Winter safety, no time to chill

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mozer O. Da Cunha
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Improper heating equipment use was responsible for 53,600 reported U.S. home fires, more than 400 deaths, 1,520 injuries, and $893 million in damage. With that Airmen are provided tips to how a safe winter season this year.

Different seasons bring unique hazards, such as fireplace use, space heaters, heated blankets and Christmas tree fires come into play during winter in addition to health and driving issues brought on by the weather.  

"Winter is one of the busiest times of the year for us," said Airman 1st Class Kevin Rios, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire prevention apprentice. "There is an increased number of fires due to the use of fireplaces and space heaters around base."

In an effort to reduce the number of incidents, Barksdale's fire department provides Airmen with tips to reduce fireplace hazards.

· Have a professional inspect and clean your fireplace before first use.
· Have a fire screen in place.
· Do not leave fires unattended.
· Put out fires before you leave the area.
· Keep flammable items three feet away from the fireplace
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Additionally, space heaters are a contributing factor in the number of household fires.

"Portable heaters were attributed to 33 percent of fires that happened in the 2011 winter season," Rios said. "Out of those fires, 81 percent led to a fatality."

Rios also gives tips on how to stay safe while using portable space heaters.

· Do not place space heaters on nightstands or carpet.
· Do not leave space heaters unattended or plugged in overnight.
· Do not connect space heaters to extension cords.
· Do not place space heaters close to furniture or any flammable items.

Christmas tree fires are another hazard.

"Christmas tree fires are extremely dangerous because they burn hot and quickly," Rios said. "A medium size Christmas tree takes an average of 30 seconds before the entire tree is engulfed in flames and the room is filled with smoke."

Tips to prevent these fires include:

· Do not leave Christmas lights unattended, unplug them before leaving the residence.
· Inspect Christmas lights before use.
· Do not overload the tree with decorations.
· If you have a live tree, water it to keep it alive as long as possible.

Fires are not the only dangers associated with winter, Airmen are also reminded to be vigilant of their physical health and emotional resilience. 

"With winter also comes the holiday season," said Capt. Matthew Crosby, 2nd Aerospace Medical Squadron flight surgeon. "Even though it's a time of celebration this is also a time of stress for a lot of people."

Risk for hypothermia also increases during the winter months.

"It does not necessarily have to be freezing for someone to get hypothermia," Crosby said. "Wear layers. We might have a t-shirt on and take a winter coat with us but if we get hot and take that coat off, we will be more exposed to the elements."

Crosby provides Airmen tips on how to stay physically healthy and emotional resilient this winter.

· Make time to exercise.
· Hydrate, as dehydration can also occur in cold weather.
· Be mindful of emotional health, talk to someone if the need arises. 

Winter is also a peak travel season, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides travel tips to keep Airmen and their families safe this season.

· Check your battery.
· Check your cooling system.
· Check windshield wipers and defrosters.
· Fill your windshield washer reservoir.
· Inspect your tires.
· Verify floor mat installation to prevent pedal interference.
· Plan your travel and route.
· Stock your vehicle with road flares and first aid supplies.

In an effort to promote a fun and safe winter season Airmen and their families can use these tools to have a fun and accident free holiday and winter season.