30 Seconds of Prevention: Know How to Prevent Kitchen Fires and Burns

The Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department are joined by the world renowned Grossman Burn Centers in asking you to take just..

30 Seconds of Prevention

...to keep your family safe from kitchen fires and burn injuries. Inspector Tony Akins of the Los Angeles County Fire Department explains:


Prevent Kitchen Burns and Fires

• Cooking aromas entice children and pets to dangerous areas of the kitchen.
• Enforce a child and pet free zone at least 3 feet from your stove and ovens.
• Never serve or sample hot food directly to children from the stove top.
• Cook on back burners whenever possible, and turn pot handles away.
• Avoid dangling cords from cooking appliances.
• Keep your stove top clean and flammable kitchen items away.
• Carry and serve hot foods and liquids carefully in your home.

If You Suffer a Burn Injury

• Cool the burn with water. Do not apply ice, butter, ointments or home remedies.
• Cover the burn with a clean dry cloth.
• Contact a healthcare professional promptly. For a serious burn call 9-1-1.

With a focus on preventing kitchen fires and burn injuries, our month-long campaign addresses the leading cause of reported home fires and related injuries requiring medical care. Your hometown and neighborhood firefighters and staff at the Grossman Burn Centers encourage you to learn more at:

http://bit.ly/cooking_safely

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

30 Seconds of Prevention: Heating Your Home Safely

The Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department are joined by the world renowned Grossman Burn Centers in asking you to take just..

30 Seconds of Prevention

...to keep your family safe from burn injuries. LAFD Captain Jaime Moore explains:


Home Heating Mistakes Can Be Deadly

• Never use an oven, stove top or barbeque to heat your home.
• Make sure you have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Test them monthly, and practice your escape from fire.
• Be especially careful with portable space heaters in any room.

If You Suffer a Burn Injury

• Cool the burn with water. Do not apply ice, butter, ointments or home remedies.
• Cover the burn with a clean dry cloth.
• Contact a healthcare professional promptly. For a serious burn or any emergency, call 9-1-1.

With a focus on preventing kitchen fires and burn injuries, our month-long campaign addresses the leading cause of reported home fires and related injuries that require medical care. Your hometown and neighborhood firefighters and staff at the Grossman Burn Centers encourage you to learn more at:

http://bit.ly/cooking_safely

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Firefighters Urge Pre-Halloween Safety Planning

The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department want your Halloween celebration to be memorable for all the right reasons. Our friends at Safe Kids Worldwide explain...

Help firefighters and paramedics by following and sharing these LAFD safety tips!

BEFORE HALLOWEEN:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
• Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.
• Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat as a safe alternative.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses without consulting a qualified eye care professional.
• Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries and glow sticks for all children and their escorts.
• While children can help with designing a Jack O' Lantern, leave the carving to adults.
• Avoid Halloween related fires by purchasing small battery powered lamps or chemical glow sticks for use in decorations and costumes.
• This is also a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home Smoke Alarms.
• Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency or become lost.
• Review with your children the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
• Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.
• Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives (or safe non-food treats) for those who visit your home.
• Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
• Plan now to protect your pets from frightful sights, sounds and hazards.
• Learn or review CPR skills to aid someone who is choking or having a heart attack.
• Consider safe party guidelines when hosting an adult or office party.

Think of unique ways you can safely share the fun in your neighborhood!

PLAN FUN ALTERNATIVES:

• Find a special event or start one in your own neighborhood.
• Community centers, shopping malls and houses of worship may have organized festivities.
• Share the fun by arranging a visit to a retirement home or senior center.
• Create an alliance with college fraternities, sororities or service clubs for children's face painting or a carnival.

We hope these preparedness tips for the days leading up to Halloween are helpful in planning a safe celebration. We're pleased to offer a separate LAFD Halloween Night Safety Checklist for the hours before nightfall on October 31!


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

30 Seconds of Prevention: Basic Kitchen Safety

The Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department are joined by the world renowned Grossman Burn Centers in asking you to take just..

30 Seconds of Prevention

...to keep your family safe from burn injuries. LAFD Captain Jaime Moore explains:


Basic Cooking Rules and Kitchen Clean-up Prevents Fires

• Never leave food unattended while cooking on the stove.
• Clean all cooled stove and oven surfaces once cooking is completed.
• Follow manufacturer instructions for stove and oven cleaning and maintenance.

If You Suffer a Burn Injury

• Cool the burn with water. Do not apply ice, butter, ointments or home remedies.
• Cover the burn with a clean dry cloth.
• Contact a healthcare professional promptly. For significant burns, call 9-1-1.

With a focus on preventing kitchen fires and burn injuries, our month-long campaign addresses the leading cause of reported home fires and related injuries that require medical care. Your hometown and neighborhood firefighters and staff at the Grossman Burn Centers encourage you to learn more at:

http://bit.ly/cooking_safely

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department