In the event you find yourself on the road in a winter storm, make sure you have the following items in your car to provide you with some comfort until you can get going again.

Update the emergency kits in your vehicles with:

• a shovel
• windshield scraper and small broom
• flashlight
• battery powered radio
• extra batteries
• water
• snack food
• matches
• extra hats, socks and mittens
• first aid kit with pocket knife
• necessary medications
• blanket(s)
• tow chain or rope
• road salt and sand
• booster cables
• emergency flares
• fluorescent distress flag

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The following post by Terry Flanagan appeared here on November 12, 2009

University of Delaware student takes NIFAST fire training

Proactive. This word is used frequently. As I was tasked to come up with online residential and off campus housing fire safety courses that word stuck in my head. As I poured over the statistics from 1999-2007 and saw the number of deaths, injuries, and damage in the residential arena (2,920 deaths in 1999, 2,895 in 2007), I realized we were missing something. Why are we always looking backwards and assessing horrible fire statistics after the tragedy occurs, instead of trying to be more proactive to prevent these terrible tragedies in the first place?

There are many sites that talk about what to do in the event of a fire, about having a plan, and practicing it. But very few that talk about HOW TO PREVENT FIRES.

NIFAST’s motto is “Fighting Fire with Awareness”. The key is prevention! Educating residents, teaching college students what hazards to look for and believe it or not, how to safely host a party! Education and knowledge are the keys to safer lives!

The NIFAST online courses are comprised of three sources that are comprehensive, easy to read, and yes, proactive. At NIFAST we strongly believe that the best way to drive down the number of people who lose their lives in residential and off campus fires annually is to prevent the fires in the first place. The key to this is to be proactive in educating the occupants. Our online courses do exactly that! Please continue to follow us as we help residents, home inspectors and college students arm themselves with the right fire safety education. The time is now to be proactive about updating your fire safety profile. Please join in our efforts to help provide for safer lives!

UPDATE: Visit the University of Delaware website for more information about how the University of Delaware is using the NIFAST training program.

Terry Flanagan  NIFAST – Director of Education and CertificationSimilar Posts:

• Be Aware, Be Proactive In Fire Safety
• Educate and Extinguish The Fire
• Think Beyond Sprinklers To Keep Students Safe
• One- and Two-Family Residential Building Fires are a Major Threat
• Are You Proactive When It Comes to Fire Safety

Make sure you are prepared for winter weather and keep the following essentials ready so that you can be safe this winter.
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Winter Grilling

Grilling has become very popular year round. What once was seen as a summer activity is now taking place in all seasons. When grilling in unpleasant weather you may be tempted to move the grill closer to the house to keep it out of the conditions and to keep yourself from getting cold or wet. By doing so you increase the risk of a grilling mishap or equipment malfunction that could cause a damaging fire to your home or those around you.

Not only is this dangerous but it is against the law. Ohio Fire Code Section 308.3.1 prohibits the use of open-flame cooking devices on decks and balconies attached to any multi-family structure with over two-families. You also can’t cook within 10 feet of any combustible construction including a deck near a wall, fence or railing. This includes both charcoal and propane grills that are over one pound in size (Most propane tanks are at least 20 pounds).

The separation of your grill and home reduces the likelihood of flare-ups coming in contact with a combustible wall. Also hot embers could fly from the grill and set the structure on fire. Once a fire is started, the fuel from your grill could further feed the fire and cause greater damage.

Although single and double family homes are allowed to using cooking devices on decks it is important to use caution. There is always a danger of an out of control fire and harmful smoke. Carbon monoxide can build up in your home or in a neighboring unit without you even knowing. Since you can’t control the wind it is important to pay attention to where it is blowing the smoke.

According to the NFPA, there is an average of 7,900 annual home grill fires. These fires result in a great deal of property damage and over one-third involve grills that were on a balcony or porch.

Cooking on a balcony in a multi-family structure is dangerous and illegal. You put many people and homes at risk so follow the law and move your outdoor cooking away from the building.Similar Posts:

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Due to the high costs of natural gas and efforts to save energy, the use of alternative heating sources such as space heaters has greatly increased. These supplemental heating devices carry a great risk of causing a fire if not used properly, especially when left unattended. If you need extra heat in your home safety, must be a top priority when using space heaters of any kind.

The following precautions should be observed:

• Only use a heater that has been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

• Place the heater in a location that is level and away from areas where someone could knock it over.

• Keep the space heater accessible. Do not store anything within 3 feet of the unit.

• Plug the space heater directly into an outlet. Do not use extension cords or surge protectors.

• Always turn off the heater when you leave the room and when you go to sleep.

• Only use space heaters as supplementary sources of heat. They are not intended to replace the home’s heating system.

• Inspect the heater and its cord often to look for wire or insulation damage.

An excellent option, especially in homes with people with disabilities, is the EdenPURE Heater System. These portable heaters are an affordable way to heat a small area while also purifying the air. The heater cabinet does not get hot and there are no exposed heating elements that could cause a fire. The EdenPURE Heater also comes with a remote. This remote allows you to turn the device on or off and even set timers – a major convenience in many homes with busy attendants and night shifts. This new healthy home heating system will save energy and money while also keeping you warm and safe.

More information on EdenPURE Heaters can be found at: http://www.edenpure.com.

Be safe, and stay warm!Similar Posts:

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The holiday season is the time we create more materials that we throw away than at any other time of the year. From our friends at ABCO Fire Protection, here are a few quick reminders on recycling for a better environment for all. Happy New Year from all of us at NIFAST.

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Stay informed and know the weather approaching so you are prepared for whatever may be coming your way.
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The holidays are are great time to celebrate, decorate, cook and gather with family and friends. It can also also means a greater risk for fire. In fact, Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires annually. According to the NFPA, half of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February in 2004-2008.

Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.

Christmas Tree: Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Holiday Lights: Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up and do not overload electrical outlets.

Holiday Decorations: All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.

Fireplace: Never put wrapping paper in the fireplace.

Candles: If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning. Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.Similar Posts:

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Fire safety does not come naturally for most, and as we have learned through our many years of in-depth study: expert knowledge is the key to being fully prepared. Knowledge by way of products through our NIFAST fire safety store; knowledge by way of services through our home inspectors program and fire safety training programs; and knowledge by way of updated codes/content that are important for you, the home consumer, to understand.

Why should fire safety only be considered one month out of every year, when hundreds of lives are lost everyday due to accidental fires? Fires that could have easily been prevented with education. Your local firefighters are not equipped to assist every home residence or community.

So, how do we readily teach fire safety? We offer courses and testing to ensure mastery of the learned materials. Repetitive and targeted remediation ensure that the teachings will be retained. Credits and insurance rebates ensure the test will be done.

We offer various programs, products and services and updated information to keep you fire safe.

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