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Safety Information

Camp Fire Safety



  • Check with authorities at your camping location for outdoor burning restrictions. During especially dry seasons even recreational and cooking fires can be restricted. Check the weather forecast.
  • Set a safety zone around the camp fire where all can sit and relax around the fire. Designate a play area to keep bikes and other toys out of the safety zone.
  • Never use matches or lighters inside tents. Never burn charcoal, or use portable camping heaters, lanterns or stoves inside tents, campers or vehicles.

BBQ Safety



  • Never use a barbecue indoors or in tents. This is a dangerous fire hazard and can cause high levels of carbon monoxide.
  • Make sure the cooking site for the barbecue is flat and is away from sheds, fences, and overhanging branches.
  • Light barbecues with a long match or mechanical lighter designed for lighting barbecues. Keep all matches, lighters and barbeque lighters out of the reach of children.
  • When removing the ashes from the barbecue, make sure they are cool or put them into a non-flammable container such as a metal bucket. Water may be added to the cool ashes, remembering to stay back, away from potential hot steam. Empty spent ashes onto bare garden soil - do not put ashes into a garbage can or paper bag. House fires have been caused by hot ashes which later ignited when left on a deck or porch.
  • When you have finished cooking with a gas barbecue, turn off the gas cylinder.
  • Change gas cylinders in the open air, not in a confined space. Avoid storing gas cylinders indoors and never in basements.

Boating Safety



  • Take safety courses, including first aid, fire extinguisher use and safe boating and navigation. This will make boating not only fun, but safer for you, your family, your passengers and other boaters that you encounter. Invite family members and guests to attend with you. Always be sure someone on your vessel can operate the boat and the radio in case you are incapacitated.
  • Do not use portable electric or propane heaters. The fire hazard is too great.
  • A multi-purpose ABC fire extinguisher that can be used on all types of fires is the best extinguisher option because a variety of fuels may be present. A combination ABC extinguisher can be used on flammable liquids and electrical fires, as well as wood, paper, plastics or rubber.

How To Stay Safe on Ice



Regardless how well a victim can swim, ice cold water can cause severe hypothermia in less than 30 minutes - leaving the victim too weak to get out of the frigid water. Safety on the ice requires preparation and diligence. You should try going on the ice the first time with an experienced person. Before you venture out, learn how to stay safe on the ice.

Tips:


  1. Gauging the strength of ice is very difficult. There is no such thing as 100% safe ice.
    • Never walk or drive on cloudy ice
    • Only go on clear, thick ice
    • Spring ice is NEVER safe
    • The thickness of ice is never consistent - it will be flat on top, but not on the bottom
    • Snow on ice acts as an insulator - it makes ice warmer and weaker
    • Extreme cold snaps will weaken the ice
    • Ice formed over running water (rivers & streams) is more dangerous than ice formed over standing water (lakes & ponds)
  2. General ice thickness guidelines:
    • Less than 2 inches - STAY OFF!
    • 4" and thicker - probably safe for walking and ice fishing on foot
    • 5" and thicker - probably safe for ATV or snowmobiling
    • 8-12" and thicker - probably safe for small cars or light pickups
    • 12-15" and thicker - probably safe for medium trucks
  3. Noisy ice doesn't necessarily mean unsafe ice. It's just the layer of ice shifting on top of the water.
  4. The safety of ice is ever-changing. It depends on a multitude of factors.
    • thickness
    • age of the ice
    • temperature
    • snow cover
    • depth of water under the ice
    • size of the body of water under the ice
    • water chemistry
    • currents
    • local climate
    • distribution of weight on the ice
  5. Your most important tool is common sense.

Holiday Safety Tips



  • Have your chimney or vent for your fireplace or wood-stove cleaned and inspected before use for the season.
  • Whenever possible, use flame-retardant or flame-resistant decorating materials.
  • The location of the tree should not be in the way of doors, windows, or in paths used for exiting.
  • Trees should be a distance, at least equal to the height of the tree, away from open flames and sources of ignition. This includes heaters, fireplaces, and woodstoves.
  • Disconnect lights when sleeping or when unattended.
  • When the snow starts to fly, help us help you by keeping hydrants in your neighborhood clear of snow!! Take a few minutes to clear the snow around the hydrants so we can have easy access to them in case of an emergency.