Child injury deaths in King County drop by 62 percent

193 children’s lives saved over the last decade, thanks to prevention policies, law enforcement, education

More children are alive and well in King County today because of a dramatic drop in injury deaths such as traffic crashes, drowning, falls and burns. From 2000 to 2009, the rate of death from injuries for children 19 and younger declined by 62 percent. The reduction reflects a decade of innovative public health research, policies, law enforcement, and education of parents.

“There is nothing more valuable than saving a child’s life,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Thanks to safety programs and safer practices, we’ve taken a tremendous step forward in making King County a healthier place to live.”

In King County, 22 children died from injuries in 2009, down from 55 in 2000. Public Health – Seattle & King County estimates that 193 children are alive today who wouldn’t be if injury death rates hadn’t declined.

The improvements in King County surpassed a national trend of fewer child injury deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that child deaths from injuries declined 29 percent from 2000 to 2009.

“In King County, child injury rates have fallen twice as fast as national injury rates,” said Dr. Beth Ebel, Director of the Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center, University of Washington. “We led the nation in strong bicycle helmet legislation, passed the first booster seat law in the country, and have innovative programs to prevent childhood drowning. These programs make a difference.”

In King County, traffic-related child deaths declined from 35 in 2000 to 11 in 2009.

“Safer cars play a huge role in reducing the number of traffic-related deaths,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director & Health Officer for Public Health. “Many of us can remember climbing around the front seat of our parents’ cars —with no seat belts and no air bags. We’ve come a long way, and our kids are safer because of it.” 

A variety of other factors also contributed to the decline in traffic-related child deaths, including:

·         Ninety-eight percent of people wearing seat belts, one of the highest rates in the nation

·         Graduated Driver’s Licenses, which help keep teen drivers safe through passenger restrictions, curfew times, and more supervised time behind the wheel.

·         Impaired driving enforcement, prosecution and penalties

The number of children who drowned in King County also has been steadily declining; five children drowned in 2000 and only one in 2009.

A number of policies that have made King County a safer place for children are a result of the work of the King County Child Death Review committee. The committee—comprised of health care providers, government agencies, law enforcement and fire departments, prosecutors, community leaders and others— reviews the circumstances of the death of each child in King County and uses the information to take action to prevent future deaths. Changes that have resulted from this robust process include increased education and promotion of safe sleep positions, the promotion of legislation on bicycle helmets, and the removal of unsafe child products from the market.

Despite efforts to make our community safer for all children, injuries remain a leading cause of death locally and nationally, and new challenges persist. Accidental poisonings, including teenagers overdosing prescription drugs, are a growing concern.

“The significant decline in child injury rates can also be attributed to the partnerships between King County organizations and residents who have worked together to make policy- and system-level changes that promote safety,” said Dr. Linda Quan, who co-led the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Seattle and has researched drowning for over 30 years while at Seattle Children’s Hospital. “But, we still have work to do. Our goal is to get unintentional deaths to zero. Therefore it’s imperative that supporting new and existing safety initiatives remain a priority in our governments, businesses and communities.”

To learn more about the important work of local collaborations to prevent child injuries and deaths, visit:

·         The Booster Seat Coalition

·         Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center

·         Safe Kids Seattle

·         King County Traffic Safety Coalition

·         Safe Kids Coalitions for South King County

·         Washington State Department of Health Injury Prevention Program

·         Washington State Drowning Prevention Network

·         Child Profile

·         Public Health – Seattle & King County Injury Prevention Program

'Child injuries' refers to unintentional injuries that occur among children and teens 0-19 years.

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.9 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. More at www.kingcounty.gov/health

Contact: Katie Ross, 206-263-8781

Gravity Never Forgets - Ladder Safety

As soon as you set foot on the ladder’s first rung and pull your body off the ground, gravity is working to bring you back to earth. Therefore, ladder safety begins from the ground up.  

Proper ladder setup will help prevent slips and falls. Place the base on a firm, solid surface. Avoid slippery, wet or soft surfaces. If you must put the ladder on a soft surface, place a board under the ladder’s feet to provide firm footing. Make sure the top of the ladder has firm support as well.

Never lean a ladder against a window pane or other unstable surface. If you’re using a straight or extension ladder, the angle of the ladder is the next critical safety factor. A straight or extension ladder should be placed 1 foot away from the surface it rests against for every 4 feet of ladder height. For example, if the ladder is 4 feet high, the bottom of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the support surface.

What's wrong with this picture?

If you use a ladder to access a roof or platform, make sure the ladder extends at least 3 feet over the roof or platform edge. Be sure to securely fasten straight and extension ladders to the upper support. If you have angled the ladder properly and still have doubts about its stability, have someone hold the ladder before climbing up.

If you’re using a step ladder, be sure to open it completely before you climb. If you have to use a step ladder near a doorway, lock or barricade the door and post signs so no one will open it and knock you off the ladder.

When you climb, always face the ladder and grip the rungs of the ladder to climb, not the side rails. Never get on or off a ladder from the side unless it has been secured to prevent movement.

Never climb with equipment in your hands. Use your pockets, equipment belt, or a tool pouch and raise heavy objects with a hand line. If you forget something, always climb down the ladder to retrieve it yourself; don’t have someone toss it up to you. And never ask someone to climb up your ladder to give you supplies. It is dangerous to exceed the weight limits that a specific ladder can handle.

When you descend a ladder, practice the same safety rules. Face the ladder, keep your body square and hold on to the rungs. Lastly, step off at the bottom rung of the ladder. Never jump off of a ladder.

Before you start to haul a ladder around, evaluate the area where you’ll be working.

Ladders can be heavy and unwieldy. You can strike another person or object, or hit electrical power lines. Make the ladder as compact as possible before transporting it.

Carry it horizontally while tilting it higher in front and lower in back. If the ladder is particularly long and heavy, get a coworker to help you carry it.

Ladder safety may seem simple, but injuries occur every year. Below are some ladder safety dos and don’ts:

• Use the right ladder for the job.
• Inspect the ladder before and after a job.
• Read all warning labels carefully and follow directions before you climb.
• Clean the ladder after each use to prevent dirt buildup.
• Wear clean, dry, slip-resistant shoes and use ladders with slip resistant feet.
• Don’t stand any higher than the third rung from the top of the ladder.
• Don’t lean too far or overreach. Reposition the ladder closer to the work instead.
• Don’t use a ladder as a bridge or scaffold.
• Don’t put a ladder on a box, barrel or other object to gain additional height.
• Don’t use a damaged or unsafe ladder.

Experts also warn about ladder use in bad weather. Descend immediately if high winds, rain or other inclement weather begins. Wind force can blow you off the ladder.  Rain can make the rungs and the ground slippery. Bitter cold can make metal ladders more brittle and can cause other structural damage. If you encounter bad weather while on a ladder, do not speed up to finish the job and risk injury. Wait to finish the job until conditions are once again safe.

Remember, don’t let gravity get you down. Practice ladder safety rules every time you climb to make your work easier, faster and safer.

Contributed by Eric Tofte, Director of Training, Evergreen Safety Council

Safety Gifts Support Safety Culture

Contributed by Star Conrad, Director of Operations, Evergreen Safety Council 
With the holidays fast approaching and 2012 is just around the corner, now is the best time to show employees your appreciation for working safely all year long.

Check out these ideas for employee gifts that are fun to receive and also reinforce your organization's safety culture. These items also make great gifts for your family and your employees' families!

• Portable Weather Radio
• Solar or battery powered AM/FM radio
• Vehicle Emergency Kit
• First Aid Kit – personal to family sized
• Solar, shakable or battery powered Flashlights
• PPE for home use – suits, goggles, ear plugs, etc.

Many of these types of gifts and even more are available online or through your general safety supply retailer.

And since we are Evergreen Safety Council…Motorcycle or Sidecar/Trike training class Gift Certificates are a great safety gift for family and friends. Call our office 206-382-4090 to order one today.

CFLs and Preventing Murcury Exposure

Contributed by Eric Tofte, Director of Training, Evergreen Safety Council

The US is phasing out regular light bulbs and the US EPA encourages Americans to use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) for residential lighting to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global climate change.

Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury. You can prevent potential mercury exposure to you and your environment by:

• storing and handling CFLs responsibly;


• following our tips when cleaning up broken CFLs; and


• recycling or disposing of CFLs properly.

For all of you that would like to see the detailed clean up recommendations if you break a CFL in your home, please follow this link.

Burn Awareness Week

The National Gasoline Safety Project is using Burn Awareness Week (Feb. 6-12) to emphasize the dangers – particularly to children – of using gasoline to start fires for barbecue grills or campfires, or to burn trash.

Although a national study funded by the project indicated that 80 percent of parents do not use gasoline to start fires, those who do put themselves and their children at serious risk.
"Ironically, our research shows even parents who use gasoline to start fires know it isn't a safe thing to do," said Amanda Emerson of the National Gasoline Safety Project. "But they think it's something 'everyone' does. It's not. And it needlessly puts children in harm's way."

To ensure gasoline is used safely, the organization recommends the following:

• Never use gasoline to start a fire.
• Carefully read all caution labels on gasoline containers and adhere to safety precautions when using a portable fuel container.
• Always place fuel containers on the ground when filling to avoid static electricity ignition.
• Gasoline should never be used by children and should be kept out of their reach.
• Do not store gasoline in a vehicle or living space. Gasoline should be stored in a well-ventilated area.
• Keep gasoline containers closed when not in use.
• Avoid prolonged breathing of gasoline vapors.
• Gas is potentially fatal when ingested. If swallowed, call your physician immediately. Do not induce vomiting.

Source: National Safety Council

I’m Tickled

Contributed by Norm Nyhuis, Safety Trainer / Consultant, Evergreen Safety Council
I have a tickler file – I put things in it, to remind me to do something at an appointed date and time. Today’s tickler file reminder was to perform my annual home emergency preparedness review.

Here in the Northwest, we live in earthquake country. The experts tell us it’s not a matter of IF, but rather a matter of WHEN the next major earthquake will strike western Washington. Most injuries in earthquakes are caused by things falling or breaking or when people try to run from one place to another. Anything that can move, break, fall or cause a fire when your home starts to shake is a potential hazard. Here are some the things I’ll look at; perhaps you may want to perform a similar check

• Are large items close to the bed? Dressers or other tall furniture can topple over during a ‘quake. Glass items on those pieces of furniture and even glass from windows or picture frames can cause injury.
• Heavy potted plants – particularly those suspended from the ceiling, in any room – can come loose and cause damage to anyone near. These can be replaced with lighter pots and the suspending hook should be a king that can be positively closed to keep the suspended item in place.
• Check storage cabinets and shelving: place heavier items on the bottom shelves and lighter items on the top shelves.
• Secure tall furniture to the wall studs to prevent them from toppling over. Commercial gels, and other similar products can secure displayed items such as glassware to the shelf, so they don’t come flying off when things start shaking.
• Check to insure your water heater is securely strapped to the wall studs. This will prevent it from tipping, and if the water supply is compromised, this is a 30 to 50 gallon supply of emergency water.
• Check the garage or similar storage areas: store liquid weed killers, pesticides, or other flammable liquids away from heat sources.
• Do you know how to and have the tools readily available to shut off your utilities – water, natural gas, electricity – in the event of leaking from damage incurred during the ‘quake?
• Check your cabinet latches: replace magnetic latches with a type that will positively hold, keeping the cabinet contents inside.
• Check the yard for dead tree limbs that could snap off and damage the roof of your house.
• Re-arrange the furniture, if necessary, so that if they did tip they would not block an evacuation route or access to your emergency supplies of home fire extinguisher.
• Check your 72 hour kit for expiration dates of food and stored water supplies. If you don’t have a kit, get one, appropriately sized for your family and don’t forget to have supplies for your pets, too.

The bottom line is simply, any preparations you make, can be useful in not only an earthquake event, but will be helpful in any emergency situation. A final suggestion: do you have current First Aid / CPR training? If not, one source for training is Evergreen Safety Council, check out the schedule for classes on our website.

Living with Critters

Contributed by Norm Nyhuis, Trainer, Evergreen Safety Council
One benefit of living in Northwest is that one doesn’t need to travel far from the city to be in relatively “wild” country. However, as the population density increases, cities grow and housing developments continue to move out into the country, the chances of human / wildlife encounters increases proportionately.

We live in the country, in a heavily wooded area, where the typical property ranges anywhere from two to ten or more acres. As such, encounters with wild life are relatively frequent. Rabbits, ‘possum, coyotes, raccoons and deer all seem to think my vegetable garden and fruit trees – not to mention my tulips and daffodils – were planted solely for their benefit. A recent event caused me to do some research and through this newsletter, share the information with you, our readers.

At last count, we have a dozen or more species of birds that frequent our feeders, and yes we do enjoy watching them as they feed. Mother’s Day morning we opened the curtains to find that our main feeder was missing! Closer inspection disclosed that the feeder which is supported on a pipe system from our deck was lying on the ground, empty! More surprising, the supporting steel pipe was broken in half. An afternoon walk on our trail through our woods, gave us a clue as to the damaged feeder; in a muddy area we found tracks, black bear tracks, and FRESH black bear tracks.

While not all of us live in the woods, most of us have opportunity to either go camping or at least make a day trip for a picnic, into wooded areas. Encountering a black bear is not all that uncommon; knowing a few facts can keep that encounter from turning “bad”.

According to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the statewide black bear population in Washington likely ranges between 25,000 and 30,000 animals. Bears usually avoid people, but when they do come into close proximity of each other, the bear’s strength and surprising speed make it potentially dangerous. Most confrontations with bears are the result of a surprise encounter at close range. All bears should be given plenty of respect and room to retreat without feeling threatened.

So here are some bear facts and words of advice from WDFW:

• In the spring, black bear diets consist mostly of herbaceous plants, from emerging grasses and sedges to horsetail and various flowering plants.
• In summer, bears typically add ants, bees, grubs, and a host of later emerging plants to their diets.
• During late summer and fall, bears typically shift their diets toward tree fruits, berries, and nuts, but they still may consume a variety of plants.
• Fall is a critical season for black bears and they commonly acquire most of their annual fat accumulation at this time. Bears may forage up to 20 hours a day during fall, increasing their body weight by 35 percent in preparation for winter.

Bears tend to avoid humans. However, human-habituated bears are bears that, because of prolonged exposure to people, have lost their natural fear or wariness around people. Human-food-conditioned bears are those that associate people with food. Such bears can become aggressive in their pursuit of a meal.

State wildlife offices receive hundreds of black bear complaints each year regarding urban sightings, property damage, attacks on livestock, and bear/human confrontations. The number one reason for conflict is the result of irresponsibility on the part of people: Access to trash, pet food, bird feeders, and improper storage of food while camping, make up the majority of the calls.

Don’t feed bears. Often people leave food out for bears so they can take pictures of them or show them to visiting friends. Over 90 percent of bear/human conflicts result from bears being conditioned to associate food with humans. A wild bear can become permanently food-conditioned after only one handout experience. The sad reality is that these bears will likely die, being killed by someone protecting their property, or by a wildlife manager having to remove a potentially dangerous bear.

Manage your garbage. Bears will expend a great amount of time and energy digging under, breaking down, or crawling over barriers to get food, including garbage. If you have a pickup service, put garbage out shortly before the truck arrives—not the night before. If you’re leaving several days before pickup, haul your garbage to a dump. If necessary, frequently haul your garbage to a dumpsite to avoid odors.

Remove other attractants. Remove bird feeders (suet and seed feeders), which allow residue to build up on the ground below them, from early March through November. Bring in hummingbird feeders at night. (Better yet: plant bird-friendly landscapes and don’t use feeders.) Harvest orchard fruit from trees regularly (rotting fruit left on the ground is a powerful bear attractant). If you have bear problems and do not use your fruit trees, consider removing them. Do not feed pets outside. Clean barbecue grills after each use. Wash the grill or burn off smells, food residue, and grease; store the equipment in a shed or garage and keep the door closed. If you can smell your barbecue then it is not clean enough. Avoid the use of outdoor refrigerators—they will attract bears.

To avoid encounters with black bears while hiking or camping:

• Keep a clean camp. Put garbage in wildlife-resistant trash containers.
• Store food in double plastic bags and, when possible, place the bags in your vehicle's trunk or in wildlife-resistant food lockers. Double-wrapped food may also be placed in a backpack or other container and hang it from a tree branch at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet out from the tree trunk. Never store food in your tent.
• When camping, sleep at least 100 yards from your cooking area and food storage site.
• Hike in small groups and make your presence known by singing or talking.
• Keep small children close and on trails.

If you come in close contact with a bear:

• Stay calm and avoid direct eye contact, which could elicit a charge. Try to stay upwind and identify yourself as a human by standing up, talking and waving your hands above your head.
• Do not approach the bear, particularly if cubs are present. Give the bear plenty of room.
• If you cannot safely move away from the bear, and the animal does not flee, try to scare it away by clapping your hands or yelling.
• If the bear attacks, fight back aggressively. As a last resort, should the attack continue, protect yourself by curling into a ball or lying on the ground on your stomach and playing dead.

BBQ Safety

Submitted by Eric Tofte, Director of Training, Evergreen Safety Council

Summer grilling season starts this weekend and a lot of us will be going out to the backyard to cook up some BBQ. Before you do, take a look at these safety tips:

• Before using your grill, check it thoroughly for any leakages or any type of damage. Avoid using a cracked grill. Carefully check for any wear and tear of the tubes connected to the burners. Always be prepared for any fires with a fire extinguisher. If possible, keep a person in charge for the fire at all times. Don't wear loose clothing which might catch fire.
• Never barbecue inside your house, garage, trailer, tents or any type of enclosed area: grills are designed for outdoor use only. The carbon monoxide fumes may accumulate and kill.
• Read the manual carefully and follow all the safety restrictions. Grills (gas or charcoal) and smokers all have very specific ranges of operation. You need to know these before you light up.
• Keep the grill stable to avoid tipping. Place your grill over a plain surface; not over steep or sloping surfaces.
• Be sure that all electrically-operated accessories are properly grounded. Electrical cords should be placed away from walkways or anywhere people can trip over them.
• Never start a propane grill with the lid closed. Gas can accumulate and when the grill is ignited may cause an explosion. Always shut off the propane fuel at the grill and at the bottle after you finished barbecuing. Otherwise, this will lead to fire hazards, such as leaks and faulty regulators.
• Due to the production of carbon monoxide when charcoal is burned, charcoal grills should not be used inside homes, vehicles, tents, or campers, even if ventilation is provided. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless so you will not be alerted to the danger until it is too late.
• Only use a charcoal barbecue on a balcony or terrace if there is a ten foot clearance from the building and there is an immediate source of water.
• It is not advisable to use sauce at the beginning of your cooking. And always wait at least one minute before serving food to avoid burns.

Have a Safe Memorial Weekend everyone!

Earthquake Preparedness

We normally don't post two items in one day, but this is timely and important...We encourage you to add your ideas and tips in the comment section.

By Norm Nyhuis, Trainer / Consultant, Evergreen Safety Council

As I write this article, the news media is flooded with reports from the January 12th earthquake that devastated the island nation of Haiti. Sadly, we may never have accurate information regarding the toll, both human and financial, of this event. At this moment, speculation runs the full spectrum from bad, to worse, to unimaginable.

For those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest, the heart breaking images flickering across our television screens strike very close to home. Earthquakes are a fact of life – actually almost a daily occurrence – for those of us who live along the Pacific Coast, and many of us have vivid memories of our own experiences during the recent earthquakes. Check out http://www.pnsn.org/recenteqs/ for an up-to-the-moment depiction of earthquake activity in the area.

The question is: what have YOU done to reduce the effect of an earthquake on your family?

In 1983, FEMA established a comprehensive Earthquake Education Program under the authority of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977. The intent of this FEMA program include increasing awareness of earthquake hazards and encouraging everyone, both individuals and businesses, to get involved in earthquake preparedness and hazard reduction.

FEMA has published lists that summarize some recommendations for increasing earthquake preparedness actions at work, school, and in your home.

Work:
· Post clear instructions for actions to take during and after an earthquake
· Hold earthquake drills on site
· Instruct personnel how to assist customers and visitors to your work site during an earthquake and to direct evacuation of buildings
· Securely store hazardous materials
· Keep a flashlight at sales counters, in desk drawers, and other areas that would be difficult to evacuate or inspect in the dark
· Make provisions for secure storage of essential data and information for your business operations
· Identify an alternate location to conduct business if your primary facility is structurally damaged and can not be occupied.
· Maintain an inventory and location list of valuable items that may need to be moved to a temporary site following an earthquake
· Protect computer systems and personal computers against damage and loss of data as a result of ground shaking and power outage – surge protectors, earthquake straps, regular back-up of data and possibly off-site storage of those back-ups.

School:
Parents need to talk with their school district administrators to learn about the “seismic safety” of school buildings (have they been evaluated?) and encourage the district to improve the ability of school buildings to resist ground shaking without total or partial collapse. In addition, school districts should develop an earthquake safety program.

· Hold earthquake drills, “drop, cover & hold” including evacuation of the building
· Inform parents about plans to care for students during and after a major earthquake – parents should provide their children with a personal 72 hour kit.
· Encourage the training of school personnel in first aid, CPR, search and rescue techniques, and building safety procedures, such as turning off damaged utilities.
· Develop an attendance system that will provide an accurate list of all students and staff on site, each day
· Include information on earthquakes and earthquake preparedness in the curriculum

Home:
Among the many things homeowners and families can do are:
· Have family earthquake drills
· Have a family plan for what family members should do during and after an earthquake
· Make sure children know what to do during an earthquake if they are at home alone, and where the family should leave messages if relocation is necessary – this means establishing an out of state contact where each family member can call to report their location
· Build or buy a “grab n’ go” kit of sufficient size to accommodate your family if you need to evacuate your home
· Take some simple and inexpensive steps to reduce the damage to your home and its contents by securing tall cabinets to the wall studs, and secure items to the shelves with sticky gels or similar products
· Know where and how-to shut off damaged utilities and have the necessary tools available to do so

There is a great deal of useful information on the FEMA website, we encourage to become informed and take action.

Crane Operation Safety

By Norm Nyhuis, Training / Consultant, Evergreen Safety Council
Even though it is a typically rainy, January day, one coping technique for surviving winter in western Washington is to think ahead to those warmer and drier days to come. When spring finally arrives, many of us will be thinking about yard work. And those of us who use heavy powered equipment may be tempted to creatively adapt that equipment to facilitate the job at hand.

Since certification of crane operators is now a requirement for cranes used in construction, this photo illustrates several safety issues.

First – I’d give the guy an “A” for creativity – sort of following in the footsteps of the TV character, Tim “the tool man” Taylor. However, I’d run out of space before I covered all the potential dangers in this scene depicted. Here’s a few:

• The web-sling rigging appears to be attached low on the mower: what is the center of gravity for this load, and could it overturn?
• The ASME standard requires that personnel only be elevated in approved personnel baskets, equipped with appropriate fall protection, and only if no other means is available or practical to access the specific location.
• At minimum, the manufacturer’s requirement that the equipment – both the boom truck and the mower – be used only for the purposes for which it was designed, is being violated.

Picture Source: Navy Safety Center

Holiday Safety Starts This Week

Turkey Safety
Hi there, well in just a few days it will be Thanksgiving (aka Turkey Day) and we know some of you will be deep frying that bird (which is really tasty when you add some Cajun spices.) But more importantly is that deep frying a turkey is DANGEROUS. The following are some recommendations from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

• Keep fryer in FULL VIEW while burner is on.
• Place fryer in an open area AWAY from all walls, fences, or other structures.
• Never use IN, ON, or UNDER a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or any structure that can catch fire.
• Raise and lower food SLOWLY to reduce splatter and avoid burns.
• COVER bare skin when adding or removing food.
• Check the oil temperature frequently.
• If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn gas supply OFF.
• If a fire occurs, immediately call 911. DO NOT attempt to extinguish fire with water.

For safest operation, CPSC recommends that consumers follow these guidelines as they prepare to use a turkey fryer:

• Make sure there is at least 2 feet of space between the liquid propane tank and fryer burner.
• Place the liquid propane gas tank and fryer so that any wind blows the heat of the fryer away from the gas tank.
• Center the pot over the burner on the cooker.
• Completely thaw (USDA says 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds) and dry turkey before cooking. Partially frozen and/or wet turkeys can produce excessive hot oil splatter when added to the oil.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine the proper amount of oil to add. If those are not available:

-Place turkey in pot
-Fill with water until the turkey is covered by about 1/2 inch of water
-Remove and dry turkey
-Mark water level. Dump water, dry the pot, and fill with oil to the marked level.

From us at Evergreen, Happy Thanksgiving and stay safe in no matter what you are doing this holiday season.

Fire Safety Tips for the Holiday Season
November 24 – 30, 2009 is Canadian National Home Fire Safety Week and below are some great holiday safety tips, no matter which side of the boarder you live on.

With the fun filled holiday season quickly approaching comes a need to take safety precautions around the home. Whether it is ensuring the Christmas tree is properly watered, to hanging fire-safe ornaments, to not overloading electrical outlets, there are a number of steps Canadians can take to avoid a holiday disaster.

Both the Evergreen Safety Council and Canada Safety Council encourages everyone to take every precaution to ensure the holiday season is one that is safe and happy.

A very important holiday tip that should be followed all year long is to make sure that smoke alarms are working and that there is one on every level of the house. Single level homes and apartments should have smoke alarms near the kitchen and all sleeping areas.
Here are a few simple safety tips to keep your home fire-safe during the holidays:

The Christmas Tree

• When purchasing a real tree, check for freshness by tapping it on the ground – dropping needles, indicate a dry, highly flammable tree. Needles should be hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, they do not break.
• When purchasing an artificial tree, make sure it’s ‘fire resistant.’ Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
• Place your tree away from fireplaces and radiators. Also, heated rooms dry out fresh trees, so be sure to keep the stand filled with water by topping it up daily.
• Never use lighted candles on or near the tree.
• Remove a real tree within 10 to 14 days; otherwise it can start to dry out and pose a fire hazard.

The Fireplace

• Ensure the chimney flue is open and clean before you light a fire.
• Remove all decorations that could be burned around the fireplace, such as stockings.
• Always use a screen in front of the fireplace to protect against flying sparks.
• Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result, as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
• Never leave the fire unattended or let it smoulder.
• Do not use Christmas trees for firewood. Only use seasoned and dried wood.

Decorations

• Choose decorations that are fire-resistant, non-combustible and non-conductive.
• Avoid using tinsel together with spray-on snowflakes. This combination is highly combustible.
• Do not use metallic ornaments on the tree. If they make contact with defective wiring they could become a shock hazard.

Lights

• Use Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved lights. Place indoor and outdoor lights in their respective environments.
• New or old, check light strings for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Make sure you do this before putting lights up. It is much easier to replace bulbs on the ground, than on the roof.
• Do not use electric light strings/sets on metallic trees. A faulty system could energize the tree and shock or electrocute anyone coming into contact.
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• Do not overload electrical outlets, and never string more than three sets of lights per single extension cord.

Candles

• Never leave burning candles unattended, and always keep out of reach of children.
• Keep candles in sturdy holders on a stable surface, well away from curtains, trees or any other potentially flammable objects.
• Put out all candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.

The Kitchen

• Never leave your cooking unattended.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing while cooking.
• Make sure items that can catch fire, such as paper towels, are kept away from the stove.
• Use a timer to remind you that the stove or oven is on when roasting or baking food.
• In case of a fire, never turn on the overhead fan – this could spread the fire.
• If a fire starts and can’t be quickly put out, leave your home and immediately call the fire department from a safe location.

Remember to have a working smoke alarm on each level of your house. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Generator Use Safety

With winter time right around the corner, there is always the chance of loosing power due to a storm. We know that some of you have generators, so here are some tips for you to remember if you loose power and use a generator.

1. Before installing a generator, be sure to properly disconnect from your utility electrical service. If possible, have your generator installed by a qualified electrician with a transfer switch.
2. Run generators outside, downwind of structures. NEVER run a generator indoors. Deadly carbon monoxide gas from the generators exhaust can spread throughout enclosed spaces. Install a carbon monoxide detector.
3. Fuel spilled on a hot generator can cause an explosion. If your generator has a detachable fuel tank remove it before refilling. If this is not possible, shut off the generator and let it cool before refilling.
4. Do not exceed the rated capacity of your generator. Most of the small, home-use portable generators produce from 350 to 12,000 watts of power. Overloading your generator can damage it, the appliances connected to it, and may cause a fire. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Keep children away from generators at all times.

Do you have experience using a genereator during the winter months? What tips would you add to this list?