County Executive George Latimer, Department of Emergency Services Demonstrate the Dos & Don’ts of Fire Safety During the Holiday Season -…

Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the Countys Department of Emergency Services (DES), under the leadership of Acting Commissioner Richard Wishnie and Deputy Commissioner Susan Spear, are teaming up to provide helpful fire safety tips for Westchester residents this holiday season.

Latimer said: The professionals here at DES know the ins and outs of fire safety. This holiday season while we all may be gathering less - heed their advice, follow these tips and keep your family safe from preventable accidents.

At DESs fire training facility, Latimer and the DES team will outline some important reminders to help keep your family safe and demonstrate just what exactly could go wrong. The four main topics covered will include Christmas tree and Holiday decoration safety, candle safety, electrical safety, and proper use of a fire extinguisher.

Wishnie said: The holiday season leads to an increase in these type of fire-related accidents. Westchesters career and volunteer firefighters are here to keep us all safe, but hopefully never need to use their training on your home thanks to these useful tips.

Christmas Tree & Holiday Decoration Safety

Home fire fatalities increase during the winter and while it is always festive to see holiday decorations, they can increase the risk for a home fire. Here are a few simple tips to keep your holidays safe:

Spear said: Dont let a fire emergency ruin your holiday season. Be smart, remain vigilant and follow these guidelines.

Chief of Training Branch, DES Fire Division Luci Labriola-Cuffe said:"Having a fire in your home is devastating any time of the year. We are offering these safety recommendations to help you and your family remain safe this holiday season."

Candle Safety

As more than 1/3 of home decoration fires are started by candles, be sure to follow these important tips:

Electrical Safety

On average, 5,000 people visit the emergency room each holiday season due to indoor and outdoor electrical decoration mishaps (i.e. falls, cuts, shocks, burns). Here are some electrical safety tips this holiday season:

Lastly, and most importantly, know the location, type, and purpose of your fire extinguisher. Know how to use the fire extinguisherbeforean emergency and if you have to use it use the PASS method: Pull (the pin), Aim (the nozzle), Squeeze (the handle), Sweep (from side to side).

Only use the fire extinguisher on small fires, if the fire doesnt go out after the use of one extinguisher, exit the home and call 911 immediately. Make sure you have a family exit plan and a have a meeting place outside to ensure all get out of the home safely.

Statistics courtesy of the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association. Christmas tree for use a demonstration courtesy of Home Depot.

See more here:
County Executive George Latimer, Department of Emergency Services Demonstrate the Dos & Don'ts of Fire Safety During the Holiday Season -...