Fireworks Safety + Children

It's an American tradition...the annual lighting of fireworks. Unfortunately, injuries from fireworks are another tradition that often seems to follow when kids are allowed to play with fireworks.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that:

• there were 7 fireworks-related deaths in 2008 and 11 in 2007
• about 7,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks in 2008
• most injuries from fireworks occur in the few weeks around July 4th
• almost half of the injuries were to children under age 15
• firecrackers caused the most injuries, followed by rockets and sparklers
• burns are the most common injuries from fireworks

The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home. Attend public fireworks displays, and leave the lighting to the professionals. Lighting fireworks at home isn't even legal in many areas, so if you still want to use them, be sure to check with your local police department first. If they're legal where you live, keep these safety tips in mind:

• Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers are just too dangerous. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot enough to melt gold.
• Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the manufacturer's name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled), and store them in a cool, dry place. Illegal fireworks usually go by the names M-80, M100, blockbuster, or quarterpounder. These explosives were banned in 1966, but still account for many fireworks injuries.
• Never try to make your own fireworks.
• Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.
• Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.
• Don't hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection, and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.
• Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.
• Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers), and never relight a dud.
• Don't allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
• Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
• Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they'll run loose or get injured.

If a child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don't allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage. Also, don't flush the eye out with water or attempt to put any ointment on it. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and immediately seek medical attention — your child's eyesight may depend on it. If it's a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn (do not use ice). Call your doctor immediately.

Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed, but you'll enjoy them much more knowing your family is safe. Take extra precautions this Fourth of July and your holiday will be a blast!

Celebrate the Fourth in Steamboat!

We are getting geared up to celebrate a fantastic 4th in Steamboat Springs! Wondering what to do? Check out this fun-filled lineup of events.

Thursday, July 1:

• 9:00 - 10:30AM Downtown Historic Walking Tour, Tread of Pioneers Museum
• 12:15 - 1:00PM Music on the Green~ Meridian Quartet at Yampa River Botanic Park, Strings Music Festival (free admission)
• 8:00PM Jesse Cook at Strings Music Pavilion, Strings Music Festival
  

Friday, July 2:

• 10:00AM - 4:00PM Art on the Mountain in Gondola Square
• 12:00 - 1:00PM Brown Bag Lecture Series, Tread of Pioneers Museum
• 1:00 - 4:30PM Cow Town Ranch Tour, Community Agriculture Alliance
• 5:00 - 8:00PM First Friday Artwalk, downtown Steamboat Springs starting at 13th and Lincoln
• 5:00 - 8:00PM Steamboat Clay Artisans at The Depot
• 7:00 PM Mountain Valley Bank Ranch Rodeo at Romick Arena beginning with Heritage Ranch Family Awards (free admission)
• 8:00PM Jesse Cook at Strings Music Pavilion, Strings Music FestivalSaturday, July 3:
• 8:00AM Mountain Madness Road Race - Half Marathon & 10K at Howelsen Ice Rink
• 9:00 - 11:00AM Nordic Ski Jumping Competition at Howelsen Hill
• 9:00AM - 2:00PM MainStreet Farmer’s Market, 6th Street next to the courthouse
• 10:00AM - 4:00PM Art on the Mountain in Gondola Square
• 7:30 - 10:00PM Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series at Romick Arena
• 8:00PM Multi-Media performance of Chamber music at Strings Music Pavilion, Strings Music Festival

Sunday, July 4:

• 7:00 - 10:00AM Pancake Breakfast at the Little Toots Park, Steamboat Springs Lions Club
• 9:30AM 5th Annual Cross Country/ Nordic Combined Roller Ski Race
• 9:40AM 19th Annual Steamboat Sprint - 400 yard dash at Lincoln Avenue, Running Series
• 10:00AM Fourth of July Parade presented by the Yampa Valley Bank Parade theme: Cowboys Dig Downtown
• 10:00AM - 4:00PM Art on the Mountain in Gondola Square
• 11:00AM - 1:00PM Pioneer Day Block Party at the Tread of Pioneers Museum featuring a free community concert
• 12:30PM 4th of July Ski Jump Extravaganza, Nordic Combined competition, Howelsen Hill
• 6:30PM Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series - special performance at Romick Arena
• Approx. 9:30PM Fourth of July Fireworks display at dark following the end of the rodeo, Howelsen Hill

Eco-Friendly Summer Cooling Tips

The dog days of summer are here and the heat is on. Keeping our houses cool with air conditioners costs Americans about $11 billion a year. And those air conditioners release about 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air annually -- two tons for each home that has one. Looking for ways to stay cool this summer and reduce your carbon footprint and energy bill? Here are a few simple and inexpensive tips to help:

• Fans and Ceiling Fans: Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.
• Shades, drapes, or blinds: Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently.
• Internal Heat: The most common sources of internal heat gain are appliances, electronic devices, and lighting. Be aware from where the heat is coming. By reducing the amount of heat in your home, you will have to use less energy to cool it.
• Plants: Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will keep your house cool in the summer and allow the sunlight to warm the house during the winter. Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow.
• Humidity: Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying clothes, showering, and cooking.

AC Annual Service Check

Is your AC unit not cooling your house as well as it used to? Does your air conditioning unit make funny noises? Is your AC louder than it used to be? Has the humidity in your home increased? Is there condensation around the ducts? These are all signs that your air conditioner needs a bit of maintenance. Did you know that without regular maintenance, an air conditioner loses five percent of its original efficiency each year of operation? Not only is your AC working harder and harder to perform, but your energy bills are also getting higher. Perhaps the most important tip for maximizing your AC, then, is to keep it serviced. A properly serviced air conditioner will also do a better job of dehumidifying your home.

A service check should include: cleaning the condensing unit coils, checking the amp draw of the compressor, checking that belts are well adjusted, oiling the fan motors, checking the system operating pressures and temperatures against the manufacturers specifications, and last but not least, check the coolant level. A system can cost 20% more to operate if it's only 10% low on Freon. It is recommended the coolant level be checked each year. By taking care of these things each year, the cost of an annual tune-up is made up quickly in savings on your monthly electric bill and reduced repair costs.

Also check your AC filter once a month during the cooling season, and keep it clean. If the filter becomes clogged, your system will have to work harder to supply the same amount of cool air. A good maintenance plan should include filter replacements.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there. This quote made me laugh and wanted to share it with all of you.

"Fathers are the geniuses of the house because only a person as intelligent as we could fake such stupidity. Think about your father: He doesn't know where anything is. You ask him to do something, he messes it up and your mother sends you: "Go down and see what your father's doing before he blows up the house." He's a genius at work because he doesn't want to do it, and he knows someone will be coming soon to stop him." -- Bill Cosby

Sump Pump Maintenance

The sump pump. The strange-looking device in the corner of the basement we rarely think about until we need it. What exactly is it? A sump pump is usually an electric pump that is placed in the basement of a home, and used to pump water from the basement to outside the home. Sump pumps normally work in combination with a sump pit. The sump pit is simply a hole dug into the ground, generally in the basement of a house, which allows water to collect into it. The pump then pumps the water out of that sump pit hole. A basement sump pump is most often used in cases where the house's basement is below the water table level, and in places where flooding is common. Because a sump pump is a piece of mechanical equipment, it usually needs some type of cleaning and general maintenance on a regular schedule. In some areas it's best to clean the sump pump yearly, but if your pump is used heavily you should consider examining it every three to four months.


4 Month Inspection + Maintenance:

• Clean pump inlet screen
• Check power cord and make sure the cord is connected to power
• Dump a bucket of water into the sump to raise the float and make sure the pump turns on.

Yearly Inspection + Maintenance:

• Remove the pump from the sump and clean it and inspect it
• Clean out the sump
• Replace the pump in the sump
• Check power cord and make sure the cord is connected to power
• Dump a bucket of water into the sump to raise the float and make sure the pump turns on, adjusting the float if required.

Never take your pump apart yourself to clean it. Most manufacturers advise against cleaning them yourself as you might deal damage to the pump's mechanisms. Consult your manual for things that you can or cannot do to clean your pump. Otherwise, contact your manufacturer and qualified personnel for sump pump maintenance and intensive cleaning. You might void the warranty by doing the cleaning job yourself.

Summerize Your Home

Americans spend more than $22 billion a year and use a whopping 183 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to cool their homes with air conditioning, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Remember, electricity prices tend to rise with the temperature, but you can trim your energy bills and still stay comfortable. Think "summerize". Many of the same weatherization products you use in the fall to protect your home, like weatherstripping, can work well in the summer, too.

• Hot summer heat can invade your home just like cold drafts in the winter. The most common area for air to penetrate a home is around window and door frames. Plug up air leaks with weatherstripping around the frame and use special door bottom seals for the floor. There are a variety of weatherstrip options, made from different materials and for an array of uses, so be sure to choose the correct weatherstripping for your project.
• Window air conditioning units can let in hot air and more. A poorly insulated window air conditioning unit can provide a way in for insects, dust and pollen. There are a variety of products to seal your window air conditioning unit that can be customized to the size and shape you need to stop cold air from escaping and bugs from entering your home.
• Home energy bills can rise with the thermometer. The hotter it gets outside, the harder your air conditioning works and the higher your electric bill soars. Weatherizing your home will help control the amount of cold air flowing out of and hot air entering your home.
• Year-round energy savings are a plus. Insulation is by far your best barrier to cold and hot air, providing savings throughout the seasons. Consider insulating your attic, walls and basement this summer.
• Warm air can sneak in through hidden places. Ideally, the wall cavity is filled with insulation to stop air leaks between the exterior cladding and walls of your home. Regardless if your home does or does not have insulation in the walls, hot summer air often enters the home around faceplates and wall sockets.
• Cold air can seep out of the chimney. Many homeowners enjoy their fireplaces throughout the cold winter days, but forget to close the flue when warm summer air returns. Don’t forget to close the flue.

Before Diving In...

Graham Custom Homes want you to have a safe and fun summer. Why not spend a few moments to check the safety of your pool? The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals offers this info on pool and spa safety:

• Responsible Adult Supervision: always have a responsible adult supervise children in any pool, spa, or hot tub environment.
• Drains, Suction Fittings, and Jets: proper grate, cover, and door installation prevents bodily harm. Make sure your drain covers meet the ANSI/ASME A112.19.8M standard.
  
• Diving: check and tighten bolts on all diving boards, slides, and platforms.
  
• Electrical Hazard: have a licensed electrician, experienced in swimming pools and hot tubs, inspect your electrical equipment.
• Ladders, Steps and Handrail: you should have adequate safe-entry and safe-exit methods in both ends of the pool and two sides of the spa or hot tub.
  
• Drowning Prevention: install and inspect fences, self-closing and latching gates, baby barriers, fences, and alarms. Check that you have all the necessary safety equipment; life rings, shepherd hooks, and lockable safety cover.
  

Free water safety brochures and additional information can be found at www.apsp.org. Have a safe and fun summer!

Deck Safety + Maintenance

June! Summer is here and so begins the summer chores. I walked around the backyard yesterday and couldn't help but notice the eyesore my back deck has become. Needing to clean, repair, and refinish the deck, I looked to the North American Deck and Rail Association (NADRA) for tips.

• Look for loose or corroded fasteners. This can be especially important — nails and screws can come loose or break as a deck settles, and it’s easy to trip and fall over a loose board.
• Give close inspection to railings, banisters and stairs. Push on your railings and banisters — there should be no movement. Take the time to make sure no balusters (railing pickets) are loose or missing.
• Do some quick cleaning. Use a broom or hose to remove any leaves or other debris from your deck. If you have a wood deck and you discover mold, take the time to properly remove it and then apply a waterproof sealant, carefully considering what harsh chemicals may do to your nearby landscaping. Composite and PVC decking may require a quick pressure-wash or scrub with a mild detergent.

While it’s quick and easy to fix a loose screw, you might want to seek a professional opinion if you’re noticing significant rot or are uncertain about how well your deck is attached to your house. You can check out other deck care and maintenance tips and deck safety at NADRA’s website. (www.nadra.org)