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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

Electrical fire safety: keep an eye on extension cords and wall outlets

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Overloaded electrical outlet

Did you know that over half of all home electrical fires involve lighting equipment or home electrical wiring? Overloaded outlets and the misuse of extension cords are common electrical issues that can cause a home fire. Fortunately, there are some basic steps to take to prevent such fires.

Safety tips:

  • Use as few cord adapters and extension cords as possible. Instead use a power strip that has a surge protector.
  • Extension cords should only used for temporary use. They should not be tacked to walls or run under rugs.
  • Small appliances, like the toaster should be unplugged when not in use.
  • Check your electrical cords. If they are cracked or damaged, replace them. Don’t try to repair them.
  • Don’t overload extension cords or wall outlets.
  • Never use extension cords with appliances. Plug them directly into wall outlets.

Call a qualified electrician or the landlord if you experience any of the following:

  • Frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers
  • A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance
  • Discolored or warm wall outlets
  • A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance
  • Flickering or dimming lights
  • Sparks from an outlet
Check your electrical cords. If they are cracked or damaged, replace them. Don’t try to repair them.

Fire Prevention Month: Calling 9-1-1 for Emergencies

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  • call 911 and know your address
Call 9-1-1 for an emergency. Know your location. A clear address on your home makes it easier for firefighters to locate you.

October is Fire Prevention Month in Seattle and this week the Seattle Fire Department is highlighting calling 9-1-1 for emergencies. 9-1-1 is a critical part of our emergency response system.

When someone calls 9-1-1 for a medical or fire emergency in Seattle, the call is dispatched to the Fire Alarm Center where firefighters are ready to get some critical information from the caller so that they can send help right away.

Below is some basic information on calling 9-1-1 in several languages.

English

CALL 9-1-1 or send someone else to call 9-1-1 for fire, medical or police emergencies.

  1. If there is a fire, call 9-1-1 after you are outside and away from the fire and smoke.
  2. Know your address or location
  • Say your language, if it is not English and stay on the phone. Do not hang up.

Spanish

LLAME AL 9-1-1 o pídale a alguien que llame al 9-1-1 en caso de incendio, emergencias médicas o policiales.

  1. Si hay un incendio, llame al 9-1-1 luego de haber salido y estar lejos del fuego y el humo.
  2. Tiene que saber dónde se encuentra.
  • Diga qué idioma habla si no es inglés y quédese al teléfono. No cuelgue.

Chinese

如遇火災、醫療或治安緊急事件，請致電 9-1-1 或派其他人致電 9-1-1。

  1. 如果發生火災，請在您逃離現場，遠離火災和煙霧後，致電 9-1-1。
  2. 瞭解您的地址或位置
  • 說出您的語言，如果不是英語，請保持通話。不要掛線。

Vietnamese

GỌI 9-1-1 hoặc nhờ ai đó gọi 9-1-1 trong trường hợp hỏa hoạn, cấp cứu y tế hoặc trường hợp khẩn cấp cần cảnh sát.

  1. Nếu xảy ra hỏa hoạn, hãy gọi 9-1-1 sau khi quý vị đã ở bên ngoài và tránh xa đám cháy và khói.
  2. Biết địa chỉ hoặc vị trí của quý vị
  • Nói ngôn ngữ của quý vị, nếu không phải là Tiếng Anh và giữ máy. Không tắt máy.

Korean

화재, 의료진 또는 경찰의 도움이 필요한 비상사태의 경우에는 9-1-1로 직접 신고하거나 주변 사람에게 9-1-1로 신고해 달라고 부탁하세요.

  1. 화재가 발생한 경우에는 화재 및 연기를 피해 건물 밖으로 나와 9-1-1로 신고하세요.
  2. 주소나 현재 위치를 알고 있어야 합니다.
  • 영어를 못하더라도 전화를 끊지 말고 자신의 언어로 말하세요. 전화를 절대 끊지 마세요.

Cambodian/Khmer

ទូរសព្ទទៅលេខ 9-1-1 ឬឱ្យនរណាម្នាក់ទូរសព្ទទៅលេខ 9-1-1 សម្រាប់​គ្រាមានអាសន្ន​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​អគ្គិភ័យ វេជ្ជសាស្ត្រ ឬត្រូវការប៉ូលីស។

  1. ប្រសិនបើមានអគ្គិភ័យ សូមទូរសព្ទទៅលេខ 9-1-1 បន្ទាប់ពីអ្នក​ចេញ​មក​ក្រៅ និងនៅឆ្ងាយពីភ្លើងនិងផ្សែង។
  2. ស្គាល់​អាសយដ្ឋាន ឬទីតាំងរបស់អ្នក
  • និយាយភាសារបស់អ្នក ប្រសិនបើមិនមែនជាភាសាអង់គ្លេស ហើយនៅបន្ត​ស្ដាប់ទូរសព្ទ កុំដាក់ទូរសព្ទចុះ។

Amharic

ለእሳት፣ ለህክምና፣ ወይም ለፖሊስ ድንገተኛ ጥሪዎች ወደ 9-1-1 ይደውሉ ወይም ሌላ ሰው ወደ 9-1-1 እንዲደውል ይላኩ።

  1. እሳት ካለ፣ ወደ ውጪ ከወጡ እና ከእሳቱ እና ከጭሱ ከራቁ በኋላ ወደ 9-1-1 ይደውሉ።
  2. አድራሻዎን ወይም ያሉበትን ስፍራ ይወቁ
  • እንግሊዝኛ ካልሆነ፣ ቋንቋዎ ምን እንደሆነ ይናገሩና በመስመር ላይ ይቆዩ። ስልኩን አይዝጉት።

Tigrinya

ባርዕ፣ ናይ ጥዕና ወይ ናይ ፖሊስ ሃንደበታዊ ሓደጋታት እንተበጺሖም ናብ 9-1-1 ደውሉ ወይ ካልእ ሰብ ናብ 9-1-1 ክድውል ስደዱ።

  1. ሓዊ ቃጸሎ እንተልዩ፣ ካብቲ ሓዊን ትኪን ርሒቕኩም ናብ 9-1-1 ደውሉ።
  2. ኣድራሻኹም ወይ ቦታኹም ፍለጡ
  • ቋንቋኹም ነጊርኩም፡ እንግሊዝ እንተዘይኮይኑ ኣብቲ ተሌፎን ጽንሑ። ነቲ ተሌፎን ኣይትዕጸውዎ።

Oromo

9-1-1 tti BILBILAA yookin balaa abiddaaf, waldhaansa yaaalaf yookin poolisa hatattamaaf 9-1-1 tti akka bilbilaniif nama ergaa.

  1. Balaan abiddaa yoo mudate, bakka balaa ibiddaa yookin aara isaa irraa gara alaatti erga baatanii booda 9-1-1 tti bilbilaa.
  2. Teesso fi iddoo argama keessanii beekuu qabdu
  • Yoo Ingiliffaa hin taane, afaan keessan itti himaa. Bilbila hin cufinaa.

Somali

WAC 9-1-1 ama qof udir inuu waco 9-1-1 marka uu dab kaco, ay jiraan xaalado degdeg ah oo dhanka caafimaadka ama booliiska.

  1. Haddii dab kaco, wac 9-1-1 markaad banaanka u baxdo kana fogaato dabka iyo qiiqa.
  2. Baro ciwaankaaga iyo meesha aad joogto
  • Sheeg luuqada aad kuhadasho, hadaysan Ingiriis ahayn hana ka bixin khadka taleefanka. Ha jarin wicitaanka.

Arabic

اتصل بالرقم 1-1-9 أو أرسل شخصًا آخر للاتصال بالرقم 1-1-9 في حالات الحرائق، أو الطوارئ الطبية أو طوارئ الشرطة.

  1. إذا اندلع حريق، فاتصل بالرقم 1-1-9 بعد خروجك وابتعادك عن الحريق والدخان.
  2. اعرف عنوانك ومكانك
  • اذكر لغتك، إذا لم تكن الإنجليزية وابقَ على الخط. لا تغلق الهاتف.

Russian

ПОЗВОНИТЕ сами или отправьте кого-нибудь позвонить 9-1-1 в случае пожара, угрожающих жизни ситуаций со здоровьем или при необходимости вмешательства полиции.

  1. В случае пожара звоните 9-1-1 после того, как вы выбрались наружу и находитесь на безопасном расстоянии от огня и дыма.
  2. Узнайте свой адрес или местонахождение.
  • Назовите свой язык, если это не английский, и оставайтесь на связи. Не прекращайте звонок.

Ukrainian

ЗАТЕЛЕФОНУЙТЕ самі або попросіть кого-небудь зателефонувати 9-1-1 у разі пожежі, загрози здоров’ю або у випадку необхідності втручання поліції.

  1. У разі пожежі телефонуйте 9-1-1 після того, як ви вибралися назовні та перебуваєте на безпечній відстані від вогню та диму.
  2. Дізнайтеся свою адресу або де ви перебуваєте.
  • Якщо ви не володієте англійською мовою, повідомте, якою мовою ви володієте, та залишайтеся на лінії. Не кладіть слухавку.

World Restart a Heart Day 2020

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The 16th of October is World Restart a Heart Day

October 16 is World Restart a Heart Day. A day to build awareness about the importance of learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Even though the Seattle Fire Department is not offering in-person CPR classes during this stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to review the simple and effective steps to perform hands-only CPR. Most out of hospital cardiac arrests happen at home. Bystander CPR can make a big difference.

If you see someone collapse, follow these steps:

  1. Call 911 – Give specific information to the dispatcher, starting with the location. Is an AED available? If so, send someone to retrieve it and use it as soon as you can.
  2. Make sure the scene is safe
  3. Quickly determine if the person needs CPR – If the person is not responsive or not breathing normally – tap them on the shoulder and shout, “Are you ok. Are you ok?” If the person doesn’t move, speak, blink, or otherwise react, then he or she is not responding.
  4. Begin Chest Compressions – Use two hands, with straight arms, and push down hard and fast in the center of the chest. Make sure compressions are at least 2-inches deep, and are at the rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. (list of songs with beats at this rate)
  5. Don’t stop compressions until help arrives or take turns with someone if you get tired

Hands-only CPR Resources:

CPR/AED Video in English

Hands-only CPR handout in 15 languages

Hands-only CPR video from the American Heart Association in English (in Spanish)

For a fun CPR video/dance party check out this video

Learn about and download the PulsePoint app and how it alerts community members when CPR is needed in real-time

Need a song that is between 100-120 beats per minute? Check out this playlist.

Falling is not a normal part of aging – Fall Prevention Week Sept. 21-25, 2020

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September 21-25, 2020 is National Fall Prevention Week. Falling is NOT a normal part of aging. Join the Seattle Fire Department in getting this important fall prevention information out to our communities.

Did you know?

  • Each year, 28% of Washington residents over age 65 experience a fall
  • In Washington State, fall-related injuries account for more than half of all injury-related deaths of adults aged 65+ and 70% of all injury-related deaths for adults aged 85+

Two thirds of seniors who experience a fall will fall again within six months.

1 in 3 people aged 65 years and older fall at least once every year. 1 in 40 of those will be hospitalized and only half of those hospitalized will survive the year.

60% of fatal falls occur in the home.

More information:

Seattle/King County Public Health Fall Prevention Resources

Washington State Department of Health – Older Adult Falls

National Council on Aging – Fall Prevention Week

Information in Spanish:

Start your Falls Free CheckUp

Preventing heat-related illness

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Stay hydrated and try to avoid the heat

The weather is finally heating up in our region and we will most likely experience some hotter days in the days and weeks to come. Higher temperatures can lead to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent becoming ill from too much heat.

Too much heat and sun can overwhelm anyone but those most at risk from heat exhaustion and heat stroke include older adults, young children, and people who work or exercise outdoors.

Signs of heat exhaustion include:

  • Sweating
  • Pale, ashen or moist skin
  • Muscle cramps (especially for those working or exercising outdoors in high temperatures)
  • Fatigue, weakness or exhaustion
  • Headache, dizziness or fainting
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Rapid heart rate

Heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke if proper steps are not taken to reduce overheating.

Heatstroke is more serious and occurs when the body reaches a temperature of 104 degrees or higher. It is usually a result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures or physical exertion in high temperatures.

In addition to the above heat exhaustion symptoms, heatstroke symptoms can include:

  • Confusion
  • Altered speech
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Rapid breathing and a racing heartbeat, among other symptoms.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these symptoms occur.

Stay Safe in the Heat

  • Drinking water and other fluids often is important. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty!
  • Eat foods with lots of water in them.
  • Check on family and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to heat.
  • Children can also have heat exhaustion because they are so active and forget to drink water.
  • Keep children out of the direct sun during the hottest part of the day.
  • Never leave babies, young children or pets in a parked car – even with the windows rolled down. Not even for a minute. Cars can get dangerously hot in seconds!
  • People who work outside should take frequent breaks to cool off.

How to Cool Down 

  • Play in fountains and sprinklers, go to the swimming pool, and stay in the shade.
  • Try to go somewhere with air conditioning on a hot day. 
  • Continue to hydrate

For more information:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Safety Council

Seattle-King County Public Health heat safety tips

Water safety tips for summer

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Every summer, the Seattle Fire Department responds to preventable drownings. According to Public Health – Seattle & King County, 54 people King County residents died in preventable drownings in 2020. Many more near drownings go unreported.

Washington waters are often cold enough to cause muscles to not work. Even when the outside temperatures are high, water temperatures can be cold enough to overwhelm even the strongest swimmer.

If you plan to be in or near water this summer, follow these recommendations:

Learn to swim, including water safety and survival skills — To enjoy the water safely, learn swim strokes, water safety, survival skills, and becoming comfortable in the water.

Wear a life jacket — Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket when boating, tubing, rafting, swimming or other activities in or on lakes, rivers, salt water, or pools without a lifeguard. Life jacket information for children and teens.

Swim where there is a lifeguard — Swim in areas with lifeguards when possible. Wear a life jacket while swimming in unguarded waters or until the guards start their service.

Supervise children in or near water — Always provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising in or near water. Stay within touching distance of young children at all times.

Do not use alcohol or drugs during water activities — Never use alcohol or other impairing drugs during water and boating activities or while supervising children around the water. Alcohol affects balance, coordination, and judgement. Exposure to sun and heat worsen these effects.

Learn first aid and CPR — Learn first aid and CPR. Seconds count—the more quickly lifesaving CPR is started, the better the chances of recovery. Dial 911 in an emergency.

Water Safety – King County

Drowning Prevention – CDC

Life jacket discount information

Drowning Prevention and Water Safety – Seattle Children’s

En español: Prevención de ahogamiento

Keeping young children fire safe!

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Week of the Young ChildTM

April 12-18 is the 2015 Week of the Young ChildTM – an annual celebration to focus on the needs of young children.

Safety Tips for Keeping Kids Fire Safe:

  • Practice fire drills at home – teach two ways out of every room and practice crawling low under smoke to get outside to a family meeting spot.
  • Safe for play or Keep away – teach the difference between grown-up tools and children’s toys. Children should always keep away from adult tools and never touch matches or lighters.
  • Have a working smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level, including the basement.

Conduct a Home Fire Safety Check.

Preschool Programs

The Seattle Fire Department preschool programs help teachers teach students about fire safety and injury prevention.

 

Firefighters team up with kids to teach fire safety through stories

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WEB 2013-06-06 6B Douglass-Truth Storytime 170 WEB 2013-06-13 36C Delridge FF Storytime 068 WEB 2013-06-19 18D Ballard FF Storytime 024 WEB 2013-06-20 13A Beacon Hill FF Storytime 267                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Seattle Fire Department is partnering with the Seattle Public Libraries for a reading program aimed at increasing literacy, and raising awareness of home fire safety. This popular event, usually held in October, was held during the summer for the first time last year. Because of its overwhelming popularity, Firefighter Story Times are being held again this summer.
Firefighters will read the book No Dragons for Tea to preschool children from all around the city. Important safety messages include “Firefighters are your friend”, “Crawl low under smoke” and “Get out and stay out”. The event will also include a chance to explore a fire engine and give the children the opportunity to get close to firefighters as they put on and explain their protective gear.
For more than a decade, Seattle Firefighters have volunteered for literacy events at various Seattle Public Libraries and Seattle Public Schools. The Firefighter Story Times are a push to educate young people in the city and their families about staying safe from fire. Preschool children are especially vulnerable to fire and burn injuries. During the months of June and July, Seattle Firefighters are reading to preschoolers at 7 different library locations throughout the city.
Come join the firefighters at your local branch library.
Columbia Branch: June 11 @ 11:00 AM

Southwest Branch: June 12 @ 11:00 AM

Queen Anne Branch: July 10 @ 11:00 AM

West Seattle Branch: July 16 @ 10:30 AM

Greenwood Branch: July 24 @ 10:30 AM

University Branch: July 30 @ 11:15 AM

Central Library: July 31 @ 10:30 AM

Seattle Fire Department Reminds You to Change Smoke Alarm Batteries to Coincide with Time Change

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CapInstallingSeattle- As the end of Daylight Saving Time approaches on Sunday, November 3rd, the Seattle Fire Department wants to remind residents to change their smoke alarm 9V batteries when they change their clocks. Lithium long-life smoke alarm batteries do not need to be changed yearly.

Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce home fire deaths. In fact, working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half by providing an early warning and critical extra seconds to escape.

Every home in Seattle should have the protection of smoke alarms. The Seattle Fire Department can install smoke alarms and batteries free of charge in homes where the homeowner is either a senior citizen, living on a low income, or has a disability. If you live outside the city of Seattle, please contact your local Fire Department to request assistance.

http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/smokealarms/smokeAlarms.htm

For more information call 206-386-1337 or email fireinfo@seattle.gov or visit www.seattle.gov/fire

Smoke alarm: Test it Today – Sleep Better Tonight

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does your smoke alarm work small 10-2013A sounding smoke alarm is a family’s first sign that there could be fire in the home. The end of Daylight Saving Time – and “Falling” back – can serve as a great reminder to families to change home smoke alarm batteries. This can also be an opportunity to teach kids the importance of home fire safety, especially the role of the smoke alarm, even when they seem like a nuisance.

Help children recognize the sound of the alarm, and when they hear the loud noise, follow their home escape plan and get out fast.

Kids can help keep their families fire safe by helping a parent remember to:
• Put smoke alarms in your home, especially in bedrooms.
• Test smoke alarms monthly so you know what it sounds like.
• Replace old batteries with new ones yearly.
• Leave the smoke alarms in place – even if they sound every time you start cooking.

Finally, practice makes perfect. Encourage kids to practice their home escape plans. Make a game out of making and repeatedly practicing an escape “map “or plan.