Fire safety and survival begin with preparation by every community member. Education is the key to this preparation. Venice Fire Department members are enthusiastic and proactive in fire prevention and public education.

October is dedicated as fire safety month for the department. During this time, special fire station tours are provided to hundreds of preschool and elementary school children throughout the city and county. These interactive tours promote home and fire safety in a way that children of all ages can understand.

Several free programs are offered to the public and the business community. Topics include residential, condominium and mobile home fire safety, hurricane and storm awareness and preparation, fire extinguisher use, safety for babysitters, fire and life safety for the elderly and a variety of other programs tailored to meet the specific needs of citizens and visitors.

For information, call the Venice Fire Department, 480-3030, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. –  4 p.m.

Gas/Wood Fireplace Safety

With the winter months upon us, families begin to focus on keeping safe and warm.  But as the fire service knows, the heating season also brings increased fire risk.  More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes.  Here in Venice most of these devices are cosmetic but are still considered a functional unit.  Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood, gas and other solid fuels.

Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months.  According to the most recent NFPA reports, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 62,200 reported U.S. home structure fires, causing 670 civilian deaths, 1,550 civilian injuries, and $909 million in direct property damage.  While that is the bad news, the good news is that nearly all of these fires can be prevented. 

Each year in America, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning claims more than 500 lives and sends another 15,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.

However, CO poisoning is preventable and we would like you to know that there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself and reduce the risks from deadly carbon monoxide fumes.

Understanding the Risk

What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.

Where does carbon monoxide come from?
CO gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.

Who is at risk?
Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.

What Actions Do I Take if My Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off?

What you need to do if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends on whether anyone is feeling ill or not.

If no one is feeling ill:

1. Silence the alarm.
2. Turn off all appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).
3. Ventilate the house with fresh air by opening doors and windows.
4. Call a qualified professional to investigate the source of the possible CO buildup.

If illness is a factor:

1. Evacuate all occupants immediately.
2. Determine how many occupants are ill and determine their symptoms.
3. Call your local emergency number (911) and when relaying information to the dispatcher, include the number of people feeling ill.
4. Do not re-enter the home without the approval of a fire department representative.
5. Call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO.

Protecting Yourself and Family from CO Poisoning

• Install at least one UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.
• Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.
• Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.
• Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
• When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.

 

Keep Fireplaces Clean

• Have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
• Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
• Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire.
• Never restrict air supply to fireplaces, otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
• Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment.

Safely Burn Fuels

• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup.
• Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
• Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
• When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home.

Protect the Inside of Your Home

With a determined effort to get a fire safety message about heating out as the temperatures drop we can reduce these numbers this year.  As always, install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries when we change the clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
*Information provided courtesy of the USFA, NFPA, and the Venice Fire Department