CANDLES (From F/F Clyde B. Porter, Engine 30 "B" Shift) -- If you're burning candles for that romantic dinner, or to add a scent to a room, remember that you're dealing with fire and safety comes first. Burn candles on heat resistant surfaces, and never place a candle near combustibles or near windows or exits. Make sure they're out of the reach of small children. Don't let them burn unattended and remember to extinguish candles before retiring for the night. By the way, if you keep the wick trimmed to ¼-inch, the candle will burn slower and with less smoke.
CARELESS SMOKING (From F/F Lillian Sanpere, Rescue 30 "B" Shift) Smoking in bed or when you're drowsy can have deadly results. If someone else has been smoking in your home, you may want to check around upholstered furniture for smoldering ashes after they've left.
CLOTHES DRYERS (From Lt. Courtney Taylor, Engine 30 "A" Shift) Your automatic clothes dryer uses heat to do its job; excessive heat that not only dries. It burns! So make sure your dryer is vented outside. Clean the lint screen each time you use it. Synthetic fabrics, plastics, rubber and foam should be left out to dry naturally. If you can move your dryer, it's a good idea to clean underneath and behind it at least once a year. And don't leave the dryer running while you're not at home.
COOKING SAFETY (From Lt. Ahmad Saadiq, Engine 30 "A" Shift) -- That old pot on the stove fire could have been prevented. First and foremost, don't leave cooking unattended. Starting dinner and then heading to your neighbor's house is unwise. And when you're cooking, avoid long sleeves if you can. If you can't, then roll them up. You'd be surprised how easily they can catch fire. If there are any young ones in the house, turn the pot handles inward, so the kids can't grab them.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS (From F/F Mike Latimer, Engine 30 "A" Shift) -- Keep at least one fire extinguisher in your home. Prime locations are the kitchen and garage. The best type for the home is an "ABC" dry chemical. "ABC" is not a brand name. It refers to the three classes of fire that it can extinguish. A rechargeable extinguisher should be inspected once a year, or recharged after each use, by a licensed technician. And hey, LEARN HOW TO USE IT!
FIRE SAFETY FOR THE DO-IT-YOURSELFER (From Lt. Darryl Fisher, Engine 30 "A" Shift) -- Keep your workbench clean, and don't smoke while using electrical apparatus such as saws or hedge cutters. Gasoline, or other flammable liquids should be stored in tight metal containers, and shouldn't be used near heat or a pilot light. If the fuse blows on your equipment, use the correct size fuse to replace it, but you want to find out why that first fuse failed before using that equipment again. If you trim the trees around your property or you need to go up on your roof, be aware of overhead power lines.
FIREWORKS (From Lt. Tony Lima, Engine 30 "B" Shift) -- Fireworks are dangerous. Even sparklers burn at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and can cause serious injury. Leave fireworks to the professional technicians who've received special training on their use. Enjoy their displays.
HALOGEN LIGHTS (From Lt. Cheryl Arcand, Rescue 30 "A" Shift) -- If you have halogen lights, then you know how hot they can get. It's a good idea to keep them away from drapes or low ceilings. Remember to check your halogen fixture for the maximum wattage it can handle. You don't want to put a bulb in that lamp that's too powerful for it. Also, never leave a halogen lamp on when you leave home.
HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN (From F/F Erie Rojas-Angles, Rescue 30 "B" Shift) -- Have an escape plan in the event a fire breaks out in your home. Everyone in your household should have at least two unobstructed exits to escape through (doors and windows). Choose a meeting place outside the home where your family will gather after their escape. You should practice your escape plan several times each year.
HIGH RISE SAFETY (From F/F Clyde B. Porter, Engine 30 "B" Shift) -- If you live or work in a high-rise building, here are a few fire safety suggestions. Make sure you know the evacuation plan from your location. It should be posted in a conspicuous place. Find out who is responsible for maintaining the fire safety devices in the building. Report any sign of damage or malfunction to that individual. Learn the sound of the building's fire alarm. And if it sounds, don't assume it's a false alarm.
IF YOU SEE A NEIGHBOR'S HOME ON FIRE (From Capt. Paul Gurdak, Engine 30 "B" Shift) -- If you see smoke or flames emanating from one of your neighbor's homes, dial 9-1-1 immediately. Don't assume someone else has. And remain calm while speaking with the 9-1-1 operator. Even as you're providing information over the phone, help is being dispatched and may even arrive before you hang up. And please don't enter a burning structure. That's what we've been trained to do. You could get hurt or trapped inside.
MATCHES AND KIDS (From Lt. George Sterr, Rescue 30 "B" Shift) -- Matches and kids just don't mix. So store matches, or lighters, where children can't reach them. A locked cabinet, if available, would be best. Teach your kids that matches and lighters are tools, not toys.
RESPECT ELECTRICITY (From F/F Onelio Tam, Engine 30 "B" Shift) -- Don't overload electrical outlets or extension cords. Running extension cords under a rug is not a good idea. Replace frayed or cracked cords. If an appliance emits an unusual odor, unplug it, and don't use it until you have it serviced by a qualified technician. Never tamper with your breaker or fuse box, and always use the correct size fuses.
SECURITY BARS (From F/F Onelio Tam, Engine 30 "B" Shift) -- Security bars on windows can hinder your escape from a fire. If you feel you need to install security bars, look into the types that are equipped with a quick release mechanism.
SMOKE DETECTORS (From Lt. Marvin V. Grace, Sr., Engine 30 "A" Shift) -- Smoke detectors warn you of a fire by detecting abnormal amounts of smoke in the air. This gives you enough time to escape a burning home or structure. There should be at least one smoke detector in every level of your home, especially in the bedrooms. Test your smoke detectors every month and replace the batteries at least once a year. A smoke detector that is over 10 years old is also worth replacing.
STOP, DROP AND ROLL (From Lt. Tony Lima, Engine 30 "B" Shift) -- If your clothes catch fire, cover your face with your hands, stop where you are, drop to the ground and roll over continuously to smother the flames.
VISIBLE HOUSE NUMBERS (From F/F Tina Guiler, Engine 30 "B" Shift) Here's a fire safety tip you may not have thought about. An easy to read house number is critical in the event of a fire or medical emergency. We're sometimes hampered, especially on a dark street, by the lack of an easy to read house number. The number on your home should be large enough to see from a high vehicle on the street. It should be in a color that contrasts with the color of your home. Check periodically that plant growth doesn't cover the number. Did you ever wonder whether your house number is visible at night? You will if you have to call us and we can't find you for lack of an easy to find house number. By the way, if it doesn't violate local zoning regulations, you may want to consider a lighted number on your home.
WHAT IF YOU'RE TRAPPED IN A FIRE (From F/F Clyde B. Porter, Engine 30 "B" Shift) -- Close the doors between yourself and the fire. If possible, place blankets or towels around the cracks in the doors and over vents to reduce incoming smoke. Stand by the window and signal, using a flashlight, bright colored clothing or anything that might attract attention. If you have access to a phone, dial 9-1-1 and tell the operator exactly where you are.
WHAT IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT IN YOUR HOME
We hope it never happens to you, but here is some good advice to follow if it does:
(From Lt.
Tony Lima, Engine 30 "B" Shift) Get out, FAST! Don't worry about
your material possessions. They can be replaced. You can't.
(From Capt. Todd Garofalo, Rescue 30 "A" Shift) If you see
flames, smell smoke or hear the smoke alarm sound, find a way to alert everyone
else in the house. Pound on the walls if you have to, or just yell "FIRE!"
(From F/F Earl Sims, Engine 30 "A" Shift) If your house fills
with smoke stay close to the floor. Smoke contains poisonous gases, but it rises
with the heat, so the air is cleanest near the floor. Crawl along your planned
escape route to safety.
(From Lt. Vernon Oster, Rescue 30 "B" Shift) Don't stop to turn
on lights as you leave your burning home. You may think you're doing yourself
or arriving firefighters a favor, but throwing an electrical switch may cause
a spark that ignites gas vapor. That can result in an explosion. Keep a flashlight
in a night table or somewhere close to your bed, where it will be readily available.
(From F/F Michael Packler, Rescue 30 "A" Shift) Don't open any
doors unless you're reasonably sure there isn't fire on the other side of it.
Use the back of your hand to touch the door, door handle and the space between
the door and frame. If any of those areas feel hot, leave the door closed and
use an alternate escape route. If they're all cool, open the door slowly using
your shoulder as a brace against it. If heat or smoke rush in, slam the door
shut and use your alternate escape route.
(From Capt. Paul Gurdak, Engine 30 "B" Shift) Never re-enter a
burning structure. Once you're outside safely, stay there. And make sure it's
a safe distance from the fire. When emergency crews arrive, follow their instructions.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HEAR A SIREN
The law requires that you yield to emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights and sounding an audible signal. Here are ten simple steps to keep both you and us safe:
(From F/F Lillian Sanpere, Rescue 30 "B" Shift) Be alert. Look
in all directions. Don't move your vehicle until you've determined where the
siren is coming from.
(From Lt. Vernon Oster, Rescue 30 "B" Shift) If the siren is behind you, but heading toward you, pull over to the right. Don't stop suddenly, but make the effort to get over as soon as possible. Don't try to "get ahead of just one more car."
(From Lt. Jorge Carvajal, Rescue 30 "B" Shift) Use your signal. This will not only let other drivers know your intentions, but will indicate to our driver that you know we're there and you're intending to yield.
(From Capt. Paul Gurdak, Engine 30 "B" Shift) Don't slam on your brakes. Our trucks are big and require more distance for stopping. If you slam on the brakes we may not be able to avoid hitting you. And you don't want to be rear-ended by a big, heavy fire truck.
(From F/F Erie Rojas-Angles, Rescue 30 "B" Shift) If you're behind us, don't tailgate our truck. Some drivers think that if they stay close to us, they can take advantage of our speed to reach their destination more quickly. That's unwise. Tailgating any vehicle is dangerous and illegal! And tailgating an emergency vehicle heading to a call for help can have serious consequences.
(From Lt. Tony Lima, Engine 30 "B" Shift) Don't try to outrun us. You may have a fast car, but you just don't know where we're going, and we may not have time to signal. If we turn into your path while you're trying to pass us, it'll ruin your day for sure.
(From F/F Onelio Tam, Engine 30 "B" Shift) Always wait until we've safely passed before you merge back into traffic. And please use your signals when you do. It never hurts to extend that courtesy to other motorists.
(From F/F Jeannie Nunez-Capote, Engine 30 "B" Shift) Keep in mind that more than one crew may be responding to the same incident. There may be another siren close by. Engine, rescue and police often respond at the same time.
(From F/F Erie Rojas-Angles, Rescue 30 "B" Shift) Never stop in a place where there isn't enough room to let us through safely. There's no need to drive on the sidewalk to let us proceed, just don't block our path.
(From F/F Clyde B. Porter, Engine 30 "B" Shift) If you're on a bicycle or moped, the same rules that apply to motor vehicles apply to you. When you hear the siren, pull over. And, by the way, if you're a pedestrian, don't step into the street when you see us coming.