Severe Weather Tips from the Fire Department

Severe winter weather can be dangerous and even life-threatening for people who don’t take the proper precautions. Preparedness begins with knowing your risks, making a communications plan with your family and having an emergency supply kit with essentials such as water, food, flashlights and medications.

Once you’ve taken these steps, consider going beyond the basics of disaster preparedness with the following fire safety tips offered by the SJRFD.

• Ensure that all exterior vents serving alternate heat sources and other appliances within the home are kept clear at all times.
• When using alternate sources of heat within the home, make sure you have a properly functioning (CO) carbon monoxide detector.
• Should you at any time experience a CO leak in your home or workplace, leave the building immediately and call 911 especially if anyone is experiencing any symptoms such as nausea, headaches, drowsiness, loss of consciousness etc.
• Have a working smoke alarm on every level of the home and check it on a monthly basis.
• Keep flammable items at least three feet from heat sources like radiators, space heaters, fireplaces and woodstoves.
• Do not use extension cords as a permanent source of power. Only use approved power bars.
• Plug only one heat-producing appliance (such as a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.
• Make sure all exterior access ways are clear and that civic numbers are visible from the street.
• Have an emergency plan put in place and ensure that everyone knows where to meet once they have evacuated the building.