MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
Saturday, June 1, 2013, is Safety First Day of the Month!!!
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms today to ensure they are working.
- Check the age of your alarms. Alarms have a life expectancy of 10 years.
- Consider replacing your alarms with a new 10-year alarm.
- Test your alarm and check with your neighbors to see if they tested theirs.
The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department has developed a
program to help remind you to keep Safety First. Our “Safety First
Day of the Month” program is a reminder that the first day of each month is the
day to perform quick and easy tasks that will help keep you, your family and
your property safe and healthy.
By following our Safety First tips you can help us to reduce the
number of incidents we respond to as well as early 911 notification will reduce
the intensity and impact a fire will have by reducing injuries and death to our
firefighters. You are helping us to help you. Keeping
Safety First will help to ensure everyone, firefighter/medics and you, to go home.
Smoke Alarms and
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) detector by
pressing the TEST button on the cover of your devices. If they emit
an audible warning – you are done until next month.
If no audible warning is heard after pressing the TEST button –
replace the battery and re-test. If your alarm still does not emit a
warning – immediately replace the alarm or detector with a new
one. Smoke alarms have a productive life of about 10
years. CO detectors last about 8 years.
Clear dust particles on and around your alarms and detectors.
Dust particles may effect the detection of smoke or CO. Use a clean
dust rag or vacuum your device.
Install a working smoke alarm on every level of your home,
especially outside of sleeping areas and in every bedroom.
When testing your smoke and CO alarms – allow your family or
other home occupants to hear what the audible alarm sounds
like. This would also be an excellent time to review and practice
your home escape plan. Your plan should include 2 ways out of every
room in your house and a safe meeting place outside.
Important – Check the age of your
alarms!!! Remove the alarm from it’s
mounting bracket during this “Safety First Day of the Month” and locate a date
on the backside of the alarm. If the manufacture
date is 10 years or older, replace the alarm!!!
Smoke alarms have a life expectancy of 10 years and may not operate
correctly, even if they monthly test demonstrates it works. If there is no date on the back; your alarm
is well beyond the 10-year expectancy – replace the alarm with a new one.
Replace your older alarms with up-to-date technology and install
10-year smoke alarms. You will still
need to perform monthly tests, however, the need to replace a battery once or
twice a year is longer needed. See our story here.
Need a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector?? Call
our Safety First Safety Program at 301-864-SAFE (7233) and arrange for these
devices to be installed in your home; free of charge.
Prince George’s County Firefighters will be going door-to-door
today and will assist you in checking your alarm and if needed, installing a
new one for you. Firefighters will also
provide information on how to plan, with 2-ways out of every room, a
home-escape.
All Fire/EMS station will be open from 6 to 8 this evening if
you would like to stop by and visit. BP
checks and fire safety information will be provided.
The Fire/EMS Department is also promoting “Neighbor Helping
Neighbor” by asking everyone that after they test their smoke alarm to go the
neighbors on either side of you and ask if they have checked their alarms
today. Senior citizens often are
challenged to reach the alarm on the ceiling and may not ask for assistance in
testing the alarm or replacing batteries – this is the day to be neighborly by
helping your neighbor.
Breast Cancer Self-Exams
The Fire/EMS Department has committed to keeping Breast Cancer
awareness a year round event. Every month we will post reminders
that adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at
least once a month. Remember, Safety First Day of the Month.
Johns Hopkins Medical center states,
“Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women
who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.”
While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can
feel a lump, breast self-exams help you to be familiar with how your breasts
look and feel so you can alert your health care professional if there are
any changes.
Diabetes
The Fire/EMS Department responds to about 130,000 incidents per
year. About 100,000 of these incidents are EMS calls and there are a
high percentage of these incidents that are for some type of diabetic related
episode. We want you to stay healthy and you can help reduce the
number of paramedic responses by doing so.
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends getting
regular exercise to help manage diabetes. However, people with diabetes may
need to take certain precautions to ensure that exercise does not induce
hypoglycemia (in someone taking insulin), hyperglycemia, or exacerbate
complications resulting from their disease.
To work out safely, the ACSM suggests that you:
Check your blood sugar before you exercise. If it is >
300 mg/dL and no ketones are present, proceed cautiously.
Living With Diabetes
Lower blood sugar by 40% or more
without harmful drugs! Learn more.
Check your urine or
blood for ketones before exercising. Postpone if your blood sugar is
greater than 250 mg/dl and ketones are present.
Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your
exercise session.
Have a carbohydrate-rich snack, such as a piece of fruit or
some yogurt or crackers—especially if you are taking insulin—if your blood
glucose is < 100 mg/dL.
Keep carbohydrate-rich snacks or drinks handy to eat
before or after exercise to avoid hypoglycemia. If you are taking insulin, you
know that when it peaks, your blood sugar drops—so avoid exercise during these
times.
Examine your tootsies before and after exercise for foot
ulcers if you have lost sensation in your feet, and stick to moderate or
low-weight-bearing activities.
Avoid high-intensity exercise or any activities involving
jumping up and down or dropping your head below your heart (such as yoga
inversions) if you have diabetes-related vision issues. The increased pressure
can damage the eyes.
Get your doctor's approval before undertaking any exercise
more intense than brisk walking.
More from Prevention: 15 Celebs Living With Diabetes
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