The Johnson County Fire and Emergency Chief’s Association along with Fire District #1 is concerned about your safety. In 2005, there were 1,602,000 fires in the United States, which resulted in 3,675 civilian deaths and 17,925 injuries directly associated with these fires. Last year in the US, there were 2.4 million documented burn injuries. These do not include minor burn injuries where people did not seek medical attention. February 4-10, 2007 is National Burn Awareness Week. The majority of fires, burns and injuries are preventable. We have included the following suggestions to help protect yourself and your family.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Kitchen
- Don't wear long sleeves when cooking.
- Use back burners or turn handles inward.
- Don't leave appliance cords hanging below the counter.
- Don't cook or carry hot items with children nearby.
- Don't place hot drinks or food on tablecloths which children can pull on themselves.
- Don't hold children while you are drinking hot beverages.
- Don't pour water on a grease fire; instead smother with lid, towel or baking soda.
- Never leave cooking unattended.
Bathroom
- Set water heater at 125 degrees or less.
- Turn on cold water first; then add hot water.
- Check water before allowing a child to get in the bath.
- Never leave a child unattended in the bath.
Living Room and Bedroom
- Keep space heaters away from drapes and furniture.
- Don't leave candles burning around unsupervised children.
- Keep a metal screen over your fireplace.
- Have your chimney checked and cleaned, if needed, once a year.
- Don't smoke in bed.
- Teach your children that matches and lighters are tools for adults only.
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
Outdoors
- Store flammables out of reach of children.
- Never throw gas or lighter fluid on a fire.
- Don't take the radiator cap off a hot radiator
- Let your snow blower or lawn mower cool down before refueling.
- Don't smoke around flammables.
- Dispose of hot charcoal from grills or campfires appropriately.
- Do not allow children to play around campfires. Be aware that coals stay hot for several days.
Electrical
- Don't use appliances with frayed wires.
- Put safety plugs in unused outlets.
- Never use electrical appliances near water.
- Do not run cords under rugs or through doorjambs.
- Children should not use curling irons, heating pads or sun lamps.
Other Prevention Tips
- Have smoke detectors on each level of your home and test monthly. Replace the batteries at least once a year.
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
- Plan a fire escape plan as a family. Designate a meeting place.
- Teach children to:
- Stop, drop and roll.
- Crawl from a burning room.
- Check doors for heat before opening.
- Never go back into a burning building
FIRST AID
Stop the Burning
- Rinse area with cool water.
- Remove burned clothing. Don't pull off clothes that are stuck to skin.
- Remove jewelry.
- Chemical: Flush continuously with water. If a powdered chemical, brush it off first before flushing.
Keep the Person Warm
- Wrap a clean sheet and blanket around the burned person.
- Leave blisters intact.
- Do not apply Vaseline or butter.
- Seek medical attention
If you have any additional questions, please contact your local fire department. Your safety is our utmost concern.
