|
Boating Safety:
With all the waterways, beautiful beaches and inlets in and
around Nokomis, it can be very easy to forget how important
boat safety really is.
In 2006 there were 61 fatalities and 671 boating accidents
through out the State of Florida.
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs ) must be United
States Coast Guard Approved. They must be in serviceable
condition and must be stored properly. Let’s take a look at
Class A recreational vessels, they are less than
sixteen (16) feet, canoes or kayaks. Every person on board
under the age of six (6) must wear an approved Type 1, 2, or
3 PFD while the vessel is under way. A Type 4 hybrid may be
substituted for any type 1, 2, or 3 device, but must be worn
whenever the vessel is underway and the person is not in the
cabin or other enclosed area. Personal watercraft,
everyone on or operating a personal water craft must wear an
approved type 1, 2, 3 or 4 PFD. Inflatable PFDs are
prohibited. Water skiers, everyone skiing or
aquaplaning must wear an approved Type 1, 2, 3 PFD, and once
again inflatable PFDs are prohibited.
Fire extinguisher’s, must be United State Coast approved and
be in serviceable condition you must carry at least one B-1
type approved hand-held portable fire extinguisher, (not
required on outboard motorboats less than 26 feet in length
and they are not carrying passengers for hire, if the
construction of the vessel will not permit entrapment of
explosives or flammable gasses or vapors and if the fuel
tank is not permanently installed.
The second class of recreational vessels we will take a look
at is a Class 1, which is twenty six (26’) to less than
forth (40) feet.
|
A fire on any day is terrible, but a fire
during the Christmas season is devastating. There are
simple life-saving steps that you can take to ensure a safe and
happy holiday season.
A real tree can add to the spirit of
Christmas filling your home with beauty and the scent of pine.
But a real tree can also pose a fire hazard. Each year,
more than 400 residential fire involve Christmas trees and
tragically nearly 40 deaths and 100 injuries result from these
types of fires.
Try to select a fresh tree by looking for
one that is green. The needles of the pines and spruces
should bend but not break and should be hard to pull off the
branches. On fir species, a needle pulled from a fresh
tree will snap when bent, much like a fresh carrot. Also,
look for a trunk sticky with sap. Cut off about two inches
of the trunk and put the tree into a sturdy, water holding
stand. Keep the stand filled with water so the tree
does not dry out quickly. Stand the tree away from
fireplaces and other heat sources. Make sure the tree does
not block foot traffic, doorways or exits.
If you are using an artificial tree, make
sure to choose one that has been tested and labeled as fire
resistant. Artificial trees with built in electrical
systems should have the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) seal of
approval.
Christmas Tree Lights: You should
only use indoor lights indoors ( and outdoors lights outdoors ).
Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires
and loose connections. Replace any damaged light sets
immediately. You should never use more than 3 strands on
any one extension cord. Extension cords should be placed
against the walls to avoid trip hazards, and never run under the
carpet or rugs. Make sure you turn off all lights on trees
and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.
Tree Ornaments: You should always use
the proper step stool or ladder to reach high places. Make
sure you read the labels before you use materials that come in
jars, cans and spray cans. Never place lighted candles on
a tree or near any flammable materials. Avoid placing
breakable tree ornamentals and ones with detachable parts on the
lower branches where small children or pets can reach them.
The Nokomis Fire Department wishes you and
your families a Safe and Happy Holiday Season. |
The holidays are quickly approaching and as
we make plans for our family's and friends the Nokomis Fire
Departement would like to take this opportunity to talk about
cooking fire safety. Did you realize that the #1 cause of
fires in the U.S is directly related to cooking? It is
alsothe leading cause of home fire- related injuries. With
all that goes on in our lives it's very easy to forget the pot
on the stove, the roast or cookies in the oven. Here are
some of the types of common fires in the kitchen.
Dry Cooking Fires are the
most common. These occur when the water or moisture boils
out of the pan and the food left in the pan scorches, producing
smoke. This usually does not cause a great deal of damage.
It results in some heat and smoke damage to the surrounding
areas.
Grease Fires occur when
oil or grease type foods are heated and ignite. A grease
fire can do significant damage. The open flames can spread
to your surounding cabinets or other combustible items. If
unnoticed, a grease fire can extend engulfing the entire
kitchen, adjacent rooms and even the attic. This can
become a dangerous life threatening situation. You may be
able to extinguish a grease fire in a pan or on the stove in
several different ways. The simplest way is to cover the
pot or pan with a lid, this should suffocate the fire.
Once you have the fire extinguished do not forget to turn the
burner off. If the flames are not manageable, GET
EVERYONE OUT AND CALL 911. Never put water on a
grease fire, the splatter of grease will likely intensify the
fire and spread to other areas.
Oven Fires most of the
time are not very serious. The fire usually is confined in
the over which is designed for high heat conditions. The
oven fire usually suffocates itself or is easily extinguished.
What should you do in the event
of a cooking fire?
In all cases make sure
everyone evacuates the home and remains outside awaiting the
fire departments arrival.
Call 911 and report the fire.
|
