Fire Prevention Education Center Inc.

06/10/2026

Here are some Campfire Safety tips for all from our friends at the NFPA!

Onondaga County

06/08/2026

S’mores, stories, and campfire fun go best with safety first. 🔥

Children can be seriously injured by getting too close to a campfire, falling into the fire, or touching hot coals and embers. One simple way to help protect them is to create a 3-foot Circle of Safety around the campfire.

To help young children understand:

✅ Set clear visual boundaries around the fire area, such as a spray-painted line or other visible marker
✅ Use simple reminders like “Stop at the line” or “Stay out of the circle”
✅ Explain that nothing gets thrown into the fire
✅ Keep adult supervision at all times
✅ Avoid distractions. Put devices away and enjoy the time together so adults can stay aware and children can better understand safe distance
✅ Remind children that the fire area stays dangerous long after the flames are gone because coals and embers can stay hot for hours
✅ Teach children to avoid running or playing near the campfire
✅ Be careful with loose clothing and blankets, which can ignite from flames, sparks, or blowing embers

Young children learn by watching the adults around them. When adults model safe habits, children are more likely to follow them too.

Campfire safety starts before the fire is lit and continues long after the flames are out.

Image description: Upstate Clark Burn Center campfire safety flyer showing a 3-foot Circle of Safety. Tips are provided in the post to help families teach young children safe campfire habits and prevent burn injuries.

06/05/2026

June is Men’s Health Month, a reminder that prevention is part of everyday health and safety.

Burn injuries can happen quickly during everyday activities like cooking, grilling, working around heat, using chemicals, or spending time near open flames. Many burn and fire-related injuries can be prevented with consistent, everyday safety habits.

This Men’s Health Month, the Clark Burn Center team encourages men, families, and community members to review these burn prevention and fire safety reminders:

✅ Test smoke alarms monthly
✅ Stay in the kitchen when frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling
✅ Keep anything that can burn away from stovetops, grills, fire pits, and other heat sources
✅ Keep hot foods and liquids away from table and counter edges
✅ Check electrical cords often. Do not run cords across doorways, under carpets, or where they can be pinched or damaged. Use extension cords only temporarily.
✅ Use grills outdoors and keep them away from structures, overhanging branches, and high-traffic areas
✅ Use fire pits outdoors, keep them away from anything that can burn, and never leave them unattended
✅ Store fuels and flammable liquids in approved, tightly capped containers away from heat, sparks, and flames
✅ Review your fire escape plan and make sure everyone knows two ways out

Men’s Health Month is also a reminder to schedule routine checkups, know your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar numbers, stay active, and prioritize mental health.

Prevention starts with everyday choices that can make a lifelong difference. This June, focus on wellness, fire safety, and safer daily habits for the whole community.

Healthy choices save lives. Burn prevention saves lives.

05/30/2026

Firing up the grill this weekend? Grilling is a great way to enjoy time with family and friends.

To stay safe while cooking:
• Use grills outdoors only. Place them well away from siding, deck railings, and overhangs. Do not use grills under porches, balconies, or tree branches.
• Keep a 3-foot “safety zone” around the grill for kids and pets.
• Never leave a grill unattended.

Find more safety tips at nfpa.org/grilling

05/29/2026

May is Older Adult Month, and we are celebrating the community partners who help bring burn prevention and fire safety education to older adults across our region.

This work is stronger because of partnership.

To our County Offices for Aging, senior center leaders, activity coordinators, local fire departments, and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control Risk Reduction Unit, thank you. Your support helps bring important safety education directly into the communities you serve.

Together in 2026, our partnerships have connected with:
✅ 15 senior centers
✅ 5 counties: Madison, Saratoga, Broome, Onondaga, and Cortland
✅ 455 older adults through 1-hour interactive safety sessions
Each session focuses on how burn and fire risks can change with age. Knowledge is power, and awareness helps us notice everyday risks that may be easy to overlook in our routines.

Education includes:
🏠 Cooking safety
♨️ Safe heating practices
🚨 Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm safety
🫁 Medical oxygen safety
🔋 Lithium-ion battery safety
💧 Scald prevention
🚪 Home escape planning

These sessions help older adults recognize risks, make small safety changes at home, and think through what to do before an emergency happens. Some sessions have even prompted coordinated escape planning within senior centers.

When partners come together, prevention reaches farther. Awareness grows. Risks are reduced. More lives are touched.

Would you like us to come to your county or senior center?
Contact: Kelly Reed, RN
Burn Injury Prevention and Education Outreach Coordinator
[email protected] | 315-415-4635 or 315-464-9688

05/29/2026

While grilling is one of the most fun ways to cook it can also be very dangerous. Here are some safety tips to keep all safe this grilling season!

Onondaga County

05/26/2026

This past weekend, several fatal fires occurred across NYS communities, a sobering reminder that fire can happen anytime, anywhere.

➡️Test your smoke alarms
➡️Close doors at night
➡️Practice your home escape plan
➡️Know two ways out

Prevention and preparedness can save lives.

05/23/2026

Holiday weekends and grilling go hand in hand! But did you know thousands end up in the ER each year due to grill-related injuries?

Stay safe this weekend—don’t become a statistic.
1️⃣ Keep your grill in a safe spot.
2️⃣ Keep your grill clean.
3️⃣ Propane safety is key.

05/23/2026

Firing up the grill this weekend? Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill. For propane grills, check the gas tank for leaks before use. Be mindful of safety when cooking outdoors and follow these safety tips from NFPA.

05/22/2026