July 2012

Fire Extinguishers

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

When selecting a fire extinguisher, it is important to think about the type of fire you will most likely have and the extinguishing agents available. Each class of fire is best fought by a specific extinguishing agent. You will find a color-coded box on your fire extinguisher identifying which classes of fire it can be used for, and the type of fire extinguishing agent it contains.

The following is a list of the types or classes of fire:

• Class A extinguishers are for ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The numerical rating on these types of extinguishers indicates the amount of water it holds and the amount of fire it can extinguish.
• Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish.
• Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. Never use water to extinguish class C fires - the risk of electrical shock is far too great! Class C extinguishers do not have a numerical rating. The C classification means the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.
• Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. They are usually items not found in a typical home.

The most common and universal fire extinguisher is the Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical (covers all A, B & C fires).  It has a dry chemical agent called mono ammonium phosphate. The chemical is non-conductive and can be mildly corrosive if moisture is present. In order to avoid corrosion, it is necessary to scrub and thoroughly cleanup the contacted area once the fire is out.

LOCATION

Location, location, location! Having a fire extinguisher is one thing, having it handy in case of an emergency, is another. It is recommended to have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of your home. Also, keep them in plain sight and no more than five feet above the floor. The most important places to have a fire extinguisher are in areas that are more susceptible to fire. These areas are the kitchen and the garage. Also beware of heating and electrical equipment.

Kitchen: According to U.S. Fire Administration statistics, the kitchen is the place where fires most often start. If you have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, most grease fires can be contained. Do not put the fire extinguisher near the stove as it will be out of your reach if the fire is on the stovetop. You should not have to risk burns just to reach your extinguisher. Therefore, the best place to put the fire extinguisher is by the door of the kitchen so you have easy access to it.

Garage: It is a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher here because in most homes, this is the place we use as storage. Often, leftover paints, solvents, and building materials will be piled up without a second thought. Again, the best location to mount the fire extinguisher is by the door.

Heating Equipment: Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the winter months of December, January and February, and is the second-leading cause of home fires year-round.

Electrical Equipment:Wiring, outlets, switches, circuit breakers and other electrical devices are the third leading cause of home fires and the second leading cause of fire deaths.

HOW TO USE AN EXTINGUISHER

When using a fire extinguisher, use the PASS method. Use this acronym as a quick reference (it is a good idea to print this reference and pin it next to your fire extinguisher):

Pull the Pin at the top of the extinguisher. The pin releases a locking mechanism and will allow you to discharge the extinguisher.

Aim at the base of the fire, not the flames. This is important - in order to put out the fire, you must extinguish the fuel.

Squeeze the lever slowly. This will release the extinguishing agent in the extinguisher. If the handle is released, the discharge will stop.

Sweep from side to side. Using a sweeping motion, move the fire extinguisher back and forth until the fire is completely out. Operate the extinguisher from a safe distance, several feet away, and then move towards the fire once it starts to diminish. Be sure to read the instructions on your fire extinguisher - different fire extinguishers recommend operating them from different distances. Remember: Aim at the base of the fire, not at the flames!!!!

See the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCSms-jyOao for an actual demonstration.

Before deciding to fight a fire, be certain that:

• The fire is small and not spreading. A fire can double in size within two or three minutes.
• You have the proper fire extinguisher for what is burning.
• The fire won't block your exit if you can't control it. A good way to ensure this is to keep the exit at your back.
• You know your fire extinguisher works. Inspect extinguishers once a month for dents, leaks or other signs of damage. Assure the pressure is at the recommended level. On extinguishers equipped with a gauge, the needle should be in the green zone - not too high and not too low.
• You know how to use your fire extinguisher. There's not enough time to read instructions when a fire occurs.

How to Fight a Fire Safely:

• Always stand with an exit at your back.
• Stand several feet away from the fire, moving closer once the fire starts to diminish.
• Use a sweeping motion and aim at the base of the fire.
• If possible, use a "buddy system" to have someone back you up or call for help if something goes wrong.
• Be sure to watch the area for awhile to ensure it doesn't re-ignite.

Never Fight a Fire If:

·         You don't know what is burning.

·         You don't have the proper fire extinguisher.

·         There is too much smoke or you are at risk of inhaling smoke.

This information is a summary taken from http://www.fire-extinguisher101.com/ For more in depth information, please go to their website.

June 2012

 Church Resources on Preparedness  

Last April in our 5th Sunday lesson,  Bishop Costley spoke of the many resources on the web that the church has for us, to help us as families and as individuals. I was impressed by the many heart touching messages that bring the spirit of the Lord into our home.  In addition to those  resources,  the church has assembled  many lesson ideas  for our Family Home Evenings  with a preparedness theme. My favorite is "Coping with a Blackout". The following is a list of the topics we can turn to, found at: http://classic.lds.org/hf/display/0,16783,4284-1,00.html

Family Preparedness Activities

	Emergency Supplies This activity will help your family gather and organize the emergency supplies that can make your family more secure.
	Emergency Telephone Numbers In this activity, your family will post all emergency numbers and learn how to use them.
	Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may well be a gift of life to one of your own family members. All family members should know how to perform this life-saving technique.
	Treating Choking A series of simple techniques could save the life of someone who is choking on food or other objects. This activity will teach your family how to use these techniques.
	Treating Shock This activity will help your family learn to recognize and treat shock.
	Treating Bleeding This activity will teach your family how to handle bleeding.
	Protecting Your Home Against Fire This activity teaches your family basic steps to prevent and deal with fires.
	Coping with a Blackout This activity will help your family be prepared to deal with power failures that result in loss of light and heat.
	Making Your Home a Tough Target for Thieves This activity will teach your family security measures that will help to make your home a more difficult target for thieves by making it as difficult and time-consuming to steal from as possible.
	Earthquake Preparation There is no plan that can eliminate all earthquake danger. But you can greatly reduce damage and injury by following several basic guidelines.
	Making a Survival Kit This activity will teach family members to make a lightweight survival kit that they can easily carry with them. All of these activities come from the Family Home Evening Resource Book, under Family Activities. Also if you haven't visited Provident Living lately, please check out all of the resources there. The address is:  http://www.lds.org/pages/provident-living?lang=eng

October 2011

Preparedness Survey 

We just finished our city emergency drill. Are you ready for a real one? Please use this check survey to test your preparedness. It will teach you what your weak areas are.

FOOD

•   I have enough food for my family for 14 days
•   I have enough food for my family for 3 months
•   I have enough food for my family for 1 year
•   I know how to use and prepare my stored food
•   I have many recipes for my stored food
•   My stored food is little adjustment to my current diet
•   My stored food is properly kept and rotated regularly
•   I have used the Family Dry Pack in Layton/Ogden
•   I have an alternative cooking source

WATER

•   I have 1 gal water/person/day for 14 days
•   I know water purifying techniques
•   I have a water purifying system
•   My stored water has been changed in the last 2 years

FINANCIAL

•   I have a financial reserve to last 3-6 months
•   I have sufficient cash at home

FAMILY

•   I know what should be in my Family Plan
•   My family each has an emergency contact list
•   My family has an out of area/state contact list
•   My family has a local/area meeting place
•   I have important information secured and copied
•   I have current photos of my family

SAFETY

•   I know First Aid/CPR skills
•   I have flashlights that work
•   I know how to shut off my water/gas/electricity
•   I have and know how to use a fire extinguisher
•   I have an emergency radio (battery/solar)
•   I have an alternate source of safe heat/warmth

EVACUATION

•   I have a 72 hour kit for each family member
•    My 72 hour kits are rotated every 6 months (summer/winter)
•   My cars all have car emergency kits
•   My cars are always 1/2 full of gas
•   We have a fire escape plan for our home

Question: If you could not purchase anything for 2 weeks, what 3 things would you need/miss the most?

Now you know what you need to work on. You don't have to panic or go in debt to get everything ready by tomorrow. Just make goals and try to accomplish something each month as you are able. Doing something gets you farther than saying one day I'll work on it and then do nothing. Some of us may need to re-evaluate our priorities. Make your families first and sleep well at night.

July 2011

Fire Extinguishers

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

When selecting a fire extinguisher, it is important to think about the type of fire you will most likely have and the extinguishing agents available. Each class of fire is best fought by a specific extinguishing agent. You will find a color-coded box on your fire extinguisher identifying which classes of fire it can be used for, and the type of fire extinguishing agent it contains.

The following is a list of the types or classes of fire:

• Class A extinguishers are for ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The numerical rating on these types of extinguishers indicates the amount of water it holds and the amount of fire it can extinguish.
• Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish.
• Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. Never use water to extinguish class C fires - the risk of electrical shock is far too great! Class C extinguishers do not have a numerical rating. The C classification means the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.
• Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. They are usually items not found in a typical home.

The most common and universal fire extinguisher is the Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical (covers all A, B & C fires).  It has a dry chemical agent called mono ammonium phosphate. The chemical is non-conductive and can be mildly corrosive if moisture is present. In order to avoid corrosion, it is necessary to scrub and thoroughly cleanup the contacted area once the fire is out.

LOCATION

Location, location, location! Having a fire extinguisher is one thing, having it handy in case of an emergency, is another. It is recommended to have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of your home. Also, keep them in plain sight and no more than five feet above the floor. The most important places to have a fire extinguisher are in areas that are more susceptible to fire. These areas are the kitchen and the garage. Also beware of heating and electrical equipment.

Kitchen: According to U.S. Fire Administration statistics, the kitchen is the place where fires most often start. If you have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, most grease fires can be contained. Do not put the fire extinguisher near the stove as it will be out of your reach if the fire is on the stovetop. You should not have to risk burns just to reach your extinguisher. Therefore, the best place to put the fire extinguisher is by the door of the kitchen so you have easy access to it.

Garage: It is a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher here because in most homes, this is the place we use as storage. Often, leftover paints, solvents, and building materials will be piled up without a second thought. Again, the best location to mount the fire extinguisher is by the door.

Heating Equipment: Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the winter months of December, January and February, and is the second-leading cause of home fires year-round.

Electrical Equipment:Wiring, outlets, switches, circuit breakers and other electrical devices are the third leading cause of home fires and the second leading cause of fire deaths.

HOW TO USE AN EXTINGUISHER

When using a fire extinguisher, use the PASS method. Use this acronym as a quick reference (it is a good idea to print this reference and pin it next to your fire extinguisher):

Pull the Pin at the top of the extinguisher. The pin releases a locking mechanism and will allow you to discharge the extinguisher.

Aim at the base of the fire, not the flames. This is important - in order to put out the fire, you must extinguish the fuel.

Squeeze the lever slowly. This will release the extinguishing agent in the extinguisher. If the handle is released, the discharge will stop.

Sweep from side to side. Using a sweeping motion, move the fire extinguisher back and forth until the fire is completely out. Operate the extinguisher from a safe distance, several feet away, and then move towards the fire once it starts to diminish. Be sure to read the instructions on your fire extinguisher - different fire extinguishers recommend operating them from different distances. Remember: Aim at the base of the fire, not at the flames!!!!

See the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCSms-jyOao for an actual demonstration.

Before deciding to fight a fire, be certain that:

• The fire is small and not spreading. A fire can double in size within two or three minutes.
• You have the proper fire extinguisher for what is burning.
• The fire won't block your exit if you can't control it. A good way to ensure this is to keep the exit at your back.
• You know your fire extinguisher works. Inspect extinguishers once a month for dents, leaks or other signs of damage. Assure the pressure is at the recommended level. On extinguishers equipped with a gauge, the needle should be in the green zone - not too high and not too low.
• You know how to use your fire extinguisher. There's not enough time to read instructions when a fire occurs.

How to Fight a Fire Safely:

• Always stand with an exit at your back.
• Stand several feet away from the fire, moving closer once the fire starts to diminish.
• Use a sweeping motion and aim at the base of the fire.
• If possible, use a "buddy system" to have someone back you up or call for help if something goes wrong.
• Be sure to watch the area for awhile to ensure it doesn't re-ignite.

Never Fight a Fire If:

·         You don't know what is burning.

·         You don't have the proper fire extinguisher.

·         There is too much smoke or you are at risk of inhaling smoke.

This information is a summary taken from http://www.fire-extinguisher101.com/ For more in depth information, please go to their website.

April 2011

Earthquake Preparedness

The recent earthquake in Japan should be a strong reminder that we should be as prepared as much as possible for earthquakes we well could experience here. Also we should try to learn from the Japanese on what we could do differently. When preparing for earthquakes, we must plan on having enough food and water as well as clothing, medical supplies and other necessary equipment for ourselves and our families for at least 72 hours. Assistance from our fire and police departments may not be immediately available following an earthquake. The following is a list of emergency supplies recommended from http://earthquake.usgs.gov:

1.   Fire extinguisher.
2.  Adequate supplies of medications that you or family members are taking. 
3. Crescent and pipe wrenches to turn off gas and water supplies. 
4. First-aid kit and handbook. 
5. Flashlights with extra bulbs and batteries. 
6. Portable radio with extra batteries. 
7. Water for each family member for at least two weeks (allow at least 1 gallon per person per day) and   purification tablets or chlorine bleach to purify drinking water from other sources. 
8. Canned and package foods, enough for several days and MECHANICAL can opener. Extra food for pets if necessary. 
9.  Camp stove or barbecue to cook on outdoors (store fuel out of the reach of children). 
10. Waterproof, heavy-duty plastic bags for waste disposal.

Many of these emergency supplies can be assembled and put in a kit that is easily accessible if we have to leave. We also need a family communication plan and prepare our homes ahead of time to have minimal damage after an earthquake. Ready America suggests the following steps we should take now to help us in this effort. (http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/earthquakes.html)

Step 1: Get a Kit

Get an Emergency Supply Kit, which includes items like non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries. You may want to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car. This kit should include:

• Copies of prescription medications and medical supplies;
• Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows;
• Bottled water, a battery-operated radio and extra batteries, a first aid kit, a flashlight;
• Copies of important documents: driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.

Step 2: Make a Plan

Prepare Your Family

• Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
• Plan places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.
• It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
• You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one.
• Be sure to consider the specific needs of your family members
• Notify caregivers and babysitters about your plan.
• Make plans for your pets
• Take a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class. Keep your training current.  (Classes may be taken from our Syracuse City Fire Dept.)

Step 3: Be Informed

Prepare Your Home

• Fasten shelves securely to walls.
• Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
• Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches.
• Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, couches, and anywhere people sit.
• Brace overhead light fixtures.
• Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks.
• Secure a water heater by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the floor.
• Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations. Get expert advice if there are signs of structural defects.
• Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with latches and on bottom shelves.
• Identify Safe Places indoors and outdoors like under sturdy furniture or against an inside wall away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over.
• Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency by visiting: http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/emergency/index.html

Thanks for your interest. We must learn from disasters around us. The earthquake in Japan can teach us a lot about what we need to do, to be better prepared for earthquakes.