Holiday gifts with safety in mind

Prince William County, Va. - For some, choosing the perfect gift can be agonizing especially during the holiday season. To make your choices a little easier, give a lifesaving gift -- a gift that says you care about their personal safety. The National Fire Protection Association suggests the following gifts for consideration:

Smoke alarms provide an early warning

n Approximately 95% of U.S. homes have at least one smoke alarm but many are not working or missing batteries

n 80% all home fire fatalities occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms

n Having a smoke alarm cuts the chance of dying nearly in half

n Smoke alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing include strobe lights, high decibels and/or vibration

n Replace smoke alarms every 10 years

Visit Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue Web site for more information on Smoke Alarms at www.pwcgov.org/SmokeAlarms

Flashlights safer than candles

n Use flashlights for emergency lighting instead of candles

Sturdy candleholders

n Use lantern-style candle holders to prevent tip-over when candles are lit

n To reduce the risk of items coming in contact with the open flame

Sturdy fireplace screen

n Keeps embers out of the room

Gift certificates for clean-up services

n These services remove fire-prone clutter from areas that could give fires a place to start such as the base-ment, attic or yard

n Chimney sweeps reduce creosote build-up that can easily ignite

Warm nightwear or bedding

n Choose down, synthetic comforters, flannel sheets or flannel pajamas to keep warm

n Reduces the need for using stationary or portable space heaters particularly at night

In 2006, stationary and portable space heaters including wood stoves accounted for

n One-third (30 percent) of home heating fires

n Three-fifths (58 percent) of associated injuries

n Three-fourths (73 percent) of home heating fire deaths

n National Fire Protection Association recommends turning space heaters off when going to sleep

Portable fire extinguishers

n Should provide clear instructions on how to use

o Recipients should understand and learn the rules of safe extinguisher usage before a fire occurs

Carbon monoxide alarms

n Carbon monoxide, often referred to as the silent killer due to its colorless and odorless gas

n Fuel such as natural gas, oil and wood burn incompletely creating a gas/carbon monoxide

Escape ladder

n For individuals residing in second or third story homes