Page 10 - The Indian EYE 120823

COMMUNITY OP-ED DECEMBER 08, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

Staying safe and keeping the

city secure during the upcoming

Holiday season

Smoking materials, like cigarette butts, ashes, lighters, and matches, are the leading cause of home fires. Make sure they are
discarded properly in large, deep ashtrays. Smoking is followed by home heating as the second leading cause of home fires

children and pets.
Electric blankets and extension
cords are another source of potential
danger. They should also have the
(UL) mark. Please replace your elec-
tric blanket if it is more than 10 years
old and buy ones with an automatic
shut-off. Also, inspect the condition
of your extension cords, make sure
that all outlets and switches have
cover plates that are not discolored
(a possible sign of overheating), and
however much you have going on,
please don’t overload your outlets
with more than two appliances.
If you are buying an artificial
Christmas tree, buy one that is flame
ERIC ADAMS
retardant. Position your trees near
outlets so that you don’t have to
he upcoming holiday season is use extension cords and unplug tree
a festive time of year. It’s get- lights when you are not in the room
Tting colder, so we try to stay or are going to sleep.
warm, we invite friends and family If you own an e-bike or other
over, cook more, light candles, may- micro-mobility device, never charge
be burn a fire in the fireplace or use it overnight or leave batteries unat-
space heaters, buy Christmas trees tended while charging. Don’t store
and string them up with lights, and devices between you and the exit
fill our homes with other decorations. of your home (the batteries can ex-
That is why the winter season is also plode, trapping you inside.) Ideally,
unfortunately known as the fire sea- do not store your batteries or devices
son, and more than one-third of all If you are buying an artificial Christmas tree, buy one that is flame retardant. Position your indoors at all.
home fires occur between December, trees near outlets so that you don’t have to use extension cords and unplug tree lights when Finally, remember that smoke
January, and February. you are not in the room or are going to sleep (File photo) alarms and carbon-monoxide detec-
Early during our administration, tors save lives. Make sure to check
in January 2022, 17 people were your smoke alarms and replace the
killed and many more were injured Make sure they are discarded prop- they can come into contact with wa- batteries twice a year. Carbon mon-
in a tragic fire at the Twin Parks erly in large, deep ashtrays. Smoking ter. And make sure to put out the fire oxide is a colorless and odorless gas
apartment building in the Bronx. The is followed by home heating as the in your fireplace completely before that is released during fires or by
fire was caused by a defective space second leading cause of home fires. you go to sleep. malfunctioning heating equipment.
heater and self-closing doors that Make sure your equipment —includ- Candle fires have tripled in the Carbon monoxide kills, so a working
didn’t work properly. That loss and ing central heating units, portable past 10 years — most of these hap- carbon monoxide detector is essen-
devastation remains with us, which and fixed space heaters, as well as pen when the candles are left unat- tial. It is also required by law in New
is why we are asking all New York- fireplaces — are installed by a qual- tended or are lit next to combustible York City.
ers to work together and take some ified technician, and inspected and materials like paper or fabric. If you Let’s make 2023 the safest holi-
basic precautions this winter season cleaned regularly. All space heaters enjoy candles in your home, make day season ever so that we can all cel-
so that we can make this a safe and should have the “Underwriters Lab- sure to be present at all times while ebrate our festivals, families, friends,
happy time of celebration. oratories” (UL) mark on them. Nev- the candle is burning; keep candles and this beautiful city we call home.
Smoking materials, like cigarette er use an extension cord with a space away from flammable materials like Happy holidays!
butts, ashes, lighters, and matches, heater, and avoid using space heat- curtains, decorations, and bedding; Eric Adams is
are the leading cause of home fires. ers in places like bathrooms, where and also place them out of reach of the Mayor of New York City, NY

www.TheIndianEYE.com