Safety

Information for safely evacuating your equine friend(s) from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

Preparing horses for a wildfire evacuation requires an extra level of planning, preparedness and practice. Building an evacuation kit for each horse, just like you have for your house pets, and having a plan for them that has been practiced, increases the potential your horse(s) will be able to leave when you do. If the wildfire’s proximity does not permit the time needed to load horses, it is best to turn them loose and not leave them confined in a barn or pasture, make sure to remove their halter prior to releasing them. Close the doors and gates so they can’t re-enter the area once they are out.

Evacuation Preparedness –

Practicing your evacuation route using your horse trailer ensures it is compatible with the road’s width and grade on each potential exit route from your home. A stuck trailer could prevent others from using the same path to safely evacuate. It is important to know any limitations before leaving your property during a wildfire. Always take into consideration that large animals take extra time to evacuate. If you do not have trailer space for all your horses, have a plan that includes neighbors, friends or relatives that have trailers and can help; or identify an animal emergency response team, or for hire service that will assist with short notice.

Trailers:

• Make sure your vehicle is set up to tow the horse trailer.
• Make sure your trailer is in road-worthy condition.
• Practice loading your horse in the trailer prior to an evacuation.

If you are unable to evacuate with your horse(s), but have time, using one of the methods below may help animal rescuers reunite you quicker with the horse(s):

• Use a livestock crayon to write your name, phone number and address on the horse(s).
• Braid a temporary ID tag with pre-written contact info into the horse’s mane.
• Attach a leg band with your phone number pre-printed on it to the lower part of their leg, above the hoof.

Just as humans prepare, it is important to have horses ready year-round for a potential wildfire evacuation.

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.

Important information for older adults about fire safety from the U.S. Fire Administration:

People ages 65 and over have an increased risk of dying in a fire. Having physical or mental impairments, using chemical substances such as medicines and alcohol, and living with smokers or in substandard housing are some of the risk factors that make older adults more vulnerable to fire injury and death.

• Know two ways out of every room. Practice using both ways.
• Remove any items that may block your way out of the room or your home.
• Discuss your fire escape plan with family and neighbors. Contact your building manager or fire department to discuss your plan if you need extra help escaping.
• Keep eyeglasses, keys, hearing aids and a phone within reach next to your bed.
• Practice your home fire escape drill twice a year.

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.

Evacuation information and instructions for household pets from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association):

You play an important role in helping your pets stay safe in a wildfire. Make sure they’re included in your family’s evacuation plan; and build each pet their own pet evacuation kit. It doesn’t take a lot of time to build one, and it can usually be done using things you already have at home.

Bring pets inside at the early signs of a wildfire – that way if an evacuation notice is issued, they’ll be close, and you won’t have to spend time searching for them outdoors. If possible, take pets with you when evacuating; they could encounter problems when left on their own, and you could have difficulty locating them when you return. Don’t ever delay leaving home during a fire to find pets; your personal safety could depend on a quick exit!

In some communities, evacuation shelters are located close to where pets are kept, but that’s not always the case. If they’re housed closely, you may have an opportunity to care for them yourself. If your animals are at the shelter, they’ll be happier and more comfortable if you have the items listed on the pet evacuation kit checklist.

Simple tools you’ll need to start building your pet’s evacuation kit:

• Large bin or tote with a lid (preferably a waterproof type)
• Clear waterproof sealable plastic bags in multiple sizes
• A Sharpie-style writing utensil for labeling and marking contents
• Notepad for documenting special details and needs
• Pen or pencil
• One or two flash drives

Pet Evacuation Checklist:

• Pet Vaccination Records:
  • Copies of all current vaccination records for each pet
• Special Needs Documentation:
  • Copies of Ownership Records
  • Microchip Paperwork
• Medications:
  • Keep a list of all current medicines and their associated doses
• Leash, Harness and Collars:
  • Have your phone number and address on an I.D. tag attached to the pet’s collar
• List of important pet-related phone numbers:
  • Veterinarian
  • Local animal control agency
  • Animal shelter/boarding facility
• Photos with your pet:
  • A picture will help you document ownership and could also help in locating a missing pet
  • Photos can help document any distinguishing characteristics that will be helpful in identifying a lost or missing pet
• Pet food and treats:
  • Food for three to seven days
  • If your pet eats canned food – include a manual can opener and spoon.
  • Feeding bowl(s)
• Water:
  • Pack enough clean water to meet each pet’s individual needs for a minimum of three days and up to one week
  • Water bowl(s)
• Miscellaneous items:
  • Cat litter, tray and scoop
  • Bedding/blanket
  • Toys
  • Dog crate, cat carrier, or cage for birds and other small pets
  • Grooming supplies
  • Dog waste bags
• Pet first aid kit and animal first aid book:
  • Items should include cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape, scissors, antibiotic ointment, medical-type gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution
• Cleaning supplies:
  • Paper towels, trash bags, spray cleaner, disinfectant and hand sanitizer

Just as humans prepare, it’s important to have household pets ready year-round for a potential wildfire evacuation.

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 what you and your family should do if a fire starts in your home from the American Red Cross:

If a Fire Starts:

• Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisher
• Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency phone number.
• Yell “Fire!” several times and go outside right away. If you live in a building with elevators, use the stairs. Leave all your things where they are and save yourself.
• If closed doors or handles are warm or smoke blocks your primary escape route, use your second way out. Never open doors that are warm to the touch.
• If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Close doors behind you.
• If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call the fire department or 9-1-1. Open a window and wave a brightly colored cloth or flashlight to signal for help.
• Once you are outside, go to your meeting place and then send one person to call the fire department. If you cannot get to your meeting place, follow your family’s emergency communication plan.

• If your clothes catch on fire:
  • Stop what you’re doing.
  • Drop to the ground and cover your face if you can.
  • Roll over and over or back and forth until the flames go out.
  • Running will only make the fire burn faster.
• Once the flames are out, cool the burned skin with water for three to five minutes. Call for medical attention.

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.

Sitting around and lounging in a Hot Tub is very relaxing, but keep these electrical safety tips from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) in mind before using one:

It’s important to remember that time and weather can affect a hot tub’s performance. A very well-known fact is time ages everything, including hot tubs, no matter if they are installed indoors or out. Hot tubs get old, and the internal equipment may stop working.

Outdoor hot tub installations have an added challenge of being exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light and other elements including rain and snow. UV light is proven to speed the aging process on the exposed, non-metallic electrical equipment associated with the hot tub, while rain and snow adversely impact the metallic components.

Other influences that increase the decay of hot tub equipment are the chemicals used to treat the water. These may be chlorine or bromine, which are very caustic and can cause corrosion in or on metal motor parts, electrical equipment, electrical terminals, and electrical conductors.

When was the last time you inspected the motor, terminations, bonding connections, or tested the ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection? You may be thinking, I didn’t know I needed to check my tub in this way. Why do I have to check that stuff? Again, remember that time and weather have an adverse impact on all things, especially hot tubs and the associated electrical equipment.

Hot tubs frequently receive their GFCI protection through an overcurrent protective device (OCPD), also known as a GFCI breaker, which contains similar instructions on testing. These simple and easy tests can help homeowners determine if the hot tub is safe. The usual test method includes:

• Push the colored test button on the breaker body, which should move the breaker handle to the middle position. If the handle doesn’t move, or trip, contact a qualified electrician to replace the GFCI breaker. A breaker handle that does move to the middle position is correctly operating.
• Reset the GFCI breaker by rotating the handle completely to the “off” position and then rotate it back to the “on” position. A properly functioning GFCI breaker can prevent high electric current from leaking into the hot tub water, which could result in an unfortunate electrical shock drowning (ESD) incident.

Hot tubs are a great place to relax and unwind if they are kept in good repair. Remember to test your GFCI protection and keep an eye on the other components for deterioration. Delaying maintenance could be a bigger and more expensive problem in the end.

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.