Summer Fire Safety

Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!

Barbecue Grills
Keep grills at least 10 feet from siding and eaves.
Never use a grill in a garage or carport.
Before using a gas grill, check hoses and connections for leaks.
Check that the venturi tubes-where gas and air mix-are not blocked.
Never overfill a propane tank.
Consumers should only use propane tanks that have a three-pronged valve: this is a sign that there is an overfill protection device in the tanks.
When lighting a charcoal grill, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add fluid after the fire is started.
To dispose of hot coals, soak them with water and stir to make sure the fire is out.
Never put coals in plastic, wood, or paper containers.
Wear snug-fitting clothing when grilling.
Fireworks
For safety's sake, leave fireworks to the professionals.
Stay back at least 500 feet from professional fireworks displays.
If you do use fireworks, light them outdoors, away from dry grass.
Always have a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher nearby.
Never let children light or play with fireworks.
Wear snug-fitting clothing while lighting fireworks.

ALERT! ALERT1 HOT CARS

Safety Tips
To keep your kids safe:
Don't leave them in a car, which can quickly heat up, especially on a hot, sunny day.
Always lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can't get to them.
Warn your kids about playing in the car by themselves without adult supervision.
Install a trunk release mechanism, so that they can't get trapped in the trunk.
Get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about getting the groceries, etc., out of the car when you get home.
Make sure that child car providers and day care workers have a plan to make sure that kids aren't left in the day care providers car or van.

If you are afraid that you might leave your sleeping infant or toddler in their car seat when you get out of the car, place a reminder on the dashboard.
Also be on alert for cars that might have an unattended child left inside. If you see a child alone in a car, be sure to call 911 and help make sure the child gets out as soon as possible.

In addition to the risk of being abducted if they are left alone in a car, on a typical summer day, the temperature inside a car (even with the windows rolled down a little) can quickly rise above 120 to 140 degrees. Even on a relatively mild day, the temperature inside a car can get above 100 degrees. At those temperatures, kids are at great risk for heat stroke, which can lead to a high fever, dehydration, seizures, stroke and death.
If you don't think that it can happen to you or your kids, consider these descriptions from the death certificates of children from 1998 that were published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
A 9 month old died after being 'left strapped in child safety seat in a sweltering minivan for two hours - misunderstanding between child's parents resulted in the child being left alone in the van; one parent believed infant was at home with other'

A 6 month old 'baby died when accidentally left in hot car for 3 hrs, died when outside 90-degree temperatures rose to 130 degrees inside closed car, parents thought the other had carried the baby from the car to crib'

A 34 month old 'toddler who recently learned how to open a car door apparently climbed inside family station wagon while parent and sibling were in house'

A 23 month old died when a 'relative babysitting child, put child in car for trip to store, went back in house having forgotten something, was distracted by something on television, sat on couch to watch, fell asleep, woke up two hours later'

A 2 year old died after a 'parent left child in car after returning home from errand - was left for more than an hour'

A 2 year old 'child apparently slipped away from parents and siblings, fell asleep atop blanket in unlocked car in driveway of home, oldest sibling found child 40 minutes later'

Always Always thank about your children first!