The Industrious Hygienist's Favorite Holiday Safety Tips: FEMA and USFA

So far we've covered general holiday safety from CDC/NIOSH and holiday stress management from CDC and Mayo Clinic. Now let's get down to the exciting stuff - fire safety.

FEMA and the NFPA have partnered this year to create the following infographic for their "Put a Freeze on Winter Holiday Fires" campaign:

NFPA and FEMA infographic for the "Put a Freeze on Winter Holiday Fires" campaign.

The Industrious Hygienist would also like to share the following HolidayFire Safety video from FEMA (although I'm still learning how to embed videos, so click the hyperlink if you want to watch it). 

The Industrious Hygienist decided to take the NFPA "Put a Freeze on Winter Fires Quiz" and test her knowledge of winter fire safety.

Result?

Fail. Eeek!

So I feel I should defend myself on some of the wrongly answered questions. See below.

Lit candles should be extinguished when you leave the room.

The place where the Industrious Hygienist currently lives (we don't feel it is right to call it a house) has a "great room" that consists of the entry, family/living room, dining area, and kitchen all encompassed, with a hallway leading down to the bedroom. So if we light a candle, it is usually in the "great room" and therefore extinguished before we walk out the door and leave the home. Semantics. But probably useful information if you have a larger space to live in and lots of candles.

The leading cause of home fires is failure to clean heating equipment and chimneys before use.

I've lived in Phoenix, AZ or Orange County, CA for most of her life and only recently moved to Prescott in beautiful Northern Arizona. So my exposure to cold weather has been limited - I've never lived anywhere with a chimney and never used a space heater before. Now I know that if I happen to move somewhere with a chimney, I should have preventative maintenance done on it. We never used our heater in Phoenix. I did have the furnace checked here in Prescott before it was turned on. Yay for me!

Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on every level of the home and outside each sleeping space.

Again, with the size of the place we live, we just have one CO monitor in a central location, equidistant from the gas-fired kitchen appliances, laundry room, and bedroom. This whole idea of a multi-level home is intriguing - I should try it sometime. :) Makes sense to have to CO monitor outside the bedrooms, since you'd want to know what the CO concentration is before it is in your sleeping space and you are susceptible to it. 

Just this week, a family in Breckenridge was exposed to high levels of CO and some of the family members were hospitalized. See news story here. 

Before placing a real cut tree ion the stand, cut 2" from the base of the trunk.

I've never had a real Christmas tree before, we always had an artificial one. Since we got our Alaskan Malamute (Shadow), we haven't bothered to put up a tree the last three years. He likes to try and eat the ornaments. So I'll keep this in mind if I decide to ever use a real cut tree (not likely) for the holidays.

Keep your eyes peeled (that's a weird/gross phrase I should never use again) for the Industrious Hygienist Holiday Card and end of year blog post!

The Industrious Hygienist's Favorite Holiday Safety Tips: CDC/NIOSH

In honor of the holidays, the Industrious Hygienist would like to share her favorite holiday safety tips from recognized authorities. Today's tips are from the CDC and NIOSH.

This year, CDC/NIOSH has posted a "Wishes for Workers" campaign where you can post your wishes for occupational health and safety improvements. The Industrious Hygienist will think on this and post something thought-provoking. Or at least interesting.

The Industrious Hygienist's favorite wish from a CDC representative:

• "All of our nation’s emergency response workers are prepared and trained to respond effectively and safely to any disaster."
• CDR Lisa Delaney MS, CIH, Associate Director, NIOSH Emergency Preparedness and Response Office

CDC/NIOSH also developed a "12 Ways to Health Holiday Song" which can be sung to the tune of, you guessed it, "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

Download the audio podcast of the song here. 

The Industrious Hygienist's favorite pieces of the song are:

• The fifth way to health, said the CDC to me
  BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.
• The tenth way to health, said the CDC to mePractice fire safety, monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

In 2011 the Industrious Hygienist wrote a three-part comic of the "12 Days of Christmas: Preparation for the Holidays Industrious Hygienist (IH) Style!" If you want to read it again, part 1 is here, part 2 is here, and part 3 is here. 

Last year's CDC/NIOSH blog post about safety for Santa was probably my favorite post from CDC/NIOSH so far. Highlights below.

• Going down the world's chimneys (when applicable) would definitely be considered a confined space entry - CDC/NIOSH has a topic page for confined spaces
• Are Santa's suits fire-resistant?
• Since his elves are super-busy leading up to the holidays, maybe Santa should consider NIOSH's research on shift work and sleep deprivation
• Hefting that bag of toys for all the good girls and boys is likely strenuous - Santa should evaluate his lifting technique using the NIOSH Lifting Equation

No worries, the Industrious Hygienist is working on her holiday/New Year card that will be posted before the end of the year. Look for more tips from FEMA, NFPA, NSC, and others in the days to come.

Yarnell Hill Fire and Prescott Firefighters

There's so much media attention on this story, but it's close to my home, so I feel the need to post about it. Please do what you can to help.

A fire started in Yarnell Hill this weekend (south of Prescott). ABC15 did a great job of distilling the facts, which I have copy/pasted below from their article with minor edits.

FIRE START DATE: June 28, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. 
LOCATION: West of State Route 89 between Yarnell and Peeples Valley.

SIZE: Approximately 8,400 acres (as of 15 minutes ago)

CAUSE: Lightning

NUMBER OF RESOURCES: 400

RESOURCES: 18 engines, 18 fire crews, 8 support water tenders, 2 crash/rescue vehicles, 2 structure protection vehicles, and 4 bull-dozers. On order are more 20-person hotshot crews, type 2 hand crews and other firefighting personnel and equipment.

LOSS: An estimated 200 homes and other structures have burned in Yarnell.

CONTAINMENT: 0%

INJURIES:  1

FATALITIES: 19 - A fire crew had to deploy their fire shelters late Sunday afternoon after strong winds pushed the fire to their position and 19 firefighters died in the line of duty.

ESTIMATED COST TO DATE: Unknown

EVACUATIONS: Residents in the communities of Peeples Valley and Yarnell.

The same shelter used for the Doce Fire is still open at Yavapai College at 1100 E. Sheldon in Prescott, and a large animal shelter is still open at the Hidden Springs Ranch on Hwy 89, just southwest of Hayes Ranch Road. There is also a shelter open at Wickenburg High School. 

The Doce Fire is estimated to be up to 96% contained, but fire crews are still working there. With the heat wave this last weekend, it was up to 104 F by my house in Prescott Valley. 

The Prescott Firefighter's Charities is accepting donations for the families of the firefighters that were lost at Yarnell Hill. They have partnered with the United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association (UPFFA) and 100% of donations will go to the families. Donations are also being accepted at Chase Bank branches. The account number is 987218757. Questions re: these associations should be addressed to the UPFFA office at (602) 255-1500. 

The Daily Courier reports that the fire crews are working on the eastern flank of the fire to protect homes and structures close to the Yarnell Hill Fire. 

There has been an outpouring of grief and support throughout the nation, with flags lowered, mourning bands, and donations.    

The Yarnell Hill fire is not the only fire in Arizona - there is also a the Dean Peak Fire in Kingman that has led to evacuations in Pine Lake and Hualapai Mountain Park. American Red Cross - Grand Canyon Chapter has a reception and care center in Kingman for evacuees. They have also opened a cooling station at Kingman High School for snacks, water and coffee, so displaced residents can get out of the heat. The "Prison" fire in Tucson is still burning, is 5% contained, and has not threatened structures yet. 

Experts are saying that this could be one of the worst fire seasons on record. 

A summary of other charities for the Yarnell Hill Fire victims and firefighter families is below, modified from The Daily Courier:

• 100 Club of Arizona: Providing families of fallen firefighters with a $15,000 line-of-duty death benefit. Please donate to the 100 Club Survivors Fund in memory of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, or call 602-485-0100 to donate.
• United Way of Yavapai County: Opened an account at National Bank of Arizona for evacuees who have lost their homes and for the 19 families. Reference the Yarnell Fire Fund when making a donation at any National Bank of America branch. You can also donate through the United Way website, or by mail to UWYC, 634 Schemmer Drive, Suite 302, Prescott, AZ, 86305. 95% of donations will go to victims, with United Way working with the Prescott Fire Department and Yarnell to distribute donations.
• Prescott Fire Department: Accepting donations via mail to 1700 Iron Springs Road, Prescott 86301. Write "Granite Mountain Hotshots Family" on the check.
• The Hair Nail and Skin Institute (Prescott): Offering free haircuts, and hand/foot spa treatments to Yarnell Fire firefighters, law enforcement officers, other first responders, and evacuees  for the remainder of the year (with documentation). 
• Prescott College: Opening its Village residence hall to fire evacuees as a temporary shelter. For more information, call Bill or Shar at 928-713-8915.
• There are two events scheduled for Wednesday, July 3, 2014.
• The Prescott Noon Lions Club: Holding an emergency food drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Albertsons on Sheldon and Marina streets, the Fry's supermarkets on Miller Valley and Willow Creek roads, the Safeway stores on White Spar and Willow Creek roads, and Costco on Highway 69.
• Heritage Memory Mortuary: Holding chapel services for anyone wanting to meditate and remember the heroes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. 

There is a Disaster Distress Helpline is a federal government service that offers 24-hour information, support, and counseling to anyone needing help with disasters such as the Arizona wildfires.

Disaster Distress Helpline

1-800-985-5990 or
Text TalkWithUs to 66746
TTY for Deaf/Hearing Impaired:
1-800-846-8517

I'll be providing updates as they unfold, and Mighty Spouse and I are figuring out how best to help tonight. 

Doce Wildfire Evacuations - video and update

This video is courtesy of The Daily Courier - it describes the areas planned for evacuation and the emergency relief efforts by the American Red Cross - Grand Canyon Chapter for evacuees of the Doce Fire. Per the American Red Cross: "Red Cross volunteers have set up cots and blankets for overnight stays, and evacuated residents can come to the shelter for meals, snacks, water and coffee. Evacuated residents also can receive aid from Red Cross nurses and mental health volunteers."

A press release from the U.S. Forest Service about the Doce Fire explains that the fire is still 0% contained and that the Southwest Area Type I Incident Management Team led by Tony Sciacca will be taking over management of the fire today.

Residents in Williamson Valley and possibly Chino Valley have been put on notice that evacuations may be needed in their areas. So far there have been no reported injuries or structures lost. 

The Industrious Hygienist will be following the progress of the fire via the Yavapai County Emergency Management - Regional Alert website. 

Residents of the Prescott area can sign up to receive notification information for this and future regional alerts from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.  Messages can be received by phone, text or email. Click here to learn more and sign up for the Emergency Notification System.

For more Doce Fire information, call (928) 777-5682. 

Doce Fire in Prescott National Forest

Who: Residents of west Prescott, Arizona

View of the smoke from the Doce fire in Prescott, AZ from my backyard.

What: The Doce Fire

Where: Reportedly started near the Doce Pit (sometimes called the Dosie Pit) in the Prescott National Forest 

When: Today

Why: The source is unknown according to The Daily Courier, but was likely human-caused. No lightning strikes were reported in this area and the U.S. Forest Service has no reports of fallen power lines in this area.

Here in the Prescott area, we're experiencing high winds (as usual) and low humidity (also as usual). The Daily Courier and KPHO report approximately 250 firefighters are on the ground.

There have been evacuations for several hundred homes in the area, but it appears the fire is spreading closer to more densely populated areas in west Prescott. So far it's at 5,000 acres and spreading. The American Red Cross has set up a shelter at Yavapai College along East Sheldon Street for evacuees. I was reading through the comments on The Daily Courier article and was heartened by the outpouring of offers to help take in pets and livestock, or help get the elderly or ill from their houses. 

Mighty Spouse and I are looking into what we can do and how we can help evacuees this week. This would be terrifying to experience first-hand.

Wildfiretoday.com is also covering the fire from an engineering and forest preservation perspective. 

View of the smoke from the Doce Fire in west Prescott, AZ from my front yard.

It's intriguing that this occurred during Emergency Preparedness Week in National Safety Month. Mighty Spouse and I have our emergency kits prepared and ready - we repacked them before we moved up here from Phoenix. We have enough food, water, entertainment, money, and pet supplies/carriers to last three days if needed.

Fore more information about personal and family emergency preparedness, visit the FEMA website, ready.gov. The basic recommendations are:

1.) Be Informed - Do you know what hazards and emergencies you could face?
2.) Make a Plan - Do you know how to contact your loved ones? Do you have an evacuation plan? Do you know the best routes from home to work to where your family will gather?
3.) Build a Kit - For at least 72 hours of survival, and don't forget medications or your pets' needs. 
4.) Get Involved - Volunteer, be part of the community planning process, join a Citizen Corps. 

More updates on the fire and how you can help in future posts.