Learn about cooking safety, keeping your family safe around holiday decorations, the Atlantic hurricane season and alternative heating sources.

1. Health and Safety Podcast Dec. 1, 2010

2. Topics Cooking safety. Keeping your family safe around holiday decorations. Atlantic hurricane season. Alternative heating sources.

3. Cooking Safety Cooking equipment – most often a range or stovetop – is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Whether you are cooking a holiday dinner or a snack for the children, practicing safe cooking behaviors will help keep you and your family safe.

4. Holiday Decorations If you’re putting up a holiday tree, do not place your tree close to a heat source. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks.

5. Holiday Decorations Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times. More information is online at the U.S. Fire Administration website, www.usfa.dhs.gov.

6. Atlantic Hurricane Season The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, which ended Nov. 30, was one of the busiest on record. In the Atlantic Basin a total of 19 named storms formed – tied for third highest on record. Of those, 12 became hurricanes – tied for second highest on record.

7. Atlantic Hurricane Season Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, ranging from natural disasters such as flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes, to events such as power outages. If you haven’t taken the steps yet to be prepared, visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to learn more.

8. Alternate Heating Sources Keep at least 3 feet of clearance between your heat source and anything combustible. Do not keep or store combustible materials in closed areas or near a heat source.

9. Alternate Heating Sources Never leave a heater on when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep, and never leave children or pets unattended near heating sources. If you use an electric heater, be careful not to overload the electrical circuit. Avoid electrical heaters in bathrooms as they may come in contact with water.

10. Alternate Heating Sources Only use heaters that have been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features, such as automatic shut-offs.

11. Alternate Heating Sources Do not use a range or oven as an alternate heating source. Do not use fuel-burning appliances without the proper room ventilation. Never fill a kerosene heater while it is in operation or hot. Avoid overfilling.

12. Additional Information www.fairfaxcounty.gov www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency 9-1-1 – Emergency police, fire, medical. 703-691-2131 – Non-emergency.