Home safety tips for everyone

The biggest stories we covered during this whole heat wave that we've been experiencing is the death of three children in separate incidents, and it was due to the generator use. So what people need to understand in these kind of situations is normally when these power outages happen, a lot of people turn on those generators, but there are so many safety tips you need to take to be safe, keep the family safe. Joining us now live in the studio is a former firefighter from Detroit, Sean Brumfield is here to join us. Hi, Sean. Hey, how are you doing? I'm doing great. We have a lot to talk about here because generators come on a lot during this time of year. People get hot and they run out of power, power outages happen, and people just think to turn them on because they want to obviously keep all the appliances going, maybe the air as well. What do they need to know in these kind of conditions? Well, in those cases where you are forced to survive in your own way, the best way to keep a generator running, if you must do so, is to first start off by keeping it a good distance away from the house. I recommend about 15 or 20 feet. That way that carbon monoxide gas doesn't have anywhere to build up and potentially cause you harm. And generators are typically, they're supposed to be kept outdoors, right? Because I know the recent situation, a generator was in a garage. That's a total no? Yes, it is a definite no. Having that kind of gas in an enclosed area could potentially cause headache, nausea, confusion. A person may become unconscious and if it's running overnight in that enclosed area and you are with it, you can experience all of those symptoms and not notice and pass away in the middle of the night. Certainly a very frightening situation. Now as a former Detroit firefighter, I'm sure you've seen it all. Are there more tips that you can offer to people, especially during this time of year when the heat is cranked in full gear and everyone's trying to get their ACs going? Yes, for sure. Aside from the distance, the next best thing would be to have a proper CO2 monitor working in the home because CO is a gas that you can't smell, you can't see. Its nickname is the silent killer. So to have a detector that picks up that gas would be great to have near sleeping quarters or and on each level of your home. And how often are we changing those out? I've actually had mine go out recently and I thought, do they have an expiration date? I think a good rule of thumb would be to just check your batteries every six months, every four to six months, depending on the type of battery that you have just to keep it updated. There should be a little label on the back that tells you the expiration date that you can also go by and if it expires, I do highly recommend that you purchase a new one immediately. Now, I know we're in the hot summer months right now, but you know, all Michiganders know the cold is not far away. So in cold temperatures, a lot of people tend to seek, let's say, a stove or turn on the oven for a little bit to warm up the home. What do you advise for those people who are seeking that quick heat? To ventilate your home or wherever you are as well as possible. Gas stoves do emit CO2, I mean, excuse me, CO also. So aside from ventilation, if you are in the area where you must do so and you're feeling any of those symptoms, the headache, the nausea, the confusion, just get yourself in the open area, get yourself some fresh air and allow the symptoms to subside. Sean, as a former firefighter in Detroit, do you have any stories to share that have kind of that you can't forget? I'm sure you have a ton. I actually do. A few of them make me a little bit emotional. They become a little easier to speak about. I'm not sure if I should share that one. What can you advise families if there is a fire to break out in the home or something that they need to escape from? Is there like a certain plan, an escape route or something that we can plan ahead to keep us safe? Yes, definitely. Having those evacuation plans set for yourself and your children and your home are very important. Knowing the safest routes to the exits, the do's and don'ts of fires and smoking, that you stay low to the ground, avoid inhaling as much smoke as possible and just vigilance, staying aware of the situation, being mindful of what's going on, where your kids are and to just remember to stick to the plan. Yeah, stick to the plan. It's all about being prepared because you never know what could happen. Sean, it is so good having you join us today in the studio. We appreciate you and all your tips. And so, yeah, hopefully everyone stays safe during this time of year. Yes, please do.