Cooking fires are the biggest home safety risk over holidays
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Cooking remains the biggest seasonal risk for fires around the holidays, a Boone County firefighter said Wednesday.
Gale Blomenkamp, the Support Services Bureau director for the Boone County Fire Protection District, said cooking/kitchen fires are the biggest risk this time of year.
"So when it comes to holidays, we remind people to not be distracted whenever they're cooking," Blomenkamp said. "That when you are cooking, make sure that that's what you're doing and you're not distracted. It's a lot like driving. And phones can be a distraction for the family and friends. Coming over can be a distraction. So if you're cooking too, just focus on doing that for sure."
Another common type of fire in the winter, Blomenkamp said, is the flue fire, which happens when debris in a chimney or flue ignites.
"The flue fires, or fireplace fires that either escape the flu and/or cause issues in the attic spaces," Blomenkamp said. "Those are obviously more prevalent in the wintertime than they are in the summer."
Another safety concern comes with icy conditions. While snow and ice aren't in the short-term forecast it is still important to be prepared to avoid making a trip to the emergency room.
"If you think about it, one of the times when you least expect it is when we go let the dog out first thing in the morning. The deck's frosted over," said Dr. Kevin Oliver, an emergency room physician at Boone Hospital. "You don't think about it being slick and like people fall all the time down those wooden steps."
Oliver said wearing footwear with good traction can make all the difference.
"Slippers are called slippers for more than one reason. People fall all the time wearing slippers," he said.
If you do end up slipping and hitting your head, Oliver said that it is normal to have a headache or be dizzy, nauseous and tired. However, if those symptoms prolong, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
