February 2012 Newsletter is Available: Carbon Monoxide, The Silent Killer!
The Silent Killer During the cold months in Tennessee it is important for all of us to evaluate the concerns of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and the steps we all can take in reducing the risks of the Silent Killer.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.
Source: Carbon Monoxide, The Silent Killer, Bargers Solutions monthly newsletter; Blog distribution provided by Kenneth Bargers and Bargers Solutions, a proud member of Pilkerton Realtors, residential real estate services located in Nashville, Tennessee
Holiday Season Safety & Security Tips
How to Have a Safe and Sound Holiday Season With the holiday season approaching, many Americans will be spending time at home and away with family and friends. To make sure families stay safe and sound this holiday season, the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (ESA) recommends the following home safety and security tips.
Holiday Safety Tips For most Americans, the holidays mean turning on the heat and putting logs on the fire. What this also means is an increased risk for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO gas can come from several sources including gas-fired appliances, cars and trucks, gas grills and wood-burning furnaces and fireplaces. Each year, CO poisoning causes approximately 480 deaths and more than 15,000 hospital visits in the United States. Since CO is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas, it can kill before its victims are even aware of it. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild flu-like symptoms.
To prevent CO poisoning, consumers should have a qualified technician inspect fuel-burning appliances at least once a year. Vehicles should never be left running while in the garage, even with the garage door opened, a common practice when trying to warm a vehicle on a cold day. Deadly emissions can get trapped inside the house and cause CO poisoning.
In addition, a certified and independently lab-tested CO detector should be installed outside sleeping areas. A CO detector will sound an alarm before dangerous levels of CO accumulate.
Fire safety is another consideration during the holidays. Both Christmas tree and candle fires are highest in December, with Christmas day being the peak day for candle fires.
Follow these tips to help ensure a fire-free holiday:
- Always keep candles away from holiday decorations and other combustible materials.
- Whenever possible, choose decorations made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.
- Use care when selecting lights and electrical decorations and check for certification by an independent testing lab. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Carefully inspect all strands of lights (new and used) and replace broken bulbs before plugging them in.
- Do not overload extension cords and make sure not to connect more strands than allowed.
- Turn off all lights and electrical decorations before leaving the house or going to bed.
- Consider adding fire detection devices to a monitored home security system; not only will the alarm sound, but the fire department will be alerted when no one is home, or in the event there is an incapacitated victim in the home.
- Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. During the holidays, when friends and relatives are around, it’s easy to leave the stove unattended. Just remember to keep an eye on the range at all times.
- One final safety note: before welcoming guests into the home, test all smoke detectors and fire alarms. When guests arrive, make sure everyone knows what the fire escape plan is and how to operate the alarm, especially if they will be in the home alone. And, if children are on the guest list, be sure to secure matches, lighters and other hazardous materials out of reach.
Holiday Security Tips The holidays offer many wonderful opportunities for giving to others, but someone not on the nice list is the local burglar. According to the FBI, a burglary occurs every 14 seconds in the United States, with more than 2 million burglaries in 2007 totaling an estimated $4.3 billion in lost property.
Here are some tips to prevent this crime:
Since more than half of all residential burglaries occur during the daytime hours when many people are away from home, consumers are advised to be extra cautious about locking doors and windows before leaving and making sure installed alarm systems are activated. Don’t invite burglars in with a tempting display of holiday gifts that can be seen from the outside.
If you are going away for the holidays, you can follow this simple checklist created by ESA to minimize your risk of a home burglary:
- Eliminate the opportunity: Many burglars and thieves are opportunistic and many of their crimes are crimes of opportunity rather than pre-planned crimes. An open, empty garage is a sign to thieves that reads, “Come on in, everything must go.” A vehicle parked outside with a remote control garage door opener hanging from the visor lets them know the residence is open for business as well. Before leaving the home, make sure everything is locked and secured. Remove all garage door openers from any vehicles that will be left outside while away.
- Discourage the thief: Since burglars prefer to break in to homes that look unoccupied, lower the home’s appeal by making it look like someone’s there. Use timers on lights, radios and televisions, ask neighbors to put trash cans out on trash day, arrange for mail and newspaper delivery to stop or ask a friend to collect them.
- Prevent easy access: Make the home a more difficult target by increasing the time it takes a burglar to enter. This is done by simply making sure all doors and windows are locked, installing deadbolt locks on all outside doors and keeping trees and hedges near the home trimmed to limit hiding places.
- Detect an intruder: ESA recommends investing in a home security system. What better gift for the holidays? In an industry survey of 1,000 public safety officials, 85 percent of police chiefs said security systems decrease the likelihood a home will be burglarized, and almost 90 percent felt security systems increased their chances of apprehending burglars.
Source: National Burglar Fire Alarm Association, Electronic Security Association
October 2010 is National Fire Prevention Month
In Tennessee, we continue to remain at the top in fire deaths per capita. October is National Fire Prevention Month focusing on fire safety and awareness and the National Fire Protection Association highlights the month with its Fire Prevention Week. Please remember to test your smoke detectors and have them monitored by a qualified and licensed security firm.- Smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half.
- Most homes (96%) have at least one smoke alarm (according to a 2008 telephone survey.)
- Overall, three-quarters of all U.S. homes have at least one working smoke alarm.
- Each year, nearly 3,000 people die in U.S. home fires.
- In 2003-2006, roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from home fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. - No smoke alarms were present in 40% of the home fire deaths. - In 23% of the home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound.
- In more than half of the reported home fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate even though the fire was large enough, batteries were missing or disconnected. Nuisance alarms were the leading reason for disconnected alarms.
- More than half of the smoke alarms found in reported fires and two-thirds of the alarms found in homes with fire deaths were powered by battery only.
- Most homes still have smoke alarms powered by battery only. In a 2007 American Housing Survey (AHS), 67% of the respondents who reported having smoke alarms said they were powered by battery only.
- In a 2008 telephone survey, only 12% knew that smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
- In fires considered large enough to activate a smoke alarm, hard-wired alarms operated 91% of the time; battery-powered smoke alarms operated 75% of the time.
- Interconnected smoke alarms on all floors increase safety. - In a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) survey of households with any fires, interconnected smoke alarms were more likely to operate and alert occupants to a fire. (This includes fires in which the fire department was not called.)
- Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and injuries.
- Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths.
- Heating is the second leading cause of home fires, fire deaths and fire injuries.
- Electrical failures or malfunctions are factors in roughly 50,000 reported fires each year.
- Roughly 30, 000 intentionally set home structure fires are reported each year.
- U.S. fire departments responded to 386,500 home fires.
- Home fires killed 2,755 people and injured 13,160.
- Someone was injured in a reported home fire every 40 minutes.
- Roughly eight people died in home fires every day.
- A fire department responded to a home fire every 82 seconds.
- 83% of all fire deaths and 79% of fire injuries resulted from home fires.
November’s Monthly Tip – Deep Fried Turkey; A southern favorite.
Many of us have enjoyed the taste of deep-fried turkey at Thanksgiving. A longtime food favorite in the southern United States, the delicious deep-fried turkey has quickly grown in popularity.
While some people rave about this tasty creation, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.’s safety experts are concerned that backyard chefs may be sacrificing safety for good taste. I thought November’s Monthly Tip is a timely opportunity to focus on how careful we should be when preparing the bird!
Tips for Safety
Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other material that can burn.- Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks or in garages.
- Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
- Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you don’t watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
- Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use. Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot, hours after use.
- To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
- Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
- Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don’t mix, and water causes oil to spill over, causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.
- The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed in the refrigerator.
- Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Remember to use your best judgment when attempting to fight a fire. If the fire is manageable, use an all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call 911 for help. Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pots remains dangerously hot, hours after use.
Deep Fryer Units
Many units easily tip over, spilling the hot oil within the cooking pot.- If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames causing a fire to engulf the entire unit.
- Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an extensive fire.
- With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
- The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.
Source: Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Bargers research
October is National Fire Safety Awareness Month
This year’s fire safety awareness theme is Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned!
Testing the water before putting a child in the bath may sound like common sense. Wearing short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking on the stovetop may show foresight. This and other simple actions may be all it takes to prevent devastating burns.
Fire Prevention Week 2009 is October 4-10 and focuses on burn awareness and prevention, as well as keeping homes safe from the leading causes of home fires.
During Fire Prevention Week fire and life safety educators across the country will bring important safety messages to their communities, showing them simple ways they can “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”
What is your local community planning? Read the full story…
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