Holiday Decorating

Holiday Safety Tips
Fort Wayne Fire Department Reminds Citizens to Stay Safe This Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, the Fort Wayne Fire Department is urging people to look for and eliminate potential dangers from holiday lights and decorations that could lead to fires and injuries. Keep your family safe this holiday season by following these safety tips.

TREES When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Live trees dry out rapidly, be sure to keep the tree stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of foot traffic and do not block doorways.
LIGHTS Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Do not overload electrical sockets. Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch. Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
DECOR All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents. In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children especially those that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
FIREPLACE AND CANDLES Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.  Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down. Be aware of a burning candle’s surroundings. Never leave the house with candles burning.
KITCHEN Never leaving cooking unattended. A serious fire can start in just seconds. Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, food packaging, towels or curtains away from your stovetop.  Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house. Make sure all small appliances are turned off. Be sure to keep pot handles and electrical appliance cords out of the reach of children. Put a lid on a pot or pan to extinguish a food or grease fire - never use water, and in the event of an oven fire, turn off the heat and close the oven door.  Avoid wearing loose or baggy clothing, and always use potholders while working in the kitchen.

Year-Round Safety: Be Prepared!

• Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in the house to make sure that they are in proper working order, test monthly and be sure to install fresh batteries every year.
• Be sure that all family members know how to call the fire department – 911.
• Make an escape plan so that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency.

Heating Your Home

 HOOSIERS SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN USING HEATING EQUIPMENT
Half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February

Cold weather is here, and many Hoosiers turn to alternative heating methods to keep warm. The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Fort Wayne Fire Department  wants to remind Hoosiers are to take extra care when using alternative heating methods to stay warm in their homes. 

Alternative heating methods include fireplaces, gas or electric space heaters, wood burning stoves, and other fuel-burning sources.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2010, heating equipment was the second leading cause of home fires in the United States. More than 57,000 reported fires caused 490 deaths, 1,530 injuries, and more than $1 billion in property damage. Half of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February.

"Every winter, firefighters across the state respond to thousands of home fires caused by improper heaters, fireplaces, wood burning stoves, etc.,” said Indiana State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson. "Anyone using heating equipment other than a central heating system needs to follow all manufacturer directions and exercise extreme caution to avoid starting a fire."

Fireplaces
According to NFPA, between 2006 and 2010, the leading factor contributing to home heating fires was failure to properly clean creosote, an oily deposit that easily catches fire, from solid-fueled heating equipment such as chimneys.

• Use only dry, seasoned wood in a fireplace or wood stove to avoid the build-up of creosote,
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. 
• Use only paper or kindling wood, not a flammable liquid, to start the fire.  Do not use artificial logs in wood stoves.
• Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room.
• Allow fireplace and woodstove ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from your home.

Space Heaters
If you have a space heater, know how to use it safely to avoid the risk of fire.

• Space heaters need space. Keep heaters away from flammable materials such as bedding, drapes, clothing, etc.
• Use the proper grade of fuel for your liquid-fueled space heater and never use gasoline in any heater not approved for gasoline use.
• Refuel space heaters only in a well ventilated area and when the equipment is cool.
• Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity, never into an extension cord.
• Turn off space heaters whenever the room they are in is unoccupied.
• Turn off space heaters when you go to bed each night to avoid knocking them over in the dark.

Generators
Knowing how to use your generator properly can protect you and your family from Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

• Never use a generator inside.
• Place emergency generators outdoors away from windows and doors to prevent fumes from entering the home.
• Have a CO detector in the house that sounds an alarm when dangerous carbon monoxide levels are found.

Grill Safety

Outdoor grilling is a favorite summer pastime. The Fort Wayne Fire Department reminds you to enjoy grilling season, but keep safety in mind.  

PREPARE FOR SAFETY FIRST

• Position your grill a safe distance from your house or any building and be aware of your surroundings.
• Place grills on flat and stable ground.
• Never use a grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, under an awning or overhang that might catch fire.
• Always have a spray bottle and a fire extinguisher handy.

GAS GRILLS

• Check the hoses on your gas grill for any cracking and brittleness to address potential leaks
• Drip soapy water over the hoses and around the fittings. Any bubbles forming means there is a propane leak
• Never start a gas grill with the lid closed.

CHARCOAL GRILLS

• Never use gasoline or kerosene to light a charcoal fire. Both can cause an explosion.
• Dispose of charcoal away from kids and pets, and cool it down with a hose. Coals get HOT – up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
• When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container. Consider wetting down ashes to ensure all embers are out.

SAFETY WHILE COOKING

• Grills are HOT - while heating and after cooking.  
• Never leave the grill unattended, especially when young children or pets are nearby.
• Never attempt to restart a fire by adding additional lighting fluid to an already-lit grill, as this can cause a flare-up.
• Keep kids, pets and bare hands away from the grill.
• Use insulated, flame retardant mitts and long-handled barbeque tongs and utensil when grilling.

Spring Conference

 Health & Wellness in the Public Safety Arena :

Cardiac Stress

8 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

at the Public Safety Academy/Ivy Tech South

(7602 Patriot Crossing, 46816)

A Cardiac Stress Symposium, this free seminar is aimed to educate Health Care Providers, Administrators and Public Safety Members about heart disease and cardiac stresses particular to firefighters, as well as their impact on an individual’s health and well-being. Providers will learn critical information to be able to safely clear these individuals to return to work after an injury or illness.

• Basic Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Prevention
• Firefighter Specific Data and Risks
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Affecting Public Safety
• Post Lecture Events and Opportunities
  • A public safety Personal Protective Equipment display with Q & A, as well as a chance to observe or participate in FWFD’s work performance evaluation (WPE).

Registration is encouraged, please click here. 

Please click here for a printable/email compatible Conference Flyer:  Spring_Conference_Flyer.pdf

Questions? Call 260.427.1478.

*Continuing Education Credits Approved and Available: The Fort Wayne Medical Education Program designates this live activity for a maximum of 3.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PRESENTERS:

Dr. Mark O’Shaughnessy - Parkview Cardiology
Presenting general cardiovascular health/prevention tips, Dr. Mark O’Shaughnessy specializes in congestive heart failure, non-invasive cardiac evaluation and prevention. and is actively involved in community education on the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Denise Smith - Skidmore College
A renowned professor, Dr. Smith’s research is focused on the physiological effects of firefighting, particularly the cardiovascular strain associated with the combination of heavy physical work, heat stress, and the psychological stress that firefighters routinely encounter.

Dr. Mike Johnson - Public Safety Medical
A licensed clinical psychologist with 20 years experience treatingadults, adolescents, children and families with all manner of clinical issuesincluding anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Dr. Johnson is a consultant with Public Safety Medical and president and chief executive officer of the Broad Ripple Counseling Center.

Fort Wayne Fire Department - Work Performance Evaluation
Also known as the WPE, this evaluation is a cardiorespiratory fitness assessment used to measure an individual’s ability to perform essential functions required to execute the duties of a sworn FWFD firefighter.

2013 Fire Service Awards

On March 27, the FWFD hosted its annual Fire Service Awards and recognized 28 individuals, corporations/organizations and firefighters for their exceptional service and/or lifesaving actions.  To view the ceremony and hear their stories visit

http://afw.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=b0372a848d8259ca2a1507dd014b92fd