Keeping the holidays safe
IN THE CITY
by Grant Spinney
The Presque Isle Fire Department strives to educate the public throughout the year about fire prevention and general safety. It is our number one priority to keep our citizens safe. We would like to stress safety concerns that affect everyone in the winter months. With the cold weather upon us and Christmas right around the corner, everyone should keep these safety tips in mind.
Always keep walk paths and steps shoveled and salted. Fifty-five percent of all winter injuries are slip and fall related.
Keep an emergency car kit in all your vehicles. These kits can be purchased or homemade. They should include extra blankets, jumper cables, flares, flash light with extra batteries, chocolate bars and granola bars and extra medication for all family members.
Keep an emergency kit for home. These should include candles, flash lights, extra batteries, dry blankets, first aid kit, non-perishable food and a gallon of water for each member of your family for each day you plan to be prepared for. Example: Family of three, to be prepared for two days should have six gallons of fresh water in their kit.
As always, check your smoke detectors monthly and change your batteries every six months.
Be sure to have carbon monoxide detectors on all levels of your home. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas that is responsible for 2,000 deaths every year in the United States. It is labeled the Invisible Killer. It is caused by insufficient burning of carbon which is in all fuel. Using propane auxiliary heaters indoors increases the chances of emitting these vapors.
Candles are used more often around the holidays. Be sure to place them out of reach of children. This is usually forgotten during holiday parties when guests might bring children. When decorating around candles, be sure all products are fire retardant.
Most popular Christmas trees are spruce and fir. Christmas trees do not spontaneously combust. When purchasing a real tree, choose one that the needles do not fall off when touched. Ask when the trees were harvested and where it came from. Trees are not always local. Make sure you cut a minimum of two inches off the bottom before installing in stand. Make sure the stand is sturdy enough and adequate size for your size tree. Be sure that the trunk is raised an inch off bottom of the stand base. Upon inspecting the tree check for green trunk. This is when a retailer has sprayed green paint to make the appearance of tree greener. When purchasing a fake tree make sure that it has a UL listing tag and is either fire rated or fire retardant. Never block exits with your Christmas tree. Never install one near heat sources, especially fire places.
When installing lights on your tree make sure to follow what the manufacturer recommends. Inspect your light strands before installing them; look for frayed wires or broken bulbs. Not all strands stay out when a bulb is broken. This is called Wired in parallel. Even broken or burned out bulbs carry electricity. Always use a zip strip or GFI breaker system when multiple outlet connections are needed. Never use cheater plugs or adapter’s with-out the third prong or ground. The quality of your lights determines the life of the lights. LED light emitting diode, these lights last much longer, they’re more efficient, sometimes have lifetime warranties, but are more expensive. Never use real candles or have candles near your tree.
Many trees have been dormant for a couple of months before your purchase; it is common for trees to absorb most of their water within six to eight hours after being brought into a warm house. Keep watered regularly and be sure pets are not drinking out of tree stand. Pets may get sick and your water would get depleted faster. If water level drop’s below the cut surface for more then 4 hours, the tree’s ability to absorb water is inhibited. Watering kits are available that water your tree for you and look like a present under your tree. Inspect your tree throughout the season. Check your needles often.
Depending on when your tree was installed in your home determines on when it should be removed. Fire retardant sprays are available to purchase for real trees. Be careful where gifts are placed under your tree. Never crowd gifts too close to fire places as well.
From all of us at the Presque Isle Fire Department, we wish you and your family a SAFE Christmas and Happy New Year.
Grant Spinney is the fire prevention officer with the Presque Isle Fire Department. He can be reached at 769-0881 or e-mail him at pifire@maine.rr.com.
