This week is Fire Prevention Week and a good opportunity for all of us to take stock of how prepared we are if the unthinkable happens.
First, fire safety starts at home. Map out an escape plan with your family, test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and replace the worn wiring and overloaded outlets that spark so many household fires.
This year, the National Fire Protection Association is focused on one more: charging safely. Phones, tablets, laptops, tools, toys, e-bikes, and scooters all run on lithium-ion batteries that pack a lot of energy into a small space. That means they need to be handled properly.
Safe charging means making smart choices every time you plug in:
● Use the cord and charger that came with your device, or one approved by the manufacturer. The wrong charger can damage the battery.
● Charge on a hard, flat surface like a table or desk—never on a bed, couch, or under a pillow. Soft surfaces trap heat and block airflow.
● Unplug when it’s fully charged, leaving a device plugged in longer than needed adds heat and stress to the battery.
● Charge larger items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside and away from exits. Bigger batteries mean bigger fires that spread fast.
● Stop using any device that feels very hot, swells, smokes, or smells strange. Those are warning signs the battery is failing.
● On a plane, keep charging devices where you can see them—never in the overhead bin—and don’t charge e-cigarettes or vapes at all. If a battery fails, the flight crew needs to respond fast.
I also want to thank all firefighters and first responders who go head-first into danger to keep us safe. The St. Lucie County Fire District, Martin County Fire Rescue, and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for our protection, and we owe them our gratitude.
