[E-updates] Advice for residents who plan to travel this holiday season; Holi day season safety tips from Fire Marshal

[Lisa Patterson]

NEWS RELEASE
City of Lawrence, Kansas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 20, 2004

CONTACTS:  
Chris Stewart, Utilities Department, Assistant Director - Water
(785) 832-7800
Rich Barr, Fire Marshal, Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical Department,
(785) 832-3741
Sgt. Dan Ward, Lawrence Police Department, (785) 832-7551

Advice for residents who plan to travel this holiday season; Holiday season
safety tips from Fire Marshal

(LAWRENCE, KS) - As residents pack their bags for grandma's house or a sunny
destination, there are a few precautions that should be taken before leaving
homes unattended.

The Utilities Department has provided the following "Precautions for Frozen
Water Pipes".  Individuals planning an extended stay away from home should
consider the following.

- Disconnect outdoor hoses to allow water to drain from the pipe. 

- Leave heat on in your home so the inside pipes won't freeze and break. 

- Have a relative, friend or neighbor check your residence to make sure your
water pipes are not frozen or broken.

Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical Department also reminds those planning
to be away from home to provide a neighbor or landlord with the contact
information where you can be reached.  

The Lawrence Police Department also provides the following residential
burglary prevention tips.  When going on vacation or out of town for any
reason:

- Stop deliveries of mail and newspapers or ask a friend to pick them up
while you are gone. 

- Make certain all doors and windows are securely locked. 

- Leave information on where you can be contacted in an emergency with a
trusted neighbor or landlord and ask them to keep an eye on the residence. 

- Give your residence a lived-in appearance, including leaving drapes in a
normal position, to provide a deterrent to burglars. 

- Have a neighbor occasionally use your garbage cans. 

- Put automatic timers on several lights and a radio. Set them so they will
turn on and off at random times in different rooms-especially the bathroom. 

- Don't leave lights on 24 hours a day. 

- Turn the bell on the telephone down to low. 

- Have a neighbor park in your driveway or in front of your house.

- Don't hide a key under the doormat or nearby vicinity.

- Arrange to have snow removed while you are gone.

- Don't leave a message on your answering machine stating you will be out of
town.

- Mark your property and make an inventory list of your belongings.

=================
NEWS RELEASE
City of Lawrence, Kansas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 20, 2004

CONTACT:  Rich Barr, Fire Marshal, Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical
Department, (785) 832-3174

Holiday season safety tips from City of Lawrence Fire Marshal

(LAWRENCE, KS) - The City of Lawrence Fire Marshal, Rich Barr, would like to
remind citizens that this holiday seasons should be merry and bright and
safe. Avoiding hazards such as dried out Christmas trees, unsafe lights and
unattended burning candles could prevent thousands of injuries.

"Sometimes people are enjoying the holiday festivities and forget to
extinguish candles," said Rich Barr, City of Lawrence fire marshal.  "Never
leave a candle burning when you go to bed or leave the room.  Always place
candles away from curtains and other flammable materials."

The following safety tips will help you and your family avoid injuries such
as falls, cuts and shocks related to holiday lights, decorations and
Christmas trees.

Trees:
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
This label means the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
It does not mean the tree will not catch fire.

When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green,
needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between
your fingers. The truck butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin and when
tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators.
Because heated rooms rapidly dry out live trees, be sure to keep the stand
filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block
doorways.

Lights:
Indoors and outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a
recognizes testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety
standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.

Check each set of light, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed
or bare wires, or loose connections and throw out damaged sets. Always
replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.

Use no more than three standard-size sets of light per single extension
cord. Make sure the extension cord is rated for intended use.

Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. Faulty lights present the risk
of electrocution.

Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been
certified for outdoor use.

Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports
to protect the lights from wind damage. Hooks are the preferred way to
string lights or use insulated staples not nails or tacks.

Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house.

Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits
protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

Decorations:
Use only non-combustible or flame resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose
tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. 

Never use candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use
non-flammable holders and place candles where they will not be knocked down.

In homes with small children, avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.
Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children and
avoid trimming that resemble candy or food.

Fireplaces:
Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. 

Do not burn Christmas trees in the fireplace.

-END-

_____________________________
Lisa K. Patterson
Communications Coordinator
City of Lawrence
PO Box 708
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 832-3406
fax (785) 832-3405
lpatterson at ci.lawrence.ks.us
http://www.lawrenceks.org