Even when the outside temperatures are high, water temperatures in the Thurston County area can be cold enough to overwhelm even the strongest swimmer. Sadly, SETFA responds to preventable drownings every year. 

If you plan to be in or near water this summer, follow these recommendations:

Learn to swim, including water safety and survival skills — To enjoy the water safely, learn swim strokes, water safety, survival skills, and becoming comfortable in the water.

Wear a life jacket — Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket when boating, tubing, rafting, swimming or other activities in or on lakes, rivers, salt water, or pools without a lifeguard. 

Swim where there is a lifeguard — Swim in areas with lifeguards when possible. Wear a life jacket while swimming in unguarded waters or until the guards start their service.

Supervise children in or near water — Always provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising in or near water. Stay within touching distance of young children at all times.

Do not use alcohol or drugs during water activities — Never use alcohol or other impairing drugs during water and boating activities or while supervising children around the water. Alcohol affects balance, coordination, and judgement. Exposure to sun and heat worsen these effects.

Learn first aid and CPR — Learn first aid and CPR. Seconds count—the more quickly lifesaving CPR is started, the better the chances of recovery. Dial 911 in an emergency.

At this weeks board of commissioners meeting we formally celebrated a landmark accomplishment of a promotion. Congratulations to S.E. Thurston Fire Authority Dan Stewart on his promotion to Lieutenant! Lieutenant Stewart’s wife had the honor of pinning his badge. Thank you for your years of service and service to the community!

The weather is nicer and the sun is out more with summer here. We know you’re going to be doing more outside, including grilling, so we thought it was a good time to remind everyone to be safe while you enjoy the outdoors!

The Washington State Patrol has posted a list of safety tips on their website (here). 

Originally posted on the Fire Protection Blog

Fire extinguishers don’t last forever. All fire extinguishers will expire at some point but there is not always a strict expiration date. As the first line of defense for a fire, it is important that you make sure your extinguishers are still functional and well maintained.

How Long Do Fire Extinguishers Last?

The lifespan of a fire extinguisher varies based on a few factors including:

• Type of fire extinguisher
• Whether the extinguisher is disposable or rechargeable
• How well the extinguisher is maintained
• The date it was manufactured
• Manufacturer recommendations

According to NFPA standards, disposable fire extinguishers need to be replaced every 12 years and rechargeable fire extinguishers must be recharged every 6 years. A disposable fire extinguisher has a plastic head with a gauge that reads “full” or “empty”. Rechargeable extinguishers have a metal head with a gauge that reads “charge” or “recharge”.

How Do You Know If Your Extinguisher Needs to be Replaced?

Some extinguishers have a recommended replacement date set by the manufacturer. However, there are many extinguishers without strict expiration dates which can make it hard to tell when it should be replaced. Every month, you should do a visual check of your fire extinguishers to make sure that they are still functional. Some things you should look out for include:

• Depressurization – Many extinguishers have pressure gauges. If your extinguisher’s gauge needle falls out of the green zone, it is time to replace it. Fire extinguishers that are depressurized are inoperable.
• Signs of Damage – If you see any signs of damage, loose pieces, rust, or corrosion on your extinguisher, it may not function properly and could need to be replaced.
• Failed Hydrostatic Test – A fire extinguisher service provider can perform hydrostatic testing to measure the integrity of the cylinder of your extinguisher. If your fire extinguisher fails the test, it must be replaced immediately.

Certain types of fire extinguishers are now considered obsolete as regulations change or technology advances. NFPA guidelines dictate which types of extinguishers should be removed from service. If you have an older fire extinguisher, you should consult with an experienced fire protection provider to determine whether it is obsolete.

Regular Maintenance of Extinguishers Can Extend Lifespan

Getting your fire extinguishers inspected, tested, and serviced according to NFPA and manufacturer recommendations can help to extend the lifespan of your equipment. 

Fire safety is an important subject to discuss, especially with young ones. However, the discussion you have with a child in kindergarten versus a child in 6th grade are two different approaches. A good resource for information for both of those age groups (and those in between, of course) is Firesafekid.org. They have separate sections with information for grades K-3 and for grades 4-6.

Fire safety is a very important topic. Once they start, fires can spread quickly. You should have a plan in place to get out, should a fire start, but here is a list of tips for fire prevention:

• Watch your cooking
  Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• Give space heaters space
  Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Smoke outside
  Ask smokers to smoke outside. Have sturdy, deep ashtrays for smokers.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach
  Keep matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a cabinet with a child lock.
• Inspect electrical cords
  Replace cords that are cracked, damaged, have broken plugs, or have loose connections.
• Be careful when using candles
  Keep candles at least one foot from anything that can burn. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Have a home fire escape plan
  Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.
• Install smoke alarms
  Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Interconnect smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Test smoke alarms
  Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace batteries once a year or when the alarm “chirps” to tell you the battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old.
• Install sprinklers
  If you are building or remodeling your home, install residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.

Originally posted on the National Fire Protection Association website.

We deal with loud environments often: concerts, construction sites, etc. It can be physically painful if the ambient noise is loud enough. Because of this, it makes sense that many people avoid such settings in an attempt to avoid hearing problems in the future. 

If this is true, then why are fire alarms so loud? 

Fire alarms are LOUD

NFPA 72 outlines the requirements for fire alarm notification appliances, which take two primary forms: audible and visible.

• Horns and sirens provide the audible alert, sounding off at 65 to 120 decibels (dB) when standing 10 feet from the device.
• Strobe lights provide the visible alert, flashing once per second at 15 to 1,000 candelas, depending on the setting.

It’s well known that repeated exposure to loud noises can be damaging to your hearing. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) states that 85 dB and higher is the danger zone for hearing loss.

Here are some comparative noise examples to help you understand the loudness of different decibels:

• Indoor conversation: 50 dB
• Chatter in a restaurant: 60 dB
• Vacuum cleaner: 70 dB
• Garbage disposal or food blender: 80 to 90 dB
• Power lawn mower or motorcycle engine: 100 dB
• Thunderclap: 120 dB
• Jet take-off from 25 meters away: 150 dB (eardrums may rupture if exposed to this volume without ear protection)

So… Why are some fire alarms louder than others?

The goal of a fire alarm is to make sure everyone in the building knows to evacuate. That’s why the NFPA requires fire alarm horns and sirens to sound louder than ambient noises.

The precise requirement is 15 dB above the average noise level or 5 dB above the maximum ambient sound, whichever is greater. This means it may be appropriate to program fire alarm horns to 75 dB for a restaurant or office setting, but an industrial facility with loud equipment may need to sound off closer to the maximum 120 dB level to ensure the sound stands out from other ambient noises.

The high volume requirement for fire alarms accounts for the fact that distance from the horn decreases its perceived volume, and building materials absorb noise, especially if the doors are closed between rooms. Due to these factors, the decibel level must be high at the source to ensure the sound travels to every corner of the building.

Can I protect my ears from the noise of a fire alarm?

When you hear the shrill noise of a fire alarm, your first instinct is to cover your ears. This is actually an effective way to defend against hearing loss while you walk calmly toward the exit and make your way out of the building.

More importantly, however, is to create a fire evacuation plan and hold fire drills regularly. This way, everyone is confident about what steps to take and where to evacuate in case of an emergency. By planning ahead, you can limit confusion and reduce the time you’re exposed to loud volumes.

Not enough cord for your lamp or radio to reach the nearest outlet? Just plowing through the junk drawer for an extension cord? This may not be a good idea. Extension cords can be very helpful in delivering power right where we need it. However, regardless of the gauge or rating of the cord, an extension cord is a temporary solution and is not meant to be used as a long-term extension of your household’s electrical system.

Read more and get safety tips on the Electrical Safety Foundation International’s website.