SafetyDude's Safety Tip of the Week

Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15

Protect your Family from Fire is the theme for 2011

 As an ex-veteran volunteer Firefighter, I have seen the destruction to a family caused by a fire in their home.  All too many times, the person that died in the fire went back into the house to try to get someone they thought was still inside the home. Not knowing that the person was already safely outside. 

Are you prepared for a home fire emergency? 

• Have you tested your smoke detectors within the last month?

• Are your smoke detectors less than ten years old?

• Do you have a smoke detector on every floor?

• Is there a smoke detector in every bedroom?

• Does your family have an established evacuation plan in case of a fire?

• Is the home evacuation plan tested on a regular basis?

• Is home evacuation plan communicated to family and friends when they stay overnight?

• Does the home evacuation plan designate a "family safe meeting place"? 

• Do you have fire extinguishers located on each floor?   Are these fire extinguishers inspected monthly?

If you can't answer YES to each of the above questions, you need to take action TONIGHT!

Children are taught the importance of fire evacuation and safe meeting places at school.  They know the concept.  Ensure that they understand how to escape your home by having regular test drills.

Ensure that your plan has a secondary exit if the main exitway is involved in the fire.  Consider that you are in each room of the house, your normal route out is blocked by fire.  How do you get out safely?

Consider purchasing emergency ladders for second floor bedrooms that do not have a safe exit.

Put the plan onto paper so that it can be reviewed on a regular basis, and communicated to visitors staying overnight.

Test your smoke detectors monthly.  Put it on your Outlook calendar.

Don't just rely on the test button.  Standing on a safe step ladder (not a chair), light either a candle or match and blow it out.  Allow the smoke to set off the detector.

When you vacuum the floors, quickly pass the vacuum hose over the smoke detector.

Change the batteries in your smoke detectors in the spring and fall when the time changes.

Picture of the Week  

• Fractures, lacerations, sprains, etc caused by tripping over the extension cord.
  
  
• Fires caused by over heating, short circuits, and using damaged extension cords.
  
  
• Electrical burns to the mouths of young children under the age of five.

  Please follow these tips for the safe use of electrical cords and extension cords 

  • Any electrical tool or appliance is only as good as the cord that connects it to the power source. It is important to use the right cord for the job and to use the cord properly.
     
  • Look for the CSA mark on all electrical cords. This shows that the cord complies with recognized safety standard. 
     
  • Check the extension cord and the cord that you are plugging into the cord regularly.  Replace them if they are worn or damaged.  In particular, look for worn insulation, cracked casings and loose or exposed parts at the plug.
     
  • Use extension cords only as a temporary connection.
     
  • Secure that the usage of the extension cord does not represent a trip hazards to yourself or ours in the area.
     
  • Make sure the extension cord is heavy enough for the intended load. For any device that draws more than 7 amps, use a heavy-duty cord with No. 16 or No. 14 wire. (To determine how many amps a device will draw, divide the wattage by 120.)
     
  • If a cord or plug becomes hot when it is plugged in, it may be overloaded. Unplug it immediately and replace it with a heavier cord.
     
  • When working with power tools, use a heavy-duty, grounded, three-pronged cord.
     
  • Never connect more than one extension cord together; instead use a single cord that is long enough to reach from the appliance to the outlet without stretching.
     
  • Avoid using a cord that is too long for the job because a coiled or tangled cord can overheat and can also be a tripping hazard.
     
  • Never run an electrical cord through a doorway, because if the door closes on the cord the insulation could be damaged.
     
  • Similarly, never run an electrical cord under a carpet or rug, because when people walk over the rug the weight and friction could damage the cord, increasing the risk of fire or electric shock.
     
  • In locations where furniture or beds may be pushed against an extension cord where the cord joins the plug, use a special "angle extension cord" specifically designed for these purposes.
     
  • Always match the wide blade of the plug to the wide slot of the outlet. NEVER force a three-pronged plug into a two-pronged outlet or extension cord.
     
  • Insert plugs fully so that no part of the prongs are exposed.
     
  • Store extension cords only indoors at temperatures above 0°C (32°F). Outdoor conditions can deteriorate extension cords over a long period of time.
     
  • Outdoors, use only cords that are clearly marked for outdoor use.
     
  • Use electrical cords only in dry locations.
     
  • Always unplug an extension cord when it is not in use.
     
  • TUG BY THE PLUG: Never unplug an electrical cord by pulling on the cord

 Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

Clothes Dryer Safety

The U.S. Depart of Homeland Security reports that: 

 Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

What to do during an Armed Robbery 

A few weeks ago, members of my family were involved in an armed robbery at a Flea market involving shots being fired from a handgun.  One person was seriously injured when they attempted to "capture" the gunman.

When an armed robbery takes place at a retail location or bank, the likelihood of the incident turning violent, resulting in injuries to personnel and customers, can be effectively reduced by the behaviour of the staff and customers.

Here are some Tips that my research uncovered.

Try to stay calm.

• Regulate your breathing, taking long, slow deliberate breaths.  This slows your heart rate and helps you relax.

Stand still and keep your hands where the Robber can see them

• Don't make any sudden movements to upset the robber.
• If you have to move or reach, tell the robber what you are going to do and why.
• Do everything very slowly as not to startle the robber.
• When to want to do something-even if it is a direct instruction from the robber- tell them exactly what you are doing. 

Do exactly as you are told. DO NOT RESIST!

• Do only what the Robber says, when they say to do it.
• Be polite and mannerly towards the Robber.
• Appear submissive and compliant

Activate your alarm ONLY if you can do so secretly without the robbers seeing you.

• Many armed robberies have turned violent because the siren puts the robbers into a panic.
• Setting an alarm can trigger a violent response

Tell the robber about anything that might surprise him, such as someone who is expected to arrive soon.

Try to get a good look at the robber so you can describe him later.

• Don't look the robber directly in the face. The robber may believe that you are trying to memorise his features for later identification.
• Don’t make it obvious that you are observing them
• Remember any names used by the robbers when they were talking to each other