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Vidalia Fire Department

Fire Prevention


Vidalia Fire Department
Fire Prevention Department
604 John Dale Drive - Vidalia, La. 71373
Phone (318) 336-6262
Captain Tim Vanier - Fire Prevention

Assistant Chief Adams - Arson Investigator

                                                 

Assistant Chief Adams                       Captain Vanier

                                       

 

 

The Vidalia Fire Department is a proud participant in the

To Hell And Back

Fire Prevention and Juvenile Fire Setter Program

For More Information Please email Lt. Vanier

The Vidalia Fire Department

Offers Community Burn Education Program

To Hell and Back program teaches the reality of burn injuries and prevention

 

Sustaining a severe burn is one of the most painful and devastating injuries a body can endure. More than 250,000 of burn injuries occur every year in the United States and more than 10 percent of those injuries result in death. The Vidalia Fire Department is working to lower those statistics by first changing behaviors in our own community through a new nationally recognized and distributed burn education and prevention program called To Hell and Back: Community Awareness.

The program is geared for adults and high school students and is the first of its kind offering “reality TV” on what happens to the skin when a burn injury occurs and the life-long impact of severe burn injuries. Using real life experiences of burn survivors, the program was developed by The People’s Burn Foundation and a national team of fire service experts to ultimately teach the importance of being proactive in practicing burn prevention. It is a free program funded with an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the Department Homeland Security.

“I thought this program was a great reality check,” said one high school student during pilot site testing. “I always knew about burns, but never the severe physical, mental, social, and financial consequences. I believe this program will be good for all high school students.”

“I believe this is ‘must see TV’ for every high school student, parent and adult in our community,”. “It is graphic and powerful, and it is the reality of burn injuries. Our community is fortunate to have this program available because it will save lives.”

“I thought the program gave a good look at what it would be like to be a burn victim,” said one high school student. “Following the recovery of four severely burned people made it more real and helped us understand burn care and prevention. It makes me thankful for everything I can do and will do to make myself and others more cautious about preventing burns in the future.”

Another student said: “The video did a great job of explaining the sequence of events with helping and caring for burn victims. From a science standpoint, the explanation of the layers of skin and how they are affected was great. Hopefully this DVD will help others think about the consequences of playing with fire and why it is important not to be burned.”

 

Fireworks Safety Tips

Fireworks is one of the greatest American traditions in celebration.  If you and your family follow these fireworks safety tips we can keep this tradition fun and safe for not only those lighting the fireworks but also your audience.

  • CHILDREN SHOULD NOT HANDLE FIREWORKS.
    NEVER LET CHILDREN HANDLE, PLAY WITH, OR LIGHT ANY FIREWORKS. ONLY ADULTS SHOULD HANDLE AND LIGHT THE FIREWORKS. The fireworks are great family fun, but they burn very hot and are intended to be handled only by adults.

  • DO NOT USE ALCOHOL WITH FIREWORKS.
    Please do not consume any alcohol while lighting or handling any fireworks. Fireworks must be used only by individuals who act in a responsible manner and who are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you are impaired in any way when you use fireworks, you increase the possibilities of misuse and injury to yourself and others.

  • FOLLOW THE LAWS; USE COMMON SENSE
    Follow your local and state laws regarding the possession and use of fireworks, and use good common sense when using fireworks. Read all directions, cautions, labels, and warnings on each individual firework item to understand the product performance and hazards associated with the use of the item. If your state has shooters' sites, use them. Use only those fireworks permitted under the laws of the state and local jurisdiction in which you are using the fireworks.

  • USE FIREWORKS ON A HARD SURFACE.
    Always light fireworks on a hard, flat, and level surface to insure the stability of the items. Grass is generally not suitable for any item intended to be used in an upright position. (If lighting fireworks on grass, lay down a flat wooden board for a shooting surface.)

  • USE IN A CLEAR, OPEN AREA.
    Always keep the audience (and particularly children) a safe distance away from the shooting site. Always light your fireworks in a clear open area away from buildings, vehicles, and shrubbery. A minimum clear radius of 30 feet for fountains and other ground based items and 100 yards for any aerial product is recommended. You should avoid lighting the fireworks in any area where there is dry grass or brush that could catch fire or near any flammable items. Never use fireworks indoors. Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.

  • KEEP CLEAR OF THE FIREWORKS.
    Never put your head or any part of your body over the top of any fireworks product. Never look into a tube to check on the firework item. Never hold a lighted firework item in your hand. Keep as far from the firework item as possible when lighting.

  •  USE CARE IN LIGHTING THE FIREWORKS.
    Always light fireworks products with punk, a Phantom Pyro Torch, a flare or an extended butane lighting device. This will enable you to keep as far from the firework item as possible. If needed, use a flashlight at night so the fuse can be easily seen; never use a lantern or other flame producing device near fireworks for illumination. Light the fireworks product and get away quickly. Respect the fireworks, because if used improperly, they can be dangerous.

  • ONE AT A TIME.
    Light only one firework item at a time.

  • DON'T USE MALFUNCTIONING OR "DUD" ITEMS.
    Never attempt to re light, alter, or fix any "dud" firework item. If a firework item fails to ignite, let it stand for at least five minutes, then immerse it in water. Dispose of the item properly. You can always return the item to your Phantom dealer for replacement.

  • HAVE WATER CLOSE BY.
    Have an accessible fire extinguisher, water supply, hose, or bucket of water nearby for emergencies. During any fireworks shoot, there should always be one individual assigned as the fireman, whose sole job is to be alert and at the ready with a water source.

  • WINDY CONDITIONS.
    Be cautious of lighting any fireworks during strong wind conditions. The fireworks should be lit with the prevailing wind blowing away from the spectators. If there is a significant wind shift during the time you are lighting the fireworks, the shooting site should be rearranged to accommodate the wind shift or the shooting should be stopped until the windy conditions subside.

  • USE CARE IN HANDLING FIREWORKS.
    Do not carry fireworks in your pocket or on your person. It is preferable to keep the products in a closed container before ignition. Always be careful in handling fireworks to prevent dropping them. Never smoke when handling fireworks.

  • NEVER USE THE FIREWORKS AS WEAPONS.
    Never aim, point, or throw any fireworks at another person or at any property.

  • STORAGE OF FIREWORKS.
    Always store fireworks in a cool, dry place and dispose of fireworks properly.

  • USE FIREWORKS OUTDOORS.
    Never use fireworks indoors; only use them outdoors under safe conditions.

 

Smoke Detector Maintenance/Installation

Smoke alarms contribute significantly to a families ability to escape from smoke and heated gases in the event of a fire by detecting the presence of smoke before the fire has spread through out the house.  Flames, heated gases, and smoke move quickly through a residence reducing your chance of escape and visibility greatly.  Statistics show that most residence fires occur during the night between the hours of 12:00 and 8:00, while your family is sleeping.  Against popular belief your family will not be awaken by smoke or heat from a fire, the dangerous gases puts you into a deeper sleep.

Every home needs devices through out your home that will alert you to these dangerous conditions giving you and you and your family time to evacuate the residence to safety.

Choosing A Smoke Detector For Your Home

There are many different brands of smoke detectors to chose from that are inexpensive but adequate.  Whatever brand of smoke detector that you choose be sure to check for the Underwriters Laboratory or Factory Mutual approval tag.  Please read the owners manual carefully for installation, maintenance, and testing procedures.  If you have any questions regarding your smoke detector feel free to call your local fire department for assistance.

Number of Smoke Detectors Needed For Your Home

Every  home should have a smoke detector outside each sleeping area to awaken any member of your family in the instance of a fire.  It is not recommended that you place smoke detectors in the kitchen area of your home due to the heat, steam, and smoke from normal cooking will cause multiple false alarms  It is recommended however that you install a heat detector in the kitchen area of your home.  If you live in a multiple story home, it is also recommended that you install a smoke detector on each level of your home, and in each bathroom of your home.

Where And How Should I Install My New Detector

  • If  you prefer to rent instead of own your home, the owner is responsible for installation.

  • Only a screw driver and drill is required to install a smoke detector.

  • Heated smoke rises, so your new detector should be mounted high on the wall or on the ceiling.

  • Your new detector should be mounted 4" to 12" from the ceiling if you decide to mount it on the wall.

  • Your new detector should be mounted a minimal of 4" from the wall if you decide to mount it on the ceiling..

  • To be sure that smoke is not pulled from your detector do not mount it near air vents if possible.

Properly Maintain Your Detector To Assure Performance

  • DO NOT PAINT YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR under any circumstance.

  • Replace your batteries at least twice a year to assure proper performance when needed

  • Test your detectors weekly.  Simply push the test button and hold for 2-3 seconds until alarm is activated.  If alarm does not activate replace batteries and repeat process, if no alarms sounds at this point replace and discard  your smoke detector

  • Keep your detector free from dust, spider webs, and other debris.  Keep locations of detectors clean and dust free as possible.

  • Replace your detectors at least every ten years, and discard old detectors properly

 

Outdoor Grilling Safety Tips

With the warm weather of summer, the aroma of outdoor grills is prevalent in the air.  Here are some outdoor grilling tips to keep your pastimes running smooth and free of injury and harm and to keep you the popular man with your friends and neighbors.

Gas Grill Safety Tips

  • Make sure that your hoses are free of cracks, leaks, holes and sharp bends that could cause damage or breaks.

  • Keep your hoses as for as possible from leaking hot greases and from the heat of the grill.

  • Never store your spare propane cylinders beneath the grill, always keep your spare cylinder in a cool and open area.

  • Never place your propane cylinder in areas such as the trunk of a car, especially during the warmer days of summer.  As the heat increases inside the trunk of a car the gaseous propane inside the cylinder expands.  Once the gas has expanded beyond the capacity of the cylinder the pressure relief valve will begin to discharge the excess pressure.

  • Always keep you propane cylinders in the upright position.

  • Under no circumstance should you store any other flammable liquids such as gas or kerosene near your grill.

  • Check your igniters on your grill regularly for consistent sparking.  If your igniter is not functioning properly it could allow the release of propane into the air thus causing an explosion.

  • Never bring propane cylinders inside of your home or attempt to use an outdoor grill inside of your home.

Charcoal Grill Safety Tips    

  • Never add lighter fluid to the grill once the coals have been ignited

  • Avoid horseplay around the grill and keep children a safe distance from the grill.

  • Never burn charcoal inside of tents, campers, vehicles, or homes.

  • Charcoal should never be used inside your home, no matter how proper you may think your ventilation is.

  • Charcoal produces CO while being burned.  Carbon Monoxide is a odorless, colorless gas that can cause serious illness and even death if used in an enclosed area.

  • Never store a charcoal grill indoors with freshly burned coals remaining inside the grill.  If storing indoors be sure to properly discard the used coals and rinse grill completely.