PANAMA CITY – The American Red Cross volunteers will spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which falls on Jan. 20 this year, canvassing neighborhoods in the Glenwood and Cedar Grove areas to share fire safety tips with residents.
Where residents are not available to speak with, volunteers will leave door hangers printed in English and Spanish with cooking and heating tips and information about the importance of smoke alarms and fire escape plans.
“Fire is the biggest disaster threat to American families — not floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes,” said Jerry Kindle, CEO of The American Red Cross of Northwest Florida, in a press release, “And home fires are one disaster that can usually be prevented when people understand how to protect their homes and families.”
Nationally, the Red Cross provides food and shelter to people affected by as many as 70,000 fires annually, or about one fire every eight minutes. The Central Panhandle Chapter responded to 86 fires in Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties between July 2012 and July 2013 and another 68 fires since July 2013, 29 of which were in Bay County.
The Red Cross is looking for more volunteers to participate in this event. Those interested in volunteering should contact 763-6587 for more information.
The American Red Cross offers the following fire prevention tips:
All heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces and chimneys inspected annually by a professional, and cleaned if necessary.
If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs, or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
The Florida Department of Health have issued a reminder to take precautions against carbon monoxide poisoning on cold winter nights.
Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless, non-irritating poisonous gas produced by burning fuels such as gasoline, natural gas, charcoal and wood. It often causes flu-like symptons such as headache, nausea, weakness, abdominal discomfort/pain, dizziness and confusion. Other signs and symptoms may include blurred vision, numbness and tingling, ataxia (loss or lack of muscular coordination), irritability, agitation, chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, seizures and loss of consciousness. If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, go outside immediately and seek medical attention. If someone has collapsed or is not breathing, call 911.
The Florida Department of Health offers these tips to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:
• Never use a gas stove or oven to heat the home.
• Never burn charcoal inside a house, garage, vehicle or tent, including in a fireplace.
• Avoid using unvented gas or kerosene heaters in enclosed spaces, especially sleeping areas.
• Install and use fuel-burning appliances according to manufacturer instructions.
• Inspect the exhaust system of each fuel burning appliance every year, including chimneys, flues and vents. Check for blockage, holes and disconnections.
• Have fuel-burning appliances inspected and serviced annually by a licensed contractor.
• Never leave an automobile running in a garage, even with the garage door open.
• Do not leave the rear window or tailgate of a vehicle open while driving. Carbon monoxide from the exhaust can be pulled inside the car, van or camper.
• Never use a portable generator or a fuel-powered tool indoors or in other enclosed or partially enclosed areas.
• Always place portable generators outdoors on a dry surface far away from doors, windows, vents and air conditioning equipment that could allow carbon monoxide to enter. Orient the generator so that it is placed with the exhaust port pointing away from the home.
• Install battery operated carbon monoxide alarms or plug-in carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup inside the house according to manufacturer’s installation instructions or NFPA 720: Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and Warning Equipment.
• Install only carbon monoxide alarms that meet the UL 2034 or the CSA 6.19 standards.
• Replace carbon monoxide alarm batteries once a year and test alarms frequently.
• Replace carbon monoxide alarms every five years or as often as recommended by the alarm manufacturer.
For more information about suspected poisoning emergencies, call the Florida Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. To learn more about indoor air pollution and public health in Florida, visit FloridaHealth.gov/healthy-environments/indoor-air-quality/index.html or call the Radon and Indoor Air Program at 1-800-543-8279.