Tips on using a Fire Extinguisher

Many homes are outfitted with home security essentials like smoke detectors and security systems. However, most homeowners don’t know how to use a fire extinguisher, even if there’s one hanging in the kitchen for emergencies. An extraordinary number of accidents and deaths occur in the U.S. each year because of malfunctioning smoke alarms, fatal burns, cooking accidents, burning candles and fireplaces. Knowledge of proper fire extinguisher operation may save a life.

Learn Before the Fire

The U. S. Fire Administration says a fire extinguisher can save lives when it’s used correctly. However, the biggest obstacle most homeowners have in fighting a fire is using the fire extinguisher incorrectly. Scheduling a practice session with local Albany fire protection professionals is a smart idea, and it can help homeowners extinguish small fires quickly.

Tip: Always call the fire department first and then use the fire extinguisher after emergency personnel are on the way.

Basic Fire Extinguisher Operation

A fire extinguisher that hangs on the wall next to the stove won’t do any good if residents don’t understand the basic operating procedures for this fire safety device. All fire extinguishers come with directions printed on the exterior of the canister and usually offer graphical directions that are easy to follow. Be sure these directions are read and understood before the extinguisher is needed.

Fire safety professionals use an acronym to help people remember how to use and operate a fire extinguisher in four steps:

PASS

1. Pull the pin to release the extinguisher’s lock
2. Aim low at the bottom of the fire
3. Squeeze the trigger to release fire-fighting agent
4. Sweep the extinguisher laterally to douse entire area

Tip: Remember that a fire extinguisher will only work for about 10 seconds. This means fighting a large fire isn’t a job for a small extinguisher, but a job for the fire department.

Remember Fire Safety Maintenance

Fire extinguishers have expiration dates, just like many items in the home. A fire extinguisher will not be viable forever and needs to be checked every so often to make sure the device will work when needed. For example, extinguishers that use dry chemicals to fight fires need to be shaken about once a month, so the material doesn’t settle inside the extinguisher and become non-operational.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween

Halloween is an exciting time for kids—and parents too! But none of us want to see our children injured or in unsafe conditions.

Have The Talk–First!
Make sure you talk with your kids about the safety tips below from the National Safety Council and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Check and Double Check!

• Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising children under age 12.
• Plan and discuss the route Trick-Or-Treaters intend to follow.
• Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
• Tell your youngsters NOT to eat any treat until they return home.
• Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.
• Establish a return time.

Costume Design!

• Masks can obstruct a child’s vision. If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.
• Use only fire-retardant materials for costumes.
• Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.
• Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.)
• Pin a slip of paper with your child’s name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case he/she gets separated from the group.

Accessories!

• Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.
• Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective.
• Flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

Home, Safe Home!

• Remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets so they do not jump on or bite Trick-Or-Treaters.

Home Fire Safety Checklist

Fall is a good time of year to make sure your home is protected from the possibility of a fire.  There are many safety precautions to be considered.  While these tasks may seem like a bother to some people, you will be glad you did them if disaster strikes.  After all, protecting your family and home is worth the extra effort.

If you do not already have monitored smoke, heat and CO detectors installed in your house, now is the time to consider adding them to your current alarm system or installing a complete burglar/fire alarm system. Installing monitored smoke, heat or CO detectors as soon as possible will ensure that you, your family and your home are safe.

The tips below will help you avoid fires and reduce the risk of injury should one occur.

1. Smoke alarms – Install one on every level of your home.
2. Carbon Monoxide detectors – install one on every level of your home.
3. Prevent electrical fires – Don’t overload circuits or extension cords.
4. Unplug all appliances when not in use.
5. Space heaters – Make sure there is nothing flammable around them.
6. Create an escape route – Have a fire escape plan and practice it.
7. Clean dryer vents – remove lint on a regular basis.
8. Clean and inspect furnaces, fireplaces and chimneys.
9. Do not leaving cooking food unattended.
10. Do not leave candles burning.

Central Monitoring provides a free home security evaluation.  Call today and our security consultant will assess your home security needs.  He can discuss all of the safety options available many you can do yourself.  Do not leave your home and family unprotected.  Call today 229-431-0800.

Carbon Monoxide Safety

Carbon monoxide (CO) is called the invisible killer because the gas cannot be seen or smelled.  Carbon monoxide gas can enter the air from a number of flame fueled devices like ovens, ranges, clothes dryers, furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces and grills.  If you have any of these items in your home, it is a good idea to install carbon monoxide detectors.

Symptoms of exposure to carbon monoxide include dull headache, weakness, dizziness, and nausea, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision and loss of consciousness.  If you experience any of these symptoms you should seek medical attention.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning make sure all vents for dryers, stove, furnace and fireplaces are clean and clear.  Have heating equipment and fireplaces professionally inspected and cleaned every year.  Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.  Do not leave a car running in the garage.  Use grills and generators outside only.

Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home.  They should be placed at least five feet from the floor or on the ceiling.  They should be placed outside sleeping areas.  These need to be tested monthly.

Monitored CO alarms can save lives.  These can be added to your current alarm system.  The detector will sound the alarm and the central station will call you and ask you to leave the premise immediately and send emergency help right away.  For more information call Central Monitoring Services 229-431-0800.

October is Fire Safety Month …Plan Your Escape

When fire strikes your home, authorities say you have as little as one to two minutes to escape.  It is imperative that you have a well rehearsed Escape Plan which includes all members of the family.

Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.  Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm.  After you have made a plan and agreed upon an outside meeting place – practice, practice, practice.

Follow these tips:

Draw your escape plan.  Know where to meet outside.

Go over your plan together.

Know to crawl low to the floor.

Put your plan where everyone can see it.

Time your fire drill.

Get out fast and stay out.

Practice getting out when people are sleeping.

In a real fire call 911 from outside.  For the best protection, make sure you have at least one smoke detector on each level of your home and in or near all sleeping areas.  Test your alarms.  Detectors that are part of a monitored system can signal the central station even when no one is home.  Central Monitoring can protect your home and family with monitored smoke, heat and CO detectors.  Peace of mind is just a phone call away 229-431-0800.

October is Fire Safety Month

When it comes to home fires, every second counts.   The National Fire Protection Association and Central Monitoring recommend the following measures to reduce the risk of fire:

Keep an eye on what you are cooking.

Be careful when using space heaters.

If you must smoke, do it outdoors.

Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children

Check all electrical cords in the home, especially during the holiday season.

Have a fire escape plan in place.  Practice this with your family.

Be careful with burning candles.

Install and test smoke alarms.

You can count on Central Monitoring to provide you with peace of mind by installing monitored smoke, heat and CO detectors.  Our dispatchers are on duty 24/7 to help protect you, your  family and your property.  For more information, please call us at 229-431-0800, visit our website at www.central911.com or visit our Demo Room at 522 Pine Avenue, Albany, GA.

Safety for Seniors begins at Home

It’s true that with advancements in health people are living longer than ever before. Many seniors today are living active, robust lives.  Safety for seniors is important and there are plenty of things you can do so you can continue to live a healthy and active lifestyle for a very long time.

Create a safe home

Start this by walking through your home looking for potential areas that are or could become a safety hazards.  Pay attention to things such as stairs, loose electrical cords, slippery areas (particularly the bathroom), and dimly lit areas. Although accidents are unintentional, there are still many things you can do to prevent them from occurring and promote seniors’ safety.

Tips for preventing falls:

• Install handrails that run the entire length of the stairs on both sides of the staircase.
• Add automated lighting to light up rooms as you enter.
• Install grab bars in the shower, tub and near the toilet.
• Keep the stairs and open areas clear.
• Use double sided tape to keep small rugs down.
• Don’t leave anything wet on the floor.
• Fix any broken or chipped steps, tiles, or flooring.

Tips to improve safety for seniors

• Lighting:It’s easy to think you can feel you’re way in the dark. Better, to light the way. Best, use automated lights. Some will turn on when you enter a room. Set them to go on when you’re not home to make it look like your home is occupied.
• Monitoring devices:Alarms such as fire, temperature and carbon monoxide detectors, warn you at the first sign of danger. It is important to check them at least twice a year to make sure they are properly working
• Communication:Personal emergency response systems let you enjoy the benefits and freedom of independent living, with the knowledge that should there be an accident or emergency, help is just the push of a button away.

Stay active and live life on your terms. To ensure things remain that way, take necessary steps now to ensure you’ve minimize as many potential risks as possible. Call Central Monitoring to get your home secure and get a personal emergency response system. 229-431-0800.

Help, Safety and Peace of mind are just a call away…

Life Sentry – A Personal Emergency Response System

Living independently is the desire of most individuals.  However there are times when living alone can mean there is nobody to assist you during an emergency.  LifeSentry offers the ability to summon assistance at any time with a simple push of a button.

This two way voice communicator plugs into any standard telephone jack.  Four pendants can be programmed to one base unit.  The coverage is up to 600 feet line of sight.  The pendant is water resistant.  Two rechargeable batteries are included which can power the unit up to 24 hours in a power outage.  Built in line seizure allows for the telephone line to be seized during an emergency.  As an added bonus to this device, the pendant can answer incoming calls to the home phone.

Our central station monitors the unit 24/7 ready to assist you anytime you push the button.  Your contact information is on file.  Central Monitoring Services can provide you with this peace of mind, knowing you can call for help at the push of a button.  Call us at 229-431-0800 for a consultation or stop by our office at 522 Pine Ave, Albany, GA for a demonstration.

Central Monitoring Services offers Driveway Alerts

Never be surprised by unwanted visitors again.  Driveway alarms are a great way of knowing when company has arrived or when unauthorized vehicles are entering your property.  With our Driveway Alert you can know precisely the moment anyone has arrived at your residence.  The patented magnetometer sensor system allows a wireless signal to trigger your receiver to both chime and flash ALERT lights in red.  The Driveway Alert requires no wiring so installation is quick.  The sensor is mounted next to your driveway and the receiver plugs into a standard outlet inside your home.

The Driveway Alert will not be triggered by animals, people or shadows.  It is also weather resistant with a waterproof battery-powered sensor.  It can operate up to 1000 feet from sensor to receiver.  Call Central Monitoring, 229-431-0800 today to schedule an appointment for installation.

Central Monitoring Services discusses Senior Safety

After lovingly taking care of you as you grew up, your parents may now need you to help take care of them.  This month we are focusing on our Seniors and how we can help them.  Most seniors want to stay at home where they feel safe and close to the things they value.  Determining if your loved one is safe at home can be an overwhelming task.  There are many resources available to help you make this decision.  The Sowega Council on Aging is a good place to start.

We all want our seniors to be in the best place for their health, happiness and safety.  One of the most important things to remember is communication.  To make changes in the way our seniors live we have to actively engage them in making the best decisions for their new life style.

Central Monitoring has several options available that can help you keep an eye on your loved ones.  We have personal emergency response systems, security systems with medical alert buttons, and camera systems that allow you to check in on them.

Central Monitoring offers two way voice personal emergency response systems.  These monitoring systems have a base unit that communicates to the central station through a landline phone.  The individual wears a pendant or watch.  In the event of an emergency, a push of a button on the device will alert the central station who will immediately carry out your personal instructions.  You choose who to notify, whether it is a family member or loved one, emergency response services or both.

There are many benefits to a personal emergency response system.  It can provide peace of mind, knowing that you or your loved one can get help immediately.  The device is monitored 24/7, someone is always there to send help when needed.  Seniors can remain independent and stay in their home where they feel comfortable.

Central Monitoring offers several options for using cameras to check on your seniors.  We have video systems that can be viewed through the internet.  We also have cameras available that work with the Honeywell Total Connect services.  You can view these cameras through the internet also.  Both of these systems give you access to check on your loved ones any time.

Please call us for more information or come by our Demo Room at 522 Pine Avenue, Albany, GA.