The fall and winter months are a great time to review fire safety. A number of issues around the holidays can affect fire safety in your home, so take the time to sit down with your family and discuss ways to prevent fire and burn injury.
Specifically, you will want to:
If your children are off to college this year, do they have everything they need to have not only a perfect school year but also safe one? Many students and parents aren’t thinking about fire safety when they pack up the car for the dorm or for off-campus housing. However, dorms and student housing units can be especially vulnerable to fire because there are so many students sharing the spaces.
There are a few ways to keep your children safe:
Each Independence Day, fireworks injuries are a serious concern for doctors and emergency rooms. Each year, people are several injured or even killed due to improper use of fireworks. Unfortunately, children and minors are more likely to be affected by these types of injuries.
While fun, fireworks can cause eye injuries, burns, facial injuries, hand and arm injuries, and even fatalities. The greatest risk occurs when people stand too close to fireworks that are detonating. There are, however, several ways you can stay safe:
Across the country, every 60 seconds or so there is a fire serious enough to require a call to the emergency services. Fires cause devastating injury and damage in Hollywood and across South Florida each year. They can cause smoke inhalation—serious enough to cause life-long injury, burns, property damage, and even fatalities.
Fires can be caused by defective appliances and electronics, and in fact each year products liability claims in South Florida and Hollywood are filed for this reason. Fires can also be caused by arson or intentional acts or by improper use or storage of fuels, barbecues, and other household items.
Summer often means an increased risk of fires. Dry, hot conditions combined with more people taking time to grill or to set up an outdoor fire can all lead to dangerous conditions. Even overusing your air conditioner can pave the way for fires. To stay safe this summer, there are several things you’ll want to do:
HVAC and air-conditioning systems can put a big strain on your electrical system. The last thing you want is your system producing sparks or flames because it is overworked or has not been updated in too long. If you notice flickering lights or other signs of wiring problems, consult with an electrician. When using your air conditioner, check to make sure that it does not overheat and keep flammables (such as curtains) away from the unit.
According to authorities, Southwest Florida is experiencing weather conditions that could make brush fire season potentially more dangerous. Low humidity conditions may make things more comfortable in Florida heat, but they can also turn one spark into a huge fire – especially in windy weather.
If you want to prevent property damage and burn injuries in your Miami or Florida home, authorities have several tips:
Starting at the beginning of this year, Florida has new smoke detector laws. Under the new laws, smoke alarms in homes need to use either permanent batteries or electricity. Permanent batteries are ones that last ten years and are tamper-proof. Before the law change, remodeled and new homes had to use electricity-powered smoke alarms.
According to fire fighters, legislators, and authorities, the new law is aimed at reducing fire-related fatalities and burns in Miami and across Florida. One of the problems with traditional battery-powered alarms is that the alarms can easily be disabled. In many house fires resulting in serious injury and fatalities, fire fighters report that homes have smoke detectors but those detectors are not working. In some cases, smoke detectors are triggered by cooking and residents remove the batteries to prevent false alarms. In other cases, residents fail to notice that batteries have died or are not working correctly. In the event of a fire, these issues can be deadly since they can mean that a detector does not alert residents in time.
The holidays pose a number of dangers when it comes to burn injuries and fires. Some of the decorations that we use in our homes can pose a fire risk, and the distraction around this time of year can also make us less alert to fire hazards. To keep you and your family safe, make sure that you follow these tips:
When hanging outdoor lights, turn off the electricity to the supply outlet first and make sure that the connection is unplugged. Only hang outdoor lights that are intended for outdoor use and are in good condition. Throw out or repair any lights with frayed or damaged cords and connectors. Use a sturdy ladder and have someone help you to reduce the risk of falls. Keep electrical connectors off the ground and away from eaves troughs and puddles.
This week is Fire Prevention Week and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as well as other experts have tips on preventing fires in your Hollywood or Florida home:
This week is a good time to change the batteries on your smoke detectors, check to make sure that they are working, and perhaps pick up an extra detector or two for your home. If you do not have a carbon monoxide detector, this is also a good time to buy one and install it. While smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors do not prevent fires, they can help you and your family escape in time to avoid serious injury.
Prevent Fires in Your Florida Home
Burn units in Florida hospitals often see an increase in injuries during the summer months. Unfortunately, while summer cookouts, fireworks, and grills can make this season lots of fun, these same fun activities can quickly turn dangerous and even deadly.
In 2013 alone, the American Burn Association reports that 40,000 people were hospitalized due to burn injuries and about 3400 people across their country lost their lives to burns and smoke inhalation. To reduce the risk of burn injuries in your Miami or Florida home, you will want to:
Grill and barbecue surfaces pose the biggest danger to children, so proper supervision is important. It is also important to supervise after the food is prepared and served, as the grill will remain hot for some time.
Review Fire Safety for Summer
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