The week of October 9 is Fire Prevention week. Here are a few tips to remember:

Cooking

• Keep flammables a safe distance from the stove & oven.
• Don’t wear loose clothing when you are cooking.
• Don’t leave the kitchen unattended when food is cooking.

Heating

• When using a wood stove, see our wood stove safety article.
• Have your furnace inspected by a heating professional.
• Replace furnace filters as needed.
• Clean the duct system and/or chimney regularly.

Matches

• Teach your children the importance of being careful with lighters and matches. Do not leave them within reach of children.
• When you use a match, be sure it is cool before discarding.

Electric

• Don’t overload your electrical circuits with excessive power strips or by drawing too much power from a single outlet.
• Be careful with extension cords – they can cause fires if not used properly.
• Have the electrical system inspected by an electrician as needed. If you suspect that something is not right, consult a professional.

With all you do to prevent a fire, you may still be faced with a fire some day. For this reason, we recommend that all homes have smoke detectors (don’t forget to check the batteries) and fire extinguishers (replace as necessary). Check to make sure all windows open freely, and review the fire escape plan. Be sure that everyone in your family knows what to do in a fire. Stay low to the floor (the air is safer there). If you catch on fire, stop, drop, and roll.

Many New Yorkers cite a love for the change in seasons – The rebirth and renewal of spring, the comfortable summers, breathtakingly beautiful autumns, and some of even enjoy winter a little, too.

Even though we don’t have the constant threat of weather-related disaster like some parts of the country, we still need to be prepared for a disaster. That disaster could come in a variety of forms – We may lose access to power or communications channels could be overburdened by an increase in call volume. Preparation for such an event can bring safety and comfort to our family and loved ones.

Preparing

• Store a list of emergency contacts in your mobile phone – both emergency personnel (fire, ambulance, poison control, etc.) as well as family members to contact in an emergency (especially helpful for others to contact someone for you if you are not able to use your phone).
• Put a cell phone charger in your car (You may be able to use your vehicle’s engine to stay connected in a power outage) – keep a few gallons of gas on hand too.
• If your home phone service is an analog connection (not digital) – keep a non-cordless phone somewhere in your home – this should still work in a power outage.

In a disaster situation

• Keep phone calls brief to allow others use of the telephone networks.
• Save cell phone battery by lowering brightness of the screen, turning off apps or services that draw power, or power off completely and power on again to make a call.
• Tune into a local radio station for news alerts

For more information, read FEMA’s full recommendations.