Fire Prevention Week Special Event

 

Once again, we have been asked to participate in the Annual Special event for Fire Prevention Week.

Website for the event can be reviewed here.

This year we will be using the callsign VA3FIRE and be operating SSB, CW and Digital.

We made 1405 contacts.

Thanks go out to the operators:

Terry Bendell,VE3TKB

Frank Birch,VE3FBZ

Brian Bouckley,VA3ATB

Mike Cook, VE3ZMC

Doug Elliott,VA3DAE

Richard Finn,VE3PNK

David Lambert,VE3KGK

Dave McCarter,VE3GSO  

Jim Morris, VA3AHQ

Tom Pillon,VE3HOR

Ansil Rock,VE3HDR

Kathy Steels,VE3GYL

Doug Tompkins, VE3IDT

Gary Wabersich,VE3XDM

Mike Watts,VE3ACW  

Maureen Wilson,VE3MWL  

Randy Wilson, VE3FRW

 

 

 

Special Tips about Fire Prevention Week are listed here:

On each phone QSOs, we like to read a hint for fire safety. Here is the complete tip list for 2019.

1. Not every hero wears a cape – plan and practice your escape.

2. Draw a map of your home, showing each level and all doors and windows.

3. Take your family to each room and show them two ways out.

4. Make sure someone will help children, older adults, and people with disabilities to wake up and get out.

5. Teach your children how to escape on their own, in case you cannot help them.

6. Establish a meeting place outside and away from your home where everyone can meet after exiting.

7. Make sure you have properly installed and maintained smoke alarms.

8. Hold home fire drills at least twice a year.

9. Push the smoke alarm button to start your home fire drill.

10. Practice what to do in case of smoke: get low and get out fast.

11. Practice going out different ways.

12. Practice closing doors behind you as you leave.

13. Never go back into a burning house for people, pets or things.

14. Practice meeting up at your outdoor meeting place after you escape.

15. Practice calling 911 or your local emergency number from a cell phone or neighbor’s phone. (But don’t actually make the call.)

16. Smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire.

17. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half.

18. Smoke alarms detect and alert people to a fire in the early stages. 

19. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.

20. Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.

21. Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.

22. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. 

23. Thanksgiving is the leading day for cooking fires.

24. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.

25. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.

26. If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly and stay in the home.

27. Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop.

28. Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months.

29. Space heaters are the type of equipment most often involved in home heating equipment fires.

30. All heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet (or 1 meter) away from heating equipment.

31. Have a 3-foot (or 1-meter) “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

32. Purchase and use only portable space heaters listed by a qualified testing laboratory.

33. Have a qualified professional install heating equipment.

34. Have your heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year.

35. If your home is subject to wildfires, prepare an evacuation plan.

36. In your wildfire evacuation plan, include alternate routes out of the danger area. 

37. Have prepacked kits with essentials such as medicine, family records, credit cards, a change of clothing, and food and water.

38. Create a family communication plan that designates an out-of-area friend or relative as a point of contact to act as a single source of communication.

39. Prepare a plan for the care of pets and other animals in case of a wildfire. 

40. Sign up for wildfire alerts.  

41. Take steps to protect family, friends, or neighbors who have disabilities in case of a wildfire. 

42. Stay aware of local wildfire conditions. 

43. When told to evacuate for a wildfire, go promptly. 

44. If you feel unsafe because of a wildfire, do not wait for an evacuation order—leave immediately.

45. For more helpful information, visit the Fire Prevention Week website at www.fpw.org.