NFPA study shows a 15 percent increase in candle fires from 2000 to 2001, triple the number in 1990. read more
West Metro Fire Rescue will be scheduling appointments for its residents who are interested in having their child safety seats . . . read more
While smoking and static electricity are notorious causes, any consumer electronic device that is not specially certified as safe and/or used with . . . read more
Picture this: It's time to cut the lawn again. You go into the garage to get your mower ready. You check the
mower's oil level and see . . . read more
Extreme heat affects infants and small children disproportionately. Heat rapidly overwhelms the body’s ability to regulate temperature. In a . . . read more
Many people are surprised to learn that in the U.S. someone dies from fire every three hours, and that last year fire killed more Americans than . . . read more
Rattlers are pit vipers and will normally have two fangs on each side of their mouth. When they bite there may be one to four puncture . . . read more
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas that is difficult to detect because it is odorless and invisible. As a result, it is known as “the . . . read more
Before leaving home, find out about the driving conditions and prepare your vehicle. Safe drivers know the weather, and they know their limits. . . . read more
The quick simple answer is: The National Fire Protection Association standard 211 says, "Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at . . . read more
West Metro Fire Rescue reminds the community that it is time to review ice safety guidelines. With the constant changing weather of . . . read more
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has joined with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety . . . read more
Fireworks continue to cause numerous injuries and fires each year due to careless handling, inexperience and illegal fireworks ignitions. . . . read more
Did you know that smoke alarms should be replaced at least once every 10 years? Research shows that 97 percent of American homes have . . . read more
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas that is difficult to detect because it is odorless and invisible. As a result, it is known as “the . . . read more
Get in the loop and stay informed! You never know when an emergency will strike close to home.
Watch the . . . read more
At 3:15 p.m. July 4, West Metro Fire Fighters responded to a 911 call to a report of a child receiving CPR after a near drowning at an apartment . . . read more
Car Temperatures & Experiment
Extreme heat affects infants and small children disproportionately. Heat rapidly overwhelms the body’s ability to regulate temperature. In a closed environment, the body can go into shock and circulation to vital organs will begin to fail.
West Metro Fire Rescue urges parents to be particularly vigilant about their children’s safety on days when temperatures reach 80 degrees or higher.
- Never leave your child unattended in a motor vehicle, even with the windows cracked open a few inches.
- Teach children not to play in, on or around cars.
- Always lock car doors and trunks – even at home – and keep keys out of children’s reach. Watch children closely around cars, particularly when loading or unloading items.
- Always make sure all child passengers have left the car when you reach your destination.
- Don't overlook sleeping infants.
- If your child gets locked inside a car, get him out and dial 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
When restraining children in a car that has been parked in the heat, check to make sure seating surfaces and equipment (car seats and seat belt buckles) aren’t excessively hot.
- Use a light covering to shade the seat of your parked car. Consider using windshield shades in front and back windows.
- Car trunks can also be hazardous. In very hot weather, heat stroke may result and could lead to permanent disability or even death in a matter of minutes.
Heatstroke (hyperthermia) is a medical emergency and is often fatal despite medical care. Heatstroke is usually designated when the rectal or core temperature reaches 105F (40.6 C). The CDC paper indicated that cars parked in direct sunlight can reach internal temperatures up to 131F - 172 F(55C - 78C) when the outside temperatures are 80F - 100F (27C - 38C). Cars that are parked in direct sunlight and that are poorly ventilated also reach higher temperatures more rapidly than cars that are parked in the shade or that have windows completely opened. Most temperature increases inside cars occur during the first 15 minutes of being left in the sun.
The major mechanism for heat loss by the body in high ambient temperature is evaporation. This mechanism is quickly defeated in the rising humidity of closed car trunks. Younger children are more sensitive to heat than older children or adults and are at greater risk for heatstroke. The combination of high temperature, humidity, and poor ventilation all contribute to the extreme danger of cars.
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