Yuletide Lighting
Hanging holiday lights can be a fun family activity and adds a festive touch to your home. But if you're not careful, yuletide illuminations can also increase your risk of a home fire. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), one of every three home holiday tree fires is caused by electrical problems. As you deck the halls this season, remember to be fire smart. Here are some tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to keep your decorations from going up in smoke :
- Whether it's indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety. Make sure your lights have a label from an independent testing laboratory;
- Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or replace them before using;
- Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord; and
- Turn off lights on trees and other decorations before going to bed.
Don't let disaster ruin your festivities! Learn more ways to “Put a Freeze on Winter Holiday Fires” with USFA's colorful infographic and give the gift of safety by sharing this important information with family and friends.
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Winter Pet Protection
In many parts of the country, winter can prove dangerous for four-legged family members. Taking extra precautions during winter months can ensure your pets stay happy and healthy when the temperatures plummet. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) suggests these steps :
- Keep pets warm and indoors. No matter the temperature, windchill can threaten a pet's life. Pets are sensitive to severe cold and are at risk for frostbite when outdoors during extreme cold snaps;
- Protect paws from salt. This and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet's feet. Be sure to wipe off their paws with a damp towel; and
- Avoid antifreeze poisoning. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that may attract animals, but is a deadly poison. Don't allow pets to wander unattended near driveways, garages or other places when they may come into contact with antifreeze.
Switching to a brand of antifreeze containing propylene glycol can lower your pet's risk of poisoning, but it's still toxic.
Take action today! Learn how to detect the early symptoms of antifreeze poisoning in your pet. Then, sign up to receive the latest pet news, action alerts and more from the HSUS.
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Frozen Water Pipes
During extreme cold temperatures, one of the most serious threats to your home is frozen water pipes. According to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), approximately a quarter-million homes and offices have at least one room damaged by a frozen pipe each year. FLASH encourages you to protect your property this winter by following three easy steps :
- FOAM: Insulate pipes exposed to the elements or cold drafts. By keeping your water warmer, you reduce the amount of energy needed to heat water in the cold, winter months;
- DOME: Place an insulating dome or other covering on outdoor faucets and spigots to reduce the likelihood of water pipes freezing, expanding and causing a costly leak; and
- DRIP: Allow a slow drip from your faucets to reduce the buildup of pressure in the pipes. Even if the pipes freeze, the release pressure in the water system will reduce the likelihood of a rupture.
For more prevention tips or to learn how to properly thaw frozen pipes in your home, check out this informative Weather Channel video .
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Citizen Corps and CERT Information Deadline Extended
The deadline for Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs to update their information has been extended by two weeks. We ask that all local programs log in to the registration system at http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/council-login and make their updates by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, December 12. Citizen Corps and CERT data collected by this deadline will be included in the 2015 National Preparedness Report.
Updating your online profiles provides us with information that we can use to justify continued Federal support for the Citizen Corps and CERT programs, including:
- The website and all of its free downloadable resources and an online searchable directory of programs;
- Free printed materials for registered programs through the FEMA Warehouse;
- Technical assistance and support through the Citizen Corps and CERT inboxes;
- Recognition programs like the Individual and Community Preparedness Awards;
- Outreach and education efforts, including regular e-briefs and webinars; and
- The development of new content and updates to existing content, including the CERT curriculum and supporting materials.
While we encourage you to update any new information in your online profiles, we are particularly interested in updates to the following for 2014 (Please note that not all of these are applicable for both CERT and Citizen Corps):
- Numbers of individuals trained;
- Number of trainings conducted;
- Number of volunteers and volunteer hours;
- Council membership;
- Number of exercises; and
- Funding sources.
We hope that you will take the time to update your profiles, so that all of the great work you have done will be accounted for in the National Preparedness Report and elsewhere! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at citizencorps@fema.dhs.gov or at cert@fema.dhs.gov .
Thank you!
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Dates for Your Calendar!
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