Daniel FisherFirst AidColorado Environmental EmergenciesColorado faces many hardships, the rare tornado, flooding, hypothermia, but one of the most prevalent problems that plagues Colorado are the wildfires that inhabit our mountainous regions and they take lives and our precious trees for which we need to live.If you have a house in an area prone to fires, aka dry vegetation in forests or fields, usually caused by a lighting strike but also occurring by reckless campers, you need to be informed on what to do while in these before these situations arise . Being prepared is something every household should have down, even when not inhabiting areas that are likely to experience these problems. So, you should have an emergency kit built for each family member consisting of food, water, emergency blankets, matches, and other useful items to help you in the event of an emergency. Also, a good item to have ...view middle of the document...
Make sure to close all doors and if you have a fire place, open the top but keep the guard rail up. Make sure to keep your sprinklers running if they are already on, to keep the structure wet, but be mindful for any water restrictions in the area. Head outside and get in your car and drive away. Let someone who isn't going with you, where you are going. Take not on where the fire is moving and the direction of the smoke, so you can be one step ahead of the flame. Also, if no evacuation has been put in place, call the police to let them know of the location of the fire.Use caution when entering burned areas, as dangers may still exist, including hot spots, which can flare up without warning. Avoid damaged or fallen power lines, poles and downed wires as they can cause electrocution and more fires. Watch for ash pits and mark them for safety, warn family and neighbors to keep clear of the pits also. Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control. Hidden embers and hot spots could burn your pets' paws & hooves.Follow public health guidance on safe cleanup of fire ash and safe use of masks. Wet down debris to minimize breathing dust particles. Wear leather gloves and heavy soled shoes to protect hands and feet. Cleaning products, paint, batteries and damaged fuel containers need to be disposed of properly to avoid risk. Avoid going into the affected area until fire crews have deemed the area safe. Also, call 911 if someone has been injured from the catastrophe.So since fires occur so often in this mountainous state, with all the dry fields and wanton wrath of thunderstorms, make sure to follow the guidelines to being safe in preparedness, during the problem, and after in order to be a safe individual and community member.Wildfire Preparedness." American Red Cross. Red Cross, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014."Home." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014."Wildfire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Nov. 2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2014."Colorado's 2014 Wildfire Season Mild Compared To Recent Devastation."CBS Denver. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
