Written by

Janice Miller

When cold weather hits Connecticut, driving can get a little difficult. Icy and snowy conditions often make it much more difficult to stay safe on the road. Fortunately, there are several things you can make unfavorable conditions manageable.

Prepare for the Season

Ideally, staying safe on the road during winter starts before the cold weather really kicks in. Take your car to a trusted mechanic to get a tune-up and to check for any issues that could become more problematic once the cold sets in. One of the simplest ways to avoid breaking down in the snow is getting ahead of any mechanical problems before they start.

However, even the most well-tuned car can wind up having trouble in bad conditions. That’s why it’s important to ensure that you have an emergency preparedness kit in your car all season long. Make sure you have the basics, such as warm blankets and road flares to keep you and your passengers safe and warm. It’s also a good idea to have plenty of water and simple snacks in case you’re stuck for a while before help arrives. A useful inclusion many don’t consider: a good pair of waterproof, insulated gaiters. This way, should you break down in less-than-ideal footwear, your feet and lower legs will stay protected from the elements.

Consider the Car

Often, our cars have features such as anti-lock brakes that we forget about when conditions are good. At the start of the season, remind yourself of your car’s winter-ready features (or lack thereof) so you know how to handle slick and icy roads. It’s especially important to consider these things in an unfamiliar vehicle, as you may have to overcome instinct and consciously remind yourself to drive differently.

Plan Ahead

One of the most effective ways to ensure you’re driving safely in risky conditions is to plan ahead. Take some time to consider several routes to your regular destinations, and consider which ones feature the fewest hills, sharp turns, or other potential hazards.

Build extra time into your morning routine to check the weather, warm up the car, and scrape off any accumulated snow or ice. This is absolutely vital for driving safely. Not only does cleaning your car give you the visibility you need, but it also keeps other drivers on the road safe, too. Loose snow billowing off of your roof can create dangerous blind spots for the cars behind you. Worse, chunks of ice falling from your car can cause serious, life-threatening accidents.

 Take Your Time

One of the easiest things you can do to keep yourself safe on the road is slowing down. Accelerate slowly, decelerate slowly, increase following distance — developing patience during winter travels will go a long way toward keeping you and your passengers safe. It’s important to remember that winter weather requires you to react sooner since slick roads can compromise your ability to maneuver. If you’re going too fast, your reaction speed may not keep up.

One notable exception to this — if you’re going up a hill, it’s time to go. Traveling up a hill in snowy conditions is notoriously difficult, and the more momentum you have when you hit the bottom, the more likely you are to make it to the top. Don’t drive recklessly, and don’t go over the speed limit, but don’t approach the hill timidly, either. By the same token, do not slow down while ascending if you can avoid it. If you lose momentum, your odds of stopping — or worse, sliding back down — go up significantly.

Stay Home

Finally, the safest way to drive in the winter is not at all. Whenever you can manage it, simply stay home. If you know bad weather is coming, stock up on pantry goods and other staples. Try to work from home if you can, and decline invites to social outings while it’s icy out. Pay attention to snow emergency declarations, and never drive when it’s declared unsafe.

Driving in the winter calls for extra care. Navigating snowy or icy roads can be tricky, but with forethought and caution, you can make your winter driving as safe as possible.

Photo Credit: Pexels

For most, the kitchen is the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations.

So keeping fire safety top of mind in the kitchen during this joyous but hectic time is important, especially when there’s a lot of activity and people at home. As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember, by following a few simple safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safer from fire.

Top 10 safety tips

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

Thanksgiving fire facts

• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, and the day before Thanksgiving.
• In 2017, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,600 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, the peak day for such fires.
• Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
• Cooking equipment was involved in almost half of all reported home fires and home fire injuries, and it is the second leading cause of home fire deaths.

Source: NFPA’s Fire Applied Research Division

YouTube:  National Fire Protection Association Dangers of Turkey Fires 

Santa Update: 🚒🎅

Due to high demand, the workshop is at full capacity and Santa’s  sleigh is full for early delivery to Madison! The online registration is closed for this season❗️ We apologize if we missed you this year and look forward to your participation next year. From all of us at the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company, we wish you a Happy Holiday Season.

We will be collecting gifts
Saturday, December 7th
Saturday, December 14th
12 pm -3 pm

Santa Claus is coming to town! 

Have your presents delivered by Santa this year.

Click the link below to register
http://nmvfc.org/santa/

We will be collecting gifts
Saturday, December 7th
Saturday, December 14th
12 pm -3 pm

LT Justin Cappetta

Fire Fighter of the Year

One of the recipients of the 2019 Connecticut District Exchange Club’s Salute

to Connecticut’s Bravest Award at the October 17th ceremony.

Lt Justin Cappetta joined Nomad in May 2016 with a wealth of fire service
knowledge and experience already under his belt. Following in his late
father’s footsteps, he was a very active member of the North Haven Fire
Dept. from 2007 to 2016, serving as lieutenant for part of his tenure. Justin
rapidly gravitated toward apparatus work. Upon his election to the rank of
lieutenant he was tasked with overall management of our fleet. This
includes day-to-day truck maintenance, supervision of monthly apparatus
maintenance details, and arranging annual inspections. He also serves as the
chair of the committee that designed our new tanker, now on order and
expect to be delivered mid-2020. A career fire fighter at the Newport Naval
Station FD, where he is currently assigned to Ladder 72, Justin continuously
works to enhance his knowledge and skills. He recently completed  Incident
Safety Officer and Aerial Operator certification classes this year. Justin is a
constant presence around the firehouse, and always has time to help other
members with an apparatus issue. His smile and always-friendly manner
makes him very approachable. He provides steady leadership both at the
firehouse and the incident. In his relatively short time with Nomad, he has
become one of the hardest-working core members of Nomad, and is well

deserving of the recognition as Connecticut’s Bravest!

Protecting Your Health After A House Fire

Written by Jennifer Amstell, a local contributor to NMVFC

A house fire is clearly an extremely hazardous situation, but there are long lasting effects that may not be as obvious. In the short-term, the hard work of the community and firefighters often makes injury unlikely, as last year’s Warpas Road blaze showed. However, smoke inhalation can lead to respiratory ailments and in the long-term will increase the risk of heart disease and COPD, according to UW Medicine. Furthermore, mold, smoke particulates and structural damage can also set in to fire damaged homes, leading to damaged health. Smart fire prevention is the first step to maintaining your safety, but in the worst case situation, there are further steps to take.

Fire damage and mold

Mold can be one of the most harmful issues in any home, let alone a smoke affected one. Mold can create and exacerbate allergies, making it advantageous to have a house as free from spores as possible. Fire damage creates the perfect conditions in which mold can flourish. For example, one notable public building fire in OR resulted in rapid onset of mold in building cavities. This creates costly and complicated cleanup costs, but most importantly, poses a risk to your family’s health. Ensure you proof your home from mold in the case of house fire and make use of professionals – Madison tech gurus CL&P are one example of companies focusing in on the effects of accidental damage.

Residual smoke particles

Many houses work with sophisticated HVAC and airflow systems that, by design, ensure pollutants in the home leave and don’t linger in rooms. To enhance this, many families now deploy air filters to improve quality further. A house fire can put paid to all of this. Extensive cleanup needs to be taken, either professionally or between the community. In the event it does not, there are risks; smoke particles will stay in the atmosphere for a long term, and as the EPA notes, this will lead to lung damage if unfiltered.

Tackling structural damage

House fires will have many obvious impacts with clean-up tackling the symptoms. However, what is less obvious is structural damage. After a house fire many home owners will ensure a full survey is carried out, and this will often be necessary in order to obtain new insurance after a payout has been completed. Despite this, problems can arise further down the line. Take a vigilant eye so you don’t lose your family home, and make sure you actively maintain your property against any potential future problems.

A house fire is a devastating incident for any family, but with the help of the fire service and community, many will move back and enjoy their home once more. As a result, it’s incredibly important to be vigilant of the potential long-term problems a post-fire home will present. Do this, and you can safeguard your happiness and your family’s health.