Over the past year, the Seattle Fire Department has responded to 57 lithium-ion battery related fires. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are commonly used in home electronics such as phones, laptop computers, tablets, e-scooters and other devices that require plug in charging. These batteries are small and powerful but when used incorrectly, they can… [ Keep reading ]
It is important to be prepared for sudden emergencies such as sudden cardiac arrest. Around 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home so it’s important to know what to do if this were to happen. A cardiac patient’s chance of becoming a long-term survivor are more than doubled if… [ Keep reading ]
Leaving a small child or pet in a car alone is never a good idea. It’s especially dangerous on sunny days. It doesn’t have to be a hot day for the temperature inside of a car to reach high enough temperatures to cause heat stroke. Heat stroke can cause serious… [ Keep reading ]
Spring weather has finally arrived. This is the time of year when more outdoor grills are cleaned up and put to use. Whether using a grill on an apartment rooftop or in your backyard, consider these fire prevention and safety tips before lighting the grill. Most grill fires are preventable. Setting… [ Keep reading ]
Working smoke alarms are known to reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 50%. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, audible smoke alarms cannot alert a person to a fire. Fortunately, there are smoke alarms made for people who are deaf such as a… [ Keep reading ]
In early March, a fire started in a Seattle home clothes dryer and caused over $10,000 in damages. Each year, 2,900 clothes dryer fires are reported in residential buildings in the U.S. Most dryer fires happen during the winter months. Failure to clean the lint is the leading factor contributing… [ Keep reading ]
To honor and celebrate Black History Month, the Seattle Fire Department would like to highlight some events and stories from the local community. The beginnings of Black History Month began in 1926 with Negro History Week which served as a call to action for racial equity and justice. By 1976,… [ Keep reading ]
Cardiac arrest occurs when a person’s heart stops working suddenly, often without warning, resulting in blood no longer circulating and depriving the body of oxygen. The person collapses, loses consciousness, and their breathing becomes agonal (gasping) or stops completely. The sudden nature of cardiac arrest always leads to death unless… Filed Under: Fire Line, Fire Safety and Education
Carbon monoxide is a gas that can cause severe illness or death. What makes it so difficult to detect is that it is odorless and colorless. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 430 people die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States every… Filed Under: Fire Line, Fire Safety and Education
Smoke alarms can reduce the risk of being injured by a home fire by alerting you that smoke is present and providing critical time to respond safely. Most fire deaths are caused by smoke inhalation, not burns. According to a 2020 study by the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke… [ Keep reading ]
