Safety Video Challenge

It is always good to have a plan of action. Having a family plan for home escape in an emergency is one of the most important plans you will ever make. Preserve your plan forever by making a short video of the five steps.

 

 

Five Easy Steps to Making and Practicing

Your Home Emergency Escape Plan:

Step 1:  Survey your home – as a family make a drawing of your home’s floor plan.. Nothing fancy, just something for everyone to look at.  Mark the exits from your home. Each room should have two ways out. Leave space around the floor plan to mark you outside meeting place

Mark the locations of your smoke detectors.

If you have a second floor on your house, be sure to map it out and plan two ways out of every room on this level. Consider how children will escape if they must use the second exit from their room.

Consider this, do you have someone who is disabled living with you? How will they exit the building?

Step 2: Decide on an outside meeting place. Mark the meeting place on your map, Be sure everyone in the family knows exactly where you have decided to meet.  If there is a reason to evacuate your home in an emergency it is very helpful to arriving emergency crews to know that everyone is safely out of the building.

Step 3: Check your smoke detectors. Smoke detectors should be check at least once a month.

Step 4: Double check your exits.  Be sure that all of the exits you have marked are not blocked and are in working order. Include in this check all of the exits you have marked as the second way out of the building.

Once your map is complete, post it someplace where the family will be able to see it and remember what to do.

Step 5:  Make a video of your family practicing your full escape plan.

 

Send us your video masterpiece!

Here’s how: upload your video to YouTube (How to Upload a Video to YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtF2AgFSLAw )

Email your YouTube video to submissions@homewoodil.com

   Be sure to include your family’s name

HOW DOES A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WORK?

Known as "the silent killer," carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas that comes from the incomplete burning of fuel. Just about anything you might burn in or around your home — whether it's gasoline, wood, coal, propane, natural gas or oil — can produce carbon monoxide in the right conditions. Without enough ventilation, the gas can build up to deadly levels. It doesn't take much fuel to be dangerous: Even small tools like chainsaws can release enough CO to make you sick. It is important that you have any gas burning appliances cleaned and checked by a professional every year.
How a Carbon Monoxide Detector Works
You may be surprised to discover that a carbon monoxide (CO) detector really isn't a complicated piece of equipment. Housed inside a plastic chamber approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter are parts that work in unison to alert a household when lethal gas is detected. The exact components can vary from one model to another, but here's a run-down of the basic parts:

• Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) use lights to let you know how the unit is functioning and whether    the battery needs to be replaced. Some detectors also have a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel that shows a readout of CO levels.
• Wires to the building's electrical system or a battery provide power to the unit.
• A test/reset button lets you make sure the alarm is working.
• A detection chamber houses the CO gas sensor.
• The CO sensor identifies and measures CO gas concentration in the atmosphere in parts per million (ppm).
In the United States, sensors for home use are calibrated to detect CO concentrations according to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety standards. When the sensor detects dangerous levels of the gas, it sends an electronic pulse to the alarm. The higher the concentration, the faster the alarm will respond. For example, the alarm will respond to concentrations of about 70 ppm in as little as an hour but will respond to concentrations of 400 ppm in as little as four minutes [source: UL 2034]. The alarm sounds at about 85 decibels (dB), just a little quieter than a typical lawnmower, but is often very shrill.
CO detectors can use several types of sensors to sense carbon monoxide in the air. Biomimetic sensor technology reproduces CO's effects on hemoglobin in the blood. In a biomimetic sensor, a gel changes color as it absorbs CO. A separate sensor detects the color change and alerts the detector's processor to sound the alarm. Once a biomimetic sensor has changed color, it must be placed in a CO-free environment to reset itself. Biomimetic sensors can also be used on portable CO detector cards — if you see the disc on the card turn dark, there's a dangerous amount of CO in the air.
Metal oxide semiconductor sensors use circuits applied to a silica chip. When CO comes into contact with the circuitry, it lowers the electrical resistance. The processor detects the change and causes the alarm to sound. These sensors require lots of electricity, so they generally plug into wall outlets rather than using batteries.¬
Like metal oxide sensors, electrochemical sensors use changes in electrical current to detect carbon monoxide. But instead of using an integrated chip, electrochemical sensors use electrodes immersed in a chemical solution. Electrochemical instant detection and response (IDR) sensors are often used in professional sensing equipment and detect dangerous levels of CO instantly.
How Stuff Works.com

How Does A Fire Extinguisher Work?

Every home, office and car should have a fire extinguisher. The most common type of extinguisher is called an ABC.  The majority of fires can be extinguished using an ABC.

There are two other classes of fires shown on the  diagram, D and K . Most people will not deal with those types of fires in their home or office. Class D is for combustible metals and Class K is for restaurant cooking equipment. 

Inside of an extinguisher is the extinguishing agent. Dry chemical powder is used in an ABC extinguisher since powder is the most versatile agent for extinguishing ABC classes of fire. 

But how does an extinguisher work? 
Inside, a fire extinguisher is like a giant aerosol can, often with two different substances inside. One of them is a solid, liquid, or gas substance for fighting the fire. The other one is called a propellant and is a pressurized chemical that makes the fire-fighting substance come out when you press the extinguisher handle. Next time you see a fire extinguisher, take a good look. Have you noticed that fire extinguishers are always really strong steel canisters? That because the propellant is stored inside at a high pressure. Strong canisters are needed to stop the extinguishers exploding!.
A water extinguisher is like a giant water pistol, but instead of using pressure from your finger to fire out the water, it uses pressure from a trapped gas (the propellant). Typically, this is nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Dry chemical extinguishers work in the same way. 
1. A ring or pin on the handle stops the fire extinguisher from being set off by accident. It also acts as a tamper-proof seal: if the ring is broken or missing, you know the extinguisher needs to be checked.
2. Inside the sturdy steel case, there's a canister containing high-pressure gas (orange with blue hashing).
3. Most of the extinguisher is filled with water (blue) or dry chem
4. A tube runs right up the inside of the tube to a nozzle outside (gray).
5. The nozzle often ends in a piece of bendy plastic so you can easily direct it toward the base of a fire.
6. To operate the extinguisher, you pull the ring and press the handle.
7. Pressing the handle opens a valve (shown here as a green arrow) that releases the pressurized gas from the canister.
8. The gas immediately expands and fills the inside of the extinguisher, pushing the water downward
9. As the water is pushed down, it rises up the tube
10.A jet of water emerges from the nozzle.

How Does a Fire Hydrant Work?

There are two types of fire hydrants, wet and dry. Wet hydrants are used in climates that have little chance of the ground freezing. The second type is a dry hydrant, which is used in climates like Homewood’s where the ground freezes just about every winter. 

 

A wet hydrant has water in it almost all the way to the top of the hydrant all the time. 
A dry hydrant is just that, dry. The water in the hydrant is held in pipes in the ground below the freeze line. 

When a dry hydrant is opened, the operating stem turns so water can fill the barrel of the hydrant. 
For more information on fire hydrants and their history, go to: www.firehydrants.org

Have You Ever Wondered about Homewood’s Water Towers?

When you look around Homewood you will see, we have three water towers, one on the east side, one on the west side and the most visible one at the Village Hall. The purpose of the water towers is to maintain water pressure throughout the Village. 
As the diagram  shows, a tank receives water from a pumping station. Each tank is filled with 30 feet of water. When the water level falls to 22 feet, the tank is refilled to the 30 foot mark.  

All three of Homewood’s water towers appear to be at different heights. Although the tank vary in size, they must all be exactly the same height from the ground to the top of the tower. If the top of the Village Hall tank is 200 feet from the ground, then the other two towers must meet that same height even if they are on a piece of land that is 20 feet lower than the Village hall. If one tank is lower than the others, it will overflow.
Homewood receives treated water from Chicago. When it arrives in Homewood, chlorine is added to maintain the disinfect so no bacteria can grow. 
The constant water pressure in the mains, permits Homewood firefighters to have a continious, dependable water supply with which to fight fires. 

Chicago’s Vanishing Water Tanks
After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, Chicago mandated that warehouses and public buildings install water towers or water platforms on their roofs to aid firefighters in fire suppression by always having a supply of gravity fed water available. 
Here is a story by WTTW about Chicago’s Vanishing Water Tanks

•ICE Medical Standard App
Self-proclaimed as “The World’s #1 Emergency Medical Contact Information App” with over 100 million users in the US alone, this application allows you to input your vital statistics (such as blood type, allergies, medication and medical conditions) and have it display in your phone’s Lock Screen Image Overlay Display. This app has additional useful features. 
Available on Apple App Store

• Medical ID App
This app displays an emergency medical card on a smartphone’s Lock Screen,  it also allows users to make immediate calls from that same lock screen to a list of defined ICE (in Case of Emergency) contacts.  Medical ID app goes further by allowing users to send location-based SMSs and GPS tracking alerts to designated contacts and assists in the localization of nearby hospitals and trauma centers. The multiple profile feature is also a fantastic resource for families since many profiles can be saved on a single device. 

More information at Medical Id website

• emnet findernow
When you need to get to the closest emergency room (ER) fast, this app connects you with the nation’s most comprehensive national database of medical centers and gives you 1-click directions by using your phone’s GPS, making it an invaluable resource for both locals and travelers alike. For an additional 99 cents there is an add-on pediatric version for this app.  Available at Apple Play Store

Other useful apps: 
Red Cross First Aid
Red Cross Emergency Alerts
Red Cross Pet First Aid
FEMA Weather

Fire Forensics
Have you ever wondered how firefighters decide what caused a fire? They use the six steps of the scientific method.
They:
• Ask a question – How did this fire start?
• Find evidence
• Form a hypothesis
• Test the hypothesis
• Analysis the evidence and draw a conclusion
• State the results of their investigation

Underwriter Laboratories has created a learning module to explain Fire Forensics. This unit is designed for kids ages 9 – 12. Check it out at https://ulxplorlabs.org/fire-forensics-claims-and-evidence/

WARNING!
Experiments performed as part of this unit must be done under adult supervision!!!!

Train like a real firefighter!

Set up a physical challenge course in your backyard or nearby park.  Follow the circuit training listed below. 
You will need: 
• Something like a bean bag toss game
• Something to jump over – FF size appropriate hurdles
• Something like cones to weave in and  around
• Something like hoops or large dots
• Something to crawl under-perhaps chairs with a blanket
• A jump rope
• A coil of garden hose
• Sidewalk chalk
• A target of “fire” to spray with water – tower of plastic cups, large plastic blocks or a cardboard box painted like fire, etc. 
• A bell or rope to suspend an object from a tree limb

Setting up the challenge: 
Start by picking 7 to 10 challenges from the following list. Once you have decided how you will challenge yourself, mark out the places for each challenge in your yard or the park. Since you will be running from place to place, and if it is OK with mom or dad, you can put some of the stations in the front yard if you need more room. 
The Challenges – pick 7 to 10 activities 
(Numbers in parenthesis are for younger firefighters) 
1.   Carry a coil of garden hose 15 (10) feet
2.   Jump rope for 30 (15) seconds  
3.   Throw bean bags in to target board-adjust distance to target for age
4.   Jump from hoop to hoop or large dot to large dot
5.   Crawl under “smoke” 15 (10) feet
6.   Crawl under “smoke” dragging bound hose coil 15 (10) feet
7.   Cone weaving or slalom run around objects
8.   Burpee 10 (7) 
9.   Mini hurdles 4 – 6
10. Crab walk 10 (6) feet
11.  Jumping Jacks  25 (15)
12.  Sit-ups  15 (10) 
13.  Vertical jumps – Try to touch a rope or bell suspended from a tree branch-15 (10)
14.  Push-ups 15 (10)
15.  Squats 15 (10)
16.  Hop scotch

Remind your neighbors to be fire safe. Pick up your chalk and get drawing!

What to do: 
• Get mom or dad’s permission
• Pick one or two fire safety messages
• Choose a spot on the sidewalk in front of your house or maybe at a corner
• Create your chalk fire safety masterpiece  
• Take a picture and send it to submissions@homewoodil.gov     Be sure to include your name and grade.

Possible Fire Safety Messages
• Stop, Drop and Roll
• Cool a burn with water
• Crawl low in smoke
• Stay low and go!
• In an emergency, dial 9-1-1
• Have a home escape plan
• Burns hurt!

• Stay away from things that are hot

• Check smoke detectors once a month

Just as you would plan for your family’s emergency needs, consider the emergency needs of your family pet.  When making an emergency supply kit for your family, also make one for Rover or Fluffy.

Food:  Keep at least three days of food in an airtight, waterproof container.
Water:   Store at least three days worth of water specifically for your pets in addition to water you need for yourself and your family.  
Medicine and medical records:  Keep an extra supply of medicine your pet takes on a regular basis in a waterproof container. Check expiration date on medicine once a year.  Keep copies of up to date medical records and vaccination cards in a waterproof bag.  
First aid kit:  Talk to your veterinarian about what is most appropriate for your pet’s emergency medical needs. Most kits should include cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors, antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention, latex gloves, rubbing alcohol and saline solution. Include a pet first aid reference book.
Collar with ID tag, harness or leash:  Your dog should wear a collar with its rabies tag at all times.  Include a backup leash and ID tag in your pet’s emergency kit. 
Crate or other pet carrier:  Moving your pets in an emergency can be a problem. Provide them with a carrier where they will be comfortable and feel secure. The carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down.
Sanitation:  Include pet litter and a litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach. 

For more information, go to   www.ready.gov

How to Make a Bicycle First-aid Kit 

Things You Will Need:

• Waterproof bag
• Bandages
• Waterproof tape
• Gauze, Disinfectant wipe, Plastic bags, Cotton balls, and swab

1 Choose the proper container. The small satchel or bag should be weather resistant. The first aid kit should easily attach to the bicycle. Use small plastic bags to store the various items. This keeps the items safe from the weather.
2 Assemble the bandages. These should be packed into the first aid kit first. The kit should have various size bandages, including a large pressure bandage. Butterfly bandages work wonders for open wounds and should be included in any medical kit.
3 Buy a large package of good quality waterproof tape. Tape can be used to hold together several sizes of bandages and can also be used to wrap breaks and sprains.
4 Include at least four to six feet of gauze in the kit. The gauze can shield a tube of hydrocortisone.
5 Pack some disinfectant wipes or a clean cloth and skin disinfectant, like Bactine.
6 Place a plastic bag full of swabs and cotton balls on top. The cotton balls and swabs provide a cushion to protect the other items in the kit.

Click Here for Information from Ready.gov on how to keep your family safe in all kinds of weather. 

What is a burn injury?

A burn injury most often damages layers of skin. Deeper burn injuries may damage tissue (fat and muscle), or even bone.

What are the main causes of burn injuries?

Burn injuries can happen in many ways. Common examples are:

• Flame: contact with fire or flame
• Flash: resulting from the heat of an explosive blast
• Scald: contact with hot liquids or hot steam
• Grease: contact with hot grease
• Contact: prolonged contact with something hot
• Electrical: electricity passing through the body and heating the skin and underlying tissue
• Chemical: contact with chemicals, such as acid or alkalis                                                   

What are the different degrees of burn injury? 

Clinicians measure depth of burns in degrees:

First degree burns are the mildest type of burn. They are also called superficial burns. First degree burns damage only the epidermis, which is the first layer of skin. First degree burns usually don’t get infected or leave a scar. The skin may get red but won’t break and usually heals within 3–5 days.

Second degree burns are also called partial thickness burns. This type of burn damages the epidermis and the dermis. The dermis is the second layer of skin. Second degree burns are painful. The injured area can swell and appear red with blisters. The damaged skin usually grows back unless it becomes infected or the injury gets deeper.

Third degree burns are also called full thickness burns. This type of burn goes through the epidermis and dermis and affects deeper tissues, which may also be damaged or destroyed. The injured area can appear charred and may be black, white, or deep red in color. This area is often numb to light touch. Third degree burns don’t heal by themselves, so skin grafting is often necessary (discussed later).

Fourth degree and deeper burns destroy the skin plus fat, muscle and sometimes bone.

How is burn size estimated?

Total body surface area (or TBSA) burned is the percent (%) of the body that is burned. To estimate burn size, clinicians use a formula that considers the age of the injured person and a diagram called the Rule of Nines (shown below). This is the most common way to estimate burn size. First degree burns are not included in the calculation of percent TBSA burn.

Can lungs be burned?

When breathed in, smoke or toxic gases can harm the lungs. Clinicians call this an inhalation injury. This type of injury often occurs when the injured person is trapped in an enclosed area for a long amount of time. Damage depends on the type of gas and smoke particles inhaled and on length of exposure.

How is the severity of burn assessed?

Clinicians consider many factors to determine the severity of a burn injury:

• Degree (depth) of the burn,
• Size (percentage) of the skin that is burned, and
• Age of the injured person
• Other factors include:
• Location of the burn on the body,
• Inhalation of toxic gases or smoke,
• Type of burn,
• Other traumatic injuries (bone fractures), and
• Other health issues (such as diabetes, heart problems, or alcoholism).

What are skin grafts and donor sites?

Skin grafts are thin layers of skin that surgeons take from an unburned area and then surgically place on the burned area. The area where the skin is taken from is called the donor site. Common donor sites are the thigh and the back but may be taken from any uninjured area of the body other than the face. The donor site generally takes about two weeks to heal. 

What about infection?

Burned areas can get infected, at the time of the injury and during the healing process. To prevent infection, people with burn injuries should follow the treatment orders of their healthcare team. They should also follow the hospital's infection control guidelines, such as using gloves and gowns when recommended. Practicing good hand hygiene (clean hands) can help prevent infection. This applies to both the injured person and their family members, friends, and caregivers.

Source: https://msktc.org/burn/factsheets/Understanding_Burn_Injury

Wildfires

Every year in America, we experience about 100,000 wildfires. Ninety percent of these fires are caused by people not extinguishing campfires appropriately, careless use of smoking materials and even arson. 
However, ten percent of wildfires are caused by nature itself. Most wildfires caused by nature are due to lightening strikes. 
Below is a series of websites for videos about wildfires and the people who fight to save our forests. 

The Science of Wildfires
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8OrmGAIqI4

The Ecological Benefits of Fire – scroll to bottom for videos
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/ecological-benefits-fire/

Wildfire101  - National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hghT1W33cYInside 

Inside the flames (Smoke Jumpers Training)  Jul 2, 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcv1K7QsrvI

Drones vs California Wildfires: How they’re helping firefighters   Sept. 2, 2018
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/ecological-benefits-fire/

EN_Winter-Storm-Preparedness-Checklist