Winter Survival Kit • Electric Tips
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County’s Ordinance
According to St. Louis County Bill #88, 2004; Ordinance #21801, 2004.
- No open burning shall occur without permission of the Director and compliance with other laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
City’s Municipal Code
According to the City of University City Municipal Code: Chapter 10.40 Stopping, Standing or Parking Generally.
10.40.020 Stopping, standing and parking prohibited in specified places – Exceptions
- It is unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to stop, stand or park such vehicle in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-controlled sign or signal: Within ten feet of a fire hydrant.
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Tips from Laclede Gas
- Before you dig, call 1-800-DIG-RITE (1-800-344-7483) or visit www.mo1call.com to have underground utilities located and marked free of charge.
- Do not use your gas pipes as clotheslines, free-form closets or grounded for electrical appliances. If a gas appliance is disconnected, be sure the gas pipe is capped.
- To prevent hazardous situations, keep flammable material away from gas appliances and snow, ice and other debris away from around gas meter sets and gas appliance vents.
- Remember to have your heating equipment cleaned and checked annually. Also, clear chimneys, vents and flues.
- If you use a carbon monoxide (CO) detector, make sure it is a U.L.-approved, alarm sounding device. If your CO detector alarm sounds, call your local fire department.
- Check the temperature setting on the water heater, a child’s skin burns more easily than an adult’s. A child can accidentally scald themselves when they turn on the hot water faucet.
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Winter Survival Kit
If you’ve ever been caught in your car during severe winter weather, you know the importance of a winter survival kit. Even if you have a cellular phone, you may have to wait until help arrives. Some items you should include in a winter survival kit to keep in your vehicle:
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- A Knife
- Extra Gas
- First Aid Kit
- Jumper Cables
- Flares
- Colored Ribbon or Cloth to Tie to Antenna or Door
- Blankets
- A Tow Rope
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- Tool Kit
- Extra Winter Clothing
- Small Snow Shovel
- Bucket of Sand
- Ice Scraper Snowbrush
- Flashlight and Batteries
- Non-Perishable Food, Such as Nuts, Dried Fruit, and Granola Bars
- A Large Can with Matches and a Candle
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Safety Tips for Turkey Fryers
With cooler temperatures and Thanksgiving just around the corner your firefighters want to remind you of several safety tips for preventing fires and burns when using turkey fryers. With the growing popularity of turkey fryers there have been many incidents that involved fires and burns associated with turkey fryers. The following are the most common scenarios involving turkey fryers:
- House fires associated with turkey fryers leading to injuries and property damage.
- Ignition of oil used with turkey fryers. This was often related to oil reaching excess temperatures or oil contacting the open flame of the fryer.
- Splashing of hot oil causing burns.
The majority of reported incidents have occurred while the oil was being heated, prior to adding the turkey. For this reason, it is very important for residents to monitor the temperature of the oil closely. If any smoke at all is noticed coming from a heated pot of oil, the burner should be turned off immediately because the oil is overheated. Never leave the fryer unattended while heating the oil or cooking the turkey.
There is also a risk of injury resulting from splashing due to the cooking of partially frozen turkeys. Thoroughly thaw and dry your turkey before cooking in hot oil. Several incidents have occurred when partially frozen turkeys, chicken wings or potatoes were added to hot oil in a turkey fryer.
To help make sure your dinner is a safe one your firefighters recommend you follow the following safety guidelines:
- Keep fryer in FULL VIEW while burner is on.
- Place fryer in an open area AWAY from all walls, fences, or other structures.
- Never us IN, ON, or UNDER a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, deck or any structure that can catch fire.
- Raise and lower food SLOWLY to reduce splatter and avoid burns.
- COVER bare skin when adding or removing food.
- Check the oil temperature frequently.
- If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn gas supply OFF.
- If a fire occurs, immediately call 911. DO NOT attempt to extinguish fire with water.
- Make sure there is at least 2 feet of space between the liquid propane tank and fryer burner.
- Place the liquid propane gas tank and fryer so that any wind blows the heat of the fryer away from the gas tank.
- Completely thaw (USDA says 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds) and dry turkey before cooking. Partially frozen and/or wet turkeys can produce excessive hot oil splatter when added to the oil.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine the proper amount of oil to add. If those are not available:
- Place turkey in pot
- Fill with water until the turkey is covered by about 1/2 inch of water
- Remove and dry turkey Mark water level.
- Dump water, dry the pot, and fill with oil to the marked level.
St. Peters Journal
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Ameren offers electric safety pointers
July 20, 2006
Watch out for downed wires. If you see a fallen or sagging wire, assume that it is still energized and dangerous. Electric power lines can carry power even after being knocked to the ground. Stay away and warn others to do the same.
Pull some plugs. Turn off or disconnect the refrigerator, freezer, television, air conditioner and other major appliances that would go on automatically when the power is restored. This precaution will avoid overloading a circuit when power comes back on – and the chance of a second interruption. After power is restored, turn them on one at a time.
Flip a switch. Turn one or two light switches on so you will know when your service is restored.
Keep your home as cool as possible: During the heat of the day, avoid activities that would add heat and humidity to your home. For maximum efficiency and comfort, position the a battery-operated fan to blow air out of the house during daylight hours and pull cooler air into the house after dark. For a window fan to work properly there should always be another window open in the area the fan is meant to ventilate.
There are also some steps you can take during and after a storm to ensure the safety of your family, home and pets.
Keep your food cold. Resist the urge to peek in on the refrigerator and freezer. Food will stay cold or frozen longer if the appliance stays closed.
Use caution with your food. Check with your local health department and remember the rule, “When in doubt, throw it out!” The University of Illinois Extension Service says these foods should be discarded after four hours without power:
- Raw or cooked meat, poultry and seafood
- Milk, cream, yogurt and soft cheeses
- Cooked pasta and pasta salads
- Custard, chiffon and cheese pies
- Fresh eggs and egg substitutes
- Meat-topped pizza and lunch meats
- Casseroles, soups and stews
- Mayonnaise and tartar sauce
- Cookie dough
These foods should be safe for a few days without power:
- Butter and margarine
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Opened jars of salad dressing, jelly, relish, taco sauce, barbecue sauce, mustard, ketchup and olives
- Hard and processed cheeses
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