The President announced October 7th as the start of Fire Prevention Week—a chance for all of us to take stock of our preparedness in case the unthinkable happens to mitigate risk and promote security. 

During Fire Prevention Week, the National Fire Protection Association is highlighting the prevalence of lithium-ion batteries in households with three important reminders when handling these batteries: 

• Buy only listed products. These are products with safety certifications like UL, ETL, or CSA. 

• Charge your devices safely. Use the cords that are made for the product and follow the manufacturer’s exact instructions. Charge devices on hard surfaces, don’t overcharge, and unplug your devices when they’re fully charged.  

• Recycle batteries responsibly. Throwing away lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling is a fire hazard. Recycle these batteries at safe locations. Visit call2recycle.org for locations in our communities. 

And throughout this week, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the dedicated firefighters and first responders in our communities who go head-first into danger in order to keep us safe. The St. Lucie County Fire District, Martin County Fire Rescue, and the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue all work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for our protection, and we owe them our gratitude. Thank you all for your service!