inside for anything.
• Never touch matches, lighters or candles. If you find matches or lighters, tell an adult.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Learn how to protect yourself, your loved ones and your home from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from the American Red Cross.

Just like home fires, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can affect anyone and is dangerous. CO is an odorless, colorless gas. People are not usually aware of its’ presence and can get sick or die from breathing in the poisonous gas. Carbon monoxide poisonings occur daily across the country and can happen after any emergency. CO poisonings often increase during power outages as people depend on generators and grills. But we can take action to prepare. Prepare now to protect yourself, your loved ones and your home.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

• Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas sometimes called “The Invisible Killer.”
• CO kills hundreds of people each year and injures thousands more.
• You cannot see, smell or hear it.
• You can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a long period of time OR by a large amount of CO over a short amount of time.

Where is Carbon Monoxide Found?

• Generators
• Fuel-fired room heaters
• Engine powered cars and trucks
• Small engines such as lawn equipment
• Fuel-fire lanterns
• Fuel-fire grills
• Fireplaces
• Gas ranges and stoves
• Furnaces and boilers
• Fuel-fired water heaters

What are the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Symptoms vary based on a number of factors, including body size, breathing rate and physical condition. CO poisoning symptoms affect the most vulnerable first including children, pets, older adults, pregnant women and those with medical conditions. The initial symptoms are often described as “flu-like” and can include:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Mental confusion
• Vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling tired

If left untreated, CO poisoning can progress into permanent organ damage and at high levels can quickly kill you. If you have been exposed to CO it is important to get a blood test within 4 hours of the exposure.

Home Safety:

• Make sure all gas appliances are vented properly.
• Have all heating systems (including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced annually by a professional using a portable CO detector. Inspections should check for blockages, corrosion, and disconnections.
• Never use a charcoal or gas grill inside your home, garage, vehicle, tent or semi- enclosed space like a porch.
• Never leave a car running inside a garage, even if the garage door is open.
• Do not use portable generators inside your home, basement, garage, crawlspace, shed, or in a semi-enclosed space like a porch.
• Generators, as well as any other equipment with an engine in it, should be used at least 20 feet away from your home.
• Do not use a gas range or oven to heat your home.

Prevention:

• If you are alerted by either a CO alarm or detector, evacuate immediately.
• Get everyone in the household, including pets, outside immediately to your meeting place. Call 911 once you are outside. Do not go back inside until emergency responders say it is safe.
• Document your CO alarm and detectors expiration date. Over time, sensors and batteries expire and become less effective. Replace them following manufacturer guidelines.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.