From MCFRS:
Thanksgiving is almost here and Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein is urging residents to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and to keep safety at the top of the “to do” list this holiday season.
Fact: More cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year. You’ve heard of distracted driving but have you heard of distracted cooking? Countless distractions can happen when cooking – – especially these days! Due to the pandemic many “in-person” gatherings will be taking place virtually and more kitchens (and cooks) will be in action to cook up the big feast.
- Be alert! Stay in the kitchen when using the stove top and use a timer. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a minute, turn off the stove.
- Keep anything that can catch fire at least 3 feet from the stove, toaster oven or other heat source. This includes pot holders, food packaging, dish towels, paper/plastic bags, etc.
- Do not pour water on a grease fire. Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread. In the event of a range-top fire, turn off the burner, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding a lid or cookie sheet onto the pan. Leave the lid in place until the pot or pan has cooled.
- Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup which can ignite.
- Always wear short, tight-fitting sleeves when cooking to prevent clothing from coming in contact with a burner and catching fire.
- Do not hold children while cooking or carrying hot foods or drinks. Keep children at a safe distance from hot surfaces, liquids and other kitchen hazards.
- Plug microwaves and other kitchen appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.
- Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house. Make sure all other appliances are turned off and that any candles or smoking materials are safely extinguished.
- Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home, test alarms monthly and change batteries annually or as recommended by the manufacturer if your alarm features long-life batteries.
- Never leave a fryer unattended.
- By design, turkey fryers are prone to tipping over. Fryers should always be used on a non-combustible, flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
- Fryers should always be used outdoors at least 10 feet from buildings and any flammable materials. Never use a fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage, porch or other enclosed space.
- Do not overfill the fryer. The oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames resulting in a potential fire hazard that could engulf the entire unit.
- Oil and water do not mix! Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer. Partially frozen turkeys can cause a spillover effect which may result in a fire.
- Some units do not have thermostat controls and, if not carefully watched, have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
- Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching the pot or lid handle. The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot and can result in severe burns. If available, use safety goggles to protect your eyes from any oil splatter.
- Keep children and pets away from fryers. The oil can remain dangerously hot even hours after use.
Following these simple fire safety tips can reduce injuries dramatically. For more information about our fire safety programs or to request a free VIRTUAL home safety or smoke alarm check, call 311 during business hours or visit our website at www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe
Personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on “2021’s Safest States in America.”
Per WalletHub, “With June being National Safety Month and 375,000 Americans having died from COVID-19 in 2020, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Safest States in America.”
In order to determine the most secure states, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 55 key metrics. The data set ranges from the percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated to assaults per capita and the unemployment rate.
Safety in Maryland (1=Safest; 25=Avg.):
- 6th – Percentage of Residents Age 12+ Who Are Fully Vaccinated
- 23rd – Assaults per Capita
- 14th – Loss Amounts from Climate Disasters per Capita
- 9th – Fatal Occupational Injuries per 100,000 Full-Time Workers
- 12th – Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles of Travel
- 17th – Law-Enforcement Employees per Capita
- 10th – Bullying Incidence Rate
- 3rd – Sex Offenders per Capita
- 16th – Share of Uninsured Population
For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/safest-states-to-live-in/4566
Armed Robbery for PS5 After Meeting to Complete Online Sale
If you’re planning on meeting someone from an online marketplace for presents this holiday season, make sure to use one of the designated safe exchange zones.
An armed robbery occurred at 4:38pm last Wednesday in a public parking lot on the corner of Georgia Avenue and Arcola Avenue in Wheaton.
The victim posted a PlayStation 5 on the online marketplace “Offer Up” and drove to the agreed upon meeting location where a suspect using a fake name pointed a handgun at the victim and ran off with the gaming console.
The suspect, a D.C. resident who was using a fake name, was quickly caught by officers after witnesses saw him taking the PS5 out of the box and placing it in a black bag in the backyard of a nearby residence. He was caught just 22 minutes after the robbery took place when an officer observed him walking in a residential yard on Arcola Avenue.
Full story from the MCPD here.
