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| Home > 2012
Fact of the Week > Spring
Cleaning & Preparedness |
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2-27-2012
Preparedness
Facts of the Week
by
Elizabeth Hall, Emergency
Services Specialist -
Kings County Public
Health Department |
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Spring
Cleaning & Preparedness
Overwhelmed? | Printable
PDF |
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You
probably hesitated in reading this article
when you saw the title, but really, I'm not
going to tell you to get cracking in the
cleaning department. My only intention today
is to help you re-evaluate your home
and work space for obstructions and hazards
to make your homes and offices a little more
safer than before. The month of
March ushers in the Spring season and brings
thoughts of cleaning and organizing. With
that being said, this would also be a great
time to observe your surroundings and re-evaluate
how safe they really are. It really won't
take you that long. Simply conduct a walkthrough
of your home and work space to ensure that
all exits are clear and that the paths leading
to them are unobstructed. |
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Are
the areas around your windows cleared in
case you have to use windows as an exit?
When was the last time you opened all the
windows? In most homes, there are those one
or two windows that we don't have the need
to open and therefore can become "stuck" from
non use.
Are the safe spaces under desks, tables and counters, where people
will go to Drop, Cover and Hold On in earthquakes and other emergencies
clear? Are the areas clear for those with special needs such has
wheel chairs or walkers?
Get rid of dangerous
items you don't need (example:
old paint or chemicals, hazardous
materials no longer needed, expired
food, etc.). The busier our lives
become, the less time we have
to spend cleaning out the clutter.
Our garages, closets, shops,
sheds and pantries become so
full of those "I-might-need-it-someday" items
that we just hate to get rid
of, and I completely understand.
At one time or another you probably
threw out something only to discover
shortly after you could have
used it and now it's gone! A
little regret sets in and you
say "If only I kept it!" But
really, you have to ask yourself
these questions: "How long
has it just been sitting there?" and "Is
it still good at this point?" When
observing these items, is there
so much dust on them that you
have to wipe it down just to
see what it actually is? If so,
then you'd probably do well to
throw it out. So, the next time
you are trying to make that official
decision to discard a particular
item, think on this: If you haven't
had the need for it all this
time, chances are you won't any
time soon, and if you did, more
than likely it will no longer
be any good.
Store combustible and/or flammable items in a safe manner; away from
sources of heat, flame or sparks. Also, for older homes, make sure
you keep the area around wall heaters clear. For space heaters, a
good safe distance is at least three feet from clothing, bedding,
draperies, furniture, paper, etc.
Be careful not to stack items near exits and pathways in an effort
to save space. You might inadvertently create a hazard by the items
falling down and not only causing injury, but further blocking your
way out of a dangerous situation.
Door mats, power strips, extension cords and the like around doorways
or walk ways are a trip and fall hazard so be mindful of proper placement.
If you had to temporarily run a cord in a traffic area, make sure
you tape it down from end to end. Make sure your mats have a non-skid
or special material on the bottom to prevent constant movement.
Have I given you a different view of "spring cleaning"?
Remember, as with any project, don’t' let the idea overwhelm
you. You don't have to complete it in one day or even a weekend.
Do one room or area at a time and stick with it until it is complete
and go from there. After your project is complete, you might think
about how you can help the aging parent, neighbor or someone who
may not be able to do this project on their own, or maybe just never
thought about it. Do your part for safety and pass along the information! |
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Do
your part for safety awareness by passing this
information along to anyone you can think of
who would benefit.
Be
Responsible - Be Ready - Be Prepared!
Teaming
Up for Emergency Preparedness
Elizabeth Hall
Kings County Public Health Department
330 Campus Drive
Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 852-2634
www.kingscountyoem.com
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