Nassau Notebook: Fire Safety Tips, Runaway Prevention Month

Mangano Endorses Small Business Saturday

“Small Business Saturday is a national initiative that marks a day to support local businesses that create jobs, boost the local economy and preserve neighborhoods around the nation," Mangano said. "I encourage all residents to support their hometown businesses this Saturday, Nov. 26, and year-round, as local businesses are the heartbeat of Nassau County’s economy and make our communities stronger and better places to live, work and raise a family.  Statistics indicate that small businesses employ over half of all private sector employees and that two out of every three new jobs over the past 15 years have been generated by small businesses. With local employers contributing to the economic base and connectivity of our local communities, we must help raise awareness about the role they play and promote a business-friendly Nassau that attracts suppliers and distributors in similar industries.”

Firefighters Museum Offers Fire Safety Tips During Holidays

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Since the upcoming holiday season could bring an added home fire safety risk, the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center wants to make sure families have a safe and special holiday by following some important life-saving tips.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking was the cause of almost half (46 percent) of residential building fires in 2009, all which could have been avoided. In fact, unattended cooking equipment is the leading factor in the start of cooking fires.

The Nassau County Firefighters Museum and the NFPA offer the following safety guidelines:

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Do not wear loose fitting clothing while cooking.
• The NFPA discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil.

If you have a cooking fire:

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.
• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
• Keep a lid nearby when you are cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

Mangano Declares November 'Runaway Prevention Month'

In an effort to raise awareness of the issue of teenage runaways, County Executive Ed Mangano has declared November as Runaway Prevention Month in Nassau County. The county estimates that no less than 4,000 youth run away from home, are thrown out, pushed out or are homeless each year in Nassau County. For 20 years, the Nassau County Runaway/Homeless Direct Service Network has collaborated with the Nassau County Office of Youth Services, Family and Children’s Association and Long Island Crisis Center to provide services including:

• safe, temporary shelter for youth (Nassau Haven)
• family mediation
• crisis intervention
• street outreach
• community education
• transitional housing (Walkabout)

Runaway Prevention Month also includes the “Green Light Campaign” in which porch lights across the United States glow green to show support and awareness of runaway youth issues. The Green Light Campaign will be commemorated in Nassau County throughout November with the green illumination of the historic Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola.