Safety Tips for Our “Seasoned” Citizens

It is said that fine wine gets better with age. In many cases, time adds value to things and even people; nothing is more valuable than an aged/seasoned citizen. A “seasoned” citizen is a person over sixty years of age who has ideally reached that point in life when they can or have already turned in their retirement papers. Having a community without our senior citizens is like eating grits without seasoning! Adding seasoning to any meal awakens its flavor. Here are a few safety tips that will add a little flavor to your already fulfilled lives.
Kitchen Safety:
ï Unattended cooking is the number one leading cause of residential home fires. If you must leave the kitchen while cooking, even for a short time, make sure you turn off the burner and move the pan to a cool burner.
ï Make sure you use a timer when cooking. It will remind you something is on the stove.
ï If a pan of food catches fire, slide a lid over it, then turn off the burner.
ï Never cook if you are drowsy from alcohol or medication.
ï Wear tight-fitting, rolled up, or short sleeves when cooking. Loose fitting clothing can catch on fire when cooking
ï Use oven mitts to handle hot pans.
ï Use light-weight manageable pans.
ï Use a fire extinguisher only when you feel competent doing so.
(Remember the acronym P.A.S.S.: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the trigger and Sweep left to right.)

Evacuation plan
ï Plan two ways out of every room in your home and designate a safe meeting place away from your home.
ï Make sure all windows and doors open easily.
ï If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside.
ï Have a landline telephone or cell phone and charger near your bed, with the local emergency number posted nearby in case you are trapped by smoke or fire.
ï Consider subscribing to a medical alert system.
ï Keep other necessary items near your bed such as medications, glasses, wheel chair, walker, scooter, or cane.
ï Keep a flashlight and whistle near your bed to signal for help.
ï Maintain a clear path to get out of your house.
We hope you will consider these tips and implement them in your home. If you have any questions or if you would like for the Columbia Fire Department to come to your home to conduct a home fire safety survey, contact the Public Fire Education Officer at 803-545-4162. (This service is available only to Columbia city residents) If you live outside the city limits of Columbia, check with your local fire department to schedule a safety check. Have a fire safe day.