Prevention & Maintenance Tips

Kids of all ages will be out of school and spending more time on the sidewalks, streets, parks and playgrounds in our communities. June starts the vacation season, which means people will be traveling by several modes of transportation, sometimes all in the same week. A vacation can be a lot of fun but don’t leave safety behind.

When leaving home in the summer be sure to:

• Turn water off where it enters the house
• Ask someone to check the house or have someone stay there
• Make sure your neighbors have emergency phone numbers
•  Stop your paper
• Put your mail on hold

Some tips for a safe driving vacation

Before you leave home:

• Have car serviced/check the air conditioning
• Pack an emergency kit
• Check your child’s safety and booster seats

On the Road:

• Buckle Up
• Obey speed limits
• Drive calmly
• Hands free cell phone/no texting
• Pack non-perishable snacks and plenty water
• Take frequent breaks

Touring your destination:

• Never leave children or animals in car alone.
• On a hot day cover seat belts and child safety seats with a towel or blanket while the car is parked.
• Review safe pedestrian practices with children.
• Have a planned meeting site in case someone gets lost.

Before you plan your first barbeque it is important to give your gas grill a "tune up" to make sure it is in proper working order. Liquid petroleum (LP) gas or propane, used in gas grills is highly flammable. Each year more than 500 fires occur when people use gas grills and about 20 people are injured as a result of gas grill fires and explosions.

Many of these fires and explosions occur when consumers first use a grill that has been left idle for a period of time or just after refilling and re-attaching the grill's gas container.

Say goodbye to winter and say hello to spring! All of us are getting ready to do clean up inside our homes and to work out-side in our lawns and gardens. The Home Safety Council indicates there are over 10 million unintentional home injuries in the U.S. per year. With that in mind we are of-fering a few safety tips to start you off on the right foot.

Around the House

• It is time to check your batteries and test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Check the gauges on your fire extinguishers to make sure they are fully charged.
• Develop and practice a fire escape plan in case of emergency.
• Properly discard any out dated medications.

Garage

• Check for flammable liquids such as gaso-line, paint thinner, paint and cleaners.
• Make sure safety caps are use and they are not near any heat sources.
• Properly discard any toxic and flammable materials that you no longer need.
• Tidy up loose papers, rags, and any debris in garage that would contribute to a fire.

Prevent Falls

• Keep walkways, stairs, and steps clear of clutter.
• When climbing use a ladder correctly, not a chair, box etc.

Lawn and Garden

• Be sure to service lawnmowers and power tools before using them.
• Walk the yard before mowing picking up all sticks, rocks and other debris.
• Use fertilizers and insect and weed killers according the directions only.
• Keep pets and children off treated areas.

For additional home safety tips, check out the Home Safety Council website at www.homesafetycouncil.org.