Emergency
& First Aid articles - page index
Preparing
for Wild Fire
The threat of wildland
fires for people living near wildland areas or using recreational facilities
in wilderness areas is real. Advance planning and knowing how to protect
buildings in these areas can lessen the devastation of a wildland fire.
BEFORE
Learn and teach
safe fire practices.
-
Build fires away
from nearby trees or bushes.
-
Always have a way
to extinguish the fire quickly and completely.
-
Never leave a fire--even
a cigarette--burning unattended.
Obtain local building
codes and weed abatement ordinances for structures built near wooded areas.
Use fire-resistant
materials when building, renovating, or retrofitting structures.
Create a safety
zone to separate the home from combustible plants and vegetation.
-
Stone walls can
act as heat shields and deflect flames.
-
Swimming pools
and patios can be a safety zone.
Check for fire
hazards around home.
-
Install electrical
lines underground, if possible. Keep all tree and shrub limbs trimmed so
they don't come in contact with the wires.
-
Prune all branches
around the residence to a height of 8 to 10 feet. Keep trees adjacent to
buildings free of dead or dying wood and moss.
-
Remove all dead
limbs, needles, and debris from rain gutters.
-
Store combustible
or flammable materials in approved safety containers and keep them away
from the house.
-
Keep chimney clean.
-
Avoid open burning
completely, and especially during dry season.
Install smoke detectors
on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.
Make evacuation
plans from home and from neighborhood.
Plan several
routes in case the fire blocks escape route.
Have disaster
supplies on hand
-
Flashlight with
extra batteries
-
Portable, battery-operated
radio and extra batteries
-
First aid kit and
manual
-
Emergency food
and water
-
Nonelectric can
opener
-
Essential medicines
-
Cash and credit
cards
-
Sturdy shoes
Develop an emergency
communication plan.
In case family
members are separated from one another during a wildland fire (a real possibility
during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have
a plan for getting back together.
Ask an out-of-state
relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster,
it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone knows the name,
address, and phone number of the contact person.
Fire-Resistant
Building Materials
Avoid using
wooden shakes and shingles for a roof. Use tile, stucco, metal siding,
brick, concrete block, rock, or other fire-resistant materials. Use only
thick, tempered safety glass in large windows and sliding glass doors.
Contact your
local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more
information on wildland fires.
DURING
Turn on a battery-operated
radio to get the latest emergency information.
Remove combustible
items from around the house.
-
Lawn and poolside
furniture
-
Umbrellas
-
Tarp coverings
-
Firewood
Take down flammable
drapes and curtains and close all venetian blinds or noncombustible window
coverings.
Take action
to protect your home.
-
Close all doors
and windows inside your home to prevent draft.
-
Close gas valves
and turn off all pilot lights.
-
Turn on a light
in each room for visibility in heavy smoke.
-
Place valuables
that will not be damaged by water in a pool or pond.
-
If hoses and adequate
water are available, leave sprinklers on roofs and anything that might
be damaged by fire.
Be ready to evacuate
all family members and pets when fire nears or when instructed to do so
by local officials.
AFTER
Take care when
re-entering a burned wildland area. Hot spots can flare up without warning.
Check the roof immediately and extinguish any sparks or embers. Check the
attic for hidden burning sparks. For several hours afterward, re-check
for smoke and sparks throughout the home. If trapped in a Wildland Fire
You cannot
outrun a fire. Crouch in a pond or river. Cover head and upper body with
wet clothing. If water is not around, look for shelter in a cleared area
or among a bed of rocks. Lie flat and cover body with wet clothing or soil.
Breathe the
air close to the ground through a wet cloth to avoid scorching lungs or
inhaling smoke.
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Preparing
for Winter Driving
The leading cause
of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. Preparing your
vehicle for the winter season and knowing how to react if stranded or lost
on the road are the keys to safe winter driving.
BEFORE
Have a mechanic
check the following items on your car.
-
Battery
-
Antifreeze
-
Wipers and windshield
washer fluid
-
Ignition system
-
Thermostat
-
Lights
-
Flashing hazard
lights
-
Exhaust system
-
Heater
-
Brakes
-
Defroster
-
Oil level (if necessary,
replace existing oil with a winter grade oil or the SAE 10w/30 weight variety)
Install good winter
tires.
Make sure the
tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for
most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive
on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with
studs.
Keep a windshield
scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal.
Maintain at
least a half tank of gas during the winter season.
Plan long trips
carefully.
Listen to the
radio or call the state highway patrol for the latest road conditions.
Always travel during daylight and, if possible, take at least one other
person.
If you must
go out during a winter storm, use public transportation.
Dress warmly.
Wear layers
of loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing.
Carry food and
water.
Store a supply
of high energy "munchies" and several bottles of water.
Contact your
local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more
information on winter driving.
Winter Car Kit
Keep these
items in your car:
-
Flashlights with
extra batteries
-
First aid kit with
pocket knife
-
Necessary medications
-
Several blankets
-
Sleeping bags
-
Extra newspapers
for insulation
-
Plastic bags (for
sanitation)
-
Matches
-
Extra set of mittens,
socks, and a wool cap
-
Rain gear and extra
clothes
-
Small sack of sand
for generating traction under wheels
-
Small shovel
-
Small tools (pliers,
wrench, screwdriver)
-
Booster cables
-
Set of tire chains
or traction mats
-
Cards, games, and
puzzles
-
Brightly colored
cloth to use as a flag
-
Canned fruit and
nuts
-
Nonelectric can
opener
-
Bottled water
DURING
IF TRAPPED IN
CAR DURING A BLIZZARD
Stay in the
car.
Do not leave
the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards.
You may become disoriented and lost is blowing and drifting snow.
Display a trouble
sign.
Hang a brightly
colored cloth on the radio antenna and raise the hood.
Occasionally
run engine to keep warm.
Turn on the
car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater when the car
is running. Also, turn on the car's dome light when the car is running.
Beware of
carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and
open a downwind window slightly for ventilation.
Watch for signs
of frostbite and hypothermia.
Do minor exercises
to keep up circulation.
Clap hands and
move arms and legs occasionally. Try not to stay in one position for too
long. If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping.
For warmth,
huddle together.
Use newspapers,
maps, and even the removable car mats for added insulation.
Avoid overexertion.
Cold weather
puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling
snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical
conditions worse. Be aware of symptoms of dehydration.
Wind Chill
"Wind chill"
is a calculation of how cold it feels outside when the effects of temperature
and wind speed are combined. A strong wind combined with a temperature
of just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature
about 35 degrees colder.
Winter Storm
Watches and Warnings
A winter storm
watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area. A winter
storm warning indicates that severe winter weather conditions are definitely
on the way.
A blizzard warning
means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained winds
of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours.
Frostbite and
Hypothermia
Frostbite is
a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims.
A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose
and ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite.
Hypothermia
is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than
90 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering,
slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion.
If frostbite
or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate
medical assistance. Warm the person's trunk first. Use your own body heat
to help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the
limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure.
Put person in
dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket.
Never give a
frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine in it (like coffee
or tea) or alcohol. Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat
faster and hasten the effects the cold has on the body. Alcohol, a depressant,
can slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures.
Preparing
for Winter Storms
A major winter
storm can be lethal. Preparing for cold weather conditions and responding
to them effectively can reduce the dangers caused by winter storms.
BEFORE
Be familiar
with winter storm warning messages.
Service snow
removal equipment and have rock salt on hand to melt ice on walkways and
kitty litter to generate temporary traction.
Make sure you
have sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off.
Winterize your
home.
-
Insulate walls
and attic.
-
Caulk and weather-strip
doors and windows.
-
Install storm windows
or cover windows with plastic from the inside.
Have safe emergency
heating equipment available.
-
Fireplace with
ample supply of wood
-
Small, well-vented,
wood, coal, or camp stove with fuel
-
Portable space
heaters or kerosene heaters (See Kerosene Heaters.)
Install and check
smoke detectors.
Contact your
local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more
information on winter storms.
Keep pipes from
freezing.
-
Wrap pipes in insulation
or layers of old newspapers.
-
Cover the newspapers
with plastic to keep out moisture.
-
Let faucets drip
a little to avoid freezing.
-
Know how to shut
off water valves.
Have disaster supplies
on hand, in case the power goes out.
-
Flashlight and
extra batteries
-
Portable, battery-operated
radio and extra batteries.
-
First aid kit
-
One-week supply
of food (include items that do not require refrigeration or cooking in
case the power is shut off)
-
Nonelectric can
opener
-
One-week supply
of essential prescription medications.
-
Extra blankets
and sleeping bags
Fire extinguisher
(A-B-C type)
If you have any
questions or need assistance please send e-mail to support@insurancesurf.com.
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