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7 Summer Safety Tips

Although furnaces are turned off and most of us have migrated to outdoor balconies or decks, fire never takes a summer vacation. Follow these seven tips to avoid tragedy.

Summer Safety Checklist:

1. Help children understand how to escape a fire. Teach them what smoke and CO alarms sound like, and prepare an Escape Plan that sets out two routes from every room in your home and identifies an outside meeting place. Then PRACTICE IT!

2. Never take down a smoke alarm or remove batteries. To deal with false alarms caused by cooking or steam, install alarms that have a “Hush” button that lets you silence false alarms temporarily while you clear the air.

3. Install dual-sensor smoke alarms that combine both Ionization and Photoelectric technologies.

4. Alarms wear out! Whether they are battery operated OR hardwired right into your home's electrical system, you must replace ALL smoke alarms over 10 years old and CO alarms over 5-7 years old.

5. Every month, push the “Test” button and lightly vacuum the face of each alarm to remove dust and other obstructions. Change your batteries every time you change the clocks ahead or back.

6. Dangerous CO from your fireplace, range, or other gas-fueled appliances needs to vent outdoors. Ensure debris and outdoor fixtures do not clog or obstruct the vents.

7. Never leave burning candles unattended, and, be sure to complete a thorough barbecue check-up prior to the grilling season.

Check back next week for family safety tips at the pool!

Multi-Agency CERT Disaster Drill... CliffsNotes Style

Greetings and salutations! Thanks to Reserve Lt. Alex Lopez, we have a wonderful 6:46 version of a very exciting day for CERT students and active CR members alike. This successful disaster drill and CERT graduation was made possible by the mutual efforts of DeKalb's Fire Rescue, Police Department, SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, Roads and Drainage Department, and Medical Examiner's Office, as well as Decatur Fire.

In a simulated small town tornado CERT students came upon over 75 wounded patients meticulously staged all over the Fire Academy. As the scene unfolded they were to set up an Incident Command center, do a full scene size up, and deploy their teams to suppress small fires, perform search and rescue operations, and triage and treat all patients. When public safety responded roughly 45 minutes later, they were able to integrate and utilize the tremendous resource CERT offers in continuing the rescue efforts.

A hostage situation was soon reported and bombs were detonated. It was an exciting day for all involved, not just the students completing the final step of their nine-week class.

DeKalb is very proud of its residents who are stepping up to answer the call.

Click here to view the VIDEO