El Cajon Fire Department » Safety Tips

Cool Zone & Heat Safety Tips!

mzech — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:58:43 +0000

It’s summer and hot! Stay cool! Stay hydrated & safe. To help you stay cool and keep your energy costs down, the County is offering “Cool Zones” – click on the following link:

http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/hhsa/programs/ais/documents/coolzones.pdf

For tips on heat safety, here’s some great information from the American Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.1a019a978f421296e81ec89e43181aa0/?vgnextoid=a69ff6c5fd47b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

When driving, running errands - NEVER leave your baby/child, the elderly, or your dog in your vehicle – not even for a moment - that could easily turn into a FATAL mistake. Temperatures in a vehicle can rise in a matter of seconds. If you see that someone has left a baby/child, an elderly person or a pet alone in a vehicle – call 9-1-1!

Stay hydrated – drink plenty of WATER – stay away from caffeine like tea and coffee drinks, and most of all alcohol, these drinks “dehyrate” the body and can be dangerous. Take cool showers if you are at home to cool down. Make sure your pets have cool shade areas and plenty of water as well. Be safe!

Thank you!

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Calling 9-1-1 In An Emergency

mzech — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:48:59 +0000

9-1-1 is the emergency number to call when life or property are threatened.

If someone is seriously hurt folowing a traffic collision, fall, having trouble breathing, heart attack or stroke – call 9-1-1! If someone is breaking into a home, there’s a fire, or explosion – call 9-1-1!

Some people think they can avoid waiting in the lobby of the emergency room by calling 9-1-1…wrong. If you’re situation is discovered not to be life threatening – you’ll be sent to the lobby area to wait your turn.

Here’s a website to fully understand the proper use of 9-1-1:

http://www.whentocall911.com/

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Have You Tested Or Changed The Batteries In Your Smoke Alarms Lately?

mzech — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:39:50 +0000

On March 14, 2010, We Moved Our Clocks Ahead One Hour - Did You Also Remember To Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries?

The Burn Institute and the San Diego County Fire Chiefs’ Association would like to remind everyone that whenever we have a time change, also take a moment to change your smoke alarm batteries.

It could save a life! The last time change was Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 14. Did you change your smoke alarm batteries too???

WHY? Having a ”working” smoke alarm cuts your chances of dying in a house fire by 50% percent!

Note: If you are 55 years or older, own your own home, live within San Diego County and do not have a working smoking alarm, you qualify for a FREE smoke alarm installation. This popular program takes place year-round. To schedule an appointment, contact Gwen Lammers at the Burn Institute, (858) 541-2277.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/slightlynorth/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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Helmets Save Lives & Brains – Video

mzech — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:59:11 +0000

Bike Helmets: A Necessity, Not an Accessory

A child is injured in a bike-related incident almost every two minutes. Whether your child uses a small bicycle with training wheels or a big kid’s bike, make sure he or she wears a helmet correctly on every ride. It’s the single most effective way to prevent a serious head injury from bike crashes.

Please click on the following website for information and a special video on how to properly fit a safety helmet on your child.

http://www.safekids.org/stages/

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Did You Remember To Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries During The Last Time Change?

mzech — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:59:55 +0000

El Cajon Fire and Safe Kids USA would like to remind you that when you changed your clocks for daylight saving time on Sunday, March 8, 2009 – hopefully you also remembered to change the batteries in all your smoke alarms. It’s important to change these batteries twice a year, unless they’re 10-year lithium batteries.

For more fire safety information, please visit Safe Kids Fire website – Safe Kids!

Additional safety reminders:

At home:

Make sure you have working smoke alarms on each level of your home, in the hallway leading to the bedroom areas, and in each bedroom as well. Make sure have a home escape plan and that you’ve discussed and practiced your plan with your family.
Never leave cooking food unattended.
Never leave lit candles unattended.
Lock away matches and lighters – keep them out of reach of young children.

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Have You Tested The Batteries In Your Smoke Alarms?

mzech — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:12:52 +0000

Daylight Saving Time

El Cajon Fire also reminds everyone to test your smoke alarms at least once a month, change the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year and have a home escape plan!

Do you have a plan? For a Fire Escape Checklist click here: Sparky’s Fire Escape Checklist Make a copy and discuss with your family.

When you are ready to draw your home escape plan click here for a special grid to draw our plan on: Sparky’s Home Escape Plan grid

Take a moment to discuss with your family about your home escape plan on what to do when the smoke alarm goes off – especially while you’re asleep. Roll out of bed to the floor where the good air will be for a while and have two ways out of each room. Your primary exit is the door and secondary exit is a window. If you live on a second floor have an escape ladder, or stay in your room, stuffing something under the door to keep the smoke from coming in. But, if you’re able to escape your homw – have a “meeting place” outside where your family meets first to make sure everyone got out safely. Then run to a neighbor’s house to call 9-1-1. Never run back into a burning building!

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Never Leave Children Or Pets In Vehicles – Especially During Hot Weather

mzech — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:41:10 +0000

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is warning the public of the dangers of leaving a child alone inside a sweltering-hot vehicle.

“When left in the sun, it only takes a minute for the inside of the vehicle to become like an oven,” said CHP Captain Teresa Sumprer of the El Cajon Area office.

Heat isn’t the only danger; children left in running cars can injure themselves or others by accidentally hitting a gear and putting the car in motion.

Another tragedy- 8/24/08 – Kansas – Twin Toddlers died after being left in a the family vehicle for more than two hours: Twins Die In Hot Car!

Learn more about the dangers of children and cars here:www.4rkidssake.org

“Not only is it dangerous, it is illegal to leave a child in a car,” Captain Sumprer added.

“Kaitlyn’s Law,” also known as the “Unattended Child in a Motor Vehicle Act,” states that anyone who leaves a child of six years old or younger inside a vehicle without the supervision of someone at least 12 years old can be fined $100.

To increase awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in or around motor vehicles, the organization 4 R Kids Sake has designated the month of August as “Purple Ribbon Month.” In support of this campaign, the CHP has affixed a purple ribbon to the antenna of all its patrol cars. The ribbons are in memory of children who have lost their lives, including 6-month-old Kaitlyn Russell who died from hyperthermia after being left unattended in a parked vehicle August 15, 2000.

“As a driver, you are responsible for all of your passengers’ safety while the vehicle is running and when it is parked,” reminded CHP Captain Teresa Sumprer.

The CHP urges anyone who sees an unattended child in a vehicle to immediately call 911.

The Law: SB 255 (Speier)
Unattended Child in Motor Vehicle Act “Kaitlyn’s Law”
California Vehicle Code Sections 15620, 15630, 15632
15620. (a) A parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for a child who is 6 years of age or younger may not leave that child inside a motor vehicle without being subject to the supervision of a person who is 12 years of age or older, under either of the following circumstances:
(1) Where there are conditions that present a significant risk to the child’s health or safety.
(2) When the vehicle’s engine is running or the vehicle’s keys are in the ignition, or both.
(b) A violation of subdivision (a) is an infraction punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100), except that the court may reduce or waive the fine if the defendant establishes to the satisfaction of the court that he or she is economically disadvantaged and the court, instead, refers the defendant to a community education program that includes education on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor vehicles, and provides certification of completion of that program. Upon completion of that program, the defendant shall provide that certification to the court. The court may, at its discretion, require any defendant described in this section to attend an education program on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor vehicles.
(c) Nothing in this section shall preclude prosecution under both this section and Section 192 of the Penal Code, or Section 273a of that code, or any other provision of law.
(d) (1) Subdivision (b) and Section 40000.1 do not apply if an unattended child is injured or medical services are rendered on that child because of a violation described in subdivision (a).
(2) Nothing in this subdivision precludes prosecution under any other provision of law.
15630. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the fines collected for a violation of this division shall be allocated by the county treasurer, as follows:
(a) (1) Seventy percent to the county or city health department where the violation occurred, to be used for the development and implementation of community education programs on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor vehicles.
(2) A county or city health department may develop and implement the community education program described in paragraph (1) or may contract for the development and implementation of that program.
(3) As the proceeds from fines collected under this division become available, each county or city health department shall prepare and annually update a listing of community education programs that provide information on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in motor vehicles and ways to avoid that danger. The county or city health department shall forward the listing to the courts and shall make the listing available to the public, and may distribute it to other agencies or organizations.
(b) Fifteen percent to the county or city for the administration of the program, from which will be paid the cost of the county to account for and disburse fine revenues.
(c) Fifteen percent to the city, to be deposited in its general fund except that, if the violation occurred in an unincorporated area, this amount shall be deposited in the county’s general fund.
15632. (a) The department shall include information concerning the dangers of leaving children unattended in motor vehicles, including, but not limited to, the effect of solar heat on the temperature of vehicle interiors and the penalties for noncompliance
with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15620), in the following materials distributed by the department:
(1) The California Driver’s Handbook published under subdivision (b) of Section 1656.
(2) The driver’s license examination administered under Section 12804.9, by including, on a rotating basis, at least one question in one version of the driver’s license examination that is periodically administered to applicants.
(3) Any driver’s education materials certified by the department.
(4) Courses and examinations for traffic violator schools.
(5) Materials provided to secondary and post-secondary schools and educational institutions.
(6) Any materials provided to community education campaigns undertaken by the department and other state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation.
(b) The department shall not republish materials before existing supplies are exhausted, but shall arrange for compliance with this section in the next edition or publication of those materials in the normal course of business.

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Walk Safely – Pedestrian Safety Tips

mzech — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:26:00 +0000

Pedestrian Safety Tips
Cross the street only at intersections. Do not jaywalk. Never run or dash into the street.
Use marked crosswalks where available. Wear bright colors or reflective clothing if you are walking near traffic at night. Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark.
Stop at the curb and look left, right, and left again before you step into the street. Be sure to evaluate the distance and speed of oncoming traffic before you step out into the street to ensure that a vehicle has adequate distance in which to stop safely.
Do not cross in the middle of the street or between parked cars. Drivers are not expecting pedestrians to cross mid-block and you are more likely to be hit if you do this.
At intersections, scan over your shoulder for turning vehicles. Make eye contact with the driver of a stopped car while crossing in front or in back of it — making sure that the driver knows you are there. This is also important for cars that might be backing out of driveways.
Make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets and continue to watch out for traffic the entire time you are in the crosswalk. Your life may depend on it, regardless of whether or not you have the right-of-way.
In foul weather (rain or snow), allow extra time and distance for a vehicle to stop. Do not let umbrellas or jacket hoods block your view of approaching traffic.
Remember, don’t take those “NO RIGHT TURN ON RED” signs for granted. Always check for turning vehicles before stepping off the curb – motorists make mistakes too. Use extra caution when crossing multiple-lane, higher speed streets. Use extra caution when crossing multiple-lane, higher speed streets.
Avoid walking in traffic where there are no sidewalks or crosswalks. If you have to walk on a road that does not have sidewalks, walk facing traffic.
Always look for signs that a car is about to move (rear lights, exhaust smoke, sound of motor, wheels turning), and never walk behind a vehicle that is backing up.
Parents – Safety Tips For Children:
Children should not cross streets by themselves or be allowed to play or walk near traffic. Kids are small, unpredictable, and cannot judge vehicle distances and speeds.
Always hold your child’s hand. Never allow a child under 10 to cross the street alone.
Watch out for entrances to parking lots. Sidewalks often cross driveways and entrances to parking lots. Always check to see if a car is entering or exiting the parking lot.
Walk Signals:
If the intersection has a pedestrian signal, press the button and wait for the pedestrian signal to display the “WALK” indicator. The “WALK” signal indicates that it is safe for a pedestrian facing the signal to proceed across the roadway in that direction. Continue to be alert for traffic at all times, however, while in the roadway and always check for turning vehicles.
A flashing “DON’T WALK” signal means that a pedestrian should not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the indicator, once the “DON’T WALK” sign begins to flash. This indicates that there is probably not enough time left in the cycle for you to cross the street safely. However, any pedestrian who has partially completed their crossing should finish crossing the street or proceed to a safety island in the same direction in which they were headed.
A steadily illuminated “DON’T WALK” indicator means it is not safe for a pedestrian to enter the roadway in the direction of the indication. Pedestrians waiting to cross should wait for the next “WALK” signal in order to cross the street safely.
FOR MORE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TIPS, VISIT THESE SITES:
Federal Highway Safety Administration Safety Tips
Walking Info.org
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Safety Tips
THINGS TO REMEMBER AS A DRIVER:
You can encounter pedestrians anytime and anywhere – even in places where they are not supposed to be found.
Pedestrians can be very hard to see – especially in bad weather or at night. You must keep a lookout and slow down if you can’t see clearly.
Stop for pedestrians who are in a crosswalk, even if it is not marked. When you stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, stop well back so that drivers in the other lanes can also see the pedestrian in time to stop.
Cars stopped in the street may be stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross. Do not pass if there is any doubt!
Don’t assume that pedestrians see you or that they will act predictably. They may be physically or mentally impaired, unfamiliar with how to cross the street safely, or just not paying attention.
When you are turning, you often will have to wait for a “gap” in traffic. Beware while you are watching for that “gap,” that pedestrians may have moved into your intended path. Look to the right again to check that the crosswalk is clear, before proceeding to turn.
Be especially attentive around schools and in neighborhoods where children are present. Drive there like you would like people to drive in your own neighborhood!
Walk & Drive Safely – Be Alert!

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Great Websites To Check On Safety

mzech — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:09:22 +0000

Here are some great websites I use in my research:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Check their Catalog Materials page for free safety information materials.
NHTSA additional resource links
Vehicle Testing:
Buying a car, or checking on the crash testing of your current car:
NHTSA Vehicle Testing
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
IIHS
Here’s another good one – “Is Your Car Safe?” – Safer Car.gov
Safer Car.org
Here’s another one I just found – Stop Impaired Driving.org:
Stop Impaired Driving
Here is an excellent list of resources in regards to Child Safety:
Child Safety Resource List

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CO2 – Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

mzech — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:56:01 +0000

What you need to know about how to protect your family from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning by the Home Safety Council:
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas that is difficult to detect because it is odorless and invisible. As a result, it is known as “the silent killer.” According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), this poisonous gas kills nearly 300 people in their homes each year. See more by clicking on the link below:
Carbon Monoxide Dangers a must read article.