HOT TIPS |
by North Vancouver
District Fire Department

‘DISTRICT OF North
~Mancouver ' Fire. Services
wishes everyone a happy
and safe new year, and
:hopes you and ‘your family
‘will never need the services
of the fire department.

But the ‘odds. are high that
ou’ll have to call the fire depart-

ment to your home at least once.

your life.
Fire .
30,000 homes in Canada in 1991,
killing. about 400 People and inju-
ing 2,700."

‘Many- blazes » ‘are due to.

carelessness: and ‘hidden’ hazards,
with deaths and injuries often the

esult of being ill-prepared...
‘The. following precautions will
help ensure a safe new year. .
, Careless smoking: is the main
use of: fatal home fires; often
hen’ smokers leave. butts

DISTRICT: OF North” "Vancouver
ire : Services? :
program: visited -every elementary

"school. in’'the’ municipality recent-

‘ly,’ reaching, every primary student:
with this t unique | stage Production. i

every show, each student .
‘Dobe: home: *

given: a” “Mr.

Upon ‘completion or ‘the
hecklist; the’ student. cis. ‘icected to.

jon.at school, she also becomes a’

safely watchdog at home,.’.:
This concept is to help eliminate _

some “of'’the possible fire* and-
safety‘: deficiencies cin’ the home’

‘that’ parents may not be. aware of,
your . child ‘arrives * at

otsafety. homework, re

in
assisting . hirn with this: ‘important.
assignment. : aT "

Pie

By placing importance on safety ;
the: home, your . home ‘will not ;

only‘{ be ‘safer, but, you will be
helping plant: th

struck approximately ‘

Mr." Bobee. safety -

“si ed that safety

smouldering, or fall asleep with lit
cigarettes.

Douse butts with water before
disposing of them.

If you have party’ guests who
smoke, check afterward for
embers in waste baskets, furniture
and carpets.

Cooking accidents, especially
cooking oi! or grease spills, ac-
count for most home fire injuries.

. While you cook, keep a large
pot lid handy to smother a small
flare-up.

You should also have a fire ex-
tinguisher in the kitchen, but
don‘t store it so close to the stove
that. you might have difficulty
reaching it if a fire breaks out.
Look for extinguishers certified
-for safety by ULC.

Never ‘leave a pot cooking on
the stove while you’re out.

Regularly clean the stove to

., avoid grease build-up.

. Keep all flammables, such as
cooking oil, certain cleaning fluids
-and . alcohol, at least one metre
away. .

Don't leave children alone in

. the. kitchen unless they’re mature
enough to be trusted not to play

J

with stove controls.

if you use a gas range and the
flame goes out, turn off the
burner immediately and open a
window.

If you suspect a gas leak, often
indicated by a smell of rotten
eggs, call the gas company im-
mediately and don’t use any ap-
pliances, electricity or matches,
and evacuate the house.

If you don’t smell gas, wait 10
minutes and, if there's still no
flame when you turn the burner
on again, shut it off and promptly
phone the gas company.

Winter perils increasing the risk
of fire include wood-burning
stoves, fireplaces, heaters and
Christmas trees.

If you have a fireplace or
wood-burning stove, ensure that
there are at least 20 centimetres of
stone, brick or tile flooring be-
tween it and flammables, such as
carpeting and furniture,

Every fireplace should have. a
glass door, or.at least a mesh
screen. Each year, have chimneys
inspected and cleaned, and have
your home heating company check
the safety of your system.

teaches students safety

in your home i is important.
When your child becomes a.
parent, she will’ probably continue

performing these .life-safety func-:

‘tions: fire .drills ‘in’ the | home,
_ designating .a : family . meeting
‘place, checking smoke alarms, etc.

ona regular basis, because she

was ‘ taught’ that safety in* and
around the home is a top priority.”
-To summarize this position, the

; safety, issues that you promote in

‘your. home’ can last for genera-

_tions,. and will: probably... affect

‘your grandchildren. or

even
. great-grandchildren. . :

We feel that’ ail of the students

who participated in this year’s Mr.
Dobee hore, safety program ‘are
' winners,” because they helped make
_ their houses a safer place to live.

The, winners of our. Mr. Dobee
“home. “safety checklist ‘draw are as
follows. «”.

(Grand ; Prize: Norco Mountain '
“bike = Kristen’ Shier,” Montroyal..

School

First | Prize Camticks “Jersey: =
-Michelle Caesar, “Upper
. School a
Consolation. Prizes:. 10° Super
‘Nintendo/Genesis Game Cards —
‘Kailee Grayston, Seymour Heights
School .

Lynn

. Sandra Hartney, Ross Road
' School ‘
Kyle Reardon, Breoksbank School
‘David Jaeggle, Boundary School
John Poliquin, Cleveland School
‘Luke Watt, Norgate School .
Chris Ready, Capilano Schooi
Sophie Andrew,:Cove Cliff School
Lee Chrighton, Blueridge School
Carly Milligan, Lynnmour School..
We wish to congratuate all the
winners of this year’s draw, and
special thanks to all the students
who completed and returned their
. checklists.
District,
“Fire Services’: would): like . to
recognize our. sponsors: | Canadian
Northern Shield: Insurance: Com: -
pany, Flickers Video . Sales: and °
‘Rentals, Norco :Bicycles, The
‘Great - Bicycle: Company,’ and’ the’
“ North Shore News, for their. con-
+ tinued. “support’,.in ’ helping us
Teduce the number’ of: neediess’i in--
“juries “and: deaths’ in aur’ come,
munity. :
«For further informatiéa’ on ithe
life... safety programs offered’* in.

your municipality, call the District il.
of North: Vancouver. Fire Services:

‘non-emergency ‘number, 980
7575, of-contact you local fire.
department.. \

of North’ Vancouver. :

caterer

ew year

Keep an extinguisher in the
vicinity of the furnace, but not
too close.

If you need an electric portable
or space heater, use a product ap-
proved by the CSA, ‘preferably
with an automatic shut-off to
prevent overheating..Keep it away
from clothing, newspapers, cur-
tains and furniture.

Faulty wiring is a common
hazard which is often overlooked.

Each major appliance, such as
refrigerator, stove, microwave,
dishwasher, washing machine and
clothes dryer, should have its own
outlet.

Even with smaller items, avoid
using extension cords and ‘‘oc-
topus”’ plug adapters — too many’
items in one outlet can cause dan-
gerous overheating.

Blown fuses or circuits indicate
that your wiring is overtaxed.
Reduce the number of appliances
you use at one time or on‘ the
same circuit.

if the problem persists, or an
outiet emits sparks when you plug
in a device, call an electrician.

Do your own frequent checks of
lamps and appliances, looking for
frayed or exposed wires. :

Compbustibles can ignite quickly.
Beware of oil-soaked rags, certain
sleaning fluids and other com-
bustibles, which should always be
kept far from firewood, newspa-
pers, furnaces and other heat
sources,

It's best to store combustibles in
a shed or garage but, if you must
store them in your home, keep
quantities small and lock them in
a metal cabinet so that they’re in-
accessible to children.

Keep matches and lighters out
of reach, too. ;

Install a smoke detector in the
-hallway leading tothe bedrooms —
and on every level of your home. .
Don’t place a detector too close to
the kitchen or bathroom, because
it will likely go off every time you
burn food or havea hot shower. -

Choose ULC-certified detectors: :
that beep when. batteries’ are “run:
ning down, but ‘double-check the’ -
batteries each month anyway, and

; replace at least once @ year.”

Also, open each ‘detector: yearly
and vacuum to remove dust and

irt.

Have : at ‘least two- fire: extin-
guishers — one in the kitchen and
one in the furnace area.

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1420 Feli fivenue, North Van.
988-7328 ;