Metro-Atlanta Events for February 2014

February 4th: Kings of Leon: 2014 Mechanical Bull Tour at Philips Arena in Atlanta

February 8th: Atlanta Beer Carnival at Atlantic Station

February 12th - 17th: Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Philips Arena in Atlanta

February 14th: The 10th Annual Atlanta Blues Festival at Atlanta Civic Center

February 20th - 22nd: Georgia National Rodeo in Perry

February 21st - 23rd: North Atlanta Home Show at Gwinnett Center in Duluth

February 21st: Demi Lovato: The Neon Lights Tour at Philips Arena in Atlanta

February 24th: Eagles at Philips Arena in Atlanta

Prepare for Freezing Temperatures in Georgia

Temperatures are predicted to drop very low tonight which could mean several hazards across the state.  FEMA and Ready GA are encouraging everyone to be prepared for this winter weather.  These tips are from www.ready.ga.gov and we hope they are useful to all of you.

Prepare for Winter Weather

• Make sure your home is well insulated and that you have weather stripping around your doors and window sills to keep the warm air inside.


• Include adequate clothing and blankets in your Ready kit to keep you warm.


• Allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.


• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

Make a Plan

• Plan to stay inside and make it on your own, at least for a period of time.


• If you have a wood burning fireplace, consider storing wood to keep you warm if winter weather knocks out your heat.

Stay Informed

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed of winter weather watches and warnings.


• Also monitor commercial radio, television and the Internet.


• Keep in mind that during a severe winter storm it could be hours, or even days, before emergency personnel are able to reach you.

Source:  www.ready.ga.gov

Winter Weather Preparedness

Winter storms are considered "deceptive killers" because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Seventy percent of fatalities related to ice and snow occur in automobiles, and approximately twenty-five percent of all winter-related fatalities are people caught off-guard in the storm. Prolonged exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia. Powerful winter storms can also have thunderstorms associated with them. These storms can dump as much as three inches of snow or one inch of ice in an hour. So how can you prepare for winter weather?

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a winter storm hazard:

Freezing Rain: Rain that freezes when it hits the ground, creating a coating of ice on roads, walkways, trees, and power lines..

Sleet: Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes moisture on roads to freeze and become slippery.

Winter Storm Watch: A winter storm is possible in your area. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for more information.

Winter Storm Warning: A winter storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area.

Blizzard Warning: Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or greater and considerable amounts of falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer.

Frost/Freeze Warning: Below freezing temperatures are expected.

Winter Safety Tips:

• Monitor radio/TV or NOAA Weather Radio.


• Stay inside. Long exposure to cold increases the risk of frostbite or hypothermia.


• If you must go out, dress in layers.


• Avoid overexertion. The strain from the cold may cause a heart attack and sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.


• Keep your gas tank at least half full.


• Drive with caution and carry a disaster supplies kit in your trunk.


• Have an alternative emergency heating source, such as a fireplace or wood stove. Use appropriate safeguards and have proper ventilation.


• Make sure your home is properly insulated.


• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers, cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture, let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing, and know how to shut off water valves.

Source: www.fema.gov

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Locating Sources of Urine Odor from CleanFax Magazine

Urine is really a three-pronged problem. There is stain, odor and contamination. If you don’t address all three issues, you may not satisfy your client.

If you don’t educate your client on the need to address all three issues, they may simply focus on the odor and they may think the solution should be a simple spraying of some magic solution that eliminates all odors.

If we don’t successfully locate all of the odor sources, our result will be less than 100 percent. Because this step is so important, we will examine it in some detail.

Locating the source is done by our eyes and noses with an assist from moisture detectors and ultraviolet (UV) lights.

Power of the nose

We may enter a home or a room and immediately recognize the presence of odors associated with urine. Determining the preciselocation of the source is more difficult.

In part, this is because air currents diffuse the odor. Closing any open windows, closing doors at the entry to each room, turning off ceiling fans, heating or air conditioning and other sources of air movement will make it easier to locate the source.

Allow time for conditions to settle and then you can carefully check each area without odors from other locations swirling around your nose.

Remember, women are generally more sensitive to odors than men.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE

Debunking Carpet Cleaning Myths from CRI

Check out this great article I came across from the Carpet and Rug Institute Blog about "Debunking Carpet Cleaning Myths".

Turkey Fryer Safety Tips

Turkey Fryers Facts

• Cooking fires peak on Thanksgiving Day.


• Between 1998 and 2005, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had 112 reports of fires or burns related to turkey fryers.


• Most fires from turkey fryers occur while the oil is being heated, before the turkey is added.


• Contact with hot oil can cause serious burns.

Turkey Fryer Safety

For safety's sake, buy a fried turkey from a grocery store, specialty food store, or restaurant instead of frying it yourself. If you decide to fry a turkey, follow these tips to prevent fires and injuries:

• Place the turkey fryer on a level surface, in an open area away from homes, fences, sheds, and other structures.


• Never place the fryer on a wooden deck or porch or in a garage or carport.


• Leave at least 2 feet between the fryer and the propane tank.


• Keep the fryer in full view at all times.


• Keep children and pets away from the fryer.


• Check the oil temperature often. If you see smoke coming from the oil, turn off the gas right away.


• Completely thaw and dry the turkey before frying. Adding a partially frozen or wet turkey to the pot makes the oil splatter a lot, causing a fire or explosion hazard.


• Cover bare skin before adding or removing food from the fryer.


• Raise and lower food slowly to avoid splattering or spilling oil.


• Use the right amount of oil. To find out how much oil to use, read the fryer's instructions, or:


• Place the turkey in the pot.


• Fill with water until the turkey is covered by ½ inch of water.


• Remove the turkey and pat dry.


• Mark the water level in the pot.


• Dump the water, dry the pot, and fill oil to the level marked.


• If the fryer catches fire, call 911 right away. Do not try to put it out with water.

Source: www.firesafety.gov

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2013 Winter Weather Awareness Week in Georgia

The National Weather Service and The Georgia Emergency Management Agency have proclaimed the week from December 2nd - December 6th, 2013, as Winter Weather Awareness Week in Georgia. Winter Weather Awareness Week highlights the need for being prepared for the potential dangers of a severe winter weather episode.

How can you prepare for winter weather?

• Monitor radio/TV or NOAA Weather Radio.
• Stay inside. Long exposure to cold increases the risk of frostbite or hypothermia.
• If you must go out, dress in layers.
• Avoid overexertion. The strain from the cold may cause a heart attack and sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full.
• Drive with caution and carry a disaster supplies kit in your trunk.
• Have an alternative emergency heating source, such as a fireplace or wood stove. Use appropriate safeguards and have proper ventilation.
• Make sure your home is properly insulated.
• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers, cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture, let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing, and know how to shut off water valves.

Holiday Cooking Safety Tips

Fall and winter seasons are a time when families and friends like to gather. Unfortunately, they are also the seasons when home fires peak.

Here are some tips to help you keep your loved ones safe this year.

• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of house fires. If you are using the stove stay in the kitchen and watch what you are cooking carefully. If you are using the oven, set a timer and do not leave your home.
• Fall and winter seasons are a time when families and friends like to gather. Unfortunately, they are also the seasons when home fires peak.
• Create a three-foot “child-free zone” around the stove. Keep children and pets away from the stove while cooking to prevent burns and scalds.
• NEVER wear loose clothing while cooking. If you have long sleeves, roll them up.
• Keep combustible objects such as pot holders, towels, paper or plastic bags away from heating elements.
• NEVER disable detectors to avoid false alarms while cooking. Relocate the detector or replace it with a photoelectric type to minimize nuisance alarms from cooking.
• Put a lid on a grease fire to smother it, then turn off the heat. Baking soda will also work.
• Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on a grease fire. Water will only spread the fire and the force of the extinguisher can splash flaming grease out of the pan.