Tips to Keep You Safe - Santa Rita Fire District

January 2025 – Preventing Winter Heating Fires

December 29, 2024

Chilly weather brings an added danger for a home heating equipment fire to happen. This month we will delve into preventing home heating fires. About half of all home heating fires occur in the months of December, January, and February. Having a good understanding of the fire triangle is essential in understanding fire.

December 2024 Deck the Halls with Fire Safety

November 27, 2024

December holidays usually consist of family gatherings, Christmas tree lightings, holiday decorations and many other festivities and traditions. Unfortunately, it is also a time of increased risk for fire. Holiday fires can be linked to kitchen fires, dry Christmas trees, candles, and even faulty wiring of decorations. There are simple safety precautions you can take to avoid a visit from your local fire department and ensure that your December holidays are memorable, safe, and filled with joy.

November 2024 Thanksgiving Safety

October 29, 2024

Thanksgiving is a natural favorite for a November safety article. Holiday safety issues, like many safety issues involves a Who, What, Where and Why analysis. Who will be coming to your house? What are the special needs of your guests? What preparations are necessary to accommodate these special needs? Why is this accommodation important?

October 2024 – Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You

September 30, 2024

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been in existence for over one hundred years and every year in October they designate a topic for National Fire Prevention Week. This year the topic is: “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you.” The week is Sunday, October 6^th through Saturday, October 12^th.

September 2024 Fall Prevention Month

August 26, 2024

Per the Cambridge Dictionary the definition of a fall is “to suddenly go down onto the ground or toward the ground without intending to or by accident.” The key to this definition is the word “accident” and most accidents are preventable. Anyone at any age can fall, however, per the CDC millions of people sixty-five and older fall more frequently. In the senior population, one of four fall and unfortunately once a person falls it doubles their chance of another.

August 2024 Drowning Prevention and Pool Safety

July 30, 2024

As the outside temperatures rise, so do the news reports of accidental drownings. Any body of water can increase the risk of drowning. Drowning happens when a person’s nose and mouth are under water too long, making it impossible for them to breathe. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drowning deaths in the United States have increased from 2020 to 2022. This statistic prompted a US National Water Safety Action Plan.

July Safety: Extreme Heat and Firework Safety

June 28, 2024

The July safety tips arrive in the setting of an unusually hot Southern Arizona summer. Recognition and prevention of harmful effects of extreme heat to people and pets will be our focus. Additionally, as Green Valley Fire is now the “Santa Rita Fire District” (note our new name, and welcome Sahuarita readers), no summer safety article would be complete without discussing fire prevention and fireworks safety. Extreme Heat is defined as a period of two days or longer, of temperatures above 90 degrees. Residents of Southern Arizona are exposed to extreme heat every summer. Let’s review how to prevent and respond to heat emergencies.

Hiking and Outdoor Safety Tips You Should Consider

May 31, 2024

Arizona is a beautiful state with breathtaking views that offers over 2,800 hiking trails for various levels of difficulty. To achieve the best hiking experience, there are several things to consider. It’s not recommended that you hike without doing your research and having a plan.

Critters of the Desert: Snakes and other Desert Pests

April 30, 2024

What a scary topic! As we all know, knowledge is power. The better educated we all are about what desert pests and snakes are in our environment, the safer we will all be. We will be reviewing the most common venomous desert pests and snakes in the southwest. How to recognize them, where to find them and what to do if bitten or stung.

Preparations for Wildfire Season

March 31, 2024

Multiple factors in the recent past have contributed to an increase in the number of wildfires year-round: Fuel is readily available from timber, wild grasses, and brush. Temperatures favor wildfires in that both higher environmental temperatures and high velocity winds result in increased size, speed and intensity of fire spread. With this in mind, let’s consider homes in the vicinity of a wildfire that is spreading quickly.