Safety Tips

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Keep everyone healthy, happy, and safe this season with tips from the City of Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Police, and Water departments.

Summer Safety Tips

Around Your Home

Regularly maintain shrubs and hedges around the property to prevent sight lines from being blocked.
Keep your garage door closed unless you need to access the garage.
Adjust your sprinklers to water your lawn and garden, not the street or sidewalk.
Water early in the morning (before 10 a.m.) or later in the evening (after 6 p.m.) when temperatures are cooler and evaporation is minimized.
Water established lawns about one inch per week (a bit more during hot, dry weather). Use a watering gauge or tuna can, along with a timer, to determine how long it takes your sprinkler to water one inch.

Bicycles

Backyard Burning

Campfires

Keep a shovel and one gallon of water near while building and tending campfires.
Only adults should build and maintain campfires.
Find a shady spot away from dry logs, overhanging branches, bushes, needles, or leaves.
Never leave a campfire unattended.
When leaving, make sure your fire is dead out. Very carefully feel all sticks and charred remains. Make sure no roots are smoldering. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.

Children Home for Summer

Make sure that the child has a list of phone numbers (neighbors, friends, family) that they can call if they should become frightened or in the event of an emergency.
Assure that they know how to call 911 and when it is appropriate to do so.
Establish house rules for use of the computer, especially the Internet. Make sure the child knows never to give out personal information on the computer.

Fireworks

Include fireworks in your July Fourth celebration by attending a public display.
Always purchase fireworks from an Oregon licensed fireworks location.
Always have an adult present when using fireworks.
Never allow children to use or play with matches or lighters.
If fireworks are being used near your home, put your pet in a safe, interior room to avoid exposure to the sound.
Have a hose or a bucket of water handy for emergencies and to douse misfired and spent fireworks.

Grilling

Heat Wave

Lawn Mowers

Pool Safety

Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Test smoke alarms once a month by depressing the test button. The test button is designed to test the entire system.
Clean smoke alarms at least twice a year. Simply attach the soft brush attachment to your vacuum and clean the face of the smoke alarm.
Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
Install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas on each floor of your home. Be sure to locate detectors at least five- to six-feet away from any fuel-burning appliances.

Vacation

Cancel newspapers until further notice.
Do not advertise your absence by posting your vacations activities or plans on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter.
Disable all GPS applications on your mobile devices, such as Google Latitude.
Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to look in on the house daily. Request them to pick-up flyers and mail. Invite them to use your driveway.
Consider shutting down any lawn irrigation systems while you are away.
Shut off the hot and cold-water feed lines to your washing machine…this is the number one culprit with summer water line breaks.

Windows

Fire Safety

Home fires happen more often in winter as cooking and heating needs increase. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. Turn off the stove if you have to leave the kitchen for even a short period.
Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
Do not put your live Christmas tree up too early, and take it down before it dries out.
Keep your tree stand filled with water at all times, and place the tree at least three feet from any heating source.
Consider using “flameless” candles that operate by battery with the look and scent of real candles.

Holiday Shopping

Park in well-lit areas.
Always lock your vehicle.
Don’t leave gifts or valuables in plain sight in your vehicle when shopping. If you must leave them in your vehicle, conceal them in the trunk before you arrive at your destination.
Carry only what you need. Don’t leave your purse or shopping bags unattended.
Be alert to your surroundings, and those who try to distract you.
Locate your keys before returning to your vehicle.

At Home

On the Road

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