Hudson Fire - Fire Safety

FIRE SAFETY NEWS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The holiday season is a very special time of the year with festive lights, decorations, crackeling fires places and beautiful decorated trees. However, the season also brings serious and unexpected fire hazards into your home. The winter months are the leading time for home fires and deaths in the US. One third of all fires and deaths occur during these months.

“The good news is that these fires and loses can be prevented. It’s simply a matter of being aware of theses hazards and using common sense steps to avoid them,” said Dave Krupich, Fire inspector, Hudson Fire Department.

Deck the halls with bells of holly and joy and not fire hazards.

Here are a few safety tips from the Hudson Fire Department.

Christmas Lights

*** Check each light set for defects like broken/lose sockets, broken or frayed wires, etc.

Throw out old and worn ligts sets and replace with UL listed ones.

*** Turn off tree and decorate lights when you leave or go to bed.

*** Use UL listed extension cords. Use one power strip cord per outlet. Never put

cord under carpets, rugs, through doorways, nail to walls or floors.

Christmas Trees

*** When buying fresh trees check color and sent because fresh trees should be dark

green with a great sent. Check for dry needles so they are not falling out. Remove

any dry needles from the tree.

*** Cut 2 inches off the trunk of the tree before you put it in water and stand. Check

water levels daily.

*** Check to see that the tree is secure in the stand. Keep it away from heat sources and

exits so they are not obstructed.

Fireplaces /Candles

*** Before you start a fire in the fireplace make sure the damper is open and chimney

is clean and free of obstructions.

*** Always have a fireplace screen or glass doors over the opening. Keep glass doors

shut unless you have a fire screen behind them.

*** Keep matches, lighters and candles out of the reach of children.

*** Never leave candles lighted when leaving home or going to bed. Always extinguish

them. Also keep candles in a sturdy container.

*** Do not place lighted candles near flammable decorations, trees or combustible

materials.

The Hudson Fire department wishes you a safe and happy Holiday Season.

Fire Safety Tips

Roughly 70 percent of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms are the great safety success story of the 20th century — but only when they're working properly.

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms, and advance planning—a home fire escape plan that everyone in your family is familiar with and has practiced.

Watch What You Heat

Do you like helping out in the kitchen and cooking up tasty snacks for your friends and family? Preparing yummy treats can be lots of fun, but it's important that kids who like to cook know how to be safe in the kitchen. These tips can help you figure out what you're old enough to do on your own - and when it's time to ask a grown-up for help.

Getting started - Before you get cooking, you need to get a grown-up's permission. If you plan to use a recipe, look it over with a grown-up first to decide what you can do on your own and what you need help with. And once you get started, never be afraid to ask for help. Even the best chefs rely on their assistants to help them out in the kitchen.

Helping out is fun - From mixing up cake batter to cutting shapes out of cookie dough, helping a grownup in the kitchen can be lots of fun. So if you're not old enough yet to cook on your own, not to worry; being the chef's helper is the most important job in the kitchen.

All kids are different - and a grownup should always decide what is safe for you to do in the kitchen - but here are some guidelines that you can use.

Get ingredients out of the refrigerator
Lick the frosting off of a spoon (yum!)
Mix ingredients together in a bowl
Pour liquids into a bowl
Wash fruits and vegetables off under cold water
Use a cookie cutter to cut shapes out of cookie dough

Open packages
Use a butter knife to spread frosting, cream cheese, peanut butter or soft cheese
Peel vegetables
Measure ingredients
Stir ingredients in a bowl
Set the table

Begin to follow a recipe
Open cans
Use electrical kitchen appliances, such as a blender, electric mixer, microwave oven or toaster oven when a grownup is present
Make a salad
Use a grater to shred cheese and vegetables
Turn stove burners on and off and select oven temperature when a grown-up is present
Help plan the meal

Operate the stove or oven without an adult present
Heat food up in the microwave without an adult present
Drain cooked pasta into a colander
Take a tray of cookies out of the oven

Burn First Aid

Stop, Drop and Roll to extinguish a clothing fire.

Cool a burn. For minor burns, run cool water immediately over the burn.

Seek emergency medical help immediately for more serious burns.

Below are some NFPA Safety Bulletins

Fireworks Safety

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Cooking Safety

Turkey Fryers

Winter and Holiday Safety

Have a fun and safe summer

The Hudson Fire Department