Safety

Fire Extinguisher Safety

A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives; but portable extinguishers have limitations. Because fire grows and spreads so rapidly, the number one priority for residents is to get out safely.

Use a portable fire extinguisher when the fire is confined to a small area, such as a wastebasket, and is not growing; everyone has exited the building; the fire department has been called or is being called; and the room is not filled with smoke.

To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS:

Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you, and release the locking mechanism.
Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

For the home, select a multi-purpose extinguisher (can be used on all types of home fires) that is large enough to put out a small fire, but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle. Choose a fire extinguisher that carries the label of an independent testing laboratory. Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out. Local fire departments or fire equipment distributors often offer hands-on fire extinguisher trainings.

Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately. Know when to go. Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape. Every household should have a home fire escape plan and working smoke alarms

Community Safety

The purpose of public education is to support, aid and assist with the education of the public and fire prevention activities of the Woodbridge Fire District by promoting goodwill and community spirit within the boundaries of the Woodbridge Fire district.

Our public education program consists of visiting schools in our district and conducting fire drills once a month, as well as CHANGE YOUR CLOCK, CHANGE YOUR BATTERY Program, offering public CPR classes and tours of the station. We kickoff Fire Prevention Week every October with our Ken Crosby Memorial Pancake Breakfast and Open House.

HELP US, HELP YOU!

Please make sure your home address is easily identified in the case of an emergency. Here are some guidelines to help:

Address numbers should be visible on mailboxes or on houses 100’ off roadway
Address numbers should be at least a minimum of 2” high
Address numbers placed on a residence shall contrast with their background
Street address numbers should be visible from both sides

Carbon Monoxide Detector Safety

Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide.

Safety tips

CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
Call your local fire department’s non-emergency number to find out what number to call if the CO alarm sounds.
Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call the fire department.
If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call 911 from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrives.
If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.
During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.
Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO — only use outside.

Smoke Detector Safety

Change smoke detector batteries when clocks are changed to or from daylight saving time, each spring and fall.

Smoke Detectors and E.D.I.T.H:A working smoke detector cuts the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly half. Smoke detectors should be placed on each floor of the home, located in the hallway near bedrooms.

“Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” Program urges Americans to adopt a lifesaving habit: E.D.I.T.H (Exit Drills In The Home) should be planned and practiced at least once a month to assure your family of a fire escape route.