Safety Tips

Just a few safety tips to remember:

Barbecue Safety:

• Beware when you barbeque. In 1999 alone, gas and charcoal grills caused 1,500 structure fire and 4,200 outdoor fires in or on home properties, resulting in a combined direct property loss of $29.8 million, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
• When using barbeque grills on decks, be sure to leave sufficient space from siding and eaves.
• Always supervise a barbeque grill when in use.
• Keep children and pets far away from grills.
• With charcoal grills, only use charcoal starter fluids designed for barbeque grills and do not add fluid after coals have been lit.
• With gas grills, be sure that the hose connection is tight and check hoses carefully for leaks. Applying soapy water to the hose will easily reveal any leaks.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and have the grill repaired by a professional, if necessary.

Fireworks Safety:

• Fireworks lead to thousands of injuries requiring emergency room treatment, according to the NFPA. These dazzling, but dangerous devices can burn up to 1200 F and can cause burns, lacerations, and blindness. STAY SAFE BY ALWAYS LEAVING FIREWORKS TO PROFESSIONALS.
• Stay back at least 500 feet from professional fireworks displays.
• Treat all fireworks, whether legal or illegal for consumers, as suitable only for use by trained professionals.
• If you find fireworks, do not touch them but instead direct authorities to them.
• Leave any area where amateurs are using fireworks.

Pedestrian Safety:

• Children cannot judge speed, distance or direction well and are easily distracted. Young Children think if they can see a car, the car can see them. Most kids are struck in the street or driveways near their homes. Each year, more than 800 children ages 14 and under die as pedestrians. Tens of thousands more are badly hurt. Children ages 5 to 9 are at greatest risk. Protect your child by always modeling proper pedestrian behavior, and by following these safety tips.
• Understand and obey traffic signals and signs
• Cross at corners using traffic signals and crosswalks
• Stop at the curb, or at the edge of a road if there is no curb, before crossing the street.
• Look Left...Right...and Left again before crossing the street. Cross when the street is clear, and keep looking both ways while crossing.
• Walk, don't run, across the street.
• Watch for cars that are turning or backing up.
• Always hold a grown-up's hand in parking lots.
• Make sure child plays in safe places, such as yards, parks and playgrounds - NEVER IN THE STREET.
• Teach your child NEVER to run or dart out into a street for a ball, pet or any other reason.