10 North Shore Towers Courier n June 2015 SAFETY FIRST Fire Safety Begins with Prevention and Planning BY FELICE HANNAH, POLITICAL ACTION CHAIRPERSON AND BOARD MEMBER North Shore Towers Political Action Committee, with the cooperation of General Manager Glen Kotowski and Security Director Kris Debysingh, presented a Fire Safety Education Seminar Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at Towers on the Green. Firefighter Bill Moffatt of the Fire Safety Education Bureau was the Guest Speaker for the seminar. He provided the audience with many great ideas on Fire Safety and Prevention. Nearly 200 residents attended this informative and important seminar. In an emergency, although residents can call 911 themselves, Mr. Kotowski and Mr. Debysingh recommend that you call Security first. They’re the First Responders for North Shore Towers’ residents. First Responders have been trained in the use of Defibrillators that may save lives in a cardiac distressed emergency. Security will call 911, notify the gate regarding the location and type of emergency, dedicate an elevator for 911 responders and immediately go to the area where the emergency is happening. Mr. Kotowski and Mr. Debysingh strongly urge residents to leave operable keys with Security. In an emergency if a key to the apartment is not readily available the Fire Department or EMS will knock down the door to gain access. Residents are financially responsible for the cost to replace their front door. Residents should never use the saunas in the Country Club to dry swimsuits. Many fires have been caused by the combustion of bathing suits left to dry in the saunas. Mr. Kotowski urged residents to avoid candle fires by using battery-operated candles. Management places a handicapped sticker on the lower part of the door where the apartment number is located. This identifies apartments where residents have special needs. It is the responsibility of the resident to notify Management if they have a temporary or permanent disability and/or special equipment. North Shore Towers buildings are fireproof. If the fire is not in your apartment it is usually safer to stay inside rather than entering a smoke filled area. Firefighter Moffat stated that most people die from smoke inhalation. If the fire is in your apartment get everyone out and CLOSE the door behind you. Do not lock the door. Do not use the elevator. Each building has three stairwells. One stairwell in each building has standpipes. During a fire this stairwell will be compromised. The Fire Department will connect the hose on the floor below the fire, pull the hose up the stairwell to the floor above and then to the apartment. The door to this stairwell will be left open and may become smoke filled. Firefighter Moffatt stressed the need to have an evacuation plan. In case of evacuation, follow the safety plan supplied by Management that should be posted on your front door. Agree on a meeting place for ALL residents living in the apartment. Maintain your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Management recommends that you change batteries every six months. New ten-year battery Guest Speaker NYC Firefighter Bill Moffatt addresses resident’s concerns combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are available in the maintenance office for a fee. Call maintenance to install and check smoke alarms. Firefighter Moffatt stated that most fires are ‘kitchen fires.’ He suggests disconnecting appliances when not in use. Do not check the temperature of oil by sprinkling water in hot oil. Do not get preoccupied while cooking or leave food unattended. Remember to turn off the stove. Plug into safety by not overloading electrical outlets. Overloaded extension cords will overheat and cause fires. Surge protectors, he stated, are not designed to be used as extension cords. They are designed to trip circuit breakers when overloaded. Check extension cords regularly. Frayed cords can cause fires. Do not place extension cords under rugs or carpets. Be sure that the electrical appliance has the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Mark. Firefighter Moffatt suggest not to purchase heating or cooling appliances from 99¢ stores. Labels on these products are not regulated and the appliances may be contrabands. He stated avoid plugging large appliances into the same outlet or circuit breaker. Check outlets and switch plates regularly to make sure that they are not hot to touch. Unplug outlets immediately if they are hot to touch and call a qualified electrician. A resident asked about safety in public spaces where there are wheelchairs and walkers blocking egress. Mr. Kotowski stated that the new restaurant owners have taken this into consideration and their renovation design includes a storage area for wheel chairs and walkers. Another resident posed a question about using a ten-year old fire extinguisher. Firefighter Moffatt responded that it should be safely discarded. He cautioned that by using a fire extinguisher you are placing yourself in the position of being a firefighter. A resident shared that there are now two life Alerts: One designed to be used within your home and another designed for use outside the home. Mr. Debysingh and Mr. Kotowski responded to a question regarding what happens if one falls in their apartment and Security responds. Mr. Debysingh and Mr. Kotowski responded that they must leave you in place and call for an ambulance to take you to the hospital. Political Action Committee member Susan Bartelstone listens with fellow NST residents Photos by Julie Weissman Board President Mort Gitter (left) and General Manager Glen Kotowski (right) speak with residents after the seminar
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