Alpharetta Cumming Lake Lanier Real Estate Blog

The Forsyth County Fire Department reminds citizens to take a moment to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when they change their clocks as daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 14th.

“When you move your clocks ahead one hour, please take a moment to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors,” Fire Chief Danny Bowman said. “This is also a great opportunity to dust the units and perform a simple test of each device.”

The Forsyth County Fire Department recommends testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a month and replacing the batteries every six months. The units themselves should be replaced every eight to ten years.

The Fire Department also reminds citizens of the following safety precautions:

* Install a smoke detector on every level of the home
* Ensure smoke detectors are clean and free of dust
* Dial 911 in case of any emergency

The Forsyth County Fire Department is eager to help those who may need smoke detectors in their residence. The department’s Public Safety Education Division provides smoke detectors free of charge for senior citizens and needy residents; they will also install those detectors. To receive details on this program, call Public Safety Educator Bob Westbrook at Fire Department Headquarters at 770.781.2180.

Labels: batteries, carbon monoxide, daylight saving time, detectors, fire department, forsyth county, georgia, smoke

From Fire Chief Danny Bowman and the Forsyth County Fire Department:

"The Forsyth County Fire Department encourages everyone to take precautionary safety measures to help ensure safety this holiday season," Fire Chief Danny Bowman said. "Responsible use of items such as heating devices, decorations and candles can certainly play a role in preventing fires and injuries throughout the holidays."


Heating Devices

• Keep portable electric heaters at least three feet away from combustible materials such as drapes and upholstered furniture
• Never place heaters on tables or furniture
• Avoid using extension cords for heaters if possible
• Do not use unvented gas heaters in enclosed spaces due to the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning
• Follow manufacturer's recommendations regarding where and how to use any heating devices

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires
Selecting a tree for the holidays

• Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and poses a fire hazard.

Caring for your tree

• Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.
• Disposing of your tree
• Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. Consider disposing of your tree by taking it to a recycling center.

Holiday Lights

• Maintain your holiday lights
• Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before using them. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Do not overload electrical outlets
• Never link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe to link additional ones. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into an outlet. Periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
• Do not leave holiday lights on unattended

Holiday Decorations

• Use only nonflammable decorations
• All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
• Never place wrapping paper in a fireplace
• Wrapping paper can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home capable of causing an explosion.
• Artificial holiday trees
• If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, be sure it is flame-retardant.

Candle Care

• Avoid using lit candles
• If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be knocked over easily. Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Never put lit candles on a tree
• Do not go near a holiday tree with an open flame (candles, lighters or matches).

Toy Safety

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
• Before purchasing a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, do not give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, consider toys that are battery-operated.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
• Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could pose a strangulation hazard for babies.

Always have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries. Practice your home escape plan and dial 911 in an emergency.
These tips courtesy of the Forsyth County Fire Department and the United States Fire Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Labels: christmas, christmas tree, decorations, fire department, fire safety, forsyth county, heaters, holiday, lights

The Forsyth County Fire Department reminds citizens to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when they change their clocks as daylight-saving time ended on Sunday, November 1.

In addition to replacing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every six months, the Forsyth County Fire Department also recommends testing the detectors at least once a month. The units themselves should be replaced every eight to ten years.

The Forsyth County Fire Department is eager to help those who may need smoke detectors in their residence. The department's Public Safety Education Division provides smoke detectors free of charge for senior citizens and residents in need; they will also install those detectors. To receive details about this program, call Public Safety Educator Bob Westbrook at Fire Department Headquarters at 770.781.2180.

Labels: batteries, carbon monoxide, daylight saving time, detectors, fire department, forsyth county, smoke detectors

To help ensure children are riding safely, the Forsyth County Fire Department will hold a free child safety seat inspection event Friday, April 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Target parking lot off Market Place Boulevard in Cumming.

The event will focus on the safety of all children who are transported using child safety seats and booster seats. During the inspections, parents will be educated on the proper installation and use of their child safety seats and will then install the child safety seats themselves to ensure their understanding of the procedure. During the event, adult supervision will be provided for children while parents are being educated about and installing their seats.

In the past, as many as 90% of the child safety seats inspected by the Fire Department's trained technicians have been found to be improperly installed.

For questions regarding the child safety seat inspection event, call Forsyth County Fire Department Headquarters at 770.781.2180 (extension 0).

Labels: child, cumming, fire department, forsyth county, inspection, installation, safety seat

Change your Clocks, Change the Batteries in your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: daylight-saving time is a convenient reminder to replace batteries in your home.

The Forsyth County Fire Department reminds citizens to take a few minutes to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as we begin daylight saving time.
The Forsyth County Fire Department recommends testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a month and replacing the batteries every six months. The units themselves should be replaced every eight to ten years.

The Fire Department also reminds citizens of the following safety precautions:
· Install a smoke detector on every level of the home
· Ensure smoke detectors are clean and free of dust
· Dial 911 in case of any emergency

The Forsyth County Fire Department is eager to help those who may need smoke detectors in their residence. The department's Public Safety Education Division provides smoke detectors free of charge for senior citizens and needy residents; they will also install those detectors. To receive details on this program, call Public Safety Educator Bob Westbrook at Fire Department Headquarters at 770.781.2180.

Labels: carbon monoxide, daylight saving time, fire department, forsyth county, smoke detectors

Flag Retirement Drop-Box now available at Fire Station #1 on Castlberry Road in Cumming.

Forsyth County residents wishing to ensure a proper retirement for their worn out American flags can do so thanks to a joint effort of the American Legion and the Forsyth County Fire Department. A flag drop-box is located at Fire Station #1 at 234 Castleberry Industrial Drive in Cumming. Citizens can place in the drop-box their worn out American flags. The American Legion will ensure the flags are retired properly.

Labels: american, american flag, castlberry, cumming, fire department, fire station, forsyth county, legion, retirement