Join Us -- Virtual Ride-a-Long This Friday

On Friday, August 14, at approximately 7:00 AM personnel at Fire Station #29 in Germantown will be participating in our latest “Virtual Ride-a-Long“ that will be broadcast via Montgomery County Fire and Rescue (MCFRS)  @MCFRS Twitter Page as well as occasional posts to the MCFRS Facebook Page. The hashtag for this event will be #mcfrs so that all of you can follow along, and engage us, without having to 'follow' or be 'followed' on the particular social platforms.

The purpose behind this initiative is to engage you, the residents we serve, in an innovative way and provide an almost real time view as to what occurs during a “typical” 24-hour shift.  Social media allows us a unique opportunity to bring you, in a “virtual” manner, into “our world.” and allows us to interact with the community.  You will “visit” a fire and rescue station and, where appropriate, be able to observe various 911 responses which highlight the outstanding work Montgomery County firefighters provide on a daily basis.

Lieutenant Tim Burns, with some support from our Office of Public Information and Outreach, will be the lead “tweeter” on this initiative. He will be sending “tweets from the street.”

It must be emphasized that Lieutenant Burn’s primary responsibility will be to his operational obligations and he will not be engaging in tweets/social media of any kind that would distract from the response too, and mitigation of, any emergency situations. Lieutenant Burns anticipates providing public updates until approximately 9:00 PM and will only provide social interaction after that if he feels appropriate.

We look forward to providing you 'A day in the life.......'

Vacation Fire Safety

Getting ready to go out of town? Holidays and the summer months are not the time to take a vacation from fire safety. Be sure to check your home before leaving to minimize the risk of fire while you are away and review these important safety tips:

Your Home

• All stoves and electrical appliances should be turned off or disconnected.
• Unplug all television sets, computers and radios. Lightning storms or sudden electrical surges can damage or even cause a fire in these types of equipment.
• When you return, check to make sure all smoke alarms are working.
• Tell a trusted neighbor your departure and return dates. Supply an itinerary with phone numbers where you can be reached in the event of an emergency.

If you are staying in a hotel/motel

When you are traveling away from home and staying in a hotel or motel, it is important to know what actions to take in the event of a fire. While hotel fires account for only a small number of fire fatalities, they present a unique fire risk. Fire can spread quickly in hotels and guests are typically in unfamiliar surroundings. While sprinklers, smoke alarms and fire walls are required in many parts of the world, do not assume that all hotels will have the same safety features you may be accustomed to. The more you know in advance about dealing with a fire emergency, the better your chances for survival.

• Select a hotel/motel that, at a minimum, has smoke alarms installed. It is recommended to select lodging that also has a fire sprinkler system installed. If you must stay in a hotel/motel without alarms or sprinklers, or have mobility limitations, request a room on the first or second floor.
• When you arrive, review the fire safety information provided. It is typically posted near or on the back of the entry door. Just like in your home, you need to plan your escape ahead of time. Locate the two exits nearest your room. Walk the potential escape routes, counting the number of doors between your room and the exit. Make sure that the fire exit doors work and are unlocked. In a real fire, the hallway may become dark with smoke making it hard to see.
• Put your room key, flashlight, cell phone, eyeglasses and shoes, near the bed. You don't want to waste any time looking for things during a fire and keeping everything together can make your escape easier.
• Learn what number to call in the event of an emergency - not all locations use 9-1-1.

If the alarm does sound:

• If you feel conditions in the hallway are safe, go to your nearest exit and proceed downstairs to the first floor and exit the building. Make sure to close all doors behind you as you exit.
• Be sure to take your room key. In some cases, your room may end up being the safest place to be and you may need to return if your exit is blocked.
• If there is any smoke in the hallway, crawl low - under smoke - to the fire exit and safety.
• If a fire starts in your room, leave immediately and close the door behind you to confine the fire and smoke to the room. Activate the fire alarm and call the fire department once you are safely out of danger.
• NEVER use an elevator under fire conditions. Elevators may malfunction, cables could melt, the elevator car may heat up to lethal temperatures or open on the floor where the fire is. Always take the stairs when exiting from a high-rise building.

Every fire is different. While these guidelines may help you survive a fire, there are situations where you will need to do things differently. Taking the time to prepare in advance can save your life.

Heatstroke - How Hot The Inside Of A Car Can Get

In light of our close call yesterday I thought this would be good to re-post from a few weeks ago. BD

An extremely eye opening video from our friends at SafeKids. Please take 53 seconds to watch!

If you ever see a child alone in a car, please call 911. You could save a life!

Help Protect Kids From Heatstroke

We had a close call today with a child left alone in a hot vehicle.  If you are not aware of it you can go here:

Child left in hot car at Md. Metro station

Child Recovering After Being Left in Parked Car at Forest Glen Metro Station

6-month-old left in car at Metro parking lot

Our partners in safety, SafeKids, has an important related message to share in light of today's event.

Reduce the number of deaths from heatstroke by remembering to ACT.

A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.

C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.

T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

Safety Recalls

Below are several safety recalls via our partners in safety - Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

NVIDIA Recalls Tablet Computers Due to Fire Hazard

Cooper Lighting Recalls Fluorescent Lighting Fixtures Due to Fire Hazard

Whirlpool Recalls Jenn-Air Wall Ovens Due to Risk of Burns

Avon Recalls Nut Chopper Due to Risk of Injury

Instant Pot Pressure Cookers Recalled by Double Insight Due to Shock Hazard (Recall Alert)

Bexco Recalls DaVinci Brand Cribs Due to Entrapment, Fall and Laceration Hazards

Olympus Recalls Digital Point-And-Shoot Camera Due to Shock Hazard; Sold Exclusively at HHGregg Appliance