Public Safety Announcements: Drive for My Sister's Place, Fire Safety and Hydrant Markers

The Scarsdale Police Department and the Scarsdale Police Benevolent Association are sponsoring a drive for My Sister's Place, a non-profit agency in Westchester County that advocates and provides shelter for victims of domestic violence. They are asking residents to forgo the purchase of items that are used to cause mischief on Halloween, such as eggs, shaving cream, "silly string", books of matches, cigarette lighters, toothpaste, hair spray and toilet paper and put the money towards items needed by My Sister's Place, including:

1. Diapers - My Sister's Place is in constant, dire need and the supply has been impossibly low. All sizes will be accepted but the larger sizes (4,5,6) are most in demand.
2. Baby wipes
3. New twin size sheet sets

Donated goods can be dropped off in the lobby Scarsdale Police Headquarters at Tompkins and Fenimore Roads, at any time of day or night from October 20, 2015 through November 20, 2015. The PBA will assure that the items are delivered to the shelter and will also contribute to the cause. Clients of the shelter have been grateful for support from the Scarsdale Community in the past and look forward to another successful drive this year.

Fire Department Reminds You to Change Your Batter When you Reset Your Clock

As the time change approaches on Sunday, November 1, the Scarsdale Fire Department wants to remind you to make another change that could save your life: Changing the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of 75 percent of child fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Non-working smoke detectors rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke detectors is worn or missing batteries.

Changing smoke detector batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke detectors nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke detectors every 10 years.

To save lives and prevent needless injuries in Scarsdale, the Scarsdale Fire Department has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 27th year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® campaign. The program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, lifesaving habit: changing smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries when changing clocks back to standard time each fall, this year on November 1.

"The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most families are sleeping," says Fire Chief Thomas Cain. "Smoke detector maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke detector can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely."

In addition, Chief Cain recommends residents use the "extra" hour they save from the time change to test smoke detectors by pushing the test button, planning two ways out of their home, and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.

For more information about fire safety, contact Fire Inspector Albert Mignone with the Scarsdale Fire Department at 914-722-1215 x 3.

Fire Hydrant Markers

On November 7, 2015 the Scarsdale Fire Department will begin installing red markers on every fire hydrant in the Village, to assist the Department in locating the hydrants during heavy winter snow accumulations. Installation of these highly-visible three-foot tall metal rods will be performed by career and volunteer firefighters working together to ensure that each of the nearly one thousand fire hydrants in the Village is properly marked. The flag markers will be removed by the Water Department in the spring during their annual hydrant maintenance program, to be re-installed again prior to the next winter.

These markers are being installed to enhance public safety. Fire hydrants serve an extremely critical role in the rapid and successful extinguishment of fire, and accumulated, drifting or plowed snow often results in difficulty locating hydrants, especially at night and/or during inclement weather. Precious time can be lost searching for a hydrant buried by snow, and the intent of these tall flag markers is to assist firefighters in locating the hydrant quickly.

Residents with fire hydrants on or near their property can assist the Fire Department by shoveling snow away from the hydrant. Clearing the snow away from your fire hydrant is a quick and easy way to assist the Fire Department toward helping you and your neighbors. Your assistance is appreciated!

Questions: Please contact the Scarsdale Fire Department at 722-1215.