Not a Good Start to the New Year - Brian Martin

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Let’s hope that the first two weeks of the New Year are not a harbinger of things to come with respect to fire safety. After ending 2008 with the loss of a firefighter from Delaware City to a reckless driver and a family in Philadelphia to improper use of a kerosene heater, 2009 greeted us with: ? A 3-year old girl in Elkton receiving first- and second-degree burns to her face after climbing on a table to look at a candle and having the candle set her hair on fire. ? A Rehoboth Beach man suffering burns to his face and chest when lighting a cigarette while using oxygen to help his breathing. ? An overloaded extension cord in Denton igniting combustibles and the resulting flames, driven by high winds, damaging 4 nearby buildings. ? After helping his family escape a house fire, a Walkersville man reentering the house to save a pet and perished One life lost to a humane thought, two people with severe burns and a lot of property damage. There is a sense of loss in finding learning moments in tragedy, but, regrettably, they are there. Following are some reminders from past columns for all of us. Candles ? Burn candles only inside a one-foot diameter “circle of safety” that is free of anything that could ignite. ? Never use candles in bedrooms and sleeping areas. ? Extinguish candles after each use. Be careful not to spatter hot wax. ? Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. ? Use a sturdy metal, glass or ceramic candle holder. Make sure the holder is large enough to catch drippings. ? Never leave a burning candle unattended. ? Use a flashlight, not a candle, for emergency lighting. ? Consider using battery-operated, flameless candles. Smoking ? Use ashtrays with a wide and stable base. If it wobbles, it won’t work. ? Put out cigarettes in an ashtray or can filled with sand. ? Check for butts under sofa cushions and on and behind furniture. ? Never smoke in a home where oxygen is used. ? Use fire-safe cigarettes that are less likely to cause fires. ? Make sure your cigarette is fully out, especially if you are drowsy due to medicine or alcohol. Extension cords ? Check for frayed wires and do not run cords under rugs or furniture. ? Never overload electrical sockets. Escape plan Designate a place outside the home where everyone will meet once they get out. Make sure that it is not an object like a car, as it might not be there when the time comes. Make sure that it is a safe distance from the house, out of the way of the fire trucks coming in and easy for all everyone to reach to reach. Assign one person to call 911 if it hasn’t been done yet. Having a designated meeting place will take a lot of worry away from you and the fire company, you will know that everyone is safe and we will know not to send our firefighters in looking for someone that is already out. Lastly, never go back in the house. ONCE OUT, STAY OUT. The New Year is a time for resolutions. Let’s all make getting our families up to speed on fire safety a community resolution. Brian Martin is Fire Chief for the BBVFC, which he joined in 1997 after four years as a volunteer in the Philadelphia area. He is past deputy fire chief, a nationally certified firefighter II and was the BBVFC’s Firefighter of the Year in 2007. He lives in Ocean View with his wife, Jesika, a BBVFC member, and their two children and operates Martin Services LLC, a property management and home improvement firm, with his father, Jack, another member. He can be reached at [email protected].