Fire Safety Tips

Camping out in the woods can be one of the most gratifying experiences available for those who stress over the hustle and bustle of daily life in or near a city. The dangers of contemporary lifestyles and environments can themselves drive people to the slow pace of the woods. Crime, careless drivers, pollution, identify theft. Who needs it!
While seeking a safe haven from the pitfalls of “civilization”, the camper must also bear in mind that the great outdoors is fraught with its own set of dangers. Let’s consider a few and how you can counter the risks.
In part 1 of this two-part series, we’ll look at food safety, ensuring you have clean water to drink, and avoiding ticks.
FOOD SAFETY
Bacteria can invade many types of food, especially those high in protein and moisture, such as milk, milk products, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, cream pies, custards and potato salad. After preparation, these foods must be kept either hot (above 140 degrees Fahrenheit) or cold (below 45 degrees Fahrenheit). Between the two temperature ranges lurks the danger.
A camper who does not have the means of sustaining food that can easily spoil outside of those thermometer readings should not bring them on the trip at all. It would be much safer to bring canned food and garden goodies.
Exposed food should be prepared prior to the trip and protected in plastic prior to icing them since ice can trap harmful bacteria. For example, though ice pulled from a frozen stream in winter can help to keep food cold, it should never be permitted to touch the food itself.
And whether eating meals from a picnic table or sitting on the ground, always cover the eating area with something clean, like a plastic table cloth.
Any food that you suspect may be spoiled should be disposed of rather than eaten. The risk is just too high.
CLEAN DRINKING WATER
When you are thirsty, there is nothing like a cold, clear glass of water to satisfy. At home, our tap water is normally relatively safe, though many people opt to filter it through one means or another to improve the odds of safe drinking.
Aside from water that is purified for us, however, it has been estimated that the vast majority of surface water in the US fails to meet government standards for intake safety.
When you are camping without your own water (or a sufficient supply) and are not at a camp ground that has purified running water available, you will need to take additional measures to protect yourself from water contaminated by bacteria and viruses.
There are fundamentally four options for accomplishing this. The first you can do at the camp site. The other three require preparation prior to heading out to the camp site.
* Boil the water – Heat suspect water to a boil, and let it continue to do so for several minutes. After cooling off, it should be consumable.
* Iodine liquid or tablets – Instructions that come with the iodine will explain how many drops to use for a specific amount of water, and for what time period.
* Filtering – Most microorganisms can be filtered out depending upon the materials used in the filter and the filtering design of the unit. When purchased, be sure the instructions clearly state what will and will not be filtered out.
* Purification – Purifying will remove or kill all dangerous water-born bacteria. Using this method, the water should be run through the purifier at least a couple of times to ensure drinking safety.
AVOIDING TICKS
Ticks look innocuous on the surface. But tiny as they are, they still have the potency to make a person very ill with Lyme Disease. They can dig their way into a person’s skin very easily without notice when he rests up against a tree or walks in brush. Once on the skin, ticks will burrow their way in and are not easily removed.
Before you head into the woods, you will need to minimize opportunities that these blood suckers have to find their way to your skin through an opening in your clothing. Tuck in whatever clothing you can: shirt into pants, pant legs into socks, shirt sleeve over top of gloves (if the weather is cool enough for gloves).
Additionally, spray on your clothing a good insect repellent that has a high percentage of. The repellent can be located at any sporting goods store and most general retail outlets.
Upon return to your camp site or turning into your tent for the night, check your body visually and with your hands looking for any small bumps that may be indicative of a tick that has landed on or embedded itself into your skin. Have someone else look carefully through your hair (running their fingers through it) and scan anywhere else that you cannot easily see, such as your back.
If you find that a tick has dug itself into your skin, immediately (but very carefully) remove it with tweezers. Grab it as close to its legs as possible, making sure to extract its entire body. If you are unable to do so, it would be better to leave the camp site for a time to visit a doctor than to risk infection.
In part 2 of this brief series, we will continue our consideration of camping safety tips, focusing specifically on camp fires, wild animals, and dangerous activities in the woods.
By: Mike Foster

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There are millions of people everywhere who enjoy the relaxation of camping. Whether you’re spending the weekend camping with your family at the local state park or backpacking through the backcountry, there are some general rules of camping safety that you should always follow. Many of these camping safety tips are simply common sense, but it is still a good idea to review these guidelines before setting out for any type of outdoor adventure.
General Camping Safety
Camping safety begins before you ever set out on your vacation. Check the weather forecast ahead of time and be prepared for rain or storms. Pack emergency rain gear, as well as a well-stocked first aid kit, and plan to arrive at your campsite as early as possible. You want plenty of time to set up camp before the sun sets.
Upon arrival, inspect your campsite closely for glass and harmful debris, poisonous plants and animals, and areas that may be prone to flooding in the case of a heavy downpour. Set up your tent on flat ground and remove any rocks, branches, or other objects that could damage your tent or be uncomfortable to sleep on.
If you are camping with children, check the campsite closely for fire ants, hornet or wasp nests, dangerous grades, and other potential hazards before settling in. Wear light colors and refrain from using scented lotions, soaps, and perfumes to prevent attracting bees and mosquitoes. Coleman citronella candles can ward off mosquitoes as well.
Use caution whenever you operate your propane stove or grill and anytime you have a campfire. Never leave any of these unattended. Keep your campsite clean, storing food in closed containers and disposing of garbage, to reduce the chances of bears, raccoons, or other wild animals entering your campsite. Never keep food items inside your tent.
Hiking and Outdoor Activity Safety
Anytime you decide to enjoy the great outdoors, it is important to remember that you are in nature’s domain. To stay safe, it is your responsibility to follow the proper safety precautions. It is a good idea to become familiar with poisonous and harmful plants, animals, and insects that are common to your area. Always carry a small first aid kit while hiking or biking and have knowledge of first aid procedures for outdoors. If you should come in contact with poison ivy or sumac, apply calamine lotion to the infected area to relieve the itching.
Stay on the designated trail and avoid high grass and overgrowth. Wear light colors so ticks are easy to spot and check your head and body for any possible ticks each night. If you find a tick that has already bitten, remove it gently with tweezers, taking care not to crush the body or leave the head. Clean the bite area with warm water and soap and see a doctor if you experience a fever or rash within the next few days or if you think the tick was attached for more than 2 days.
Never enjoy the beauty of nature alone. Have at least one companion with you wherever you go and whatever you are doing outdoors and tell your friends and family where you will be and how long you plan to be gone.
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Every head of household wants their family to be safe and the same goes with property managers who keep safety at top of mind to keep tenants safe and secure. New homeowners and landlords may not have an emergency preparedness plan but soon find out it is necessary. Even if you have never had an emergency where you live or work; checking the safety of your residence once a year is vital to minimize risk.
Families are usually more concerned with testing smoke alarms, co detectors and checking fire extinguishers expiration date. In the event you ever use your fire extinguisher be sure to replace it immediately; partial filled extinguishers are no fun during an urgent time of need. Replace the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a year but it is recommended every six months. Many find that working this into the spring & fall cleaning works very well. Once you replace the batteries test the units to ensure they still give a loud clear ringing alarm. The last thing you want to do is sleep through the alarm and be caught in a burning home.
Property managers need a more comprehensive plan than families because they usually have multiple families, businesses and properties to maintain. All facilities should be thoroughly checked every six months and it is a good idea to have the fire department take a look if you have a larger complex. Many insurance companies for property firms require this anyways, so this will help with your due diligence. Also if you have any public buildings such as business parks make sure a new emergency exit map with routes is given to all tenants once a year; even if they already have one in good shape that is exactly the same it is a good reminder. You will be surprised how often the emergency plans get misplaced, buried under paperwork or accidently thrown away.
Here is a short list of items to check every six to twelve months; skip the ones that don’t apply but you might think about adding some of the items that are missing to your emergency plan.
Smoke detectors & alarms
Carbon monoxide detectors & alarms
Fire Extinguishers
Escape Ladders
Emergency Exit Signs
Emergency Lighting
All of the above items can be found at local hardware stores or online; if you have a large property or multiple properties it is a good idea to plan replacing all of them at once. You can buy in bulk to save quite a bit of money and might even be able to get them at wholesale cost or very close to cost. Always make sure there is a safe way out.
By: Marc Edward

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Here’s a safety tip that strikes the right note. Several months ago, a fire severely damaged part of a recording studio being used by the musical group the Black Eyed Peas. Fortunately, an employee and an engineer were able to use portable fire extinguishers to keep the fire localized-just one of many stories that demonstrate that portable fire extinguishers can save lives and protect property.
The Fire Equipment Manufacturers’ Association recommends the following:
• Know where the fire extinguishers and fire hose stations are located and how to use them.
• Create and practice an evacuation plan.
• Call a licensed fire equipment company to maintain and/or replace outdated fire equipment and pre-engineered fire suppression systems.
• Contact your fire department about conducting a fire prevention class and have it review your emergency plans.
By: Stacey Moore
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To obtain a “Life Safety Tool Kit” for your office, please contact www.femalifesafety.org. Experts recommend contacting your fire department to conduct a fire prevention class and review your emergency plans.

People say that camping is not really camping without a campfire. Camp fires serve as the ultimate symbol of camping out. It is the center of attention when cooking outdoors or having camping outdoor activities at night. Undeniably, the pleasure of building a camp fire brings much delight to every camper – newbie and avid campers alike. However, despite the fun it brings, campfires can be really dangerous. That is why you should always take precautionary measures in setting them up.
a. If you are setting your camp in a popular camp site, look for a campfire pit. If your campsite has been used by many campers before, there is a high chance that a campfire pit already exists. As such, you won’t have to worry about preparing the grounds for a safe camp fire.
b. If your camp site is relatively new or if the last camp on your site is a month ago, then the task of setting up a fire pit lies on you. Building a fire pit is not really that easy. It requires very important steps that you should follow in order to ensure that the camp fire will be safe. In creating the pit, you can start by digging the soil up to 3 feet. Place some rocks around the fire pit. Make sure that there is no dried debris around it. When setting the actual campfire, place the combustible debris inside the pit. Keep in mind that if you fail to place the debris properly, they might fly out of the fire pit and cause a debris blow out.
c. All of the burning materials for the camp fire should be placed inside the pit area and inside the rocks that you arranged. The arrangement of the materials play a vital role in making sure that your fire will light up faster and that debris will not fly out of the pit. Make sure that you place all of the light materials first. After the lighter materials, place dry woods, and then the coal.
d. When setting up your camping kitchen, make sure that it is not near your camp fire pit. Avoid setting your fire pit near dried trees or hanging vines as well. This way, you can avoid causing a blow out or a forest fire the moment some of your burning debris flies out of the fire pit area.
e. When setting your camp fire, keep a handy water bucket or sand bag near you. In case the fire blows out, you can use these to stop the fire from spreading. These natural fire extinguishers are much preferable camp sites because gas fire extinguishers can cause a big wood blow out.
f. Do not leave your campfire unattended. Before you leave the campsite, make sure that you completely put off the fire and the flame. Also, if you leave the campsite, never leave any campfire ingredient such as dry woods, coal, or debris near the camp fire pit. Maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from the campfire ingredients to the fire pit.

One of the most common concerns of our customers is the safety of their electrical installation; almost everyone is understandably wary of something they can neither see, smell nor hear, yet is capable of killing or setting fire in an instant.
There are a few basic do-it-yourself safety rules that will help you reduce the risks; we would like to deal with a few of the more simply detectable ones in this article.
Current National Electrical code, or NEC, requires the use of GFCI protection on receptacles and other equipment in certain wet locations such as bathrooms, swimming pools and yards.  These areas are mainly where the presence of water will greatly increase the risk and severity of electrical shock.  This GFCI protection will eliminate almost all fatalities and is a critical safety measure. Make sure at least once a month that your device protection works. You can do this with the simple action of pressing a Test button to see if the receptacle or circuit breaker automatically disconnects; if it does, it is working correctly and you can simply reset it.
Another important safety measure is the regular inspection of extension cords.  A damaged cord can be a significant risk of both electrical shock and fire, yet a quick visual inspection for cuts or chafing to the cord will eliminate most of the risk. Never use electrical tape to make temporary repairs.  If it is damaged simply throw it away; the extra few dollars spent could easily save your life, or that of a loved one.
A common practice in most homes is the use of multiple outlet extension cords.  These are often tucked away behind stereo equipment or TVs, modern entertainment equipment that require a lot of power that can easily overheat these multiple outlets.  Even worse they are in a hidden location – often with very poor ventilation – increasing the risk of fire drastically. Visually check behind the back of your entertainment equipment; if it looks like spaghetti then you need extra receptacles added, both for safety and convenience.
An overzealous electrical do-it-yourselfer is probably one of the greatest risks of all, and yet is possibly the most difficult to detect. Whereas a poor carpentry or other trade job is easily recognized, behind the wall or in-attic wiring mistakes often go unnoticed by the homeowner, yet is a serious potential fire risk.  Even worse, a fire starting in this kind of location will not visible until it’s too late.
The only sure way to protect against this last risk is by contacting a professional licensed electrical contractor to check out your wiring.  Some of these professionals will even make a basic safety check free of charge. Other important yet simple things they should check on are:
* Tightness of all terminations in electrical panels
* Inspection for signs of overheating in panels
* Correct identification of circuits
* Compliance with National Electrical Code
* Correct polarity and grounding of receptacles
* Correct operation of Arc Fault Devices
* Correct service entrance wiring and grounding
If you are not the first owner of your home, or if it is an older home, the risks are much greater, both for deteriorated wiring and previous do-it-yourself work. Even if you live in a new home, remember that during our recent housing boom a County/City Electrical Inspector often had a busy schedule, and could only make the briefest of inspections.

House fires are frightening and deadly. Homeowners should make sure that their homes are not susceptible to fire. Here is a list of fire prevention tips:
* Test smoke alarms regularly.
* Keep alarms free of dust and cobwebs.
* Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home.
* Replace batteries in smoke alarms twice a year.
* Replace alarms that are older than 10 years.
* Consider having a sprinkler system installed in your home.
* Install escape ladders on the upper levels of your home and make sure everyone knows how to use them.
* Keep fire extinguishers easy to reach on every level of your home.
* If building a new home, make sure firebreaks are installed in the framing.
* Dig a window well and install a window if you have a basement bedroom.
* Check the seals on your windows and doors since drafts will cause the fire to spread.
* Practice a fire escape drill with your family.

Wildfires are a frightening and deadly natural disaster, which spread with rapid speed and can destroy everything in their path. Homeowners can take precautions to protect their homes from wildfires by using the following list of tips:
* Have roofs and gutters cleared of debris yearly.
* Have chimneys inspected and cleaned twice a year.
* Choose fire resistant materials when building.
* Build a firebreak around your house. (Contact your local fire department for firebreak guidelines.)
* Plant fire resistant trees and shrubs. (Contact a landscape designer
or firm.)
* Have a tree trimming service remove all branches that are below 15 feet high.
* Clear away dead and dry vegetation yearly.
* Keep a ladder and a garden hose handy that will reach the roof of your house.

These simple tips can help keep you and your family safe from fire:
Working smoke detectors should be in place on every level of your home and in all bedrooms. The detectors should be tested once a month, and batteries should be replaced at least once a year (for example, during the switch to daylight-saving time). Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.
Keep matches and other heat sources out of children’s reach. Children under 5 set more than 100,000 fires every year. Plan and practice escape routes and fire evacuation procedures with your family. Teach children to crawl low under smoke and to “stop, drop and roll” after they’ve left the burning house.
Never smoke in bed. Extinguish cigars/cigarettes if you become sleepy. Never leave lit cigars or cigarettes or pipes unattended.
Invest in a home fire sprinkler system. These systems can be attached to any home’s standard plumbing system. Your local fire department can provide more information.
Keep combustible materials (for example, bedding, draperies, etc.) at least three feet away from portable space heaters or other sources that pose a potential for fire. Use fire screens on your fireplace and have your chimney cleaned each year. Don’t overload circuits or extension cords. Don’t place electric cords under rugs or in high traffic areas.

There are three basic types of safes to choose from:
* The fire-resistant safe
* The burglar-resistant safe
* The combination fire and burglar resistant safe
Fire Resistant Safe
The fire-resistant safe is designed to protect paper from fire. It is constructed with a thin metal double wall design which allows a fire-resistant insulating material to be put between the walls. In the event of a fire, the insulating material releases moisture which keeps the interior safe temperature below the burning point of paper. These safes are rated by the length of time they will protect their contents under test conditions. A 1/2-hour rating is used only for small fire-insulated boxes. Most fire-resistant safes have 1-hour or 2-hour ratings. These are adequate for the protection of paper records in normal residential or commercial fires. The 4-hour rating is only used for record rooms. If a safe is labeled as a fire resistant container, that label is usually provided by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). However there are other testing agencies which test and label safes, such as Japan Institute of Standards (JIS). These labels are equivalent to UL labels.
The burglary resistance of a fire safe is minimal. Any metal box with a combination lock is described as a Class 1 burglary resistant container.
The media safe is designed to protect electronic media such as computer disks and video tapes. Like regular fire safes, media safes have UL ratings for protection times.Electronic media are more sensitive to heat and humidity than paper so media saves are differently constructed and much more heavily insulated than regular fire safes with the same rating.
Burglar Resistant Safe
The burglar-resistant safe is designed to contain valuables. It is constructed with solid metal walls and a heavy door resistant to attack by drilling, cutting or prying. Hardened and drill resistant metals are often used to slow down attempts to break in to this safe. These safes are rated in two ways:
1. The class rating (1-5) is based on a combination of door and wall thickness, and in the higher ratings (3-5), resistance to certain forms of attack such as drilling and cutting with a torch. Insurance companies use this rating to designate how much cash may be kept in the safe.
2. The UL rating is a system developed by Underwriters Laboratory which rates safes based on how long they will resist various forms of attack. The UL ratings start at 15 minutes and go to one hour. In addition they add the following letter designations: DR drill resistant, TL tool resistant, TR torch resistant, TRTL tool and torch resistant and finally the X6 designation is reserved for the very best bankers and jewelers safes. They would be designated : TRTL60X6. Please keep in mind that any UL designated burglary safe is of high quality and gives excellent protection.
There are two specialized burglary resistant safes that are commonly used for storage of cash, the in floor safe and the drop safe.
The in floor safe is a round or square tube with a heavily constructed lid which lifts out when unlocked. The tube is usually installed in a concrete floor or it can be installed on the floor surface in a concrete block which adds weight and protects the tube from attack. The main advantage of this safe is the low cost. Since the exposed lid is the only part that is heavily constructed, good protection can be achieved inexpensively.
The drop safe allows envelopes or bank bags to be inserted into the safe while the safe remains locked. The drop can be as simple as a slot in the lid of an in floor safe, or it can be an elaborate hopper or drawer designed to allow large items to be inserted. These safes are used where frequent cash deposits must be made to deter robbery. Often the manager is the only one with access to the “dropped” cash. These safes are never UL burglary rated and are not recommended for long term storage of cash. They are also quite light and should be bolted to the floor or counter to deter the smash-and-grab thief.
Combination Burglary and Fire Resistant Safe
The combination burglary and fire-resistant safe is designed to give protection against both fire and burglary. It is usually designed as a burglary safe with a secondary wall constructed inside the safe which contains insulation. This safe can be UL rated for both burglary and fire protection.
Another type of combination fire and burglar resistant safe is one where a small burglary resistant container is installed in a larger fire-resistant container. In newer units the fire resistance is UL labeled but often the burglary container is not.
Older Safes
Most older safes are not labeled as either burglar or fire resistant. We can only guess at their true quality and in the case of the burglary containers rate them Class 1, 2, or 3 based on door and wall thickness, according to insurance classifications.
Another point to remember is that often insurance companies ask their clients to by a safe based on weight or to have the safe bolted to the floor if it isn’t heavy enough. Many of those clients come to us wanting to buy an inexpensive fire-resistant safe and have it bolted to the floor. We believe this is a poor solution. Bolting a safe to the floor does not increase its burglary resistance. It might slow a burglar in an attempt to remove the safe, but fire safes can be pried open relatively easily. Thus the burglar may not take the safe but the valuables inside will be easily accessible.
One final point: we recommend monitored alarm systems for all burglary resistant containers. Given enough time, knowledge and tools, a burglar can break into any safe. Reducing the time the burglar will remain undetected allows the safe to do its job.