14 ~ Friday, February 7, 1992 - North Shore News

THIS WEEK is ‘‘Burn
Awareness Week’? which is
promoted by fire depart-
ments throughout the pro-
vince to help increase public
awareness and to help
reduce the burn problem.
Burns are a leading cause of
death in our province, and each
year hundreds of victims suffer
from terrible burn injuries. The
following burn facts emphasize
the severity of the burn problem
in British Columbia:
@ Every hour a fire causing dam-
age occurs in British Columbia.
@ Every day someone is injured
by fire in British Columbia.
@ Fire causes approximately
$500,000 worth of damage each
day in B.C.
e@ Fire kills in British Columbia
every seven days.
@ 48% of burn injuries in B.C.
are caused by hot liquids or
vapors.
@ 35% of burn injuries in B.C.

HOME & GARDEN
Facts emphasize need for burn awareness

are caused by fires.

© 42% of persons burned in fires
are between 20 and 44 years of
age.

@ Children aged one to 14 years
have the second highest incidence
of burn injuries from fire.

e@ The majority of fire injuries
occur in private dwellings.

@ The ignition of flammable li-
quids and substances such as
cooking fats and gasoline is the
major cause of burn injuries from
fire.

@ The second major cause cf
burn injuries from fire is ignition
of clothing.

@ Having a smoke detector in
your home cuts your risk of dying
in a fire by 50%.

Burns don’t discriminate! More
than 35% of the injuries and
deaths are children and 75% to
80% of burn injuries occur at
home!

In the Greater Vancouver area,
the majority of burn injuries to
children under six years old is
from scalding. The following tips

HOT TIPS

North Vancouver
District Fire Department

will help you protect your children
from being burned in your home:

@ Continuous and adequate
supervision of young children is
the single most important measure
necessary to prevent a variety of
injuries, including scald burns.

@ Before placing a child into the
bath or getting into the tub
yourself, test the temperature of
the water. The temperature can be
tested by moving the hand rapidly
through the water for several se-
conds. The temperature should
not exceed 102°F.

@ Run cold water into the
bathtub first and then add hot
water to adjust the temperature.
This will reduce the risk of a child
contacting very hot water should
he/she fall into the water while

Local housing market finally cools

AS EXPECTED, the reces-
sion and uncertainty caused
by the provincial election
are finally having an effect
on the Vancouver housing
market. Home buying activ-
ity has slowed and prices
have started to soften.

However, figures recently
released in the Royal LePage
Survey of Canadian House Prices
show markets in other B.C. com-
munities have remained immune,
at least for the time being.

According to the quarterly
survey, the prices of most types of
housing in the Greater Vancouver
area are up typically 10% to 20%
in the past year. But in the last
three months, there has been little

"or no change. In fact, some areas
are reporting price declines.

The median price of a three-
bedroom bungalow in Vancouver
is currently $200,000, up 14%
from a year ago, but down
$15,000 since October 1991. Van-
couver is still home to Canada’s
highest real estate prices. A simi-
lar three-bedroom bungalow in
Toronto where the recession has
had a more dramatic impact has
slipped to $195,000.

Price increases of 10% to 20%

are common throughout the rest
of the province and there has been
littie or no letup in activity in re-
cent months.

Some of the highest price in-
creases in the province have taken
place in Kelowna in the past year.
The price of a three-bedroom
bungalow in Kelowna has risen
close to 23% to $129,000, while a
four-bedroom executive home is
up almost 13% to $175,000.

i Stirivic

FOR HOMES

{n Victoria, a similar executive
home is valued at $260,000, a 7%
increase in the past year in an
equally strong market.

Penticton, Kamloops and Ver-
non are all described by Royal
LePage as seller's markets. A typ-
ical bungalow in Kamloops has
increased 12% to $93,000, while
the same style of home in Vernon
has jumped 24% to $131,750.

Enjoy the magic of a real fire at the
turn of a control. The Berryflame RS

is a safe and efficient heat source

with a choice of 4 heat settings.

EARLY SPRING SALE!

Bedspreads
30% OFF

“custom made'’by Maxwell, Aftex and Kobe

Drapery Fabrics and Sheers

up to 25% OFF

Robert Allen, Pride of Paris, Jackson,
Rosedale, Tritex, Alendale and more

Upholstery Fabrics

up to 25% OFF

Kravet, Robert Allen, Bert Woll, Avant
Garde, Joanne, General Fabric and more
Plus stock fabrics and remnants reduced

clearance on floor models

Chale Interiors Wid.

1585 MacGowan Avenue, North Van.

988-2324

Chalet
g dnteriors

the tub is being filled.

@ Adjust the thermostat setting
on water heaters to produce a
temperature of 130°F or less. The
lower the temperature, the lower
the risk.

@ Give the child a washcloth to
hold while bathing the child, and
face the child away from the
faucet handles. This will take
his/her attention away from the
faucets and reduce the risk of
his/her turning on the hot water
during the bathing activity.

@ Clearly mark the hot water set-
ting on single valve units (mixing
valves) and turn the valve to the
cold setting after filling the tub.
This will reduce the risk of ac-
cidentally introducing hot water
into the tub.

@ Never leave a very young child
unattended in the bath. If you
must leave, take the child out of
the tub and take him/her with
you.

@ Place a side-bolt latch on the
upper, outside portion of the
bathroom door. This will help

4-door. Buffet -
& Hutch -

-| 4-door. Buffet

& Hutch:
Studentis Desk :

Bookcase .

Hea boards ~

5-drawer :
. Hi Chests. *

reduce the risk of the child gain-
ing access to the bathroom when
he/she has no need to be in the
area. (This reduces the risk of
scald burns and contact with
chemicals, as well as other poten-
tial risks associated with the
bathroom.)
@ As the child grows older, teach
him/her to turn the cold water on
first, then the hot. When turning
off, turn the hot water off first,
then the cold.
@ Never drink hot liquids when
near or holding young children.
Statistics tell us that people
must learn to be more aware of
the hazards in their homes. Tour
your home and with a little com-
mon sense you can eliminate these
hazards.

For further information on how
you can burnproof your home,
contact the District of North Van-
couver Fire Department non-
emergency phone number, 980-
7575, or contact your local fire
department.

 499.95-

1629.75. °
. 099.98. 3

997. West Ist St, North Van.
_ HS 3255 | Fax 985: 8081