Fire Prevention Safety

House fires have been making many of the headlines in the Grand Forks area recently. Safe Kids would like to provide some fire safety tips and also make you aware of a unique opportunity to make your home safer this holiday season.

Fire Safety Tips:
** Make sure that you have working fire alarms on each level of your home and near sleeping areas. It is important to check the batteries two times per year to make sure they are still working. Spring and fall with daylight savings time is a great time to do this.
** Plan and PRACTICE fire escape plans, especially if you have young children in the home. Make them aware of a meeting place outside and remind them to NEVER go back inside a burning building. Leave the rescue of pets, siblings, or favorite items to the professional fire fighters.
** Sound your smoke/fire alarms during the night to assure that those in your household will awaken to them. If not, consider purchasing a voice recorded alarm instead.
** Sleep with bedroom doors closed to contain the smoke and fire. If the door is hot when you touch it, go to the window and use that as an exit. If you cannot get out the window, turn on the lights and stand near the window where rescue personnel will look for people.
** Never leave a candle or fire burning unattended. Safe Kids now has available beautiful candles that look real but work off of a battery. They are scented vanilla, made of real wax and actually "flicker". Consider replacing your burning wax candles with one of these. A flyer is attached and samples can be viewed in the Worklife Center. Feel free to pass this flyer on to others you think would be interested.
If you would like more information on fire and burn safety, please e-mail me and I would be happy to send out a fire and burn safety brochure.
Have a safe and happy holiday season!!

Carma Hanson, MS, RNCoordinator - Safe Kids Grand ForksAltru Health System
P.O. Box 6002860 South Columbia Road - Building 1Grand Forks, ND 58206-6002
E-mail: chanson@altru.org