Columns for 2007

Click this link to Ask the DA a question: AsktheDA@brooklynda.org

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bullet "Ask the DA" Radio Show
bullet Theft Prevention
bullet Scams
bullet Hispanic Heritage
bullet Gun Buyback
bullet Italian Heritage
bullet Real Estate Fraud
(Oct. '08)
bullet Internet Safety (Sept. '08)
bullet Victim Services Unit
bullet Fake IDs (Sept. '08)
bullet Truancy (Sept. '08)
bullet Legal Lives
bullet TADD
bullet Neighborhood Offices
bullet Filing Complaints
bullet Teen Dating Violence
bullet Identity Theft
bullet Theft Prevention
bullet Suspended Licenses
bullet DA's Action Center
bullet Prior Convictions
bullet Family Justice Center
bullet Real Estate Fraud
bullet Online Consumer Fraud
bullet Emergency Plan
bullet Drunk Driving
bullet Senior Affairs Unit
bullet Bullying
bullet Brooklyn Child Watch
bullet Truancy
bullet Internet Safety Month
bullet Reckless Conduct While Driving
bullet Extraordinary Women
(2008)
bullet Alternative Sentencing
bullet Baby Safe Haven
bullet Gang
bullet Red Hook Court
bullet Career Opportunities
bullet Lt. Giuseppe Petrosino
bullet Animal Neglect
bullet Fire Safety
bullet Caution with Internet
bullet Neighborhood Offices/
Mobile Van

 

In light of the approaching holiday season, I would like to take this opportunity to remind my readers about fire safety in their homes. 

Since preparation of home-cooked meals is the leading cause of fires in the home, be sure to stay in your kitchen while food is cooking. If there are children in your household, enforce a “kid-free zone” around your stove to avoid any accidents or injuries. Also, to prevent burns caused by accidental overturning or spilling, turn pot handles inward so they face the wall. 

If you live in an apartment without heat, call 311 to report the problem. Do not attempt to heat your apartment with your oven or burners. Never leave candles, a space heater or a lit stove or oven unattended, especially if there are young children or animals in your household. Also, be aware that space heaters need ample free space around them. They should always be placed at least three feet away from paper, fabrics or anything else that can ignite. 

If you have children, teach them that matches and lighters are not toys to be played with, but rather tools to be used by adults. Tell them that if they find matches or lighters, they should let an adult know right away. Keep matches and lighters in places where children cannot get to them, such as high up or in locked cabinets. Many television programs that target youngsters have fire prevention discussions. Watch these programs with your children and review what was discussed to ensure they understood the content. It is important to have a fire safety plan for your family and to practice it with your children. Also, teach your children how to call 911, and keep your home address near the phone where they can see it. 

Make sure you have working smoke detectors in your house or apartment. If a fire breaks out, first get out, making sure to close the door behind you, then call 911. If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself caught in a fire, remember to crawl low under smoke, check all doors for heat before opening them, and if your clothes catch fire STOP, DROP, and ROLL.
 

For additional information visit www.brooklynda.org. To have your questions answered in a future column, send them to asktheda@brooklynda.org.

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