USFA and NFPA Join Forces Again to Put a Freeze on Winter Fires

Posted on November 21, 2011 by besafephilly

Furnace Heating

It is important that you have your furnace inspected to ensure that it is in good working condition.
Be sure all furnace controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working condition.
Leave furnace repairs to qualified specialists. Do not attempt repairs yourself unless you are qualified. Inspect the walls and ceiling near the furnace and along the chimney line. If the wall is hot or discolored, additional pipe insulation or clearance may be required.
Check the flue pipe and pipe seams. Are they well supported and free of holes and cracks? Soot along or around seams may be an indicator of a leak.
Is the chimney solid, with cracks or loose bricks? All unused flue openings should be sealed with solid masonry.
Keep trash and other combustibles away from the heating system.

Wood Stoves And Fireplaces

Be sure the fireplace or stove is installed properly. Wood stoves should have adequate clearance (36”) from combustible surfaces and proper floor support and protection.
Wood stoves should be of good quality, solid construction and design, and should be laboratory tested.
Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time.
Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.
Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening, to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out, unwanted material from going in, and help prevent the possibility of burns to occupants.
The stove should be burned hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce the amount of creosote buildup.
Don’t use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the chimney by overbuilding the fire.
Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
Keep flammable materials away from your fireplace mantel. A spark from the fireplace could easily ignite theses materials.
Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the house.
If synthetic logs are used, follow the directions on the package. NEVER break a synthetic log apart to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time. They often burn unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide.

Kerosene Heaters

Be sure that kerosene heaters are legal in your area.
Be sure your heater is in good working condition. Inspect exhaust parts for carbon buildup. Be sure the heater has an emergency shut off in case the heater is tipped over.
Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room venting. Burning fuel (coal, kerosene, or propane, for example) can produce deadly fumes.
Use ONLY the fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer. NEVER introduce a fuel into a unit not designed for that type fuel.
Keep kerosene, or other flammable liquids stored in approved metal containers, in well ventilated storage areas, outside of the house.
Never fill the heater while it is operating or hot. When refueling an oil or kerosene unit, avoid overfilling.
Refueling should be done outside of the home (or outdoors). Keep young children away from space heaters—especially when they are wearing night gowns or other loose clothing that can be easily ignited.
When using a fuel burning appliance in the bedroom, be sure there is proper ventilation to prevent a buildup of carbon monoxide.

Other Fire Safety Tips

Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Place them in a metal container outside and well away from the house.
Never use a range or an oven as a supplemental heating device. Not only is it a safety hazard, it can be a source of potentially toxic fumes.
If you use an electric heater, be sure not to overload the circuit. Only use extension cords which have the necessary rating to carry an amp load. TIP: Choose an extension cord the same size or larger than the appliance electrical cord.
Avoid using electrical space heaters in bathrooms or other areas where they may come in contact with water.
Frozen water pipes? Never try to thaw them with a blow torch or other open flame, otherwise the pipe could conduct the heat and ignite the wall structure inside the wall space. Use hot water or a laboratory tested device such as a hand held dryer for thawing.
If windows are used as emergency exits in your home, practice using them in the event fire should strike. Be sure that all the windows open easily. Home escape ladders are recommended.
If there is a fire hydrant near your home you can assist the fire department by keeping the hydrant clear of snow

For mor information: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/media/press/2011releases/111011.shtm

(Source: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/)

Halloween Safety

Posted on October 28, 2011 by besafephilly

Every year, about 44 percent of the U.S. highway deaths on Halloween night (6 p.m., Oct. 31 to 5:59 a.m., Nov. 1) involve a driver or motorcyclist whose blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, which is illegal in every state, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention reports pedestrian fatalities are 4.5 times higher during Halloween. Falls, open flames, and dark clothing are additional hazards. To ensure the night is not a true horror tale, a little planning is in order.

Motorists

The National Safety Council urges motorists to be especially alert on Halloween.
Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

Parents

Before children start out on their “trick or treat” rounds, parents should:
Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children’s companions.
Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.

Establish a return time.

Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.
Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
Pin a slip of paper with the child’s name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.

Costume Design

Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes.
Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.
Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.)
If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Strips of retro-reflective tape should be used to make children visible.

Face Design

Masks can obstruct a child’s vision. Use facial make-up instead.
When buying special Halloween makeup, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled “Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives,” “Laboratory Tested,” Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics,” or “Non-Toxic.” Follow manufacturer’s instruction for application.
If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.

Accessories

Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.
Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective tape if children are allowed out after dark.
Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

On the way

Children should understand and follow these rules:
Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
Walk, do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.
Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.

Treats

To ensure a safe trick-or-treat outing, parents are urged to:
Give children an early meal before going out.
Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.
Wash fruit and slice into small pieces.
When in doubt, throw it out.

Simplex® XAD remote Air-sampling Smoke Detection system

Posted on October 20, 2011 by besafephilly

A cost-efficient, high-quality solution for HVAC ducts and other areas that are difficult to access.

The Simplex XAD Air-Sampling Smoke Detector is an excellent solution for challenging duct applications, as well as restricted areas such as prison cells and the top of elevator shafts when smoke detection is required by code.

The system utilizes Simplex TrueAlarm® sensing technology, together with a high-performance aspirator and configurable flow monitoring circuitry. When using the Simplex XAD Air Sampling smoke detection system, the detection device can be mounted outside the protected area and accessed without the use of lifts or ladders, bringing tangible cost savings to end users. As the service for the Simplex XAD detector can be performed from floor level, it is well suited for the following kinds of applications: where duct detectors are difficult to maintain and service; where an aerial lift device must be used to service duct detectors; and where unobtrusive smoke detection is required. In addition to duct applications, the XAD remote detection system can be applied in other challenging protection areas. This includes the top of elevator shafts, prison cells, and the exterior of MRI rooms, where conventional detectors can be hard to access and maintain or where the device can be adversely affected by the environment of the area it is protecting.

Highlights:

Active air sampling techniques combined with TrueAlarm smoke sensing technology makes remote monitoring of ducts possible
Available as either a single or dual inlet detection system; includes a TrueAlarm photoelectric sensor and addressable base per inlet; dual inlet version recommended for duct widths over 90 inches
Provides remote sensor location for ducts with difficult service areas—up to 50 ft. with flexible tubing or 82 ft. with rigid pipe
Adjustable air speed settings from the XAD unit for easy setup
Monitors air flow from the HVAC ducts, an industry first!
Easily accessible filter element
For use with Simplex addressable fire alarm control panels supporting IDNet or MAPNET II communications
UL Listed to Standards 268A and 268 and ULC Listed to Standard S529
Test port for easy introduction of smoke source during testing
Optional water trap with drain prevents nuisance alarms associated with condensation buildup

USFA Releases Annual Report on Firefighter Fatalities in the United States

Posted on October 18, 2011 by besafephilly

The reports stated that eighty-seven onduty firefighters from 31 states lost their lives as the result of 83 fatal incidents that occurred in 2010.

This is the second consecutive year of substantially fewer firefighter deaths in the United States. During the previous six-year period of 2004-2009, the average number of annual onduty firefighter deaths was 112. Illinois experienced the highest number of fatalities with nine firefighters killed; New York and Ohio had the next highest totals with eight firefighter deaths each.

An overview of the 87 firefighters that died while on duty in 2010:

The total break down included 56 volunteer, 28 career, and 3 wildland agency firefighters.
There were 4 firefighter fatality incidents where 2 firefighters were killed in each, claiming a total of 8 firefighters.
11 firefighters died in duties associated with wildland fires. Along with 11 such deaths in 2007, it was the lowest number of annual firefighter deaths associated with wildland fires in a decade.
Activities related to emergency incidents resulted in the deaths of 48 firefighters.
22 firefighters died while engaging in activities at the scene of a fire.
16 firefighters died while responding to or returning from 15 emergency incidents. 9 of the firefighters killed while responding to incidents died from heart attacks (8) or stroke (1).
Heart attacks were the most frequent cause of death with 50 firefighter deaths.
12 firefighters died while they were engaged in training activities.
15 firefighters died after the conclusion of their onduty activity.