|
Home > Departments > Fire Department > Fire Prevention & Safety
|
|
| Change Your Clocks......Change Your Batteries |  |
Firefighters know the importance of home fire safety. That’s why the men and women of the Westfield Fire Department encourage participation in the annual home fire safety program called:
Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery!
Sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Energizer brand batteries, the program urges you to adopt a simple lifesaving habit: Change all of your Smoke Alarm batteries when you change your clocks ahead on March 14th.
Protecting your home is simple: Change, Check, Count and Clean!™
READ MORE
Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries!
The Westfield Fire Department encourages you to change Smoke Alarm batteries at least once each year. An easy way to remember is to change these batteries when you change your clocks in the Spring and Fall. Replace old batteries with fresh, high quality batteries to keep your Smoke Alarms ready to protect you all year-long.
Check Your Smoke Alarms!
After inserting fresh batteries in your Smoke Alarm, make sure the Alarm is working by activating the safety test button. The Westfield Fire Department recommends that you test all of your Smoke Alarms at least once each month. If you have any doubt regarding the working condition of a Smoke Alarm, we recommend you replace it.
Count Your Smoke Alarms!
It’s best to have at least one working Smoke Alarm on every level of your home, including the basement and family room. To assure optimal protection and avoid false alarms, your Smoke Alarm must be mounted properly. You’ll find simple instructions included with every Smoke Alarm you purchase. Should questions remain, we encourage you to visit or contact your Local Fire Station.
Clean Your Smoke Alarms!
Help your Smoke Alarm remain sensitive and ready to protect you by gently using a vacuum cleaner once a month to remove dust and cobwebs. If your Smoke Alarms have been accidently painted or contaminated, replacement may be necessary.
To best protect your home and family, we also suggest…
Retire your old Smoke Alarms!
Smoke Alarms work every minute of every day. After millions of sensing cycles, they should be retired. Replace your Smoke Alarms with new devices every 10 years.
Plan and Practice Your Escape!
Children are at increased risk of dying in a home fire because they often become scared and confused when a fire erupts. Make sure your children recognize the sound of your home’s Smoke Alarm and teach them to respond instinctively to its signal.
Create at least two different escape routes from every room and practice them with the entire family. Be sure all family members know the lifesaving practice of crawling below the dangerously thick smoke and intense heat of a fire.
All capable members of the family must learn how to open windows and remove screens or security bars. Purchase, plan and practice using a collapsible emergency escape ladder that can be stored inside near upper floor windows. Realism is essential in your family’s practice, as is your clear designation of a meeting place for everyone to gather outside the home in case of a fire or other emergency. Remember, this may be the only practice and discussion you will have before tragedy strikes!
When a fire occurs, don’t delay! Get out quick and stay out!! Escape first, closing doors behind you if possible. Quickly gather at your meeting place and then notify the Fire Department by calling 9-1-1 from a safe location.
Your Firefighters are specially trained and equipped to rescue your family and pets, as well as to protect your possessions. Help your Firefighters by remaining together outside the home and directing them to endangered family or valuables.
Install Fire Extinguishers!
Install at least one fire extinguisher in or near your kitchen and know how to use it. We recommend multi- or all-purpose fire extinguishers that are listed by and carry the mark of an accredited testing agency such as Underwriters Laboratory. Read all instructions carefully and mount the fire extinguishers for easy access. Make sure adult members of your family know the proper use as well as the limitations of these important fire safety tools!
Change Your Flashlight Batteries!
Make sure your emergency flashlights work when you need them by using fresh high-quality batteries. It is a good idea to keep a working flashlight and a whistle near your bed, in the kitchen, basement and family room. You can use them to signal for help or direct rescuers in the event of a fire or other emergency.
We hope this simple list of tips from the Westfield Fire Department will help keep your family safe. Please remember that fire prevention is your best course of action.
|
| Ice and Cold Water Winter Safety | | Each winter, many residents are injured from
exposure in cold water incidents. Skaters and
ice fishermen fall through the ice; boaters and
canoeists overturn their crafts.
How thick is “safe” ice?
Ice on moving water in rivers, streams and brooks is never safe. The thickness of
ice on ponds and lakes depends upon water currents or springs, depth and natural
objects such as tree stumps or rocks. Daily changes in temperature cause the ice to
expand and contract, which affects its strength. Because of these factors, no one
can declare the ice to be absolutely “safe”.
The only "safe" ice is at a skating arena!
What do you do if someone falls through the ice?
• Act quickly and call 911 for help immediately. Make sure properly
trained and equipped rescue personnel are alerted to respond.
• DO NOT go out onto the ice. Many times wouldbe
rescuers become victims themselves.
• Reach, Throw or Row. Extend a branch, pole or ladder to the victim.
Throw them a bouyant object such as a life ring or float tied to a rope.
If a boat is nearby row out to the victim or push it toward them.
How cold is cold water?
Any water that is cooler than normal body temperature (98.6˚ F) is by definition “cold water”.
Cold water drains away body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air!
Cold water does not have to be icy, it just has to be colder than you are to cause hypothermia.
The lower the temperature of the water, the faster the onset of hypothermia.
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia is the excessive lowering of body temperature. A drop in core body temperature
below 95 degrees F., causes shivering, confusion, loss of muscle strength, and if not treated and
reversed hypothermia leads to unconsciousness and death.
Safety experts estimate that half of all drowning victims die from the fatal effects of cold water,
not the fatal effects from water-filled lungs!
Personal safety tips
Always wear a personal floatation device (PFD) when boating, any time of year.
Waterlogged clothing makes it difficult to keep your head above the surface of the water.
Dress properly.
Keep your head covered, 50% of body heat is lost through the head. Clothing that is made from
man-made fibers does not protect the wearer for long when wet. Wool insulates better from the
effects of hypothermia when dry or wet.
If you fall into cold water, get into HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Position).
• Bring your knees to your chest, hold your arms to
your sides and clasp your hands, and cover your head
if possible to protect your body from heat loss.
• DO NOT try to swim unless a boat, floating object or the
shore is close by. Swimming causes “warm” blood to
circulate to your arms and legs, where it cools off quickly
and reduces survival time by as much as 35-50%!
|
|
|
|
|
