CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Fire Prevention Week 2009 will occur Oct. 4 to 10 and Team Charleston is encouraged to focus on ways to keep homes fire-safe and to prevent painful burns.
Simple practices have a big payoff for avoiding burns, such as keeping hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked off. Preventative measures such as having a three-foot, kid-free zone around the stove can help avoid mishaps, and never hold a child while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
Teach children that hot things hurt. Also, be careful when using things that get hot such as curling irons, ovens, irons, lamps and heaters. When using heating pads, only use for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Don't lay, sit or place anything on the pad.
If burned, treat the area immediately. Put it in cool water for three to five minutes and cover with a clean, dry cloth. Remove all clothing, diapers, jewelry and metal from the burned areas.
If the burn is larger than your fist or if you have any questions, get medical help right away.
If leaving the room, even for a short time, turn off the stove, and if young children are in the home, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Attire is important when cooking as well, so wear clothing with tight-fitting or short sleeves.
A common kitchen burn is cause by steam. Allow food cooked in a microwave oven to cool for a few minutes before removing it from the microwave. Open microwaved food slowly and away from the face, as hot steam from the container can cause burns.
Fire safety and prevention is everyone's responsibility, and the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking - so paying attention is critical. When cooking, cook with caution. Don't let casual cooking habits end in a catastrophe. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. When simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home and use a timer as a reminder.
A few fire safety tips include having smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
For best protection use both photoelectric and ionization technology by purchasing a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms which contain both technologies in the same unit. Both types of smoke detectors must pass the same test to be certified. Ionization detectors respond more quickly to flaming fires with smaller combustion particles; photoelectric detectors respond more quickly to smoldering fires.
Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button, and replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Make sure everyone can hear the sound of the smoke alarms. When the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out using a home fire escape plan. Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible, and a meeting place outside. Practice your escape plan twice a year. Lastly, if you are building or remodeling your home, consider a home fire sprinkler system.
For any questions regarding fire awareness and prevention, keeping homes fire-safe or any other questions or concerns, call 963-3121 or 963-4284.