2009 News Archive 

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Open houses set for Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10

Johns Creek firefighters will promote the importance of home fire safety during National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10, at special fire station open houses.

The public is invited to stop by that week between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.* to the fire station closest to their neighborhood – Station #61 (10265 Medlock Bridge Parkway); Station #62 (10925 Rogers Circle); Station #63 (3165 Old Alabama Road) – for a tour, fire safety tips and children's fire safety materials, badges and hats.

The theme of this year's National Fire Prevention Week – the 85th annual awareness campaign from the National Fire Protection Association – is burn awareness and prevention in the home. In other words, "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned."

"Simple actions such as testing the water before putting a child in the bath and wearing short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking may be all it takes to prevent devastating burns around the home," says Johns Creek Fire Marshal Chad McGiboney.

According to the NFPA, 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," says McGiboney. "Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing devastating burn injuries is a healthy change we can make happen by taking some extra cautions."

Recommended precautions include:

• Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over.
• Have a 3-foot "kid-free" zone around the stove.
• Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
• Be careful when using things that get hot such as curling irons, ovens, irons, lamps, heaters.
• Install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent a child from sticking an object in the outlet.
• Never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove, or where a hot appliance is in use.
• Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
• Set your hot water temperature no higher than 120 degrees.
• Install anti-scald valves on shower heads and faucets.

Parents and teachers with large groups of children who want to attend an open house are encouraged to RSVP at 678-474-1600.

For more information, visit Fire Safety Tips.