Fire Safety

Over Christmas I was, and still am, very haunted by the tragic fire that happened in the next town over. At first I wouldn't allow Babe to relay the unfolding details and, eventually, he wouldn't allow me to read them myself. But, it wasn't long before the ex Volunteer Firefighter in me went into prevention mode. That is correct, chances are I owned one of thee only pair of Gucci loafers ever to reside part-time in a Firehouse locker...

Sadly, claustrophobia put an end to my active duty but, I can still dole out some learned wisdom like a gal who can rock Hermès just as easily as she can an oxygen tank...

• Have your fireplace or wood stove cleaned professionally each year
• Rule of thumb is 2-3 days before ashes can be safely removed and NEVER put them in plastic trashcans or bags. Metal bins ONLY and those are to be kept at a safe distance from anything combustible
• Have working Fire/Carbon Monoxide detectors throughout the home and test them monthly

• We had Child Locater stickers on all the kid's room windows growing up and I highly suggest getting some from your local Fire Dept and doing the same because every second counts. Ask one of the guys, or Gucci clad girls, on duty for their optimum placement recs
• Of course, lest we forget the Pet Finder stickers found at your local ASPCA that alerts rescue that there are precious Ti-Babes in the home

• Keep a fire extinguisher accessible and know ahead of need how to use it. If there's one thing I want to get across more than anything, it's that time is of the utmost essence cuz you won't have any!
• Practice, practice, practice. Practice your escape, practice putting out a small kitchen fire, practice every one's roll in the event of an emergency. Practice til you feel like you can do it in your sleep cuz there's a possibility you will be doing it in your sleep

And, even this old dog is adding some new tricks to her fire safety routine. The Kidde Three-Story Fire Escape Ladder I ordered from G'wich Hardware should be in tomorrow. My plan was to outfit every room with one til I saw the $100 price tag. Pilgie and Lolly are just gonna have to be stuffed into their Sleepypod and travel in steerage; on Mama and Daddy's backs. Once they prove they're responsible enough use one on their own I'll consider forking over the dough for another...

I also bought a couple of the Nebo Redline Tactical Flashlights to keep on our nightstands. What most people don't realize, is that quite unlike the movies, smoke is black. Not white, BLACK. Black like you can't see your hand in front of your face. The best visibility, along with the best oxygen, is as close to the floor as possible. I'll be crawling with the US's most powerful flashlight clenched b/t my teeth. Annnd, the Ti-Babes on my back...

ps...Also got one of those snazzy flashlights for the whip's glove box cuz next on the escape/rescue planning docket is a whooole plethora of paranoia including what to do if driving in the Lincoln tunnel and it implodes and driving off a bridge. Ya can never be too prepared in my book...

Kindness of Babe for indulging my hyper anxiety and at least doing a bang up job of pretending to defer to my expertise. He did not, however, go for my "in case we're attacked by an intruder while sleeping" plan. I explained to him how, just like with fire drills, each person was to have a role and stick with it. One of us, moi, would have the job of keeping and handling the firearm while the other person, him, would have have the role of calling 911 or getting help even if it meant leaving me alone in our home with the intruder to do so. After I had laid out 'the plan' in bed one night he said, "Nooow let me get this straight. pause pause pause I leave you here wrestling a rapist with your gun while I run out in the street squealing, HEEELLLP...??? IDON'TTHINKSO! I tell ya Babe, YOOOUUU are SUMPTHIN else". Tee hee...XXOO