Every day you whisper a promise to your child, "I’ll always keep you safe."

But keeping your home and children safe takes more than a promise. It can only be done with planning and preventive action.

The Los Angeles Fire Department joins the National Safety Council and the National Fire Protection Association in asking you to focus today on window safety:

The danger of falls and fire may be greater than you think!

Preventing falls from windows is as important as learning how to use one in an emergency. Unattended children run the greatest risk of fall and injury, so your best 'first step' is to watch children as they play. Nothing can substitute for careful supervision.

Fire is frightening. All too often, the bodies of young children are found after a fire in places where they tried to hide. Teach your children that they can’t hide from fire: They must escape it!

Decide on at least two emergency escape routes from your home. Windows provide one of the fastest, easiest alternative ways out of a burning residence. Teach children how to safely escape through windows and take time to practice with them.

Every family member should know how to operate the windows used for fire emergencies. Delay in escaping fire can cost lives and increase injury. Often paint, dirt or weathering will seal a window shut. Make sure yours open easily from the inside and are not blocked by furniture or other objects.

Remember also that security bars, grilles and grates not only keep intruders out, they can also lock you in. The same holds true for window guards. Everyone should be able to get out through a window at all times without using tools, keys, special knowledge or significant effort.

When youngsters are around, close and latch your windows. If you need ventilation, only open windows they cannot reach. Be sure to keep furniture - or anything children can climb - away from windows. And teach your children not to play near windows.

And finally, never depend on insect screens to prevent falls. Insect screens are designed only to provide ventilation. They will not support the weight of a child or prevent their fall.

Here are 9 simple ways to protect your loved ones:

1. Windows provide a secondary means of escape from a burning home. Determine your family's emergency escape plan and practice it. Remember that children may have to rely on a window to escape in a fire. Help them learn to safely use a window under these circumstances.
2. When performing household repairs, make sure windows are not painted or nailed shut. You must be able to open them to escape in an emergency.
3. Keep your windows closed and latched when children are around. When opening windows for ventilation, open windows that a child cannot reach.
4. Set and enforce rules about keeping children's play away from windows or patio doors. Falling through the glass can be fatal or cause serious injury.
5. Keep furniture — or anything children can climb — away from windows. Children may use such objects as a climbing aid.
6. If you have young children in your home and are considering installing window guards or window fall prevention devices, be aware that the window guards you install must have a release mechanism so that they can be opened for escape in a fire emergency. Consult your local building code
   officials to determine proper window guard placement.
7. Some homes have window guards, security bars, grilles or grates covering windows. Those windows can be useless in an emergency if they do not have a functioning release mechanism. Test them today because time is critical when escaping a fire.
8. Do not install window unit air conditioners in windows that may be needed for escape or rescue in an emergency. The air conditioning unit could block or impede escape through the window. Always be sure that you have at least one window in each sleeping and living area that meets escape and rescue requirements.
9. The degree of injury sustained from a window fall can be affected by the surface on which the victim falls. Shrubs and soft edging like wood chips or grass beneath windows may lessen the impact if a fall does occur.

Can Neighborhood Firefighters count on you?

Along with surveying your home, school and workplace today, please help us by sharing this informative brochure and checklist throughout your community.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Window Safety: Nine Ways To Keep Your Promise

On Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 8:51 AM, 3 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters and 1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance, a total of 17 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Captain II Jesse Cisneros, responded to an Escalator Injury with Traumatic Amputation at 14400 Erwin Street Mall in the Van Nuys Civic Center.

Los Angeles Firefighters responded quickly and were guided to a first floor lobby at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Van Nuys Courthouse West, where a mother was holding her injured 17 month-old son.

According to witnesses, the boy had been riding an escalator from the second to first floor, when a significant portion of his left index finger was traumatically amputated in the comb-and-groove of the foot tread at or near the lowest ('arrival') level of the machinery.

Quick thinking bystanders, including Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies on-duty at the courthouse, promptly swung into action - activating the escalator's emergency stop switch located at the base of the handrail to prevent further harm. The child was not entangled or trapped, but his detached finger was missing deep within the briefly turning escalator mechanism.

First arriving LAFD Paramedics were able to comfort and reassure the toddler, whom they described as calm and exceedingly brave throughout the ordeal. Paramedics soon confirmed through the hemorrhage that a significant portion of his inch-long index finger was missing.

Skilfully stemming the blood loss with a dressing and bandage, Paramedics placed the child and mother into an LAFD Ambulance as their colleagues began a relentless yet methodical search for the missing finger.

Aided by Sheriff's Deputies who pledged and delivered every possible amount of help, firefighters began the strategic disassembly of the massive machinery in a quest to save the boy's finger.

Personnel from the nearest Los Angeles Fire Station soon joined the effort with power tools to deconstruct the sturdy device piece-by-piece, as Sheriff's Deputies delivered the Escalator Maintenance Supervisor for the facility.

Releasing the tread deck to disassemble the escalator one massive step at a time, firefighters worked swiftly but carefully within the confines of the intermittently de-powered device, knowing that even the tiniest overlooked detail could cause grave personal injury to responders and possibly macerate the boy's missing digit.

Greatly aided by the expertise of the Escalator Maintenance Supervisor and Sheriff's Deputies, the team of firefighters soon had a sizable pile of the heavy steps removed from the treadmill-like machinery, as they rotated and examined the entirety of each and every gear, chain, step and pulley they encountered.

Keeping the receiving hospital abreast of their efforts, more than a dozen Los Angeles Firefighters worked non-stop for nearly 90 minutes until they found the missing finger. Pursuant of medical protocol, the finger was quickly placed in a cool, sterile dressing inside a clean plastic bag held tightly by firefighters, who sprinted to a waiting LAFD emergency vehicle.

Having proactively secured administrative approval for a 'light and siren' transport of the found finger, firefighters traveled swiftly but safely the 7.7 mile distance to the Richie Pediatric Trauma Center at Northridge Hospital, where renowned surgical teams awaited a chance to restore the child's missing digit.

 

Though any attempt to reattach the toddler's finger was not certain to be a success, the teamwork of Los Angeles Firefighters, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies, a County of Los Angeles Escalator Maintenance Supervisor - and especially the team at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, gave the young boy the greatest odds possible following a serious injury.

For elevator and escalator safety information...

Children: www.safetrider.org

Adults: www.asaferide.org

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Toddler Suffers Finger Amputation at Van Nuys Courthouse

Los Angeles Firefighters have commenced their annual Spark of Love Toy Drive for needy children. Now through Christmas Eve, Los Angeles residents are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or sporting good to any Neighborhood Fire Station or CVS/pharmacy.

Through public generosity, Spark of Love will provide a gift to a child who would otherwise go without one this holiday season. To learn more about our local program, call (213) 626-2871.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - L.A. Firefighters Begin 'Spark of Love' Toy Drive

To help identify toys and children's products that have been recalled, the Los Angeles Fire Department and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are again teaming up this holiday season to provide a 'Toy & Children's Product Recall' widget that is easy to share with friends and family.



This free 'widget' displays the most recent child product and toy recalls from CPSC - and is easily added to your personal website or blog.

Will You Help Us?

During the holiday season, we're asking webmasters and bloggers across our nation to include this widget on their sites. You can share this real-time display on Facebook, MySpace (or other on-line site) by simply clicking on the 'Get Widget' button above - or visiting:

http://bit.ly/toy-safety-widget
Go Ahead, Give It a Try!

...and then learn more about our friends at CPSC, by visiting and bookmarking:

www.cpsc.gov


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - LAFD 'Toy Safety' Widget Arrives For the Holidays

On Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 3:13 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Jerome Boyd responded to a Civilian Fatality Structure Fire at 4038 South Ursula Avenue in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area.
 
Firefighters arrived quickly to discover heavy smoke showing from a two-story garden type apartment building. While beginning to extend hoselines into one of the two bedroom units, firefighters were immediately met by a woman who apparently made it out of the residence with one of her five children. While continuing a systematic search through the smoke charged structure, a quick, bold and decisive interior attack on the fire was initiated.

Two additional children were rescued by firefighters and all were unharmed by smoke or flame. Sadly and despite the prompt work of all resources, two male teenage twins were discovered without vital signs of life in a rear room. Both boys were declared deceased at the scene. It took the diligent effort 36 firefighters 21 minutes to knock down the flames. All other residents in the home were unharmed. Although melted smoke alarms were present, it is unclear as whether or not they were a factor in warning the residents.

Seeking to comfort the grieving Mother, the LAFD quickly mobilized a Crisis Response Team to provide compassionate assistance to all friends and neighbors, and those closest to the victims. The American Red Cross was called in to aid the displaced and distraught family. This incident is a reminder to all families of the importance of E.D.I.T.H (Exit Drills In The Home), a well planned exit strategy in case of a fire. Although a Monetary loss exists, one can not truly be calculated where there is loss of life. A positive identification of both deceased, as well as the cause, manner and time of their deaths will be determined by the LA County Coroner's officials. The cause of the fire remains under an active investigation.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Twin Boys Found Deceased From Apartment Fire

It’s summer time. Kids are out of school. Families are enjoying backyard barbeques and pool parties. A backyard pool is more common today and provide recreation for family and friends a large part of the year. But let’s not forget pool safety! A backyard swimming pool can be as much fun as it can be dangerous, especially for children.

Drowning is the number one cause of death for children under five in Florida, Arizona and California. According to government statistics, for every drowning there are approximately eleven near drowning incidents with many resulting in debilitating brain damage.

A study was initiated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, of children age 5 and younger who drowned in backyard pools in the above mentioned states. The results may help clarify why drowning is still the number one killer for three states and stands at number two for the nation. These are some of the findings:

1. Which parent was in charge of supervision at the time of drowning?

• 69 percent of incidents occurred while one or both parents were responsible for supervision
• 77 percent of the children had been seen 5 minutes or less before being missed and subsequently discovered in the pool.
• 23 percent were last seen in the yard, porch or patio, but not in the pool area.

2. What was the person responsible for supervision involved in at the time of drowning?

• 39 percent were doing chores.
• 18 percent socializing.
• 9 percent on the telephone.

The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department would like to reiterate the importance of pool safety, especially at this time when we are experiencing triple digit temperatures. THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE ON POOL SAFETY.

• Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd's hook or life preserver) and a telephone by the pool.
• Do not let your child use air-filled "swimming aids." They are not a substitute for approved life vests.
• Anyone watching young children around a pool should learn CPR and be able to rescue a child if needed. Stay within an arm's length of your child.
• Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren't tempted to reach for them.
• Never leave a child unattended in the water or pool area. Don't be distracted by doorbells, phone calls, chores or conversations. If you must leave the pool area, take the child with you.
• Any door leading to the pool area should be kept locked.
• Invest in floating pool alarm devices
• If there is a lot of traffic around your pool, a self-closing and self locking gate assures closure for those “who forget.”
• Every second counts, always look for a missing child in the pool first. Valuable time is wasted looking for missing children anywhere but in the pool!
  

Teaching your child how to swim DOES NOT mean your child is safe in water, but you can help them help themselves by:

• Having your children trained for pool survival when he is able to crawl or walk to your pool.
• All survival swim instruction must be reintroduced to children after a period of not being in the pool.
• Your child can be taught survival swimming and will retain it during water active months with practice.
• Children should be taught to negotiate to a wall or steps and know how to get out.

Have a safe and cool summer vacation!

Consumer Product Safety Commission
Are You Watching Your Kids Around Water?
Water Related Injuries
Pool Fencing
Splash Zone USA (with kids in mind)

Submitted by d'Lisa Davies
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Having Fun in the Summertime