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City of Chandler Insider
Oct. 20 – Nov. 2, 2012
www.SanTanSun.com
Keep safety in mind for happy holidays Each year more than 3,500 Americans die in fires and approximately 18,300 are injured, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Many of these fires occurred in homes and could have been prevented with a little planning, good habits and situational awareness. In the coming weeks and months, residents will celebrate several holidays, festive events that can present additional risks to children and families. SanTan Sun area residents can keep them joyful occasions by protecting loved ones and property.
Halloween
The traditional costumes and jack-o’lanterns remain, and there has been a big increase in the use of electrical lights and decorations for Halloween. Most parents know the importance of purchasing flame resistant costumes for their children, and as a bonus safety feature, many of these include reflective materials to help with nighttime visibility. These same precautions should be considered when making a costume for a child or yourself. Choose the materials carefully. Avoid dangers presented by open flames in decorations, such as jack-o’-lanterns. If using decorative lights, make sure they have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, check them for frayed wires, and don’t overload extension cords.
Thanksgiving
The risk of cooking fires increases
on Thanksgiving. With more food preparation and more people in the kitchen comes more potential chaos, and even the best cook can become overwhelmed and skimp on safety. The increase in the use of turkey deep fryers that use a substantial amount of cooking oil at high temperatures is also a concern to firefighting professionals. There are many things that can go wrong when using these turkey fryers and consumers should thoroughly educate themselves about the dangers before using them. The risk of fire or burns from cooking and holiday candles reinforces the importance of having properly maintained fire extinguishers in the home. Consider switching to safer, battery-operated flameless candles.
Christmas
All of the cooking and candle risks mentioned above also pertain to Christmas and Hanukah, as do the electrical wiring concerns related to indoor and outdoor lights and decorations. But the greatest danger may be from the beautiful Christmas tree that brings so much joy when it’s new, but a big fire risk when it’s allowed to dry out. An analysis by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shows the number of Christmas tree fires is fairly low, with an average of 210 in the United States each year. However, because of the nature of these fires, the risk to people is
TURKEY TALK: The Chandler Fire Department joined with other Valley fire departments to conduct a demonstration of the dangers of turkey fryers, which are used more during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The hot oil, open flame and potential instability of the fryer base can make for a dangerous combination and increased risk of fire. Submitted photos
• Free Admission • Over 50 Vendors • Raffle Prizes • Art • Crafts • Unique Gifts • Home Decor • Jewelry • Baked Goods • And Much More!
Saturday, November 3 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. 6360 S. Mountain Blvd., Chandler Riggs & Gilbert Roads
Bring a canned food item for the local food bank and receive an additional raffle ticket! Questions or to purchase a booth for this event: sjohnson@solerachandler.com