THE SIREN by JIM COLE

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Aspirin and Heart Attacks

Ho – Ho - uh Oh!

Sick of the Flu

Basic Prevention

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Playing It Cool

An AMPLE History

Sunburn

Spinning

Who You Gonna Call?

Shock Advised

What's In a Name?

Sweet as Sugar

Bow Wow Wonderful

Sweet as Sugar

Minor Burns

Functional Jewelry

Seizures

Fire Safety Month

Getting Under Your Skin

CPR in the Home

CPR in the Home

Autumn's Web

Too Hot To Trot

One Good Reason Is All It Takes

Rescue. Resource. Response.

Advanced Care. Advanced Caring.

Things UNseen

First Things First

Water Within

Control the Flow

R.I.C.E those Sprains and Strains

Move RIGHT for Siren and Lights

Baby, it's cold inside

Care in the Air

Hands-only CPR saving lives

Falls in the Spring

Strokes

Fire Safety Month

posted 10/09/2008
October is Fire Safety Month. Why in October? Because this is the season where we begin to turn on furnaces, stoke the wood stoves, and close the windows. With the coming holidays, we keep the ovens burning, Christmas trees lit, and extra holiday lighting. All of these factors can lead top the increased risk of fire in the home.

The first step is to be sure that you have functioning smoke alarms in each bedroom, the kitchen, and other rooms where heat producing appliances exist, such as water heaters and clothing dryers. Make sure to test your smoke alarms every months and replace the batteries annually. Many people choose to use a memorable date to do this such as Memorial Day or Labor Day.

You should create and review a fire escape plan for your home and practice this with your children. Have a "safe place" outside of the house where everyone will gather.

Before you put your furnace or wood burner into high gear, make sure the flue is open and uncluttered. Keep flammable objects away from registers and heating ducts. Carefully monitor cooking and hotplates. Place your Christmas tree in a safe place away from heating elements and use low wattage lighting. Live trees should be kept well watered and removed before the needles begin to dry and fall off.

This and many more safety tips will be presented this Saturday at the safety fair located at the Mullis Street Fire Station.

For free resources to stay fire safe in and around the home, please visit: http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/firesafetymonth

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© 2009 Jim Cole

Chief Jim Cole from San Juan Island EMS has been a Nationally Registered Paramedic for more than 20 years and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Community Health and a Master of Art Degree in Higher Education. He is designated as a Chief Medical Officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is a Senior Wilderness Medicine Instructor with the SOLO School of Wilderness and Emergency Medicine. Suggestions for future topics can be sent to chief@sanjuanems.org.