safety tips

August 19, 2021 by jgprstaff

Raynham Fire Offers Safety Tips, Encourages Residents to Stay Alert as Tropical Storm Henri Tracks Toward New England

The current location of Tropical Storm Henri as of 11 a.m. Thursday, as well as the probable path of the storm’s center. The graphic shows an expected timeline for the storm’s track toward New England and indicates at which point it is currently expected to strengthen into a hurricane. (Photo courtesy National Hurricane Center)

Chief Bryan LaCivita and the Raynham Fire Department is recommending that residents stay alert and prepare to take the necessary safety precautions as Tropical Storm Henri is expected to track toward New England in the coming days.

According to the National Hurricane Center, as of 11 a.m. Thursday, Tropical Storm Henri is currently moving westward over the western Atlantic and is approximately 810 miles south of Nantucket.

The center of Henri is expected to remain offshore of the east coast over the next couple of days, but is forecast to track near Cape Cod and the Islands or just offshore Sunday into Monday.

Henri is forecast to intensify into a hurricane on Friday with additional strengthening predicted to occur this weekend. There is a potential for tropical storm or lower-end hurricane force winds along with rough seas. Swells from Henri are expected to reach the east coast Friday and continue through the weekend. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.

There are currently no watches or warnings related to Tropical Storm Henri at this time. However, the exact path and strength of the storm when it gets closer to New England are still uncertain and residents are urged to stay alert and monitor the local forecast.

Stay informed by receiving alerts, warnings, and public safety information before, during and after emergencies.

Safety precautions residents should follow to prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm include:

Don’t go out during a hurricane or tropical storm, if possible.
Check flashlights and portable radios to confirm they’re working. Fully charge your cell phone, laptop and any other devices before the storm.
Check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
If you own a car, making sure its gas tank is at least half full in the event you need to travel. Purchase a car phone charger so that you can charge your device if you lose power at your home.
Ensure that you have an emergency kit that has basic medicine and bandages.
- Include disinfectants, hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies that you may need in an emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings (remember to reset them back to normal once power is restored). During an outage, minimize the number of times you open the refrigerator or freezer door.
Prepare your home by securing or bringing in outdoor objects (patio furniture, children’s toys, trash cans, etc.) that could be swept away or damaged during strong winds or flooding. Also, elevate items in your basement in case of flooding, check your sump pump, unplug sensitive electronic equipment, park vehicles in areas that are unlikely to flood and remove boats from the water.
MEMA recommends purchasing a generator to maintain electricity in an outage. NEVER run a generator indoors, in a garage or with the exhaust facing the home or home air intakes.
Be prepared by packing a bag with important items in case you need to evacuate. Don’t forget to include needed medications and any valuable personal belongings.
Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions and those who may need additional assistance.

In the event of a hurricane, residents are also encouraged to know if they live or work in a hurricane evacuation zone, develop a family emergency plan and create an emergency kit.

Residents are also encouraged to follow tips provided by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) in the event of flooding:

Don’t attempt to drive through large puddles or on flooded roads, which could threaten your safety. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.
If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground. Flash floods are the number one cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.
If floodwaters rise around your car and the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.
Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.

After a storm passes through the area, residents should remain cautious. Heavy rain and strong winds can cause a multitude of problems like power outages, fallen debris and floods that often block roads and emergency vehicles, prolonging damage.

Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies, including downed power lines and gas leaks.
Stay away from downed utility wires. Always assume a downed power line is live.
If your power is out, follow MEMA’s power outage safety tips. Report power outages to your utility company. Do not call 9-1-1 to report an outage or to ask about power restoration.

Additional hurricane safety tips offered by MEMA can be found here.

June 1 marked the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs through Nov. 30. Historically, most hurricanes and tropical storms that hit New England occur during August and September.

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March 5, 2020 by Leah Comins

Raynham Fire Department Reminds Residents to Test Fire and CO Alarms During Daylight Saving

Daylight Saving Time Begins March 8 at 2 a.m.

RAYNHAM — Chief Bryan LaCivita and the Raynham Fire Department would like to remind residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when setting the clocks ahead for daylight saving time.

Daylight saving begins on Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m.

“Not all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are the same, so it’s important to check the manufacturer’s instructions for your devices to ensure your detectors are replaced at the correct age,” Chief LaCivita said.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having working smoke alarms reduces the risk of dying in a fire by 50% and, on average, three out of every five fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

The Raynham Fire Department asks that all business owners not only change the batteries in their clocks, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, but also replace the batteries on wall mounted emergency lights and exit signs. All businesses have emergency backup lighting as a safety feature to provide temporary lighting in case of power failure.

In order to continue to keep your home safe and prevent fires, Chief LaCivita recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by NFPA:

Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace alarms immediately if they don’t respond properly when tested.
Replace batteries in smoke and CO alarms when you change your clocks.
Replace all smoke alarms when they reach 10 years old. Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area, on every level of the home, and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay in that spot until emergency personnel arrive.
Develop and practice a home escape plan with all members of the household.

For more information on smoke detector and CO alarm safety, visit the NFPA website or contact the Raynham Fire Department at 508-824-2713.

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February 3, 2020 by Leah Comins

Raynham Fire Department Reminds Residents of Burn Safety Tips During National Burn Awareness Week

Burn Awareness Week is Feb. 2-8

RAYNHAM — Chief Bryan LaCivita would like to remind residents of some safety tips and precautions as National Burn Awareness Week takes place this week.

Each year, the American Burn Association develops educational resources for National Burn Week. The theme for Burn Awareness Week 2020 is: Contact Burns – Hot Surfaces Damage Skin.

“Many people may just think of contact burns happening in the kitchen around the stove top and hot pots and pans, but it’s important to remember other areas of the house where burn injuries can easily occur such as fireplaces, hair straighteners, curling irons and bath water,” Chief LaCivita said.

According to the Massachusetts Burn Injury Reporting System (MBIRS), there were 345 burn injuries in 2018. In addition, MBIRS reports that children under the age of five account for one-quarter of all reported burn injuries. Touching heating and cooking equipment, other hot household items (like clothes irons) and walking barefoot on hot pavement are the leading causes of contact burns to young children. Older adults are also at an increased risk of suffering contact burn injuries.

Chief LaCivita would like to offer the following tips and information from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and the American Burn Association:

Prevent Burns

Hot drink safety

Hot fluids were the cause of 88% of the total burns in children under the age of five. Keep hot liquids away from babies and small children. Put drinks and soups in the center of the table away from curious fingers.
Replace tablecloths with place mats to prevent children from pulling everything on a table onto themselves.

Tap water safety

Set your hot water heater to 125˚F or less. Massachusetts law requires a temperature between 110˚F and 130˚F. It takes only one second for water at 155˚F to cause a third-degree burn.
Supervise young children in the bath and face them away from faucets. Babies and toddlers can turn on hot water when you turn your back.

Cooking safety

Children under the age of five are five times more likely to be burned by cooking than others. Keep children away from stoves, grills, campfires and fireplaces. This protects them from cooking liquids, grease and hot metal.
Use the back burners of the stove top to prevent children from reaching up and touching hot pots and pans. Turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove so they cannot be easily reached or tipped.
Have hot pads available when cooking. Long oven mitts are best when needing to reach in or over hot surfaces, such as in an oven or over a grill. Assume all pots and pans are hot.
Don’t wear loose clothing near fire, grills or stoves.

Other tips

Glass front fireplaces have surface temperatures of 172˚F and can cause serious contact burns. Burns can occur instantly upon contact with the glass front and the most frequent site of injury is the hand. Glass fireplace doors also can remain hot for one or more hours after use.
Be sure to turn off unattended hot appliances such as irons or hair straighteners.
Turn heating pads and blankets off before going to sleep.
Protect your feet by wearing shoes when walking on hot pavement or sand. Keep pets off hot pavement.

First Aid for Burns

Stop, drop and roll if you or your clothing are on fire.
Remove burn victims from the immediate area of danger.
Call 911 immediately if someone has suffered a burn injury.
Cool the burn area by running cool water over it. Continuously flush burns caused by chemicals.
Never put grease, butter or ointment on a burn.
Do not remove clothing from a burn.
Cover a burn with a clean sheet or towel.

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October 30, 2019 by Leah Comins

Raynham Police and Fire Departments Offer Halloween Safety Tips

RAYNHAM– Police Chief James Donovan and Fire Chief Bryan LaCivita would like to offer residents some important safety tips as Halloween approaches to ensure everyone celebrates safely and responsibly.

“Neighborhoods are especially busy on Halloween with many kids out and about,” Chief Donovan said. “We ask drivers to slow down and be especially attentive. Look carefully before going through an intersection in case children are crossing the street.”

The Raynham Police and Fire Departments recommend that residents follow safety tips outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:

Dressing Up

Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls. Consider adding reflective tape to kids’ costumes and bags to help drivers see them.
If temperatures are cold during trick-or-treating time, be sure to have your kids wear long sleeves and warm clothing under their costume.
If a child is wearing a mask instead of make-up, make sure the eye holes are large enough to see through clearly. Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as a safer alternative to masks. Always test make-up in a small area of skin first and always remove make-up before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
When shopping for costume pieces, look for and purchase ones that are labeled as flame retardant.
Swords, knives and other costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible. A child may be easily hurt by accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.

Trick-or-Treating

Children under 12 should always be accompanied by an adult. Avoid trick-or-treating alone.
If your older children are going out without parental supervision, go over ground rules first and set a curfew. Have them travel in a group, with a cell phone and flashlight. Make sure children know how to call 911 if they have an emergency.
Pedestrian injuries are very common on Halloween. Remind kids to stay in a group. They should walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic. Crosswalks should be used whenever possible and children should always look both ways before crossing the street.
Only go to homes with a porch light on. Never go into a home or car for a treat.
Examine all of your kids’ treats for choking hazards and tampering. Do not eat treats that have been opened, even partially. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

Keeping Your Home Safe for Trick-or-Treaters

Make sure your home is well-lit inside and out and that there is a clear path to your front door.
Keep all decorations like cornstalks and hay away from heat sources and lit candles.
Use battery-operated tea lights instead of candles in jack o’lanterns.
Remember to put matches and lighters away in a high, locked cabinet so children cannot access them or be tempted to relight jack o’lanterns by themselves.

“To ensure kids can trick-or-treat safely, homeowners should make sure their walkways and porches are clear and well-lit,” Chief LaCivita said. “Trick-or-treaters should also avoid streets with little to no light as dark roads and street corners make it harder for drivers to see you.”

As always, any suspicious person or vehicle should immediately be reported to Raynham Police by dialing 911.

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September 4, 2019 by Leah Comins

Raynham Fire Department Offers Tips to Build an Emergency Kit During Emergency Preparedness Month

RAYNHAM — Chief Bryan LaCivita and the members of Raynham Fire Department would like to offer residents tips about how to build a kit of essential supplies for use in the event of an emergency during Emergency Preparedness Month.

September has been declared by Governor Charlie Baker to be Emergency Preparedness Month. Residents are encouraged to use resources provided by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to prepare themselves, their family, their property and their community for the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

“Once you build an emergency kit, we recommend keeping it in a place where you might find yourself in an emergency, such as an interior room or your basement,” Chief LaCivita said. “Also be sure not to bury it under a lot of things that may make it difficult to find when you need it.”

MEMA recommends that emergency kits include essential items that will provide your family members with basic necessities for up to three days in an emergency event.

Essential Items to Include in an Emergency Kit

Water: Bottled water (one gallon per person/per day for at least three days), water purification tablets
Food: At least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods that do not need cooking (ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits or vegetables, or juices, protein or granola bars, cereal, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers, baby food and comfort foods)
Tools and Supplies: Manual can opener, radio (powered by battery or hand crank), flashlight or lantern, extra batteries, cell phone with charger, wrench, pliers and other basic tools
Personal Items: Prescription medications (two-week supply), personal hygiene items, eyeglasses, contact lenses, dentures, extra batteries or supplies for medical equipment, change of clothes, sturdy shoes
Documents: Insurance policies, bank account records, identification cards (IDs), medical information and other copies of important documents
Money: Extra cash and traveler’s checks (ATMs may not work during a power outage)
Other Items: First-aid kit, emergency whistle, waterproof matches/lighter, local area maps, sleeping bags or blankets, comfort items such as books or games
Also consider: A watch or clock, disposable kitchenware, duct tape, plastic sheeting or tarp to protect against the elements

Residents should also ensure their emergency kit is specific to their needs. Families with unique needs such as infants, pets, family members with disabilities or family members with specific medical needs should consider any additional supplies needed for basic survival.

MEMA also offers an Emergency Kit Checklist to assist families in building a kit of their own.

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