BLOGS – Feb 2014
Spread the word with daily online safety and preparedness trips on Google+, Facebook and Twitter. Use
the following blog, or create your own, and post all throughout February 2014. Remember to include
the hashtag #COPrepare.
Week 1: Burn Awareness Week
Burn Awareness Week, observed February 2-8, 2014, is designed to provide an opportunity for burn, fire
and life safety educators to unite in sharing a common burn awareness and prevention message in our
communities.
According to the American Burn Association, approximately 4,000 deaths occur from fire and burn
injuries and about 600,000 burn injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments. Close to half of
all burn injuries treated in hospital emergency departments and one-third of admissions to burn centers
are scald injuries. A scald injury occurs when hot liquid or steam damages one or more layers of skin. 60
percent of all scald injuries are suffered by children aged 0-4; young children are curious by nature and
are often just trying to be helpful. The information below will help protect you and your family from
scald injuries.
To prevent tap water-related scalds:



Set home water heater thermostats to deliver water at a temperature
no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a cooking thermometer to
test the temperature. Begin by letting the water run for a minute or
two, to allow the hot water from the tank to reach the faucet.
Avoid flushing toilets, running water or using the dish or clothes washer
while anyone is showering.
Install anti-scald devices. These heat-sensitive instruments stop or interrupt the flow of water
when the temperature reaches a pre-determined level and prevent hot water that is too hot
from coming out of the tap.
To prevent cooking-related scalds:


Establish a “kid zone” outside of the traffic path between the stove and sink where children can
safely play and still be supervised.
Cook on back burners when young children are present. Keep all pot handles turned back, away
from the stove edge. All appliance cords should also be coiled and away from the counter edge.
BLOGS – Feb 2014



During mealtime, place hot items in the center of the table, at least 10 inches from the table
edge.
Put away tablecloths while children are little. Use placemats with a non-slip surface instead.
Never drink or carry hot liquids while carrying or holding a child. Quick motions may cause
spilling of the liquid onto the child.
Source: American Burn Association
For more tips and preparedness information, follow us:
On Twitter:
Facebook:
YouTube:
@READYColorado
www.facebook.com/READYColorado
www.youtube.com/readycolorado
Week 2: Love is in the Air and so are the Scams—guest blog by the Colorado Bureau of
Investigation, ID Theft & Fraud Unit
Romance scams affect THOUSANDS of people every year, but many victims do not believe they are
victims and continue sending money. The average loss per person is about $9,000-$10,000 and
some have lost as much as $500,000, have mortgaged homes, sold vehicles, family heirlooms,
and taken out loans to send money.
Following a few simple steps can help reduce your risk of being scammed by a con artist Casanova.











Do not trust someone you meet online just because you meet on a faith based or special
interest website. Scammers will fake their faith to win your trust.
Be suspicious if a new love interest suggests leaving the website and chatting by email or instant
messages.
Question “love at first sight” proclamations.
Be cautious if a new love interest claims to be a US citizen living or working in another country.
Never wire money to someone who you have no met, even if he or she claims to be the love of
your life.
Be wary of hard luck stories that can be remedied by you sending money.
Do not forget that you do not know the person you are talking with online. That picture he or
she sent could be a fake.
Do not send money for travel so your love interest can meet you face to face. Chances are you
will never see your money again.
Do not send money as a loan.
Do not send money to anyone you have no met and do not know.
Be suspicious if stories change or become more desperate.
BLOGS – Feb 2014



Do not try to contact your new love interest if he or she stops contacting you after you send
money.
Report and suspicious activity to law enforcement.
Don’t let the scam artists break your heart and your bank account!
Learn more about reporting and staying safe from scams by contacting the Colorado Bureau of
Investigation Victim Advocate at (303) 239-4649 or by emailing hazel.heckers@state.co.us. You can
also call the 24 hour Identity Theft and Fraud Hotline at (855) 443-3489.
Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation—Identity Theft and Fraud Unit
For more tips and preparedness information, follow us:
On Twitter:
Facebook:
@READYColorado
www.facebook.com/READYColorado
Week 3: Hazardous Materials/Household Chemical Safety
Hazardous materials, more commonly referred to as chemicals, are used regularly in our daily lives. A
hazardous material is any solid, liquid, or gas that can cause harm to humans and other living
organisms. Many products containing hazardous chemicals are used and stored in homes
routinely. They are used to grow our food, clean our homes, fuel our cars, and purify our water, which
means we have to be careful about how we use and store these chemicals. Read the information below
to learn more about the proper usage and storage techniques.

Keep products containing hazardous materials in their original containers and never remove the
labels unless the container is corroding. Corroding containers should be repackaged and clearly
labeled.

Do not store hazardous products in food containers.

Properly mark, store and lock all household and pool chemicals, paints and poisons. Keep these on a
high shelf, out of the reach of children.

Do not mix household hazardous chemicals or waste with other products. Incompatibles, such as
chlorine bleach and ammonia, may react, ignite or explode.

Follow safety recommendations when using household cleaning products or other chemicals, such as
wearing gloves, long sleeves and masks.

Properly ventilate the area when using household cleaning products or other chemical products. Turn
on the fan and open the windows.

Don’t leave chemical products unattended. If you must leave the room in the middle of a task, either
put the product away or take it with you.
BLOGS – Feb 2014

Never use hair spray, cleaning solutions, paint products, or pesticides near an open flame (i.e., pilot
light, lighted candle, fireplace, wood burning stove, etc.) Although you may not be able to see or
smell them, vapor particles in the air could catch fire or explode.

Clean up any chemical spill immediately. Use rags to clean up the spill. Wear gloves and eye
protection. Allow the fumes in the rags to evaporate outdoors, then dispose of the rags by wrapping
them in a newspaper and placing them in a sealed plastic bag in your trash can.

Dispose of hazardous materials correctly. Take household hazardous waste to a local collection
program. Check with your county or state environmental or solid waste agency to learn if there is a
household hazardous waste collection program in your area.

Post the number of the emergency medical services and the poison control center by all telephones.
In an emergency situation, you may not have time to look up critical phone numbers. The national
poison control number is (800) 222-1222.
Source: Ready.gov
For more tips and preparedness information, follow us:
On Twitter:
Facebook:
YouTube:
@READYColorado
www.facebook.com/READYColorado
www.youtube.com/readycolorado
Week 4: Frozen Pond and Lake Safety
Each winter, after the ice forms on Colorado’s waters, outdoor enthusiasts enjoy ice fishing, ice skating
and other fun winter sports. Before going out onto a frozen lake, pond or river, it’s important to take
safety precautions to reduce the risk of falling through the ice. Knowing how to judge ice conditions will
also help you make more informed decisions while enjoying winter.
Carefully Check Ice Conditions









Remember, you take a risk anytime you go out onto the ice. Ice thickness is not consistent.
Don’t judge ice strictly by appearance.
When ice fishing, it is always a good idea to drill test holes as you progress out onto a lake to
help judge the thickness and character of the ice.
Beware of ice around partially submerged objects, such as trees, logs, or dam structures.
Stay away from cracks, slushy areas and darker areas that signify thinner ice.
Be aware of ice that forms at the edge of the lake during the fall and melts at the edges first in
spring.
Be aware of ice covered with snow. Sometimes the snow serves as insulation. Other times, it
has the opposite effect by insulating the surface from freezing.
Never go out onto the ice alone. A friend could rescue you or go for help if you fall through.
When changing locations on the ice, always walk at least ten yards apart from your friend.
BLOGS – Feb 2014





Always inform someone of your destination and expected time of return.
Always wear a life jacket or personal flotation device over a snowmobile suit or layered winter
clothing. Life jackets can provide excellent flotation and protection against hypothermia.
Assemble a personal safety kit, no larger than the size of a man’s wallet, and carry it on your
body. The kit should include a lighter, pocketknife, compass, whistle, and waterproof matches.
In addition to the above safety equipment, carry ice picks, a rope and cellular phone. These
items could save your life.
If you bring your pet, always keep it on a leash.
What to do if you Fall Through the Ice
If you can’t get out of the cold water by yourself, take appropriate actions to extend your survival time
while waiting to be rescued.




Stay calm and use a whistle to attract help.
Act slowly and deliberately to conserve heat and move slowly back to where you entered the
water. Expect a progressive decrease in your strength and ability to move.
If you are wearing a snowmobile helmet and your face is in the water, remove the helmet as
quickly as possible because it can fill with water and cause you to drown. Hold onto it to keep
afloat.
Once on the ice, try to push yourself forward on your stomach or roll over on your side to keep
the weight distributed over a greater surface area. Do not stand up until you have moved onto
the ground or an area of solid ice.
Source: Colorado State Parks
For more tips and preparedness information, follow us:
On Twitter:
Facebook:
YouTube:
@READYColorado
www.facebook.com/READYColorado
www.youtube.com/readycolorado