News and Tips

Car Seat Safety

According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of children between the ages of 1-14.

Child Safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4. (NHTSA 2005a)

For children 4 to 7 years of age, booster seats reduce injury risk by 59% compared to safety belts alone. (Durbin 2003)

1. Kids 12 and under should always ride in the back seat.

2. Kids should be in a car seat or booster until they can be seated properly in a seatbelt. For most children this is around age 8 or when they reach 4'9" tall.

3. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat when there is an active frontal airbag.

4. Keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible. That can mean up to 30 or 35 pounds in most current convertible seats unless they outgrow it by height first.

5. Ensure the harness fits snug on your child, the car seat fits snug in your vehicle, and that your vehicle seatbelts are locked properly.

6. Have your seat inspected by a certified technician for free at a checkup event or fitting station.

Home Fire Safety Tips

1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly.

2. Teach your children how to "Stop, Drop and Roll" if your clothes catch fire.

3. Develop a fire escape plan for your family. The plan should include 2 exits out of every room and an established meeting place outside. The fire escape plan should be practiced at least twice a year.

4. Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.

5. Keep volatile chemicals in a locked storage area separate from the home.  This includes fertilizers, turpentine, etc.

6. Store gasoline in a container approved for gasoline storage.  Place the container in a garage or shed. Never bring gasoline indoors.

7. Keep flammable objects away from your fireplace and keep a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace.

8. Store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet out of children's reach.

9. Never leave cooking food unattended.

10. Keep flammable objects (dishtowels, curtains, paper/plastic bags) at least three feet away from the stove top.

11. When grilling, never leave BBQ grills unattended and keep grills at least three feet away from other objects (house, shrubs, bushes, etc.)

12. Never leave burning candles unattended and do not allow children to keep candles or incense in their rooms. Use candle holders that are made of material that will not catch fire, such as metal, glass, etc.

13. Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from flammable objects. Always turn off heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.