Daylight Saving Time begins on March 9 this year. The East Kingston Fire Department would like to remind residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as they spring forward.

Clocks will be moved ahead one hour on Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m.

Properly installed and maintained smoke and carbon monoxide alarms play a crucial role in emergency scenarios. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that, from 2018-2022, 59% of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (43%) or no working smoke alarms (16%).

BEWARE OF ICE! During the winter months, it can be tempting to venture out onto frozen waterways, but we urge caution and remind residents that no ice is 100% safe ice. You should always consider ice potentially dangerous, as it’s impossible to judge ice conditions by appearance or thickness alone. Many factors, including water depth, the size of the body of water, water chemistry, currents, snow cover, age of ice, and local weather conditions, will impact ice strength. 

One significant risk factor associated with winter ice activities is falling through the ice, which can lead to fatal and non-fatal winter drownings.

If you see someone in danger, remember the phrase “Preach-Reach-Throw-Go.”

📢 Preach: If possible, call 911 and let the victim know help is on the way. Reassure the victim and keep them calm.

🫴 Reach: If it is safe to reach the victim from shore, extend a sturdy object for the victim to grab.

🛟 Throw: If it is safe to do so, toss the end of a rope or a flotation device to the victim.

🚑 Go: If a situation becomes too dangerous, go find help. Untrained rescuers can often become victims.

Avoid walking or driving on ice-bound bodies of water — ice thickness can be deceiving. Stay safe! 

 

The holiday season is upon us, with Thanksgiving later this week. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Eve ranked second and third, nearly twice the daily average.

According to the NFPA, cooking causes over half (52%) of all reported house fires and nearly two out of every five (36%) home fire injuries. It is also a leading cause of home fire deaths (17%).

For tips on how to safely hold your holiday festivities, visit the NFPA: https://tinyurl.com/NFPA-Thanksgiving

Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. and clocks will move back one hour. 

Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms are vital in reducing deaths and injuries caused by fire. They give everyone in the home an early warning and time to escape.

Be prepared, turn your clocks back one hour, and check your smoke and CO alarms. 

For more information about smoke/CO alarm safety, visit the National Fire Protection Agency’s website: https://tinyurl.com/NFPADetectors