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TextHealth and Safety Podcast Transcript: Nov. 3, 2010
Hello, and welcome to the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast for Nov. 3, 2010. I’m Jim Person, Fairfax County emergency information officer. Coming up, learn about the “Install. Inspect. Protect.” campaign, how to use Daylight Saving Time as an emergency preparedness reminder, Ready Virginia and chain saw safety. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.
On Saturday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to noon, firefighters will canvas homes
in various neighborhoods throughout Fairfax County checking for working
smoke alarms and providing family fire escape plans for residents. The
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s partnernership with the U.S.
Fire Administration supports the “Install. Inspect. Protect.” campaign
that emphasizes smoke alarms, escape plans and home safety walk-throughs
to eliminate fire hazards.
A working smoke alarm can help you and your family escape a deadly fire.
It continuously scans the air for smoke, 24/7. It never sleeps. A
working, properly installed smoke alarm lowers your chances of dying in a
fire.
Nov. 6, is also Daylight Saving Time when we set clocks back – a perfect
time to pay special attention to fire safety and also assemble or
re-stock emergency supply kits for your home and vehicle. For more on
fire safety, visit the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr. For more on assembling an
emergency preparedness kit, contact the county’s Office of
Emergency Management at 571-350-1000 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency.
Ready Virginia recently translated a handout on preparing for emergencies into 10 languages. The handouts can be downloaded from www.ReadyVirginia.gov in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Russian, Tagalog and Vietnamese. The same handout is available in English and will be translated into Spanish. In the meantime, www.ListoVirginia.gov is available to Spanish speakers. Preparedness brochures and family emergency plan worksheets in English and Spanish are available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov. The Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management also is available to give emergency preparedness presentations to community groups and homeowners associations. Call 571-350-1000 for more information.
FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, reminds residents many jobs around the home following a disaster may require the use of tools and machinery that, if used improperly, could result in serious injury or death. The chain saw is one of the most efficient and productive power tools used for debris cleanup. However, if used improperly it can be dangerous. To avoid harm:
- Survey the job at hand and plan your task.
- Keep both hands on the chain saw handles.
- Keep your eye on the blade and what you are cutting.
- Cut only on the right side of your body.
- Always cut below your head.
- Cut with the lower edge of the saw blade whenever possible. Cutting with the tip of the saw invites injury.
- Watch out when cutting limbs and branches that are bent, they may snap back and hit you.
- Let the chain saw do the work. Don't try to force the saw.
- Wear protective clothing; a hard hat, goggles, safety shoes, gloves and close-fitting clothes.
- Don't wear yourself out. Stay alert.
For more, visit FEMA online or contact the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management at 571-350-1000.
That’s it for this edition of the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast, produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia government. Thanks for listening. Additional information about health and safety topics and emergency preparedness may be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov. And remember, if you have a police, fire or medical emergency, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency needs, call 703-691-2131.
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