Month: August 2021

Blog: Community Safety Stories

Safe Kids Fair is coming soon!

by Brenda Plascencia

In just one short month, we will be hosting the 2021 Safe Kids Fair.

The Safe Kids Fair has a rich history as a free, fun-filled community event for children, families, and caregivers to build safety and health awareness through action-based education and take-action information.  We are planning on an in-person event this year, however, pending any Covid-19 restrictions we are prepared to alter the event into another fun-filled drive-thru fair.

The Safe Kids Fair features hands-on activities for kids of all ages, face painting, mascot appearances, giveaways, healthy snacks and prizes. You, along with our supportive volunteers and a strong Foundation for Community Health leading the way, ensure our Fair’s success in reaching children and families with engaging activities and critical information. Thanks to our sponsors, participation in the Safe Kids Fair is free and provides a great opportunity to involve western Montana families and caregivers in health and safety awareness and the services of your organization. We will also be celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Safe Kids Missoula Coalition, providing additional event promotion and special activities.

Interested in participating in the Fair by hosting a table and conducing a safety related activity at the event, contributing a swag item for inclusion in our youth goody bags, providing raffle prize(s) and/or donating an item for our online silent auction? You can also sign up to volunteer and/or help us promote the Fair throughout Missoula and the surrounding communities on your organization’s social media platforms and/or website. Please contact kevib@fchwmt.org if you are interested in participating and/or help out.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives!

by Brenda Plascencia

It was 12:30 in the morning and my husband, dogs, and I were fast asleep when we were suddenly woken by the sound of a smoke alarm. But it wasn’t our smoke alarm. It was our upstairs neighbor’s alarm. We lived in a two-story duplex at the time with little sound barrier between the two units. My husband went outside and saw smoke pouring from the roof. He went up to our neighbor’s and tried knocking on the door and windows, but no one answered. We called 9-1-1, gathered our dogs, and left our apartment. Within minutes, a fire crew arrived.

Our neighbor had fallen asleep while cooking pasta. They had been asleep long enough that all the water had evaporated, and the pasta was burning to the bottom of the pot. The firemen pounded on the door but had to break in and shake our neighbor awake. They told my husband that had no one called, our neighbor could have quickly succumbed to smoke inhalation as their apartment was filled.

Although the damage to our neighbor’s apartment was minimal and our apartment had no damage, it was a scary situation. We are thankful that we and our neighbor had working smoke alarms. Had we not, the outcome could have been much worse. We are now even more diligent about testing our alarms and changing the batteries because we know this little device potentially saved our lives.

Blog: Community Safety Stories

Grill Safety 101

by Brenda Plascencia

Can you imagine it?  You start up the grill, run into the house to grab the hamburgers and hotdogs and then you hear the scream of pain?  I heard it just last year.  Our four-year-old grandson was playing in a different part of the yard with the dogs, and I did not think he could even get to the grill in the matter of seconds it took for me to run into the kitchen.  Luckily, he only hurt the palm of his hand and immediately took his hand away from the hot surface.  So many others are not so lucky. 

Every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association, “An average of 19,700 patients visit emergency rooms across the country with grilling-related injuries. Forty-eight percent suffered thermal burns, and 4 in 10 of these thermal burn patients are children under the age of 5.”

So, how do we keep our kiddos safe?  Here are just a few safety tips:

  • Set up your grill on a flat, sturdy surface at least 3 feet from any structure. 
  • Keep the grill lid open. A closed lid can cause gas to accumulate, which can lead to an explosion when you light the grill.
  • National Fire Protection Association guidelines recommend storing propane tanks in an upright position at least 10 feet from doors, windows, or dryer vents, and at least 20 feet from your home’s air intake vents. Do not store propane in a garage.
  • Grill manufacturers Kingsford and Char-Broil both recommend closing the lid to suffocate the embers and leaving the ashes to cool for 48 hours. 
  • Gather your food, platters, utensils, and other grilling materials before you begin cooking.