Stay safe, let the good tidings roll this holiday season

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful...let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Yeah, right. This is Okinawa, a sub-tropical island - snow's a long shot. And while some folks may nevertheless be thinking about snow, everyone at Kadena should be thinking about safety.

During the holiday season, thoughts turn to great holiday meals, decorating the home with colorful blinking lights, and visiting family and friends, and this is as it should be. But Kadena safety, fire, and emergency service officials encourage everyone to follow a few safety tips this holiday season to stave off disaster and let the good tidings roll.

"Electrical safety is a huge concern during this time of year," said Lorie Bellamy, 18th Wing ground safety manager.

To avoid electrical fires, individuals should use only lights that have been tested for safety and bear a label that says so. Each set of lights should be checked for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections. No more than three standard-size sets of lights should be used per extension cord unless otherwise stated in the instructions.

According to safety officials, real Christmas trees are a major fire hazard during this time of year. It's important to water your tree daily to keep it from getting excessively dead and dry and exploding into flames.

"Pay close attention not to allow bulbs to touch combustible materials such as plastics, pine needles, leaves or grass," said Ms. Bellamy.

While decorative lights might bring holiday cheer, Kadena family residents must also observe holiday lighting hours, which run from dusk until 10 p.m. nightly. After 10 p.m. holiday lights must be turned off. The only exceptions are Christmas Eve and Day and New Year's Eve and Day.

Along with hanging lights, ornaments and other hallmarks of the season, candle safety is also important.

"Don't place lit candles in windows in close proximity to blinds and curtains," said Ms. Bellamy. She added that candles need to be kept away from children and ought to be extinguished before leaving the house or going to sleep.

Food, another major ingredient of holiday celebrations, is also fraught with potential danger. The 18th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Emergency Services urge base residents to avoid the most common fire hazards associated with cooking.

"Unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires," 18th CES officials said. "Cooking should not be left unattended and a serviceable fire extinguisher needs to be ready for use at a moment's notice."

The safety office also encourages travelers to stay safe while driving in unfamiliar conditions. Consider all the potential hazards or problems you could encounter -- slippery roads, severe weather, drunk drivers and many others.

"We want the entire Shogun Family to have a happy holiday season. A big part of that is being safe around the home and on the road," said Lt. Col. David Mineau, 18th Wing Chief of Safety.

If you have any safety questions, contact the Kadena Fire Prevention Flight at 634-4500 or the Kadena Fire Department at 634-6011. If you need emergency medical or fire assistance, call 911 if on base, 119 if off base or 098-934-5911 from a cell phone.