Will Smoke Detectors Wake Your Kids?

Fire Safety Infographic from Safekids.org

How to Prepare Before Extreme Heat

Here are some great tips on how to stay safe this summer. A little preparation goes a long way.

To prepare for extreme heat, you should:

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
• Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
• Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.

Install temporary window reflectors (for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.

• Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. (Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.)

READ MORE TIPS AT READY.GOV

Striking Facts about Summer’s Severe Weather

Here's a great article about severe summer weather from Ready Georgia's Blog...

Welcome to the first week of summer! Saturday marked the official start to a season full of outdoor festivities. You may know all the facts about summer fun, but are you up to speed on summer’s severe weather? Georgia summers are notorious for a variety of severe weather, but two of its biggest threats are extreme heat and lightning. Consider these striking facts:

Striking Fact #1: Heat is the #1 weather-related killer in the U.S. Tornadoes and hurricanes often get the headlines, but excessive heat is a formidable foe that claims more lives each year than floods, tornadoes and hurricanes combined. Stay informed about ways to remain safe when the temperature rises.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE

Know the Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is the body's response to an excessive loss of the water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Workers most prone to heat exhaustion are those that are elderly, have high blood pressure, and those working in a hot environment.

Symptoms

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Heavy sweating
• Extreme weakness or fatigue
• Dizziness, confusion
• Nausea
• Clammy, moist skin
• Pale or flushed complexion
• Muscle cramps
• Slightly elevated body temperature
• Fast and shallow breathing

First Aid

Treat someone suffering from heat exhaustion with the following:

• Have them rest in a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area.
• Have them drink plenty of water or other cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
• Have them take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.

Metro Atlanta Events for July 2014

July 4th: Peachtree Road Race

July 5th - 6th: Atlanta Food Festival in Marietta

July 12th: Atlanta Street Food Festival in Piedmont Park

July 13th: Tim McGraw: Sundown Heaven Town Tour 2014 at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood

July 18th: KISS and Def Leppard at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood

July 18th - 26th: Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee

July 25th & 26th: Luke Bryan: That's My Kind of Night Tour at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood

Summertime Grilling Safety

It's Summertime and that means grilling time for most families! However, according to one study gas and charcoal grills caused an average of 3,400 structure fires and 4,900 outdoor fires in or on home properties in 2005, resulting in a combined direct property loss of $137 million. So before you fire up that grill, take a few minutes to check out these safety tips so your cookout doesn't turn into a fire damage claim or a trip to the emergency room.

• Follow manufacturer's directions.


• Make sure the grill is stable and can’t be tipped over.


• Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and fuel line to be sure it is not leaking.


• Place the grill away from flammable materials, and at least 10 feet away from any structure, shrubs, trees or vehicles.


• Never use a barbeque grill in an unventilated space.


• Open all vents before and during cooking.


• Never leave a grill unattended once it has been lit.


• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. If this is not possible, have a garden hose handy.


• For charcoal grills, only use starter fluids designed for those grills. Never use gasoline.


• Be sure to soak the coals with water before you put them in the trash.


• Avoid exceptionally loose clothing, especially sleeves that can catch fire.


• Long handled grilling tools make grilling easier & safer.


• Clean the grill regularly, using a grill brush. Some have a metal blade to scrape the grill rack; if yours does not, use a crumpled piece of aluminum foil.


• Keep children and pets away from the grill until it is completely cool.

Summer Fireworks Safety

Here are some great tips for fireworks safety from safekids.org:

1. The best way to protect your family is to not use any fireworks at home. Instead, attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals.
2. Closely supervise children around fireworks at all times.
3. Do not wear loose clothing while using fireworks.
4. Never light fireworks indoors or near dry grass.
5. Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush, leaves and flammable substances.
6. Always have a bucket of water and/or a fire extinguisher nearby. Know how to operate the fire extinguisher properly.

Lightning Safety Week: Boating Safety

Summertime in Georgia means being out on the boat for a lot of families. Unfortunately, many lightning fatalaties happen while families are boating, fishing and swimming. How can you protect your family while out on your boat? Here are some tips from the CDC:

• LISTEN to the forecast.
  Short-term forecasts are quite accurate; however, they may miss some very localized storms
• LEARN how to read the weather.
  Watch for the development of large, well-defined, rising cumulus clouds. Cumulus clouds have flat bases and dome or cauliflower shapes. Cumulus clouds can develop into thunderstorm clouds. When you see cumulus reach 30,000 feet, the thunderstorm is generally developing, and it is time to head for shore. As clouds become darker and more anvil-shaped, the storm is already in progress.
• WATCH and LISTEN for distant activity.
  Watch for distant lightning and listen for distant thunder. You may hear thunder before you see lightning on a bright day. If you hear thunder or see lightning, seek shelter away from the water.
• PROTECT your boat.
  The National Ag Safety Database provides a number of ways you can protect your boat and minimize damage if it is struck by lightning or is near a lightning strike.

Get Ready on the Go!

The award- winning Ready Georgia mobile app, created by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the Georgia Department of Public Health, is an interactive tool that makes it easier than ever to stay ready for emergencies. The app features geo-targeted severe weather and emergency alerts that will notify your phone before disasters strike. It also includes a customizable emergency plan and supplies checklist, information on how to deal with specific threats, and maps detailing everything from live traffic to the location of open emergency shelters. - See more at: http://www.ready.ga.gov/mobileapp#sthash.yT7lpSWs.dpuf