OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF
Sheriff Curtis L. Landers
225 W. Olive Street
Newport, Oregon 97365
Phone: (541) 265-4277
Fax: (541) 265-4926

TIP OF THE WEEK - - - - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 26, 2018

Contact: Sheriff Curtis Landers
541-265-0652
clanders@co.lincoln.or.us

SPRING SAFETY TIPS

With spring comes a feeling of renewal. Families everywhere begin cleaning out their basements and garages. Windows are opened, flowers bloom and the days grow longer, thanks in part to Daylight Savings Time, which began on March 11, 2018. When you set your clocks forward, the National Safety Council reminds you to also review a safety checklist for your home.

Smoke Alarms
1. Smoke alarms save lives -- if they are powered by a fresh battery. You should test them every month to make sure they work and replace the battery at least once a year, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). If the alarm makes a "chirping" sound, replace it immediately.
2. Smoke alarms should be located in every bedroom and in the common areas on each floor of a home. Mount them at least 10 feet from the stove to reduce false alarms, less than 12 inches from the ceiling and away from windows, doors and ducts.
3. Did you know smoke alarms can be interconnected wirelessly? That means, when one sounds, they all sound. A Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) survey found this is the best way to notify everyone in a home if there is a fire. Be sure to purchase smoke alarms with the label of a reputable testing agency, like Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Three out of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms, according to NFPA.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors
1. Carbon monoxide(CO) is an invisible, odorless gas, and it can kill you. Anything in the home that burns fuel can potentially become a source of carbon monoxide. CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each bedroom and on every level of the home. The safety tips for CO detectors mirror those of smoke alarms: change the batteries, test them and interconnect them, if possible.
2. Also, make sure vents for your gas appliances (fireplace, dryer, stove and furnace) are free and clear of snow or debris.

Family Emergency Plan
We recommend every family have an emergency plan in place in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophic event. Spring is a great time to review that plan with family members to make sure they know what to do. The emergency plan should include:

1. A communications plan to outline how your family members will contact one another if they are not in the same place and where you should meet if it's safe to go outside.
2. A shelter-in-place plan if outside air is contaminated which includes sealing windows, doors and air vents with plastic sheeting.
3. A getaway plan with various routes and destinations in different directions.
4. Have a home and car emergency kit. Your emergency kit should include one gallon per day of water for each person, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food, flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, filter mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, and medicines. Visit Ready.gov for a complete list.

For more information and tips, visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and Like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff's Office -- Oregon.

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Submitted by:
Kathy Manning, Administrative Assistant
kmanning@co.lincoln.or.us
Ph: 541-265-0652