Safety Tips:
BURGLARY SAFETY TIPS:
Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
Keep your garage door closed and locked.
Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.
Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.
Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.
DON'T TEMPT A THIEF:
Lawn mowers, snow blowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight.
Always lock your garden sheds and garages.
Use curtains on garage and basement windows.
Never leave notes on your door such as "Gone shopping.
LOCKS GET THE BEST:
No lock, regardless of its quality, can be truly effective. Key-in dead bolt locks provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation.
Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.
When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.
TARGETING THE OUTSIDE:
Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards.
Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
Make sure your door hinges are on the inside.
WINDOWS:
Most windows can be pinned for security.
Drill a 3/16" hole on a slight downward slant through the inside window frame and halfway into the outside frame - place a nail in the hole to secure the window.
ALARMS:
An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market.
Make several inquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you.
IF YOUR HOME IS BROKEN INTO:
If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door:
Do not enter - the perpetrator may still be inside.
Use a neighbor's phone to call police.
Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.
Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD TAKE:
Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other "secret" hiding places -- burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home -- this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.
Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.
Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 911 immediately.
Mark your valuables with your driver's license number with an engraver you can borrow from your precinct. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.
Form a Neighborhood Watch Group. We can help you work with your neighbors to improve security and reduce risk of burglary.
Consider installing a burglar alarm system.
The MOST important thing YOU can do is CALL THE POLICE to report a CRIME or any SUSPICIOUS activity. You have to be the eyes of your neighborhood. And remember you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes!
Remember the three L's of Crime Prevention: LIGHTS, LOCKS & the LAW!
Light up your residence, lock your doors at all times, and call the Law when you see something suspicious.
SAFE HOME TIPS:
Many accidents can be avoided by taking simple precautions
Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms throughout the house.
Check smoke alarms and batteries regularly to make sure they work. Batteries should be changed at least once a year.
Run electrical cords along walls, not under rugs where they're both an obstacle and a fire hazard.
Emergencies demand immediate action. Use these tips and be prepared
Keep your phone within easy reach of the chair where you usually sit. If possible, keep one next to your bed.
Keep emergency phone numbers on or near every phone in your home.
Keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen and other rooms, and know how to use them.
Have more than one exit from your home.
Develop an escape route and practice it.
Keep a first-aid kit in your home and in your car.
Most fires are caused by carelessness, and often can be contained before they spread. If a fire does get out of control
Leave the house immediately and call the fire department.
Keep emergency phone numbers on or near every phone in your home.
Never smoke in bed.
Avoid overloading outlets and extension cords.
Never store flammable liquids such as cleaning agents and paint supplies near heating units.
Turn off appliances when they are not in use.
Keep space heaters a safe distance from combustibles. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines.
The kitchen can be the place where many accidents and fires occur
Keep flammable objects such as curtains, aprons and dish towels away from stoves.
Never wear loose clothing near a stove top while cooking.
Never leave cooking unattended.
Heat oil slowly. Heating oil too quickly is an easy way to start a fire.
Always clean appliance and surfaces after cooking to prevent grease buildup.
Make sure handles on cookware are secure and always turned toward the center of the stove when cooking.
Use a step stool instead of a chair to climb to a high shelf.
Don't cook if you are drowsy.
If a pan catches fire, carefully place a lid over the pan and turn off the heat. Leave the lid on until completely cool.
Avoid personal injuries by following these safety tips
Make sure staircases are well-lit and have convenient switches and night-lights at the top and bottom.
Securely fasten all carpeting.
Make sure all throw rugs or area rugs have non-skid backing.
Install rubber mats or safety decals in bathtubs and showers.
Close cabinet doors and drawers when they are not in use.
Keep staircases and hallways free of any clutter.
Never go up and down stairs carrying things that could block your vision or put you off balance.
SAFE WINTER DRIVING:
Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights – even the hood and roof – before driving.
Pay attention. Don’t try to out-drive the conditions. Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.
Leave plenty of room for stopping.
Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back at least 200 feet and don’t pass on the right.
Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Don’t stomp on the brakes. It takes more time to stop in adverse conditions.
Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridge decks will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.
Don’t use your cruise control in wintry conditions. Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the short touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control feature can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Don’t get overconfident in your 4x4 vehicle. Remember that your four-wheel drive vehicle may help you get going quicker than other vehicles but it won’t help you stop any faster. Many 4x4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop. Don’t get overconfident with your 4x4 vehicle’s traction. Your 4x4 can lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive vehicle. Don’t pump anti-lock brakes. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, do not pump brakes in attempting to stop. The right way is to “stomp and steer". Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and gives you that split-second extra time to safely react. Remember that trucks are heavier than cars. Trucks take longer to safely respond and come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.
Go slow! Drive according to conditions. Prepare your vehicle for winter driving
Reliable transportation is especially important in the winter. Not only should you keep your vehicle in top operating condition all year round - for safety and fuel economy - it is especially important to get it winterized to avoid any unpleasant or dangerous situations while traveling in frigid weather.
BE SURE THE CHECK THE FOLLOWING:
* Ignition system
* Exhaust system
* Proper grade oil
* Fuel system
* Wiper blades and windshield washer fluid
* Cooling system
* Belts
* Snow tires
* Battery
* Fluid levels
* Tire tread and pressure
* Lights
* Brakes
* Defroster
* Lights
Always fill the gasoline tank before entering open country, even for a short distance, and stop to fill up long before the tank begins to run low. Keeping your tank as full as possible will minimize condensation, providing the maximum advantage in case of trouble.
A citizens band (CB) radio and/or cellular phone can be very useful to you or another stranded motorist in case of an emergency.
Drive with your headlights on.
Stock your car with basic winter driving equipment: a scraper and brush, small shovel, jumper cables, tow chain and a bag of sand or cat litter for tire traction.
Include road flares, a blanket, heavy boots, warm clothing, and flashlight with batteries.
Allow extra time for yourself to reach your destination. Roadways get slick when freezing air circulates above it. Remember bridges and overpasses typically freeze before other road surfaces so you don’t want to do any hard braking or quick accelerations. When snow falls statewide, time and resources are focused on the most heavily traveled state routes and interstates first, so motorists in rural areas may not see a snowplow right away.
With the winter months and colder temperatures come the potential for icy roads. One technique ODOT uses to reduce the potential for icy conditions is a preventative method referred to as “anti-icing.” This is done by applying liquid deicing chemicals to dry roadway surfaces. These chemicals lower the freezing point of water, which in turn, lowers the temperature at which ice will form on the pavement. Unfortunately, chemicals are usually ineffective if applied to wet pavement or in wet conditions because rainfall washes them from the roadway.
Keeping your vehicle clean during the winter keeps snow and road grime from caking on your head and taillights, which makes it easier for you to see and be seen. Anti-icing chemicals can cause corrosion so you want to wash them from your vehicle. All the chemicals are water-soluble so rinse your vehicle thoroughly before applying soap. If towing aluminum boats or trailers, be sure to wash them, too.