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“The American Red Cross is synonymous with keeping families safe,” said Tim Miller, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties.
“We’ve learned through experience that deadly home fires happen each year for many reasons, especially Christmas trees catching fire. Many of these fires and deaths can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions,” said Miller.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 60 percent of all home fires each year occur during December, January and February, and about half of these fires are caused by using candles and overloading electrical circuits.
As some families turn to alternative heating sources out of necessity or to avoid the rising cost of oil and gas, there is an increased risk of accidental fires in the home.
The local Red Cross recommends the following safety tips for a joyous holiday season:
Keep Christmas trees fresh: Place your tree away from heat sources and exits; water it daily. Make sure your artificial tree is fire-retardant.
Decorate only with flame-retardant or non-combustible materials: Avoid using candles during parties. Check ashtrays, upholstery and trash cans for smoldering cigarette butts after any holiday party.
Never leave candles unattended: Keep candles away from Christmas trees. Never leave children unattended in a room with lit candles and always keep candles, as well as matches and lighters, out of the reach of children. An added risk in Northern California: burning candles can turn a small earthquake into a big fire.
Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves: Have chimney connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary prior to the start of the heating season. Burn only wood. Never burn paper, including discarded gift wrap, or pine boughs. If you plan to hang stockings on your fireplace, do not use the fireplace for fires.
Enroll in a First Aid, CPR and AED course: Although these tips can help prevent an emergency, it is also important to be prepared. To enroll in a first aid, CPR or AED course, go to www.arcsm.org or call 707-577-7600 or 707-463-0112 (Mendocino County). The Red Cross even teaches pet first aid.
If you have a serious home emergency such as a fire or flood, and need help from the local Red Cross for shelter, food or medicine, call 707-577-7600 or 1-800-608-8634.
Donate generously to help the local Red Cross keep your community safe.
The local Red Cross is asking residents to donate generously during this season, so that they will be ready to respond when inevitable fires and floods take place in our region.
In these difficult economic times, people are even more at risk for homelessness following home fires and floods. Red Cross can make all the difference: quick volunteer response helps victims immediately with shelter, food, medical supplies, and, perhaps most importantly, the knowledge that someone cares.
Red Cross disaster services are always free. In Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties, that is thanks to voluntary donations of time and money by the local community. The local chapter is self-sustaining and receives no funding from the national organization.
Donations can be made in several ways: online, www.arcsm.org; y phone, 707-577-7600 or 707-463-0112; at the American Red Cross regional office, by mail or in person, 5297 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 (off Airport Boulevard, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.).
Help the national Red Cross respond to emergencies across the country.
The national Red Cross is asking people across the country to donate generously at this time of year. A Red Cross holiday giving catalog has more than 20 gift ideas – such as assisting someone in the military with a phone card or supplies, providing food and shelter to a disaster victim, or giving basic necessities to a family in another country.
The English catalog is online at www.redcross.org/gifts; the Spanish-language version is at www.cruzrojaamericana.org/catalogo.
American Red Cross, Sonoma & Mendocino Counties (which includes Lake County) is a neutral, humanitarian organization that provides relief to victims of disasters, and prepares people to prevent and respond to emergencies.
Like all Red Cross chapters, the local chapter is self-sustaining and is funded by local contributions. All assistance to disaster victims and to members of the armed forces provided by the chapter is free and made possible by voluntary donations of time and money by community members.
