Hickam officials urge Airmen to ‘Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned’ Published Oct. 5, 2009 By 15th Airlift Wing Fire and Emergency Services Department HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Once a child touches a hot stove -- as the cliché goes -- the child learns their lesson, stay away from a hot stove. However, this cliché does not take into account the pain and suffering from those burns, and burns should not be part of the learning process. That's why Hickam Fire and Emergency Services is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association for Fire Prevention Week 2009 -- October 4-10 -- to urge Team Hickam to "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned." This year's campaign focuses on ways to keep homes fire safe and prevent painful burns. Additionally, Hickam Fire Prevention Office will be teaching local residents how to plan and practice escape from a home in case a fire occurs. The statistics are staggering. Each year roughly 3,000 people die as a result of home fires and burns, and more than 200,000 individuals are seen in the nation's emergency rooms for burn injuries. "The most common types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds and contact burns," said George Crowder, assistant fire chief. "Burns are painful and can result in serious scarring and even death. When we take extra caution in our homes to ensure that the curling iron is out of children's reach or pot handles are turned away from the edge of the stove, such injuries are entirely preventable. Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing devastating burn injuries is a healthy change we can make happen." By following simple safety rules, you can "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned." Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over. Have a 3-foot "kid-free" zone around the stove. Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage. Be careful when using things that get hot such as curling irons, oven, irons, lamps, heaters. Install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent a child from sticking an object in the outlet. Never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove, or where a hot appliance might be in use. Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking. Set your hot water temperature no higher than 120 degrees. Install anti-scald valves on shower heads and faucets. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. Pay attention to what you are cooking. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. "Many people don't realize that they are at a greater risk from fires at home than anywhere else," said William A. Moore Jr., Hickam fire chief. "Fortunately, there are many fire safety initiatives that residents can implement to make their homes safer. During Fire Prevention Week we reach out to the community to educate people of all ages on how to prevent fires. This year, we will focus particularly on home fires, a serious national fire safety concern." According to Assistant Fire Chief George Crowder, the Fire Department has lined up Fire Prevention Week activities for the Hickam community through Oct. 10: Fire drills and demonstrations at the Main Child Development Center, CDC West and CDC Pre-School Oct 7-8 from 9 until 10:30 a.m. Informational activity at the Base Exchange, or the BXtra, Oct. 5-9 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Fire Drills at various locations around the base Fire Prevention Week Parade Oct. 9 from 5-6 p.m. o The route: Helehaka St., Ohana Nui Cr., Kokio Ln., Popiko St., Aupaka St., Honohono St., Challenger Lp., Fox Blvd., 19th St., Signer Ave., Beard Ave., 8th St. Fire House of Hazards and Fire Equipment Display - BXtra, Oct. 10 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. For 85 years, fire departments have observed Fire Prevention Week, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record. For more information on "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned." visit www.firepreventionweek.org or call the Hickam Fire Prevention Office at 449-8118.