Winter Safety Tips

Here are some basic tips for winter time that will help keep you fire safe:

• Ensure you have working smoke detectors located within each sleeping area of your residence, as well as hallways leading to bedrooms. At least one detector should be on each level of the home including the basement. Remember to change your smoke detector batteries. An easy way to remember is to change detector batteries when you change your clocks. Don't forget, even hardwired detectors typically have some form of battery backup in the event of a power failure. A smoke detector's lifespan is generally 7-10 years, after which they should be replaced.
  
  
• At a minimum, carbon monoxide (CO) detectors should be located one on each floor. They should be located about 5 feet above the floor, or per manufacturer's recommendations. CO is a colorless, odorless gas. CO detectors may have batteries which need to be changed as well. A CO detector's lifespan averages 2-5 years, so be sure to check the date of manufacture, which should be on the back of the unit. You may have purchased a detector with a sensor that is already 1-2 years old. Any CO detector over 5 years old is unreliable and should be replaced.
  
  
• Ashes from any type of heat source, whether a wood or pellet stove, fireplace or BBQ grill, should be left in the unit to cool. Remember, ashes may take days to cool before they no longer present a fire hazard. If leaving them in the unit is not possible, they should be placed in a metal container with a metal lid away from the house and left to cool for a few DAYS in an outside area where they will not come into contact with combustibles. You should also thoroughly soak the ashes prior to disposal.
  
  
• Chimneys should be cleaned and inspected annually.
  
  
• Dryer lint vents should also be cleaned annually.
  
  
• Generators should be run as far away from the home as possible to avoid exposure to carbon monoxide.
  
  
• Be sure to plan and PRACTICE an emergency exit drill with your children and have a meeting place for your family and household residents in the event of an emergency.
  
  
• Always DIAL 911. Do not call your neighborhood firehouse directly if fire department services are needed as they may already be responding to another emergency. The next closest fire company will be dispatched to ensure timely and efficient service.
  
  
• If you have any further questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact your professional firefighters. We are trained to help and are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year throughout 6 different firehouses in town.
  

Whether a fire, accident or natural disaster, the Greenwich Professional Firefighters Local 1042 will be there for you.