Brookhaven Fire Co. (52) Ambulance responds to a lot of different emergencies and mishaps throughout the borough.
Here are ways to avoid a trip on the ambulance:
| 1. Wear your proper PPE (personal protective equipment) when working around the house, such as leather gloves to avoid lacerations to your fingers or hands from pruning shears, hedge trimmers, and saws (gas, electric, or battery powered). Also wear your gloves when spreading mulch, topsoil, or compost to avoid getting bitten by insects. |
| 2. Use hearing protection to deaden the noise from riding lawn mowers, weed whackers, chain saws, etc. |
| 3. Wear safety glasses and face shields to protect against flying debris when using power tools. |
| 4. Be cautious of falls from ladders (extension and A-frame style) while trimming trees, cleaning out roof gutters, or cleaning windows. Be sure to use a spotter to foot the ladder while you climb. |
| 5. Keep all your tools in good working order: sharp, clean, and oiled. |
| 6. Before using any electrical devices, do a thorough check for frayed or exposed wires, especially extension cords. Be sure to use a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) between the house receptacle and the appliance you are using. |
| 7. Before refueling any motorized equipment, make certain that the motor has cooled down (gasoline engines). |
| 8. Battery-powered equipment: Do not overcharge the batteries. Once they are fully charged, remove them from the charger. |
| 9. If using any type of fertilizers or weed killers, whether sprayed liquids or granular products dropped or cast from a spreader, be certain that your children or any persons do not come into contact with the product before it is absorbed into the ground. Also, if you use products that connect to your garden hose, make certain you use a backflow preventer to avoid contaminating your potable (drinking) water supply. |
Just a few tips to keep you, your loved ones, and others safe 24/7 – 365!!!!
- Avoid slips, trips, and falls! Place scrap and trash in their proper receptacles. Never leave them lying around where someone could trip.
- Tidy up your space! Keep walkways and stairways clear of clutter.
- Lift safely to protect your back! Always think before lifting an object—lift with your legs, not your back.
- Keep children safe! Keep hazardous materials locked up, including (but not limited to) medicines, pesticides, cleaning products, and other poisons.
- Drive defensively! Pay attention while driving and expect other drivers to do the unexpected so you are ready to react. Avoid tailgating, speeding, failing to yield, and sudden lane changes. Never text and drive—it can wait.
- Guard against fire! Protect your family by maintaining working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
- Respect electricity! Electricity is deadly—leave it to the experts. Call a trained, qualified, and authorized electrician to undertake electrical repairs.