Holiday and Seasonal Safety Tips

The North County Fire Protection District has some important messages for you.

Pool Safety:
Don't assume that drowning or a drowning incident couldn't happen to you or your family.
Always swim with a buddy - never go swimming alone.
Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. Don't be distracted by doorbells, phone calls, chores or conversations. If you must leave the pool area, take the child with you, making sure the pool gate latches securely when it closes. During social gatherings at or near a pool, appoint a "designated water" to protect young children from pool accidents. Adults may take turns being the "watcher". When adults become preoccupied, children are at risk.

If a child is missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom and surface.

Coastal Safety:
Swim near a lifeguard.
Supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present.
Don't rely on floatation devices, such as rafts, you may lose them in the water.
If caught in a rip current, swim sideways until free, don't swim against the current's pull.
If you are in trouble, call or wave for help.
Follow regulations and lifeguard directions.
Swim parallel to shore if you wish to swim long distances.
Scuba dive only if trained and certified - and within the limits of your training.
No glass containers at the beach - broken glass and bare feet don't mix.
Stay clear of coastal bluffs, they can collapse and cause injury or death.
Never turn your back to the ocean - you may be swept off coastal bluffs or tide pool areas and into the water by waves that can come without warning.

Rip Currents
Rip currents are the most threatening natural hazard along our coast. They pull victims away from the beach. The United States Lifesaving Association has found that 80% of the rescue effected by ocean lifeguards involved saving those caught in rip currents.

A rip current is a seaward moving current that circulates water back to the sea after it is pushed ashore by waves. Each wave accumulates water on shore creating seaward pressure. This pressure is released in an area with the least amount of resistance which is usually the deepest point along the ocean floor. Rip currents also exist in areas where the strength of the waves are weakened by objects such as rock jetties, piers, natural reefs, and even large groups of bathers. Rip currents often look like muddy rivers flowing away from shore.

Rip currents are sometimes mistakenly called "rip tides" or "undertow". These are misnomers. Rip current are not directly associated with tides and they do not pull people under.

Try to avoid swimming where rip currents are present, but if you become caught in one, swim parallel to the shore until the pull stops and then swim back to shore. If you are unable to return to the beach, tread water and wave for lifeguard assistance.

Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Rip currents often exist along the side of fixed objects in the water.

Be aware of ocean conditions. Lifeguards are trained to identify potential hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water.



4th of July Fireworks

Fireworks are illegal throughout Monterey County. Attend a public display operated by professionals!



Celebrating

Matches and Lighters: Use only lighters designed to be child resistant, and keep all matches and lighters out of children's reach - up high and preferable in a locked cabinet. Teach older children how to light candles and fireplace fires safely and supervise them carefully.

Party Safety: Use only flame-retardant or non-combustible materials for costumes and decorations. Use chafing dishes with caution. Provide smokers with large, deep, non-tipping ashtrays, and keep an eye on anyone who is drinking and smoking. Empty ashtrays often - wet their contents before dumping them. After the party, check cushions and furniture for smoldering cigarette butts.



Lights and Candles

Electric Lights: Be sure all indoor and outdoor holiday lights bear the label of an independent testing laboratory.

Throw away any set of lights that has cracked or frayed cords or loose or damaged sockets. Do not overload electrical outlets or run extension cords under carpets, across doorways, or near heaters. Be sure extension cords aren't inched behind or under furniture, and unplug all decorative lights before leaving your home or going to bed. Never use electric lights on a metal Christmas tree.

Candles: Put candles in non-tip candle holders and light them only when they are securely in their holders. Never burn candles near a Christmas tree or decorations or displays. Keep candles well away from curtains and other combustibles, and never put candles in windows or near exits. Don't leave candles burning unattended or within the reach of small children. Extinguish candles before you leave a room or go to bed.



Heater Safety

Space Heaters: Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from stoves, fireplaces, space heaters, and portable heaters. Keep space heaters and portable heaters at least three feet away from walls.

Always use the proper fuel for liquid-fuel heaters. Be sure they are vented properly and refill them only in well-ventilated areas and when they are cool. Make sure the type of space heater you use is legal in your area and bears the label of an independent testing laboratory.

Central Heating: Have furnace installations and all chimneys inspected and cleaned once a year (before the heating season begins) or whenever you suspect a problem.

Fireplaces: Keep fireplace fires small and always use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Do not leave children alone in a room with a fireplace fire. Never burn trash or paper in a fireplace; burning paper can float up your chimney and onto your roof or into your yard. Remove ashes in a metal container and store them outside.



Halloween Tips

Costumes and decorations should only be made of flame-retardant materials. Avoid loose, flammable clothing.

Each mask, wig, and costume must be easily seen at night.

Use battery-powered lights for jack-o-lanterns, not candles.

Keep decorations away from sources of heat, such as exposed bulbs and open flames.



Thanksgiving Tips

Start holiday cooking with a clean stove and oven.

Keep kitchen clutter and loose clothing away from the stove's heat.

Turn pot handles in - away from a child's reach.

Use pot holders to prevent burns.

Never throw water on a grease fire. Instead, cover the burning pan with a lid.

Keep all appliances in good working order.

Never overload electrical outlets. Unplug appliances when not in use.

Never leave cooking food unattended.

Keep Thanksgiving decorations away from sources of direct heat.



Christmas Tips

Make sure your Christmas tree is fresh. Shedding needles is a sign of a dry tree.

Keep your tree fresh by placing it in a stand that holds water.

Make sure artificial trees are flame-retardant.

Never smoke around the tree or flammable decorations.

Place trees away from direct sources of heat.

Never place a tree so that it blocks an exit.

Only by electric lights that are approved by a national testing lab.

Never decorate metal trees with electric lights.

Always unplug lights before going to bed.

Never run electrical cords through doorways and under rugs.

Keep candles in sturdy holders and never place them near combustibles such as curtains.

Avoid hanging stockings near an open flame.

Never burn paper in a fireplace. This is a major cause of chimney fires.


New Year's Tips

At a party, check to be sure the exits are clear.

Never let friends drink excessively. Alcohol affects judgment and coordination.

Check under furniture and cushions for smoldering cigarettes.