City Of Evanston: Winter And Holiday Safety Tips

Evanston IL

22 December, 2021

3:57 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Evanston: 12/22/2021 12:38 PM   To help community members enjoy a safe and happy holiday and winter season, the Evanston Fire Department has provided a list of safety tips to prevent fires and other accidents in your home. Holiday Lights Inspect holiday lights for frayed wiring, loose connections, cracked sockets, and broken bulbs before displaying them. Discard damaged sets. Use extension cords carefully. Never plug more than three sets of lights into one extension cord to prevent the cord from overheating. If you use extension cords to light up multiple indoor lights, consider plugging them into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) for extra safety. Securely fasten outdoor lights to trees, gutters or other parts of the home that are not too close to windows and doors. Use roof clips or insulated staples (NOT nails) to fasten the lights and prevent the wind from whipping them and damaging the lights. Trees Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.  Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.  Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.  Use lights that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use.  Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer's instructions for the number of light strands to connect.  Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.  Always turn off tree lights before leaving home or going to bed   Get rid of the tree after Christmas or when it's dry. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home.    Other Holiday Safety Reminders Have a fire escape plan. Tell your house guests about your family's fire escape plan. When staying overnight at other people's homes, ask about their escape plan. This is especially important when children are permitted to attend "sleepovers" at friends' homes. Unattended cooking is the number one culprit behind most cooking fires. Always stay in the kitchen when you have something on the stove. Turn off the stove if you must leave the kitchen even for a short period of time. If a pan catches on fire, never pour water on it, as this may cause burning oil to splash and cause injuries. Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional. Place a protective screen around the fireplace to prevent embers from popping out onto flammable materials. Ask smokers to smoke outside and provide them with large, deep ashtrays. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding. Also, remind smokers to keep their smoking materials away from young children. Keep a fire extinguisher that is rated for all types of fires on all levels of the home. Make sure your smoke alarms are working and test them monthly. Change the batteries yearly. A good rule of thumb is to change them with Daylight Saving Time. If you haven't yet changed them this year, do it now. Also, replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.  Driving Safety Test your battery; battery power drops as the temperature drops Make sure the cooling system is in good working order Have winter tires with a deeper, more flexible tread put on your car If using all-season tires, check the tread on your tires and replace if less than 2/32 of an inch Check the tire pressure; tire pressure drops as the temperature drops Check your wiper blades and replace if needed Add wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze Snow Shovel Safety Do not shovel after eating or while smoking Take it slow and stretch out before you begin Shovel only fresh, powdery snow; it's lighter Push the snow rather than lifting it If you do lift it, use a small shovel or only partially fill the shovel Lift with your legs, not your back Do not work to the point of exhaustion Know the signs of a heart attack, and stop immediately and call 911 if you're experiencing any of them; every minute counts Frostbite and Hypothermia Safety Check the temperature and limit your time outdoors if it's very cold, wet or windy. Bundle up in several layers of loose clothing Wear mittens rather than gloves Cover your head and ears with a warm hat Wear socks that will keep your feet warm and dry Carbon Monoxide Safety Have your furnace, water heater and any other gas or coal-burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors Have your chimney checked and cleaned every year, and make sure your fireplace damper is open before lighting a fire and well after the fire is extinguished Never use a gas oven for heating your home Never use a generator inside your home, basement or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent; fatal levels of carbon monoxide can be produced in just minutes, even if doors and windows are open Never run a car in a garage that is attached to a house, even with the garage door open; always open the door to a detached garage to let in fresh air when you run a car inside Sledding Safety  Make sure all equipment is in good condition, free of sharp edges and cracks Sled on spacious, gently sloping hills with a level run-off at the end so the sled can safely stop Check slopes for bare spots, holes and obstructions, such as fences, rocks, poles or trees Do not sled on or around frozen lakes, streams or ponds Riders should sit or lay on their back on top of the sled with feet pointing downhill; never sled head first Dress warmly, and wear thick gloves or mittens and heavy boots to protect against frostbite and injury This press release was produced by the City of Evanston. The views expressed here are the author's own.