City of Berea -Fire Department News and Information
News and Information

CARBON MONOXIDE QUESTONS & ANSWERS

POISON
Local Poison Control Center Number:  216-231-4455

TORNADO SAFETY

Test Smoke Detectors MONTHLY
SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES! Every house should have at least one working smoke detector on each floor level. Change the batteries annually to ensure proper operation of the detector. A good time to change batteries is when the clocks are changed in the fall - CHANGE YOUR CLOCK, CHANGE YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERY. If you have any questions concerning your smoke detector or how to properly install your detector, please call the fire station for assistance. Smoke detectors are available at no cost for needy families in Berea. Call the fire station for details at 826-5880.

Candle fires have jumped to the third leading cause of home fire deaths.

CANDLES ARE POPULAR...they're pretty and smell great. The National Candle Association reported that candle sales have doubled in recent years. but be careful with those candles. According to a recent study by the National Fire Protection Association, candle fires in the home have been steadily increasing since 1990. Beginning in 1994, injuries caused by home candle fires have been hitting new highs each year and candle fires have jumped to the third leading cause of home fire deaths.

  • The three most common causes of home candle fires are:
  • A burning candle left unattended
  • Combustible material left too close to a burning candle
  • Children playing with candles

If you burn candles, place them on a sturdy, flat surface, away from anything that can burn. Make sure they are out of the reach of children - never leave kids and candles alone together. And blow your candles out if you leave the room or go to bed.

BUCKLE DOWN CLEVELAND & CUYAHOGA COUNTY

"STAR NFL LINEBACKER INVOLVED IN CAR CRASH PARALYZED FROM WAIST DOWN"

"NFL STAR PARALYZED IN CAR ACCIDENT DIES"

Two people died - neither wearing a seatbelt. But the third passanger in the vehicle who WAS wearing his seatbelt WALKED AWAY UNHURT!

Buckle Down Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Safety Belt Program is being launched to educate driver about seatbelt use.

FACTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT SAFETY BELTS

  • Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death and injury to American children
  • Crashes kill more children than all deseases combined
  • in Cuyahoga County:
    • We consistently rank below the state average in seatbelt usage
    • Only 53% of motorists buckle up compared with the national average of 70%
    • Estimated safety belt usage actually decreased from 1997 to 1998
    • 75% of fatalities in Cleveland traffic crashes in 1997 were unbuckled; estimates suggest that nearly half of those killed would have survived the crash if wearing a safety belt.
  • In Ohio:
    • 38 child passenger, ages 6-15 were killed in car crashes in 1997; 24 of these children were not buckled up
    • The deaths and debilitating injuries resulting from not wearing safety belts cost Ohio taxpayers more than 13.5 billion a year
    • Ohio, specifically Cuyahoga County, ranks among the worst in the nation for safety belt usage. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ohio ranks 30th among states is safety belt usage.

Give it a week - CONSCIOULSY BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BEST every time you get in your car and in ONE WEEK, it will become a habit - one that could just SAVE YOUR LIFE!

The Berea Fire Department Urges Parents to Be Sparkler Smart!
Sparklers are Safe When Used Correctly

The only fireworks that are legal to discharge in the State of Ohio are the fireworks, such as smoke bombs, snakes and sparklers, that can be purchases at most convenience stores.  The larger firecrackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, etc. which can be legally purchased at a fireworks store, are ILLEGAL to discharge in Ohio and subject to Ohio laws.  Once purchased, they must be transported out of the state within 48 hours.

Using sparklers on our nation's birthday is as traditional as cookouts and parades. And it is equally safe if a few common sense rules are followed.  According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC"), approximately 16% of all consumer fireworks injuries are caused by sparklers burning hands and legs, with the majority of sparkler injuries occurring to young children.  These injuries would not have occurred if there had been close adult supervision and if some basic safety steps had been taken.  The Berea Fire Department offers these safety steps for sparklers, in the hopes that sparkler injuries to young children can be greatly reduced.

  • Children under the age of 12 should not use sparklers without very close adult supervision.
  • Always remain standing while using sparklers.
  • Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.
  • Never hold, or light, more than one sparkler at a time.
  • Sparklers and bare feet can be a painful combination. Always wear closed-toe shoes when using sparklers.
  • Sparkler wire and stick remain hot long after the flame has gone out. Be sure to drop the spent sparklers directly in a bucket of water.
  • Never hand a lighted sparkler to another person. Give them the unlit sparkler and then light it.
  • Always stand at least 6 feet from another person while using sparklers.
  • Never throw sparklers.
  • Show children how to hold sparklers away from their body and at arm's length.
  • Teach children not to wave sparklers, especially wooden stick sparklers, or run while holding sparklers.