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C4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 7, 1999 HOT SUMMER SAVINGS Remember safety when working around the house By M.H. Pa mu SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER W ith the hot summer weather, we are more motivated to work on all kinds of projects around the home. Keeping in mind the following tips will ensure any and all work will be done in the safest way, and that your home is safer. In the kitchen • Open pots should not be used for deep fat fry­ ing. Grease and fat are a leading cause of kitchen fires. 1 Never throw water on a grease fire or turn on baskets can all an overhead fan -- this will only spread the fire. Smother it with a lid or use baking soda or a dry chemical fire extinguisher. Don't carry a burning pot outside. • Don't block the air vents of a microwave oven. It must have a sufficient air flow to operate properly. • Items you use for cooking should not be stored above the stove -- you could be burned reaching for them. • Keep oven and stove areas free of clutter. Stacks of paper, cookbooks, grocery bags, towels, curtains, wood utensils, pot holders and garbage E L C O M E A G O N LTD- S i n c e 1930 Welcoming new business, profes­ sionals, and executives to Oakville. Gifts, greetings and information from the Town of Oakville and the business community. If you're new, we want to visit you! If you're new, we want to visit you! Call Wendy Budisavljevic at 849-6061 or call for more details regarding our exciting business sponsorship programme. catch fire in sec­ onds if they come in contact with a flame. • Never leave the stove or oven unattended while cooking, especial­ ly if children are around. A fire can break out and start spreading in sec­ onds. • Make stove controls easy to read from a dis­ tance. For exam­ ple, you could mark "off' with a bright red dot. • Never store flammable prod­ ucts near or in a stove or oven (e.g. pizza boxes, plas­ tic containers). You may forget they are there and the next time you turn on the oven they'll catch fire. • Accumulated dust .is com­ bustible. Check the vent over your stove as blocked vents mean an increased chance of grease fires. Replace the exhaust hood filters regularly. Fire extinguishers • When using an extinguisher remember to PASS -- pull the pin; aim low; squeeze the handle and sweep from side to side. • Store fire extinguishers in an accessible area (preferably bracketed to the wall near an exit) but not next to the oven because flames could prevent you from getting to it. • Unused fire extinguishers can lose their pres­ sure -- follow the manufacturer's directions to make sure the pressure in your equipment is still adequate. If not, have it recharged. Basement • Before you start any basement project (e.g. furniture stripping) that involves the use of sol­ vents, turn off your water heater, furnace and other heating appliances, including any pilot lights. The use of paint, varnish or glue can lead to a build up of volatile fumes. Fumes and open flames don't mix. Better yet, if it's nice outside, why work indoors? • When working in a confined area with sol­ vents, open a window or use fans for extra venti­ lation. • Rags have have absorbed oil, paint, glue and other chemicals, fuels or solvents are extremely flammable. In fact, they can burst into flames spontaneously. Store soiled rags outdoors in a closed metal container. Better yet, dispose of them promptly and never store indoors. • Make sure you clean the lint collector in the clothes dryer after each use. Also check the dryer exhaust pipe periodically to make sure it is lint free. Fuses • A fuse is an electrical safety valve; if too much current passes through it, a wire inside melts and stops the flow of the current. When a fuse blows, it's a sign of danger. Either the lines have been overloaded or there's a break in the wires along the line (in an appliance cord, a switch, or inside the wall). • Remember to check your fuse box during your clean up. Is it equipped with the proper sized fuses? Are spare fuses handy? BRONTE VILLAGE Harbouring Unique Shops & Dining Experiences T he B ronte Village B.IA . expressed regrets for any inconvenience and disappointm ent th a t individuals attending the fireworks event may have suffered w hen the fireworks display did no t m aterialize. However, the public may be interested to know th a t there was near disaster on th e lake on the evening of July 1 w hen the barge carrying th e fireworks broke loose from the tu g th a t was towing it in the high w inds. A t 8:30pm, as the tu g was a t its destined position off B ronte H arbour, w inds up to 68km per h ou r and 10 foot swells created a very dangerous situation w hen th e barge broke away from the tug w ith w orkers still on th e barge and struck the tug. T he barge was then blown o u t to open w ater and for the next hou r and a half the crew was concentrating on securing the baige to the tug and were no t able to contact anyone to advise them of the ir p lig h t Meanwhile, on shore, th event organizers w ere desperately trying to locate the barge, w orking w ith th e H alton Police and Air-Sea Rescue to no avail. Hence; even an announcem ent of the delay in the event was n o t possible. At la m , it was finally learned the tu g and the barge were safe about 30 m inutes away from Toronto. T he B ronte Village B.IA . has arranged to reschedule the Canada Day Firew orks for th is Sunday, July 11th at 9:30pm in B ronte Harbour. T he rescheduled fireworks prom ise to be even m ore spectacular than originally planned. • If you are blowing fuses repeated­ ly, don't just keep replacing them or resetting the circuits. Track the line and discover the source of the problem. If you have to, call an electrical contrac­ tor to evaluate your system. As you complete all those summer projects on your list, taking the time to evaluate your home and property for safety will pay off. 10 Steps to protect your car paint (1) Avoid washing your car in the sun. When possible, work in a protect­ ed area to cut down on the wind, which can carry dust and dirt. (2) Rinse off as much soil as possi­ ble before washing. (3) Properly clean the tires first, then the wheels. Spray a cleaning solu­ tion onto the tires and scrub with a strong-bristled brush; it will let the tire absorb dressing more evenly and more thoroughly. (4) Cleaning the wheels, especially today's clearcoated wheels, is impor­ tant since brake dust and road salt can cause irreversible corrosion. It can start in hidden areas, and once it penetrates the clearcoat, the damage is impossible to correct. Use a brush that is safe, with "flagged" bristles -- ends that are cut into tiny, super-soft pieces so they remove soil without damaging the wheel's finish. (5) Avoid cleaning warm wheels. A chemical that might be safe at 60 degrees F might easily discolor or oth­ erwise damage a wheel that is at 80 or 90 degrees F or hotter. (6) Never use household detergents or dish soap to wash your car. These strip the protective wax coat, quickly causing your car's finish to dry out and age prematurely. (7) Use quality mitts rather than sponges or towels. Washing with a sponge or towel can actually grind the dirt into your car's surface. Mitts made with cheap, synthetic materials may not remove soil or hold wash solution very well. (8) Use two wash mitts. Clean the dirtiest areas with the first mitt -- below the body side molding, the grille, areas covered with bugs, etc. Use the second mitt and fresh wash solution to clean the rest of the body from the top down, keeping the car wet until you're ready to dry. (9) Wash in straight lines, not cir­ cles. Use overlapping strokes to make sure you reach every area. (10) Take the nozzle off the hose to rinse the car. This allows water to sheet off, leaving less standing water for you to dry off. » By M.H. Pa mu In the kitchen Fire extinguishers Basement Fuses BRONTE VILLAGE Harbouring Unique Shops & Dining Experiences