After a fatal fire in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Pittsburg CBS affiliate KDKA reports on why shutting your bedroom door while you sleep may help save your life. continue reading →
Link: The Disappearing Volunteer Firefighter
From the New York Times,”The Dissappearing Volunteer Fire Fighter” By Andrew Brown and Ian Urbina, published August 16, 2014
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Winter Safety & Your Utility Equiptment
Your outdoor gas meter and ventilation equipment are designed to withstand winter weather conditions, but heavy or hard-packed snow and ice on the meter or external fuel burning equipment exhaust vents can present a significant safety hazard. continue reading →
Winter Driving Safety Tips
To “gear up” for winter driving, below is a list of general winter weather preparedness tips:
Travel Items to Include: All cars should be equipped with road maps, a cell phone, a blanket (especially if traveling with small children and infants), a shovel, a windshield scraper, a towrope, booster cables, and a brightly colored cloth to use as a distress signal. A bag of sand or non-clumping cat litter to spread under tires if stuck in snow is also recommended.
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Space Heater Safety
As the temperatures dip this winter many of us rely on space heaters to supplement heat in our homes or places of work. However, space heaters can be a real safety hazard if you don’t take the proper precautions when using them. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters, causing more than 300 deaths. continue reading →
Cold Weather Safety
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are working together to remind everyone that home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season. This is due in part to an increase in cooking and heating fires. Holiday decorations and winter storms that can interrupt electrical service and cause people to turn to alternative heating sources also contribute to the increased risk of fire in winter.
Christmas Safety
With the onset of the holiday season, it is important to focus on fire safety and prevention. The celebration of the season brings with it increased usage of electric lights, decorations, candles, and the ever popular Christmas tree, all of which can be potential fire hazards. Additionally, cooking fires increase during the holidays as families and friends gather to celebrate. By following general fire safety precautions, potential holiday fires, deaths, and injuries remain preventable.
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Don’t Burn Your Wrapping Paper
Christmas morning in many homes means unwrapping gifts in front of a cozy fireplace. And every year, local fire departments across the country warn people not to toss all that wrapping paper into the flames, for very good reason: It might start a serious chimney fire.
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