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 Holiday Safety
Brought to you by Sedgwick County
Fire District #1, EMS, Emergency Management and Sheriff's Office

The holidays can be stressful.  Be sure to take time for yourself to relax and regroup.
Use common sense to avoid holiday disasters.

WHILE SHOPPING

• Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.

• Minimize shopping after dark or when alone.  Take a friend or family member with you.  Never park in an unlit area, no matter how convenient it is.

• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.

• If you must use an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) choose one that is located inside a convenience store, mall, grocery store or well-lit location.  Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.

• Shield the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.  Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.

• Be extra careful with purses and wallets.  Carry a purse under your arm.  Keep a wallet in an inside jacket pocket, not a back trouser pocket.  Keep cash in your front pocket.

• Never leave your purse in a shopping cart or on a counter while you pay for your purchases. 

• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.

• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home so you can report stolen or lost cards by their number.

• Avoid overloading yourself with packages.  It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.  Have your purchases delivered whenever practical.

• Keep packages locked in the trunk of your car or otherwise out-of-view while shopping.  Keep your vehicle's doors locked and windows closed.  If you take packages to the car but plan to return to the store or mall, drive your car to a new location within the parking lot.

• Before entering your vehicle, carefully check the front and rear seats and floors for anyone who maybe hiding there.  Lock your doors immediately after entering the vehicle.

• Teach children to go to a store clerk or security guard and ask for help if you become separated.  They should never go into a parking lot alone.  

AT HOME

• Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.

• When leaving home for an extended amount of time, ask a trusted neighbor or family member to watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.

• Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer.

• Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.

• Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.

• When setting up a Christmas tree or other holiday display, make sure doorways and passageways remain clear inside your home.

• Be sure your Christmas tree is mounted on a sturdy base so children, elderly persons or family pets cannot pull it over on themselves.

• If you use lights on your Christmas tree, ensure the wiring is not damaged or frayed. Frayed or damaged wiring can cause a fire.

• Place your Christmas tree in water or wet sand to keep it green.

• Collapse and place boxes of high dollar items such as computers, stereos, or televisions received as gifts outside with the trash the day of trash pickup.  Placing these items outside for longer durations only advertises to potential burglars what type of property you have inside.

• It’s not to uncommon for people to take advantage of others' generosity during the holidays by going door to door for charitable donations or by calling when there’s no charity involved.  Ask for identification and or organization, find out how the funds will be used.  If you aren’t satisfied, don’t give.  Help a charitable organization you know and like instead.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS AND OTHER GOODIES

• Keep small items such as Christmas ornaments, and especially broken glass bulbs out of the reach of children .
• Peanuts and other seasonal candies can be choking hazards for small children.
• Candles bring holiday cheer, whether providing a relaxing scent or a warm soft glow.  Be aware of the placement of candles to avoid spilling hot wax, which can cause painful burns.

SNOW AND ICE

• Keep your driveway, sidewalk, steps, and porches clear of snow and ice to avoid falls.
• Older adults who are not use to strenuous physical activity are encouraged to get help shoveling snow on their properties.

WHAT'S COOKING IN THE KITCHEN?

Hopefully nothing you don’t already know about! And to make sure, follow these fire safety tips:

• Keep your range clean and free of grease.

• Wear the proper clothes when you cook (short or close-fitting sleeves are the best); roll or tie back long or loose sleeves.

• Turn pot handles away from the front of the range so pots won’t be knocked over.

• Keep children away from the range at all times.

• Keep flammables, towels and curtains away from the range and oven.

• Use potholders or oven mitts to pick up HOT items.  Do not use towels.

• Never leave the kitchen unattended when food is cooking.

HOW TO PUT OUT COOKING FIRES:

RANGE TOP FIRES

• Turn off the heat and cover the pan with a lid; never pick up a flaming pan.

• Never use water on a grease fire; this will spread and increase the flame.

• Keep fire extinguishers nearby.

OVEN FIRES

• Close the oven door and turn off the heat.

• NEVER TAKE CHANCES!  Firefighting is best handled by trained professionals equipped with special clothing and breathing apparatuses.  Any time your safety is threatened, it’s time to get out.

WHEN AND HOW TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Safety is your #1 concern. To protect yourself and others, be sure that you know:

The importance of immediate evacuation – fire spreads rapidly, within minutes your house could become a raging inferno.

Get everyone out first and close the doors to prevent the fire from spreading.  Delays in evacuating could be tragic.

• Fight fire with an extinguisher only if everyone is out of the house and the fire is still small (for example, if the fire is confined to a wastebasket, chair or stove).  When in doubt, dial 911.

• Aim the nozzle at the base of the flames and use a sweeping motion, starting six to eight feet from the fire.

• Never let the fire get between you and an escape route.

If you buy only one extinguisher for your home, it’s best to choose a multi-purpose ABC dry chemical extinguisher.  Extinguishers should be stored in the kitchen, near the stove.

If you would like to have a professional inspector help you survey your home, contact us at 316-660-3473 (316-660-FIRE) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Our staff can explain why something is a fire hazard, and we can suggest alternatives to help reduce your hazard.  You may also download a fire safety checklist to assist you in inspecting your home.

The stockings should be hung from the chimney with care to ensure that firemen soon WON'T be there!

MAKE YOUR FIREPLACE SAFE

• Never use flammable liquids to start or rekindle a fire
• Never burn charcoal in your fireplace or in a hibachi unit inside.  Burning charcoal gives off deadly amounts of carbon monoxide.
• Follow the directions on the package if you use manmade logs.  Never break manmade logs apart to quicken a fire or stack them, for they may explode.
• Do not decorate a mantel with flammable materials.  A spark hitting them from your fireplace could ignite these materials and cause a fire.
• Always use a screen around a fireplace to keep sparks from flying out.
• Be sure the fire is completely out before closing the flue and before you go to bed.  A closed flue can help hot ashes build up heat to the point where a fire could flare up and ignite the room while you are asleep.
• Check fireplaces regularly to make sure all vents and chimneys are operating properly.
• Never place wrapping paper in your fireplace.
• At holiday time, make sure the Christmas tree is not close enough to be ignited by a spark.  Be especially careful of accidentally igniting holiday wrapping papers.
• Most of all, keep children away from open fires.

Remember, fires are dangerous.  Enjoy your fire, but make sure it produce dreams, not nightmares.

IS YOUR HOUSE NUMBER VISIBLE DURING THE DAY AND AT NIGHT?

Help the fire department to help you by displaying your house or business number properly.  In an emergency, improperly displayed or missing numbers could mean precious minutes lost and spell the difference between life and death.

**Helpful Hints**

Include numbers on both sides of your mailbox. (Emergency vehicles do not always travel the same way as the postal carriers.)

Make sure the numbers on your house are in a contrasting color and are visible from the roadway.  

KEEP HYDRANTS CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS …

Snow, weeds and rubbish around hydrants make them hard to find.  Without water, we can’t put your fire out.

REPORT ALL FIRES AND EMERGENCIES … DIAL 911

No matter how small the problem is we can’t help unless we’ve been called.  Don’t assume someone else will do it.

TRAVELING BY CAR

Monitor weather and traffic reports.  Avoid traveling if at all possible in bad weather.  If you must travel, remember these tips:

• Do not leave a vehicle running in a closed garage to warm up.
• Use caution when driving on roadways in the snow and ice.  Leave earlier than normal to give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your destination depending on road conditions.
• Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive.  If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.
• Have emergency supplies in the trunk including the following:
  • Non-perishable food items (i.e. granola/power bars, nuts, dried fruit, etc.)
  • Flashlight
  • Blanket/Sleeping bag
  • Extra clothing and footwear (socks & gloves)
  • Ice scraper
  • Shovel
  • Candles (2)
  • Matches
  • First aid kit
  • A red cloth that could be tied to an antenna
  • Small metal container used for melting snow
  • Update the contents of your emergency kit every six months and make sure all drivers and passengers know where to find it.
• Keep your car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
• WEAR YOUR SEATBELT.

If you happen to get stuck:

• Stay with your car.  Do not try to walk to safety.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth (preferably red) to the antenna for rescuers to see.
• Start the car and use the heater for about 10 minutes every hour.  Keep the exhaust pipe clear so fumes won't back up into the car.
• Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so you can be seen.
• As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to keep blood circulating and to stay warm.
• Keep one window away from the blowing wind slightly open to let in air.

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

Take care that guests can drive home safely.  Be sure they haven’t had too much to drink, and if they have, call a taxi or have them spend the night.  Remember, it is better to arrive home a day later, than not at all and a taxi ride is cheaper than the alternative.

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last update: 11/26/07
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