Contact: Jim Kambeitz, Fire Marshal
Phone: 360.442.5088
The City of Longview recognizes and supports the efforts of the State Fire Marshals Office to remind residents about the importance of “National Burn Week” February 1 – 7. Burn injuries are the second leading cause of death in the United States next to motor vehicle accidents.
State Fire Marshal Michael Matlick says, “In Washington State children and seniors are at the highest risk for scald and burn injuries. Burn injuries are often a result from the victim’s own actions.”
“Most accidents happen in and around the kitchen area of the home and could be reduced by taking some simple precautionary measures. Anyone who is responsible for a child's safety including parents, grandparents, babysitters, and older siblings must have a basic understanding of fire and burn risks, especially in the kitchen,” according to State Fire Marshal Matlick.
Longview Fire Marshal Jim Kambeitz adds, “Education and vigilance are the keys to keeping your family safe from fire, and preventing fires is YOUR job”
Burn safety tips for children:
Keep matches and lighter out of reach of children.
Keep children at a safe distance from hot liquids.
When toddlers are in the home, avoid using a tablecloth. If children try to pull themselves up by the tablecloth, a heavy object or hot liquid on the table could fall on them.
Keep all hot items near the center of the table to prevent a young child from reaching them.
While cooking, keep young children in a high chair or playpen and at a safe distance from hot surfaces, hot liquids, and other kitchen hazards.
Use extra caution if you use deep fat (oil) cookers/fryers when young children are present.
Establish a "SAFE AREA" in the kitchen where a child can be placed — away from risk, but under continuous supervision. Also, consider establishing a "NO ZONE" directly in front of the stove. Teach your child to avoid this area. You can mark the zone with yellow tape, a piece of bright carpet, or other material.
Burn safety tips for adults:
Turn cooking pot handles toward the rear of the stove.
Keep clothing from coming into contact with a flame or heating element. Reaching over the stove could cause garments to catch fire, especially the sleeves of robes, dresses, housecoats, etc.
Turn off the heat or gas before reaching over the stove.
If your sleeve should catch on fire, immediately cover the burning material with a potholder, mitt or towel, go to the sink and run cold water to put out the fire and cool the burn.
If other parts of your clothing are on fire, immediately DROP and ROLL to put out the fire. Cool the burn with water.
Every house should have a fire extinguisher close to the kitchen.
Most important: every resident needs working smoke alarms that are tested monthly.
NOTE: The Office of the State Fire Marshal is a Bureau of the Washington State Patrol, providing fire and life safety services to the citizens of Washington State including inspections of state licensed facilities, plan review of school construction projects, licensing of fire sprinkler contractors and pyrotechnic operators, training Washington State’s firefighters, and collecting emergency response data.
