Candle Safety

Make sure a grown-up is always in the room when a candle is burning.

If a grown-up does leave the room, make sure he or she puts out the candle first.

Never burn candles in bedrooms.

Don’t let teenage brothers and sisters burn candles in their rooms.

Set up a "kid-free" zone around burning candles: no playing with or near candles, with candle wax, or with things that could catch fire near candles.

Keep candles at least a foot away from anything that could catch on fire.

Don’t put candles in windows or doorways where the wind could knock them over, or blow things into them that could catch on fire.

Keep matches and lighters up high, out of children’s sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.

Make sure to use candle holders that are sturdy and won’t tip over easily, and are big enough to catch any wax that drips from the candle.

Don’t let kids light candles (and grown-ups should be careful to keep hair and any loose clothing away from the flame).

A grown-up should put out candles by using a snuffer or by blowing softly. Be careful of splattering wax. It is hot and can burn you.

Grown-ups shouldn’t leave the room until wicks have stopped glowing.

Kids should always make a wish before they blow out -- CAREFULLY -- their birthday candles.

Sometimes grown-ups use candles because the power has gone out in a big storm, or because there is no electricity in the home. But Sparky wants to make sure that you and your family are safe from fire ? even during an emergency. If the power does go out, use flashlights and lights that use batteries. Make sure to have extra batteries on hand.

Annually 23,600 fires are caused by candles. and because of these fires 1,525 people are injured, 165 deaths are caused amount of damage is estimated at $390 million dollars.

Halloween

Costumes

Costumes, masks, beards and wigs should be of flame resistant fabrics, look for the label "Flame Resistant." Flame resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts. 

Costumes should be light, bright and clearly visible to motorists.

For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights. Bags or sacks also should be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores.

If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full vision. Eye holes in face masks should be big enough for a child to see out of in all directions.

Try using face paint on your child instead of a mask.

Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen

Costumes should be well-fitted and not drag on the ground to guard against trips and falls.

Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Oversized high heels are not a good idea.

Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes and obstructing vision.

Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and that they are made of soft, flexible material. Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.

Trick or Treating

Trick-or-treaters should stay within their own neighborhoods.

Openly discuss with children appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.

Children should carry change so they can call home. Instruct them in the proper use of the 911 system

Review the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll," should their clothes catch fire.

Children should trick-or-treat only to houses with the outside lights on and to apartment buildings that are brightly lit.

You should set a time for older children to return home.

Children should not go inside the homes or apartments of strangers.

Younger children should be accompanied by an adult.

Treats

Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has examined them carefully for evidence of tampering.

Carefully examine any toy or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters under three years of age. Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use and present a choking hazard.

The only candy or snacks that should be kept are those which have been commercially packaged and those which have not been opened in any way.

Encourage your child to eat dinner before going out.

Decorations

Keep candles and jack-o’-lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame. Consider battery-powered lanterns or chemical lightsticks instead of candles.

Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.

Indoors, keep candles and jack-o’-lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could be ignited.

Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.

Don’t overload extension cords.

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

A fire on any day seems bad, but a fire on Christmas seems to be the worst. Some 300 Christmas trees caught fire in one recent year, with electrical problems the most common culprit. Here’s how to keep your tree green and your presents safe.

When you buy your tree, have the vendor make a fresh cut an inch from the bottom; this will help the tree drink.  

If you buy your tree early and keep it outside, store it away from wind and sun, and keep the bottom in a bucket of water.

Make sure your lights are safe. If you need outdoor lights, make sure the ones you buy are meant for outdoor use. Make sure your lights carry certification from a testing laboratory.

Don’t use electric lights on a metal tree.

Discard any strings of lights that are frayed or broken. Christmas lights are cheap.

Unplug your Christmas tree before you leave or go to bed.

Don’t buy a tree that is dry and dropping needles. To check for freshness, loosely grip the end of a branch and pull your hand over it. Only a few needles should fall off.

Make sure your tree stand holds plenty of water, and don’t let it run out.

If your tree seems wobbly, center it in the stand more securely and redo the bolts or screws. Or, if your tree stand is cheap, buy a larger, stronger one.

If you buy an artificial tree, make sure it is fire-retardant.

Keep your tree at least three feet from furnaces, radiators and fireplaces.

Try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances. Do not place the tree where it may block exits.

When Christmas is over or when the tree starts to drop needles, dispose of it. Don’t leave it in your house or put it in your garage.

Keep a close eye on small children when they are around the tree; many small decorations and ornaments are sharp, breakable and can be swallowed

BBQ Safety Tips

BEFORE BARBECUING

Check your grill thoroughly for leaks, cracking or brittleness before using it.

Check the tubes leading to the burner regularly for blockages. Check with your specific grill manufacturer’s instructions.

Make sure the grill is at least 10 feet away from your house, garage or trees.

Store and use your grill on a large flat surface that cannot burn (i.e. - concrete or asphalt).

Don’t use grills in a garage, porch, deck or on top of anything that can catch on fire. Never use a propane barbecue grill on a balcony, terrace or roof. It is both dangerous and illegal.

Keep children away from fires and grills. It is a good idea to establish a safety zone around the grill and instruct children to remain outside the zone. A chalk line works great for this purpose.

Have a fire extinguisher, a garden hose attached to a water supply, or at least 16-quarts of water close by in case of a fire.

Before getting a propane cylinder filled, check for any damages to it.

Never transport or store propane cylinders in the trunk of your automobile.

DURING BARBECUING

Don’t wear loose clothing that might catch fire.

Use long handled barbecue tools and/or flame resistant mitts.

Never use any flammable liquid other than a barbecue starter fluid to start or freshen a fire.

Never pour or squirt starter fluid onto an open flame. The flame can easily flashback along the fluid’s path to the container in your hands.

Keep alcoholic beverages away from the grill, they are flammable!

Never leave the grill unattended.

BBQ SAFELY

When lighting your propane barbecue, make sure all the connections are secure and open the lid and strike your match or lighter BEFORE turning on the gas.

ALWAYS shut off the propane fuel at the grill and at the bottle after you have finished barbecuing. Otherwise, this will lead to fire hazards, such as leaks and faulty regulators.

Store your BBQ and propane cylinder outdoors.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the safe use, cleaning and maintenance of your BBQ.

Test your cylinder for leaks on a regular basis. When testing for leaks, never use matches or an open flame. Use soapy water or a leak detector.

Store your cylinder away from heat and insert a safety plug on the valve.

AFTER BARBECUING

Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning and storing instructions that accompany the grill.

Keep your grill clean and free of grease buildup that may lead to a fire.

Never store liquid or pressurized fuels inside your home and/or near any possible sources of flame.

IN CASE OF A BARBECUE FIRE

For PROPANE Grills - turn off the burners. For CHARCOAL Grills - close the grill lid. Disconnect the power to ELECTRIC Grills.

For PROPANE Grills - if you can safely reach the tank valve, shut it off.

If the fire involves the tank, leave it alone, evacuate the area a and call the fire department.

If there is any type of fire that either threatens your personal safety or endangers property, ALWAYS DIAL 911.

NEVER attempt to extinguish a grease fire with water. It will only cause the flames to flare up. Use an approved portable fire extinguisher.