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West Falls Fire - Safety Tips
Weather Related Safety Tips
This year, all NWS offices will begin using a new tool to
view storms on radar. The new software is called FSI, or the Four
Dimensional Storm Investigator.
See this
Important
Newsletter for more Information.
Before the Storm...
Develop a plan for you and
your family for home, work, school, and when outdoors.
Have frequent drills.
Know the county or parish in which you live and the names
of nearby major cities. Severe weather warnings are issued on a county or parish basis.
Check the weather forecast before leaving for extended
periods outdoors.
Watch for signs of approaching storms.
If a storm is approaching, keep a NOAA Weather Radio or
AM/FM radio with you.
Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent.
This is your best way to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation.
Check on those who have trouble taking shelter if severe
weather threatens.
When Thunderstorms Approach...
Remember: if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to
the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately!
Move to a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in
small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles.
If lightning is occurring and a sturdy shelter is not
available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep windows up.
Get out of boats and away from water.
Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity.
Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical
appliances. Use phones ONLY in an emergency.
Do not take a bath or shower.
Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can
overload the compressors.
Get to higher ground if flash flooding or flooding is
possible. Once flooding begins, abandon cars and climb to higher ground. Do not attempt to drive to safety. Note: Most flash
flood deaths occur in automobiles.
If Caught Outdoors and No Shelter Is Nearby...
Find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles. Make
sure the place you pick is not subject to flooding.
If you are in the woods, take shelter under the shorter
trees.
If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end,
squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Make
yourself the smallest target possible, and minimize your contact with the ground.
If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter
immediately!
POOL SAFETY TIPS
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Never leave a child unattended
in the water or pool area for any reason. Don't be distracted by doorbells,
phone calls, chores or conversations. If you must leave the pool area, take
the child with you, making sure the pool gate latches securely when it
closes.
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Always keep your eyes on the
child or children. Designate a child watcher, whether you or someone else,
when you attend a party or have friends or family over.
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Talk with baby-sitters about
pool safety, supervision and drowning prevention.
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Post rules such as "No
running," "No pushing," "No dunking" and "Never swim alone." Enforce the
rules.
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Don't rely on swimming lessons
or "floaties" to protect your children in the water.
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Don't assume that drowning or a
drowning incident couldn't happen to you or your family.
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Don't have a false sense of
security just because you think your pool area and home are secure. Always
watch your children, whether in the house or outside.
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Attend a CPR class. Make sure
your baby-sitter knows CPR.
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For the nearest cardiopulmonary
resuscitation class, contact your fire department, Red Cross or hospital.
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Encourage your neighbors to
follow pool safety guidelines, including keeping their back gates and doors
locked, and their pool gates securely closed and latched.
CARBON MONOXIDE - A SILENT
KILLER
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What exactly
is carbon monoxide and how can I protect my family from it?
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Carbon monoxide
(CO) is a colorless, odorless, deadly gas. Because you can't see, taste, or
smell it, it can kill you before you know it's there. Today's more
energy-efficient, airtight home designs contribute to the problem by
trapping CO polluted air inside the home.
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Why is carbon
monoxide so dangerous?
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The great danger of
carbon monoxide is its attraction to hemoglobin in the bloodstream. CO is
breathed in through the lungs, and bonds with hemoglobin in your blood,
displacing the oxygen, which cells require to function. When CO is present
in the air it rapidly accumulates in the blood. It will eventually displace
enough oxygen in your system to suffocate you from the inside out, resulting
in brain damage or death.
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Where does
carbon monoxide occur?
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A common by-product
of appliances that run on flammable fuel, carbon monoxide can be emitted by
gas or oil furnaces, propane refrigerators or gas clothes dryers, water
heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, charcoal grills, gas ranges, and space
heaters. A clogged chimney or running a vehicle in an attached garage can
cause problems as well.
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Who is at
risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?
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Carbon monoxide
poisoning can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Experts have determined
that unborn babies, infants, senior citizens, and people with coronary or
respiratory problems are particularly susceptible to carbon monoxide
poisoning; however, everyone can be at risk.
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How can I
protect myself from carbon monoxide poisoning?
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Since CO is
produced by burning fuel, it is essential that all sources of combustion in
your home be in good working order. Gas or oil furnaces, refrigerators,
clothes dryers, water heaters, wood stoves, gas barbecues, gas ranges and
space heaters should be thoroughly checked each year by a qualified
professional. Have your chimney and fireplace flue cleaned and inspected
annually as well. Never leave a vehicle running in an attached garage, or
operate gasoline powered machinery in an enclosed place.
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How do I know
if I am suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning?
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Carbon monoxide is
often called "The Great Imitator" because its symptoms are similar to other
common illnesses such as the flu. Symptoms of low level CO poisoning can
include dizziness, headaches, fatigue, nausea. If you or any member of your
family suffers from these symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning while at
home - yet feels better when out of the house, call your doctor and ask for
a carboxyhemoglobin test. This will measure the level of carbon monoxide in
your blood stream.
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What do I do
if my carbon monoxide detector goes off?
If the alarm sounds, check to see if anyone in your home is experiencing the
adverse affects of CO poisoning - headache, dizziness, nausea or other
flu-like symptoms. If anyone in the house has any symptoms, call the fire
department and evacuate the house. If no one is experiencing these symptoms,
ventilate your home, turn off all fuel-burning appliances and call a
qualified technician to inspect and repair the problem. Never ignore a CO
detector that has alarmed.
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Where do I
put my carbon monoxide detector?
Near the sleeping area, according to the New York State Association of Fire
Chiefs, which recommends at least one detector per household. A second
detector located near the home's heating source adds an extra measure of
safety.
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What do I
look for when purchasing a CO detector?
Choose a detector that features a test button, which checks the entire
detector for easy assurance that the system is operating properly. If you
choose a plug-in (AC powered) detector, consider that in the event of a
power-failure, the unit will be temporarily disabled unless it has been
equipped with a battery back-up power source. Likewise, watch for battery
dependant detectors that can also run out of power and may need replacing.
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Remember -
install at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home. In the event of
a CO leak, a detector could provide you with a crucial early warning!
West Falls Fire Chief Jerry Whittington wishes to remind you that most fatal
fires take place at night while you and your family are asleep. When seconds
can make a difference between life and death, you can double your chances of
surviving a fire by having one or more working smoke alarms in your home.
Smoke alarms are inexpensive and easy to install. Smoke alarms...they're
protectors!
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