2008 Press Releases

The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center Offers Homeowners Tips During Fire Prevention (Awareness) Week: October 5-11, 2008

Livingston, N.J. – Each year, firefighters respond to nearly 400,000 home fires which result in 12,500 civilian injuries, 2,580 civilian deaths and $6.8 billion in direct damage. According to recent data, every two hours and 53 minutes a home fire causes a civilian death.

“The most important thing that you can do to keep yourself and your family safe from a residential fire is to install working smoke alarms that are properly placed throughout your home or apartment,” explains Lisa Jones, Community Burn Educator for The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas, New Jersey’s only state certified burn treatment facility. “Using only one smoke detector in most homes is inadequate.”

Before setting clocks back one hour on Sunday, November 2, 2008, to mark the end of Daylight Savings Time, The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center urges homeowners to take a few extra minutes to change the batteries in all of your household smoke alarms.

“Changing the batteries only takes a minute and should be done at least twice a year, each time you change your clock,” says Ms. Jones.

With the cold weather also comes an increased chance of residential fire since people tend to stay indoors more.  December and January are reportedly the peak months for home structure fires and home fire deaths.

“People tend to cook more in the colder weather,” explains Ms. Jones, “and cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries.  People also use their fireplaces and light candles more when it is cold outside.”

To keep you and your family safe, and help you get out safely in case of a house fire, The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas offers the following tips:

Smoke Alarms

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and in each bedroom.
• Do not install a smoke alarm near cooking vapors.
• Test smoke alarms monthly, following manufacturers instructions.
• Change batteries twice a year, and especially when you hear a “chirp” indicating a low battery. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for long life batteries.
• Never borrow or remove batteries from a smoke alarm.
• Replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old, the effectiveness is not guaranteed.
• Vacuum smoke alarms to keep them dust free and functioning.
• CO is a tasteless, odorless, colorless poisonous gas. Every home should also have at least one carbon monoxide detector.

Stove/Oven

• Never leave cooking unattended.
• Keep the stovetop and oven clean, as buildup of grease and debris can ignite easily.
• Keep stove area clear flammable materials. Don't leave oven mitts, paper or cloth towels near the stove.
• Dishtowels should never be hung on the oven door.
• Do not place or spray aerosols near an open flame.
• Cook on back burners and turn pot handles in to prevent accidental spillage.
• Wear close fitting clothes and roll up sleeves. Turn stovetop flames off before reaching above the stove.

Heating Safety

• Space heaters need space – at least three feet away from anything that can burn - including furniture, drapes and rugs.
• Keep children and pets away from all heaters.
• Never leave heaters unattended.
• Always use an approved protective screen in front of your fireplace.
• Store flammable materials like newspaper, kindling or wood away from stoves and fireplaces.
• Do not use throw rugs in front of the stove or fireplace.
• Have your chimney inspected by a professional once a year and have it cleaned if necessary.
• Use only dry seasoned wood in wood stoves and fireplaces.
• Addition of wood and attendance to the fire should be the responsibility of an adult.
• Have a fire extinguisher readily available and familiarize yourself on proper use .
• Never dispose of ashes, hot or cold, in anything but a metal can or bin.

The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas and the Saint Barnabas Burn Foundation Saint Barnabas Burn Foundation remains committed to spreading its message of prevention and safety to citizens throughout the state. Two full-time educators, annually provides burn and fire safety information to  more than 35,000 individuals ranging in age from pre-school children to senior citizens.

For more information about burn prevention and fire safety, please visit The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas website, www.njburncenter.com, or call the Saint Barnabas Burn Outreach and Education office at 973-322-8071. 

Since 1865, Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC), located at 94 Old Short Hills Road in Livingston, is New Jersey’s oldest nonprofit, nonsectarian hospital. The 597-bed institution is one of the largest heath care providers in the state, treating more than 37,000 inpatients and over 72,000 Emergency Department patients each year. The Medical Center and the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center provide treatment and services for more than 300,000 outpatient visits annually.

SBMC is ranked among the top five percent of hospitals in the country for Overall Clinical Performance by HealthGrades and is the recipient of the HealthGrades 2008 and 2007 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical ExcellenceTM and the 2007 and 2008 HealthGrades Excellence AwardTM in Cardiac Care, Bariatric Surgery, Maternity Care, and Women's Health. SBMC was also chosen as the best hospital in New Jersey and the 13th best hospital in the United States by AARP Modern Maturity magazine.  For more information on Saint Barnabas Medical Center, please visit saintbarnabas.com and select Saint Barnabas Medical Center from the facilities list or call 1-888-SBHS-123.

Date: September 15, 2008

Saint Barnabas Contact:  Samantha Anton, 973-322-5425

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