- Do not use the grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under a surface that can catch fire.
- The grill should be placed well away from deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
- Children and pets should stay away from the grill area.
- Grills should be kept clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grill itself and in the trays below the grill.
- Never leave a grill unattended.
- Keep lighted cigarettes, matches, or open flames away from the grill.
Charcoal grills
- Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents, or campers. Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.
- When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.
- Since charcoal produces CO fumes until the charcoal is completely extinguished, do not store the grill indoors with freshly used coals.
- Store charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.
Gas Grill
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when operating a gas grill
- If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed
Five Truths About Children Who Drown…
You think that it could never happen to your family, but each year more than 800 children drown. These incidents are not only preventable but predictable. Here are the five truths about children who drown and what you can do to help keep your children safe around water.
Children drown quickly and silently—in a matter of seconds. Adults who were present when a child drowns were often distracted in some way, by talking on the phone, chatting with other adults around the pool, or reading.
- When there are several adults present and children are swimming, use a Water Watcher card to designate an adult as the Water Watcher to prevent gaps in supervision.
Curious children, especially those younger than 4 years old, can easily find and fall in to bodies of water like pools, tubs and buckets. Often they are discovered too late to save.
- For pool owners, make sure your pool has four-sided fencing and a self-closing, self-latching gate.
- Hot tubs should be covered and locked when not in use.
Drowning victims who are rescued from the water need CPR immediately—before the paramedics arrive. It can prevent brain damage and be the difference between life and death.
- Contact your local health department, hospital to locate a local American Red Cross Chapter that offers courses year-round.
Children from non-swimming households are eight times more likely to be at-risk of drowning. Minority children have especially low rates of swimming ability and high rates of drowning.
- To find swimming lessons, contact your local parks and recreation department, an aquatics center or visit the YMCA website to find a YMCA near you.
Nearly 5,000 boating accidents occur each year in open waters (lakes, rivers and oceans) and more than 700 people drown. Of those who drown, nine out of 10 are not wearing a life jacket. Also, alcohol use is involved in up to one in five reported boating fatalities.
- Avoid or moderate your alcohol consumption when boating.
- If you and your family boat frequently, consider taking a boating safety class through the U.S. Coast Guard.
Smoke Alarms!
Did you know?
- Having a working smoke alarm reduces one’s chance of dying in a fire by one-half.
- Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1-14 years.
- Children ages 5 and under are at a greater risk from home fire-related death and injury, with a fire death rate 1.5 times the national average.
- A less acute perception of danger, less control over their environment, and a limited ability to react promptly and properly to a fire contribute to this excess risk.
Smoke Alarms are Essential
- As of 2004, 96 percent of homes in the United States had at least one smoke alarm.
- However, only three-quarters of all homes had at least one working smoke alarm.
- When a child dies in a residential fire, a smoke alarm is not working or not present in almost three-quarters of these occurrences.
Action Plan - Fire prevention starts with you!
Preparation and education are key elements of preventing fire tragedies. Here are a few simple steps for you to help prevent fire-related injuries and deaths in your home.
- Purchase smoke alarms. Smoke alarms are available at a variety of price points; they can be battery operated or electrically hard wired in your home.
- Install the smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, making sure that there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area and in every bedroom.
- Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Ceiling-mounted alarms should be installed at least four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
- Test smoke alarms monthly; follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Replace smoke alarm batteries once a year, or as soon as the battery chirps warning that the battery is low. Replace batteries even if alarms are hardwired in case of a power outage.
- Create and practice an escape route with your family. Mark two ways out of every room, including doors and windows.
- Choose a safe meeting place outside the home. Make sure to mark this on your escape plan.
- Have a designated person to help young children and others who might have difficulty escaping.
- Once there is a fire, get out and stay out! Call 911 from a neighbor’s house.
