Fire Prevention Week approaches, 'Stay fire smart; don't get burned.'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Currier
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 4 to 10. 

This year's theme is "Stay fire smart. Don't get burned."
 
The 2009 campaign will focus on home safety and burn prevention. During the week, McConnell firemen will share fire and burn prevention tips with Team McConnell members and children in the local community. 

"Fire Prevention Week activities are very informative, and my children really enjoy the fire truck parade and the demonstrations at the Fire Prevention Extravaganza in base housing," said Tech. Sgt. Chyrece Campbell, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs. "We're looking forward to this year's events." 

Base firemen aim to educate people before they fall victim to fires or burns. Their hope is; the tips they provide will help others avoid uncontrolled blazes and heat-related injuries. 

"Once a child touches a hot stove, as the cliché goes, he learns his lesson; stay away from a hot stove," said, Eric Garlow, McConnell fire inspector.  "This cliché does not take into account the pain and suffering from burns, and burns should not be part of the learning process. The statistics are staggering. Each year roughly 3,000 people die as a result of home fires and burns, and more than 200,000 individuals are seen in the nation's emergency rooms for burn injuries." 

The most common types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds and contact burns according to the National Fire Protection Association. 

A full list of Fire Prevention Week activities and some fire and burn evasion tips are below. For more information, call the McConnell Fire Prevention Office at 759-3902.

Fire Prevention Week activities
· Oct. 3 - The fire department kicks off Fire Prevention Week a day early with McConnell's fifth annual Fire Prevention Extravaganza. The extravaganza will begin at 10 a.m. with a parade through Southwind base housing. The parade will end in the youth center parking lot where attendees can ride a fire truck, learn to use a fire extinguisher and more.

· Oct. 4 to 10 - Team McConnell members are invited to tour the base fire department daily from 4 to 6 p.m. 

· Oct. 5 - Base firemen offer fire prevention training to children at the McConnell School Age Program building from 4 to 6 p.m. 

· Oct. 6 - The base and community fire departments showcase static displays and perform demonstrations at the Sedgwick County Zoo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

· Oct. 7 - The base fire department holds fire prevention training at Wineteer Elementary School from 1:30 to 2:50 p.m. 

· Oct. 7 to 8 - McConnell firemen provide fire prevention training at the Child Development Center from 9 to 9:30 a.m. 

Fire, burn prevention tips
· Keep hot foods and liquids away from table and counter edges, so they cannot be easily pulled off or knocked over. 

· Have a 3-foot, kid-free zone around stoves. 

· Never hold children while preparing hot food or drinking hot beverages. 

· Be careful not to touch hot surfaces when using appliances such as curling irons, irons, stove tops, lamp bulbs and heaters. 

· Install tamper-resistant, electrical-outlet protectors to prevent children from sticking objects into electric sockets. 

· Never leave children alone with operating heat sources such as lit candles, portable heaters, burning fireplaces and hot stoves. 

· Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking. 

· Set home, hot-water temperatures to no higher than 120 degrees. 

· Install anti-scald valves on shower heads and faucets. 

(Tips provided by the McConnell Fire Department and NFPA)