Leave

FIREWORKSFIREWORKSto the PROFESSIONALSPROFESSIONALS

Amateur use of fireworkscan lead to devastatingburns, other injuries, fires

and even death. For these reasons,the possession and use of anyfireworks, without exception, isillegal in New York City. Leave thefireworks to the professionals andenjoy the many fireworks displays scheduledthroughout the city. These displays are conductedunder the supervision of the FDNY.

If you are aware of or suspect the illegal sale or use of fireworks, you should call FDNY-NYPD Fireworks Hotline

at 1-800-FIRETIP (1-800-347-3847)

SUMMER FIRE SAFETYSUMMER FIRE SAFETY

FIRE SAFETY TIPSFIRE SAFETY TIPS1 FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL

2 USE FIRE HYDRANT SPRINKLER CAPS

3 ELECTRICITY- HANDLE WITH CARE

4 SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES

5 THE DANGERS OF GASOLINE

6 BARBEQUE SAFELY

P R E V E N T F I R E F R O M H A P P E N I N G T O Y O U !

Issued by FDNY Office of Fire Safety Education & Office of Public Information

For more Fire Safety info visit the FDNY Websitewww.nyc.gov/fdny or www.fdnyfirezone.org

FIRE DEPARTMENTFIRE SAFETY EDUCATION

C I T Y O F N E W Y O R K

Michael R. Bloomberg, MayorNicholas Scoppetta, Fire Commissioner

HHow to have hot fun in the summer timewithout getting burned!

Every season brings its own safety hazards.During the summer months there is anincreased risk of fire associated with the useof barbecues, gasoline, air conditioners andother electrical appliances.

Spring into Summer by protecting yourselfand your family by taking the following pre-cautions.

OPEN FIRE HYDRANTS

An open fire hydrant without a sprinklercap wastes 1000 gallons of water per

minute--as much in an hour as an entirefamily of four uses in a year!

Open fire hydrants will also hamper firefightingcapabilities, putting your neighborhood at risk.

If you must use the hydrant to stay cool,visit your local firehouse and they willinstall a SPRINKLER CAP and open thehydrant for use.To report an improperly opened firehydrant Call 311.

Do You Have Smoke Alarms in Your Home?

PRE-SEASON CHECK FOR PROPANE BBQ GRILLS

❑ Check the tubes that lead into the burner for any block-age from insects or food grease. Use a pipe cleaner orwire to clear any blockage and push it through to themain part of the burner.

❑ Visually inspect the propane hoses for cracking, brittle-ness, holes and leaks. A soap and water solution maybe used to test for leaks. Never use a flame to checkfor gas leaks.

❑ Move propane hoses as far as possible from hot sur-faces and dripping grease.

❑ Visually inspect the propane tank. If it has dents,gouges, bulges, corrosion, leakage, or excessive rust,return the tank to the propane gas distributor.

❑ Do not attempt to repair the propane tank valve or theappliance yourself. Have a qualified repairperson makethe repairs.

❑ Follow the maintenance instructions provided in the grillowner's manual.

PROPANE BBQ GRILLING OPERATIONS

❑ Barbecue grills are designed for outdoor use only. Never bar-becue in your trailer, tent, house, garage, or any enclosedarea as carbon monoxide may accumulate and kill you.

❑ When the propane tank is connected, the grill must bekept outside in a well-ventilated space. When not inuse, the propane tank valve must be turned to the OFFor CLOSED position.

❑ Position the grill in an open area at least 10 feet awayfrom buildings, deck railings and out from under eavesand overhanging branches.

❑ Use barbecue utensils with long handles to avoid burnsand splatters.

❑ Wear short or tight fitting sleeves and use flameretardant mitts.

❑ Have a charged garden hose or bucket of sand availableto extinguish any small grill flare-ups.

❑ Once lit, never leave a grill unattended.

❑ Never store a propane tank indoors or below ground level.

❑ The storage of a spare propane cylinder is strongly dis-couraged. Find a local propane distributor who willexchange an empty tank for a full one on the spot.

TRANSPORTING PROPANE TANKS

Precautions should be taken while transportingpropane tanks (whether full or empty). Propane tanksshould be secured in an upright position in the back seat ofyour car, or in the pick-up bed of your truck, with trans-portation plugs on the outlet valve connection. Avoid hav-ing other passengers in the car, especially children. Neverleave a propane tank unattended in your car.

CHARCOAL BBQ GRILLING

❑ When using charcoal bri-quettes or wood chunks,form a pyramid and dousethe briquette / chunks withlighter fluid. Wait until thefluid has soaked in beforelighting.

❑ After use, lighter fluid shouldbe capped immediately andplaced a safe distance fromthe grill.

❑ Never add lighter fluid to hot coals.

❑ Never use gasoline or kerosene as a starter.

❑ When using instant light briquettes, do not use lighterfluid, electric, solid or metal chimney style starters. Ifyou need more briquettes once the fire is lit, add onlyregular charcoal briquette.

❑ Allow coals to burn out completely and let the ashescool for at least 48 hours before disposing of them.

❑ Dispose of cold ashes by wrapping them in heavy-duty aluminum foil and putting them in a metal con-tainer.

❑ If you must dispose of the ashes in less time than ittakes for them to completely cool, remove the ashesfrom the grill keeping them in heavy duty foil and soakthem completely with water before disposing of them ina metal container.

PROHIBITED USE OF GRILLS

It is strictly prohibited and illegal in New York City to,

❑ store or use a propane grill on the roof of any building.

❑ use a charcoal grill on the roof of any building.

❑ store or use a propane grill on a residential propertywith a three or more family residence.

❑ store or use a propane grill on the terrace or balconyof an apartment building.

LILI GHT YOUR FIRE IN SAFETYGHT YOUR FIRE IN SAFETYEvery year barbecue grills on residential properties cause more than 1,500 structural

fires and 4,200 outdoor fires. Many of these fires occurred when a propane grill wasused for the first time after winter storage.

PROUDLY SERVING SINCE 1865 FDNYFDNY

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FFIREIRE SSAFEAFE

GGasoline is used to fuel many household appliances.In addition to our cars, gasoline is used in lawn careequipment, power washers, air compressors, snow

blowers, boats and motorcycles. It has become so mucha part of our everyday lives that we often forget how dan-gerous it can be if not properly stored or used.

Gasoline vapors are heavier than air and will movealong close to the ground. These vapors will ignite withviolence if an ignition source is reached, such as a pilotlight, a lit cigarette, or a spark.

If gasoline vapors ignite, one gallon can explodewith the same force as 14 sticks of dynamite.

Don't be fuelish! Take the following precautions whenhandling, storing and disposing of gasoline.

FILLING A PORTABLE GAS CONTAINER AT SERVICE STATION

In New York City, it is illegal for any person, otherthan the service station attendant to dispense gaso-line into a portable container. Only one-gallonapproved safety containers are permitted.

▲ Shut off your vehicles engine. DO NOT SMOKE.

▲ Remove the container from the vehicle and place thecontainer on the ground. Portable containers shouldnot be filled when located inside a truck, passengercompartment or truck bed of a vehicle.

▲ Have the attendant fill the container only 95 percentfull to allow for expansion during temperature changes.

▲ After filling, ensure that the container cap and vent capare secured tightly.

▲ When transporting the gasoline container, place thecontainer in the pickup bed or car trunk. Secure thecontainer so it will not tip or slide around. Never placethe container in the passenger compartment.

▲ Never leave the container in direct sunlight or unat-tended in the truck of the car.

STORAGE AND HANDLING OF PORTABLE GAS CONTAINERS

▲ Store only a 30-day supply, but not more than one gal-lon in an approved safety container.

▲ Never store gasoline in plastic containers such as a milkjug or in glass jars.

▲ Store gasoline in a cool and well-ventilated area.

▲ Store gasoline away (at least 50 feet) from any sourceof heat or open flame, such as a pilot light.

▲ Store gasoline in the garage or a well-ventilated shed.Never store gasoline in the house or in a garage wherea boiler or hot water heater is installed.

▲ Store gasoline out of children's sight and reach.

▲ Never use gasoline as a cleaner, charcoal starter or solvent.

▲ Allow gas-powered equipment, such as a lawnmower tocool before refueling. (Refueling hot powered equip-ment can cause vapors to ignite.)

▲ Refuel equipment outdoors.

▲ Never dispose of gasoline by pouring it into the groundor into a sewer, street drain, stream or placing it intothe trash. These actions are environmentally harmfuland may cause a fire or explosion.

SAFETY RULES FOR RE-FUELING OF YOUR VEHICLE AT THE SELF-SERVICE GAS PUMP

▲ Put the vehicle in park and turn off your vehicle'sengine.

▲ Do not smoke, light matches or lighters while refuelingat the pump.

▲ Never jam open the fueling nozzle with the gas cap orother object.

▲ Only persons with a valid drivers licenses or 18 years ofage or older may dispense gasoline.

▲ To prevent a fire from static electricity, avoid re-enter-ing your vehicle during refueling. If you cannot avoidre-entering the vehicle, BEFORE reaching for the noz-zle touch something metal that is away from the nozzlewith your bare hand -- such as the vehicle door.

▲ In the unlikely event of a fire when refueling, leave thenozzle in the fill pipe and back away from the vehicle.Notify the station attendant immediately.

CAUTION: GASOLINE

1. INSTALL SMOKE ALARMS & CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORSTest them often to make sure they work. Replace the batteries at leasttwice a year when you change your clock for daylight savings.

2. HAVE A HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLANDevelop a home escape plan with your family in case of fire. Practice it.Have a pre-arranged meeting place somewhere outside.

3. HOME SAFETY INSPECTIONConduct a safety inspection of potential fire hazards in the home.

Eliminate them. Make every room fire safe.

THE FDNY TOP FIRE SAFETY TIPSTHE FDNY TOP FIRE SAFETY TIPS

NUISANCE ALARMS

Smoke alarms are frequently set off by bathroom steam orcooking vapors. Rather than take the battery out of youralarm, do the following:

❑ Quiet the alarm by pushing the "HUSH" button. (newer models)

❑ Open windows and turn on vent fans to clear the air.

❑ Consider relocating the alarm further away from thecooking area or bathroom.

MAINTENANCE

❑ Test all smoke alarms (alarms have test buttons) at leastone a month, even if your alarm uses a long-life batteryor is powered by household electricity.

❑ Replace batteries twice a year, in the spring and the fallwhen clocks are changed for daylight savings time.

❑ "Chirping" alarms are warnings that the battery is low.Replace the battery immediately.

❑ Never paint over smoke alarms.

❑ Clean your smoke alarms regularly by dusting or vacuuming.

❑ Replace smoke alarms at least every ten years. Aged smokealarms may fail to sound in the event of a fire.

WWIILLLL YYOOUURR SSMMOOKKEE AALLAARRMM WWAAKKEE YYOOUU IINN TTHHEE MMIIDDDDLLEE OOFF TTHHEE NNIIGGHHTT??Most fire deaths occur in the middle of the night. An operable smoke alarm is thesingle most valuable life-saving device you can have in your home. It is up to YOU tomake sure your smoke alarm will provide a life-saving early warning in the event of a fire.

A smoke alarm’s sole function is to sound a warning.Develop and practice a fire escape plan

to use this precious escape time.

ELECTRICITY HANDLE WITH CARE

Two-thirds of all electricalfires begin in plugs orcords on appliances such

as refrigerators, air condition-ers or lamps. Frayed cordsexpose the electrical wires thatspark on contact with eachother or anything that canground the electrical current.

Overloaded electricaloutlets are one of the major causes of residential fires.When too many lights and appliances are attached to theelectrical system, it will overload and then overheat. The heatcauses the wire insulation to melt and ignite, resulting in anelectrical fire.

Special attention should be given to large appliances thatuse high wattage, such as air conditioners, refrigerators,irons, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and deep fryers. Avoidplugging them into the same outlet or circuit.

Most electrical fires can be prevented. Take the propersafety measures and regularly check your electrical appli-ances, cords and outlets.

❑ Use light bulbs with the appropriate wattage for the size ofthe light fixture. A bulb of too high wattage may lead tooverheating and fire.

❑ Extension cords are only for temporary use. Most cannotcarry as much current as permanent wiring and tend tooverheat. If using an extension cord, be sure it is designedto carry the intended load.

❑ Protect all electrical cords from damage. Do not run cordsunder carpets or rugs, around objects or hang from nails.

❑ When purchasing an electrical appliance such as a toasteror coffee maker, be sure that the equipment that has theUnderwriters Laboratories (UL) Mark. The UL mark showsthat the product has been safety tested.

❑ Inspect appliances regularly to make sure they operateproperly. If an appliance begins to operate with a differentsmell, or makes unusual sounds or the cord feels warm totouch, pull the plug and discontinue use. If burning orsmoking occurs from the appliance, call the FireDepartment (911).

❑ Never use an appliance with a damaged cord. Be sure touse three-pronged electrical devices in three pronged out-lets. If three-prong outlets are not available in your home,purchase a three-prong adapter from any hardware store.

❑ Give televisions, stereos and computers plenty of air spaceclearance so they won't overheat.

❑ To prevent overloading, never plug more than two appli-ances into an outlet at once or "piggyback" extra applianceson extension cords or wall outlets. Use only outletsdesigned to handle multiple plugs.

All wiring systems have circuit breakers or fuses that discon-nect power when circuits become overloaded. This is a safetyfeature to prevent overheating. When a fuse or circuit break-er trips, find the cause and correct it. Never use oversizedfuses or foil wrap a fuse or substitute a fuse with a penny.This will cancel the safety device designed to prevent over-heating and cause a fire.

If your electrical outlet is hot to the touch, unplug all appliances and have the wiring inspected

as soon as possible.

You can also write to theNYC Fire Department * Office of Fire Safety Education

FFIREIRE DDEPEPARARTMENTTMENT

CCITYITY OFOF NNEWEW YYORKORK9 METROTECH CENTERBROOKLYN, NEW YORK

11201-3857

Issued by FDNY Office of Fire Safety Education & Office of Public Information

For more Fire Safety info visit the FDNY Website www.nyc.gov/fdny or www.fdnyfirezone.org

Translation services provided through a grant from:FDNY Fire Safety Education Fund

Smoke Alarms Save Lives