RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Fire drills throughout the base, fire safety presentations to pre-school and school-age children, a visit by Sparky the Fire Dog and an open house will highlight Fire Prevention Week next week at Randolph.
Randolph Fire Emergency Services personnel will be at the forefront of the week's activities, reminding base personnel and students to heed the week's theme: "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned!"
"This year's fire safety campaign is based around burn awareness and prevention, as well as how to plan and practice escape from a home in case a fire occurs," said James Smith, base fire inspector.
Randolph firefighters plan a host of activities that meet the campaign's theme, including:
· Fire drills at various base facilities on Monday to promote safe and timely evacuation procedures.
· Fire safety presentations and an appearance by Sparky the Fire Dog at the youth and child development centers, also on Monday.
· A fire safety presentation and discussion about what to do in case of a fire at Randolph Elementary School on Tuesday.
· Presentations at the base exchange on Thursday about fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and how to escape from a home fire.
· An open house Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Randolph Fire Emergency Services facility that will feature the presentation of ribbons and plaques for this year's Fire Prevention Week poster contest at Randolph Elementary along with static vehicle displays, interactive educational stations and demonstrations.
Some of the safety tips regarding burn awareness and prevention that firefighters will offer are keeping hot foods and liquids away from table and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over; having a 3-foot "kid-free" zone around the stove; being careful when using curling irons, ovens, irons, lamps, heaters and other items that get hot; never leaving a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove where a hot appliance might be in use; and setting water temperature no higher than 120 degrees.
Each year some 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, Mr. Smith said.
"The most common types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds and contact burns," he said. "Burns are painful and can result in serious scarring and even death. When we take extra caution in our homes to ensure the curling iron is out of children's reach or pot handles are turned away from the edge of the stove, such injuries are entirely preventable.
"Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing devastating burn injuries is a healthy change we can make happen," Mr. Smith added.
Visit www.firepreventionweek.org for more information or call the Randolph fire station at 652-6915 to find out more about Fire Prevention Week activities.