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Fire and Life Safety Planning


BABIES & CARS 

On a hot and humid day it can take as little as 15 minutes for a baby to become dehydrated while sitting in a parked car with no ventilation.  Children less than a year old are especially at risk and can quickly suffer serious injuries such as seizures, permanent brain damage or death. 
Always remember: Young children should NEVER be left alone in a vehicle - no matter what the  weather! 

Ten reasons to NEVER leave a child alone in a car!


If you are driving a bus or van, don't forget to check all seats for sleeping children before you leave your vehicle. 
 

BARBECUE AND FOOD SAFETY 

It always pays for consumers to be aware that following a few simple safety precautions will help ensure that their outdoor cooking remains trouble-free and enjoyable. 


Food Safety


Carbon Monoxide Alarms 

What is Carbon Monoxide? 
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are possible sources of CO. Vehicles or generators running in an attached garage also can produce dangerous levels of CO. 

You can protect yourself again CO poisoning by properly installing, using, venting, and maintaining your heating and cooking equipment; by installing CO alarms inside your home; and by being cautious with vehicles or generators in attached garages. 

How to protect yourself:



How Carbon Monoxide alarms work: 
Carbon Monoxide alarms activate based on the exposure to CO over time. They are designed to activate an alarm before the average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. Remember, it is the exposure to carbon monoxide over time that poses a threat. 

Carbon monoxide alarms are NOT substitutes for smoke alarms. Smoke alarms give early warning of a fire, providing more time to escape. Know the difference between the sound of the smoke alarm and the sound of the CO alarm! 

What to do if the Carbon Monoxide alarm activates:


Cooking Safety 

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries. The majority of cooking equipment fires start with the ignition of common household items (i.e., wall coverings, paper or plastic bags, curtains, etc.). 

Safety Tips:


Fire Extinguishers 
A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives; but portable extinguishers have limitations. Because fire grows and spreads so rapidly, the number one priority for residents is to get out safely. 

Safety Tips:


Home Fire Escape Planning and Practice 
Everyone can be taught the basics of home fire escape. Developing and practicing a home fire escape plan is the key to survival should a fire occur in the home. In the event of a fire, time is the biggest enemy and every second counts. In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. Escape plans can help you get out of your home quickly. That is why every home needs to practice E.D.I.T.H. (Exit Drills in the Home). 

Remember: 


Plan your escape and practice it AT LEAST twice a year:


REMEMBER:


SAFETY AROUND THE YARD 

Lawn Mowers
Many of us don't think about lawn mowers as occupational hazards. We start using them at a very young age, and we certainly don't need a license to mow the lawn. Here are a few simple precautions to ensure your safety - please read them carefully: 

Inspect the lawn mower. - this should be done prior to starting!

Be prepared for obstacles.

Don't Touch!


NEVER reach under the machine.


Gasoline Storage 

You should only store enough gasoline to power your gasoline-fueled equipment. This gasoline should be stored outdoors, in a shed for example - gasoline should never be stored in your home or attached garage. Gasoline should be stored in an approved and clearly labeled container and should be well away from any sources of heat or flame. 

Gasoline should only be used as motor fuel and never as:


To transport gasoline in an automobile to and from a filling station, place the sealed, approved container in the trunk and leave the trunk lid open slightly. Never store gasoline in a car - drive directly to and from the filling station. Never smoke when using gasoline or refilling gas powered equipment - always turn equipment off before adding fuel! 

Pool Chemicals 
Liquid and solid chlorine-based oxidizers are commonly sold for home pool care as hydrogen chloride products. These chemicals can spontaneously combust if contaminated by organic materials, such as body fluids, rain, and hydrocarbon liquids such as fuel oil or motor oil. This type of fire will result in toxic fumes that can be extremely dangerous, and require resident evacuation.

Store pool chemicals with care:


Smoke Alarms 

How many smoke alarms do I need?

Safety Tips

Maintain your smoke alarm


Mobile Fire-Rescue encourages all Mobile residents to practice fire safety steps every day to keep those home fires safely burning. Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility and fire prevention precautions DO make a difference! The Mobile Fire-Rescue Department offers home fire safety inspections at no cost. Citizens can call (251) 208-7351 to set up an appointment. 
 

Sun Safety

Common Sun Myths


Ultraviolet Radiation 
Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a natural part of the sun's energy that reaches the earth's surface. The sun's ultraviolet rays have three different wavelengths. UVC contains the shortest wavelengths and do no reach the earth's surface. UVB rays are medium wavelengths that cause your skin to burn and may cause cancer. UVA rays are the largest wavelengths and cause your skin to age and wrinkle, and damages your skin's support structure.

Ultraviolet radiation can damage your eyes, leading to cataracts, your skin, in the form of sunburn and skin cancer, and your immune system, decreasing your body's ability to fight disease. Because the ozone layer is thinning, when you spend time outdoors, you are exposed to increased daily dosages of UV radiation. 

Sun Protection


Sunscreens 
Sunscreens should not be used to increase the time you are out in the sun. Sunscreens provide protection from sunburn when you can not avoid being in the sun. Sunscreens generally protect against UVB rays, which cause sunburn. Some products claim to be broad-spectrum sunscreens to protect against the burning rays of UVB and UVA. There is no standard measurement of protection against the aging effects of UVA. 

Protecting Children


Eye Protection 
Eyes do not get as much direct UV exposure as the skin because the eye sockets shade them. Reflected sunlight, from water, sand, concrete and snow, increases the UV exposure for the eyes. When outdoors, sunglasses are a must and wearing a hat is recommended. 

Protecting Your Pets 
Don't forget your pets! Excessive panting and salivation, vomiting, an anxious or staring expression, a fast pulse rate and high body temperature shows heat stroke. If your pet has any of these symptoms, act quickly! Immerse the animal in cool water or pour cool water over it and as soon as the pet cools off, take it to the veterinarian for treatment. Never leave your pet in a hot car - it's much kinder to leave your pet at home with plenty of fresh 
cool water and shade. 

Spring Safety 
It's getting warmer, the trees and flowers are budding...Spring is finally here! Spring-cleaning is an annual event for many people. Our spring-cleaning habits signify a fresh start for us after the long winter months. Spring is the ideal time to check our homes and yards for dangerous materials and unsafe conditions and to spend the time to protect our families and our properties. Please read the following safety tips to make this Spring a safe one! Start by taking a few minutes to plan your spring-cleaning. You will want to check each room in your house, including the attic and basement. Also, don't forget the garage, yard and storage shed. Plan to do several different things:

Remove All Hazards


Properly Store Flammable Liquids and Home Chemicals.


Check Fire Protection and Safety Equipment


Plan Your Escape


Summertime Guide to Staying Safe from Fire 
It's possible to enjoy a sizzling-hot summer without getting burned! By following these quick and simple steps, we can all keep summer activities fun and fire-safe. 

Grilling 
Keep barbecue grills far away from anything that can burn -- your home, cars, dry vegetation, etc. Stay with the grill when lit, and keep children and pets well away from the area. When barbecuing, protect yourself by wearing a heavy apron and an oven mitt that fits over your forearm. If you get burned, run cool water over the burn for 10 to 15 minutes. If you receive a serious burn, seek medical attention promptly. 

Barbecue grills must never be used inside the home because, in addition to the fire hazard of indoor grilling, the grill can easily cause carbon monoxide poisoning. If lightning appears while you're grilling, seek shelter and wait for the storm to pass. 

Use only a limited amount of starter fluid (never gasoline) before lighting a charcoal grill. If the fire is too slow, rekindle with dry kindling and add more charcoal if necessary. After use, soak the coals with water before you discard them and leave the grill away from the house until completely cool. 

For gas grills, always store the gas cylinder outside -- away from structures -- and turn off the valves when not in use. 

Fireworks 
Fire works are illegal in the City of Mobile and its jurisdiction. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is at an outdoors public display put on by professionals. Fireworks are designed to burn and explode, and are a leading cause of injuries in the U.S. every year, fireworks used by amateurs cause thousands of injuries serious enough to require emergency room treatment. Children between the ages of 10 and 14 are at greatest risk of injury from fireworks. Stay safe by always leaving fireworks to professionals! 

Camping


Water Safety


Halloween Safety Tips 
Planning ahead can help make Halloween a fire-safe one. Taking simple fire safety precautions, like making sure fabrics for costumes and decorative materials are flame resistant, can prevent fires. 

Safety Tips


Candle Safety 

Safety Tips

Candles & Children

During Power Outages


Holiday Safety Tips 
The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire due to heating equipment. 

Holiday Decorating and Lighting


Holiday Entertaining


Christmas Tree Safety Tips 

Safety Tips


Winter Safety Tips for the Home 

The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have caused many people to search for alternate sources of home heating. The use of wood burning stoves is growing and space heaters are selling rapidly, or coming out of storage. Fireplaces are burning wood and man-made logs. 

All these methods of heating may be acceptable. They are, however, a major contributing factor in residential fires. Many of these fires can be prevented. The following fire safety tips can help you maintain a fire safe home this winter. 

KEROSENE HEATERS

WOOD STOVES AND FIREPLACES

FURNACE HEATING

OTHER FIRE SAFETY TIPS

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