Northwest Iowa — This week has been National Fire Prevention Week.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW™) campaign is “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” Fire safety officials say the goal is to educate everyone about using these batteries safely. The campaign stresses how important it is to BUY, CHARGE, and RECYCLE safely when it comes to lithium-ion batteries.
Fire safety officials say you should buy only listed products. When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, look for a safety certification mark such as UL, ETL, or CSA. This means it meets important safety standards.
They say you should make sure to charge devices safely. Always use the cords that came with the product to charge. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Buy new chargers from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved. Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t overcharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when it’s fully charged.
Also, they advise you to recycle batteries responsibly. Don’t throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could start a fire. Recycle your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location. Visit call2recycle.org to find a recycling spot near you.
We also had a chance to visit with Sheldon Fire Chief Brad Hindt this week on our Talk of The Town Program. Hindt says one of the main things you can do to make your home safer is to buy and use smoke alarms correctly.
He says another thing people have to remember is how to safely use space heaters
Chief Hindt says it’s also a good idea to make a family plan for emergency situations at home — like a house fire.
Through the first nine months of the year, the State Fire Marshal’s Office has confirmed 29 people have died in fires in Iowa.
Hindt made his comments on Wednesday morning on the KIWA Talk of the Town Program, which can be heard on weekday mornings at 8:30 on KIWA-FM 105.3. We also post a podcast of every Talk of The Town Program, and you can find those by clicking here.
Photo: Sheldon Fire Chief Brad Hindt – KIWA Staff Photo
