Author: Elizabeth Kalaijian

Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. and clocks will move back one hour. 

Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms are vital in reducing deaths and injuries caused by fire. They give everyone in the home an early warning and time to escape.

Be prepared, turn your clocks back one hour, and check your smoke and CO alarms. 

For more information about smoke/CO alarm safety, visit the National Fire Protection Agency’s website: https://tinyurl.com/NFPADetectors

National First Responders Day honors all the men and women who respond to emergencies to ensure the public’s safety — paramedics, EMTs, firefighters, police officers, and 911 operators. These workers sacrifice their time and risk their personal safety to protect citizens, and National First Responders Day is an opportunity to recognize their bravery and heroism. On behalf of the entire department, we extend our appreciation and support to the first responders working to keep our community safe.

Fire Prevention Week, organized by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), aims to teach everyone how to stay safe in case of a fire. This year, it’s being held from Oct. 6-12 with the theme “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!™” The NFPA strives to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home. The three most important factors are to INSTALL, TEST, and REPLACE. Are your smoke detectors working?

For more information on Fire Prevention Week and important fire safety tips, visit https://tinyurl.com/2024FirePreventionWeek

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month, which encourages families to discuss safety plans under this year’s theme, “Start a conversation.” 

According to FEMA, those who are informed about emergency preparedness are five times as likely to take action, protecting themselves, their families, and communities.

Follow some of our tips to practice preparedness in the case of an emergency. Let’s keep our community safe! 

Today, Aug. 31, is International Overdose Awareness Day. 💜

On this day we remember loved ones who have died from overdose and encourage support and recovery efforts for those impacted by substance use and overdose.

Save a life. An estimated 107,543 people died in 2023 from a drug overdose according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which marks the third straight year that deaths have surpassed 100,000.

To learn more about International Overdose Awareness Day and some helpful tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention click here: https://tinyurl.com/5y7a7r7a

With some of the first snow accumulation of the season expected this weekend, residents are reminded of winter weather safety precautions. 

Stay Informed: 

While snow totals may continue to change, much of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut can expect 6-12 inches with lower totals for cities and towns closer to the coast. 

Visit weather.gov to see the most recent forecast as the storm approaches. Residents are reminded that the forecast can change quickly and at any point. Stay informed by following local alerts, warnings and public safety information before, during and after emergencies. Residents can also listen to local area radio, NOAA Radio or TV stations for the latest information and updates.

Prepare Your Vehicle:

• Check your tires’ tread.
• Make sure all fluid levels are full and ensure that the lights, heater and windshield wipers are in proper working condition. Keep the gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
• Don’t leave the house without a fully charged cellphone and car charger. Prepare a winter emergency kit to keep in your car in case you become stranded. 
• Know whether your vehicle has an antilock brake system and learn how to use it properly.

If You Must Travel: 

• Be aware of current and forecast weather conditions. Avoid non-essential travel when the National Weather Service has issued advisories.
• If you must travel, inform a friend or relative of your proposed route and expected time of arrival.
• Drive cautiously and increase your following distance enough so that you’ll have plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead of you.
• Don’t crowd a snow plow or travel beside the truck. Snow plows travel slowly, make wide turns, stop often, overlap lanes, and exit the road frequently. If you find yourself behind a snow plow, stay far enough behind it and use caution if you pass the plow.
• Remain cautious even after conditions have improved. Even if roadways have been cleared of snow following a storm, any water left on the roadways may freeze, resulting in a clear sheet of ice, also known as black ice. Black ice is patchy ice on roadways that cannot easily be seen.

Take Precautions Outdoors:

• Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: wear a tightly woven, preferably wind-resistant coat or jacket; inner layers of light, warm clothing; mittens; hats; scarves; and waterproof boots.
• Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Use caution and take frequent breaks.
• Sprinkle cat litter or sand on icy patches.

If you experience a power outage and plan to use a generator, use extreme caution and allow for proper ventilation. Never use a generator indoors or inside a garage. Keep generators away from doors, windows and HVAC air intakes. Be sure that you have working carbon monoxide detectors. Additional safety information regarding the use of generators can be found here.

Residents are also asked to assist firefighters by clearing snow away from fire hydrants during and after significant snowfall. Shovel a path from the hydrant to the street, and clear snow 3-5 feet all around the hydrant so firefighters have enough room to connect a hose. 

For more winter weather safety tips or winter driving tips, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

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NORTON — Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department wish to share safety tips with community members as they plan to cook, bake and enjoy holiday meals over the coming days and weeks.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving, Christmas and Christmas Eve are peak days for home cooking fires. During 2017–2021, unattended cooking was the leading factor contributing to cooking fires and casualties.

To help prevent cooking fires and burn injuries this holiday season, community members are encouraged to review the following tips from the NFPA.

• When using the stovetop, never leave anything cooking unattended. Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
• When simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while the food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• When frying or sautéing, heat oil slowly to the temperature you need. Add food gently to the pot or pan so the oil does not splatter. If you see wisps of smoke or the oil smells while cooking, immediately turn off the burner and/or carefully remove the pan from the burner. Smoke is a danger sign that the oil is too hot.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging or towels — away from your stovetop.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from things like vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep the kitchen and dining room floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, bags or other items while cooking or handling food.
• Test your smoke alarms before cooking and make sure the batteries are replaced if needed.
• If you have a cooking fire:
  • If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner and do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.
  • If a fire starts in the oven, turn off the oven and leave the door closed. The oven should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.
  • If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out. Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 911 after you leave.

Additionally, the NFPA strongly discourages the use of deep fryers for cooking turkeys. For a safe alternative, NFPA recommends purchasing a fried turkey from a grocery store or restaurant or buying a fryer that does not use oil. Those who do use a fryer should use it on a sturdy, flat surface that is outdoors and at least 10 feet away from structures, including porches. Turkeys should be completely thawed and dried before being placed in a deep fryer to avoid flare-ups.

The Norton Fire Department wishes everyone a safe, happy and healthy holiday season.

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NORTON — During Fire Prevention Week, which is being recognized this year from Oct. 8 to 14, Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department are sharing important cooking safety tips to help keep residents safe.

Fire Prevention Week is organized by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The goal of Fire Prevention Week is to educate the public about simple but important ways they can keep themselves and those they live with safe.

This year’s theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay Attention to Fire Prevention” aims to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking.

According to the NFPA, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries and unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking-related fires and deaths.

Norton Fire Department and the NFPA urge all community members to take the following steps to ensure they are cooking safely and are actively preventing cooking fires:

• Cook with Caution: Never use the stove or stovetop if you’re tired or have consumed alcohol.
• If you’re frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food you should stay in the kitchen. Turn off the stove when leaving the kitchen.
• If you’re simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer as a reminder.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, dish towels, wooden utensils, food packaging, or curtains away from the stovetop.
• Keep children and pets away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, coffee and other food and drink could cause serious burns.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children. They should be kept up high in a locked cabinet.
• Keep the kitchen and dining room floor clear so there is less risk of tripping.
• For a small stovetop fire, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. The oven should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.
• Test your smoke alarms and make sure the batteries are replaced if needed.
• Close the door to the kitchen and call 9-1-1 from outside in the case of a fire.

Residents are also reminded of the importance of having large and clearly visible house numbers to help first responders easily find your home. Numbers should be facing the street, should be visible at night and should not be blocked by trees or bushes. Those with long driveways should have house numbers on both sides of a mailbox or sign pole at the end of their driveway near the roadway.

To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, click here.

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