FORT KNOX, Ky. — Between slips and falls, travel dangers and kitchen mishaps, the holidays can be one of the more dangerous parts of the year, but Fort Knox fire and safety officials have some advice for how to stay safe this holiday season.
Salting and plowing pathways, and vehicle servicing prior to winter are some of the best ways to prevent some winter weather hazards according to Brian Wood, a safety specialist with the Fort Knox Installation Safety Office.
“We always want to make sure people inspect their vehicle before the winter gets here: tread on their tires, making sure their battery works - a working vehicle to get them through the cold temperatures,” said Wood. “During the seasonal time frame, we're often traveling long distances to visit our loved ones, so getting that vehicle inspected and making sure it runs correctly is very important to get to and from that holiday trip.”
Wood also recommended double checking the weather at one’s destination and along the route to add extra security to holiday travels.
“Like we saw in the Northeast this past week, they've had five feet of snow. Obviously, we're not in a region to receive that large amount of snow, but you could be traveling to a place that could,” he said.
Other topics of concern around the holidays were decorations and fire prevention.
Wood touched on the importance of checking lights and decorations for manufacturer recommended uses, saying that if the box says the lights are for inside use only, don’t take the risk to use them outside.
Andre Cornwell, assistant chief of fire prevention for the Fort Knox Fire Department, said that lights are one of the biggest concerns when it comes to preventing holiday fires.
Cornwell said to always make sure to check the wires for fraying. If a wire has fraying, do not risk plugging it in and starting a fire, grab another batch and toss out those old lights. Once lights have been checked, make sure that they are being hung on the house with care, and not with metal fasteners.
“Don't use nails or metal staples, even outside,” said Cornwell. “You don't want metal to wire contact, they've got tacks that they sell now with a plastic coating that are able to slide and move.”
Another preventative measure for the holiday season includes ensuring that all live trees are kept moistened. Cornwell said a dried-out holiday tree can go up in flames within seconds, especially if paired with faulty or unchecked lights or candles. If there are candles in the home, make sure to follow the three-foot rule and keep them three feet away from curtains, fans, trees and other flammable surfaces.
Cornwell also said unattended cooking is a cause of cooking mishaps during the holidays, which more often than not leads to some sort of kitchen fire.
“Some of the biggest problems are the grease fires, and the reaction to those grease fires,” said Cornwell. “Folks tend to grab a wet towel or pick up a pot and try to take it over to the sink and turn on water, all the things that you definitely should not do.”
How to properly handle common cooking fires:
- Grease fires: To help prevent a grease fire when frying a turkey, be sure to first measure with water to decide how much oil needs to be put in, and always fry outdoors. Be sure the turkey is completely thawed and dry before placing it in the fryer. In the event of an indoor grease fire, be sure to turn off and remove any combustible items from the area. Then smother the fire with a glass or metal lid.
- Oven fires: Make sure not to open the door. Turn the oven off and if the oven fan is on, turn it off as well to quell any airflow that may grow the fire. Let the flames die out on their own.
- Stovetop fires (other than grease): Always have a glass or metal lid that fits the pots and pans being used, that way in the event of a pop-up fire one can quickly turn off the burner and smother the flames. Be sure to completely remove the pot or pan from the heat source as well so it does not come back.
- In the event of any holiday fire, with the exception of grease fires, one can’t go wrong with utilizing a common class ABC fire extinguisher to put it out. Following any fire, be sure to call 911 and report the incident so a fire response team can assess the damage and make sure there is no chance of a rekindle.
Cornwell said the best thing one can do is to just to stay in the stay in the kitchen when cooking so issues can be addressed before getting out of control.
Whether it be fighting the winter weather itself, checking faulty wiring or standing watch in the kitchen, there are always ways to mitigate risk during the holiday season.
Inevitably, Wood said, that holiday safety often comes down to pre-planning and preparedness.
“I think holistically planning ahead throughout the holiday season can help make it safe, relieve stress and [allow those celebrating to] be able to enjoy a fun filled time with their loved ones.”
Editor’s Note: For more tips and information on winter weather safety, follow the link to the official U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center Winter Safety Campaign page.
Visit Fort Knox News at www.army.mil/knox for all of Central Kentucky's latest military news and information.
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