Shelton fire official urges safety during holiday season

Examples of flameless candles. Photo courtesy of Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau. 

SHELTON - The Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau would like to remind everyone it is important to make fire prevention a top priority when decorating and celebrating this holiday season.

Fires involving holiday trees, lights, and candles pose a serious threat during this time of year. Decorating homes, businesses and other facilities is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately, these same decorations may increase your chances of fire that can cause extensive damage to property, in addition to possible injury or death.

Following a few simple safety tips can keep a Christmas tree, electric lights, and candles from creating a tragedy. 

Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief, Fire Prevention, believes that everyone can help ensure a safe and happy holiday by considering these hazards.

First and foremost, any place of business, facility, or home should make certain that all exits remain accessible and not blocked by decorations or trees at any time.

Indoor trees can present a very significant fire hazard. 
If you have an artificial tree, be sure it's labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer that it is flame-retardant. 

However, if you plan on a "live/cut tree," be sure it remains fresh and is never dry.

Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull from the branches, and a needle should bend, not break, if the tree has been freshly cut. 

Bouncing the tree trunk on the ground can identify old trees. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard. Before placing the fresh tree in the stand, cut 1 to 2 inches from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand, and be sure to water it daily. 

Keep the tree at least three feet from any heat source, such as a fireplace, space heater, radiator, or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame, or sparks.

Also avoid locating a tree where it may be exposed to long periods of sun.

Never use lit candles to decorate the tree. Do not leave a tree up for longer than two weeks and be sure to keep the tree stand filled with water at all times. 
Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed near the home. Move the tree outdoors well away from the house or any structure, such as curbside for pickup.

Holiday lights can become an ignition source, regardless if indoors or outdoors. Only use lighting that have the label of an independent testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use. 

Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs, unless the directions indicate that it is safe. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch. 

Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Do not overload extension cords or outlets and do not run an electrical cord under a rug. 

Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed. 

Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

Avoid using lit candles. If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where children, pets, or cords from vacuum cleaners, etc. cannot easily knock them over. 

Consider where combustible items might be placed and where candles could be knocked over and where they could be forgotten about over time. Never leave the house or go to sleep with candles burning. 

Of course, battery-powered, flameless "candles" are always preferred. They are available in retail stores and online outlets.

Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly, and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. 
Know when and how to call "911" for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

For more information, contact the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau, 203-924-1555, or look under "Public Safety" at www.cityofshelton.org.

This is a press release from Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief, Fire Prevention, City of Shelton.

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers classes for health careers

Program to start in January
DERBY - The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206 offers day and evening class times for its winter Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Patient Care Technician (PCT) and Phlebotomy programs.

Contributed photo 

Anyone 18 years of age or older with a High School Diploma or GED may apply for admission. 
Early application is encouraged for all courses, as space is limited.

The new day CNA classes start Jan. 20 and will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 
There will also be five days of clinical training held from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 
The school’s evening CNA program starts Jan. 19 with classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-9 p.m. Clinical training is from 5-10 p.m.

The 13-week CNA course offers students an affordable and condensed schedule with classes taught by professionals in the medical field. Course content includes infection control, legal and ethical responsibilities, communications, body mechanics, moving and positioning residents, personal care skills, nutrition, measuring vital signs, and restorative care. 
After successfully completing the course and clinical experience, students will be qualified to take the state exam for certification as a Nursing Assistant in Connecticut. The CNA course tuition fee includes the course book, CPR training, and malpractice insurance coverage for the clinical rotation.

The 16-week PCT program starts Jan. 20. Students must attend practical training on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., and have the option to take the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday classes either during the day from 9 a.m.-noon or evenings from 6-9 p.m. 
The Patient Care Technician program offers ample hands-on training and opportunities for practical experience in the school's fully equipped mock hospital room. The course tuition includes textbooks, malpractice insurance, CPR certification, a 160-hour clinical internship and the sitting fees for national exams.

The 13-week phlebotomy program starts Jan. 20 with day (9 a.m.-noon) and evening (6-9 p.m.) class options available for its Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday schedule. The course tuition includes a 40-hour internship, national certification, lab coats, CPR certification, malpractice insurance and textbook.

For more information or to apply, call 203-732-1276 or 203-732-7578 or visit griffinhealth.org/allied-health.


Griffin Hospital's School of Allied Health Careers was one of the first hospital-based schools of its kind to be authorized by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and offers Phlebotomy and other professional educational programs to provide training, education, and certification in selected health careers. 
Classes are taught by certified instructors in the Griffin Hospital Medical Building, 300 Seymour Ave.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Santa Claus is coming to farm in Shelton this weekend

Donations sought for food bank
SHELTON - Santa will visit Jones Family Farms from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

His visit will include time for kids of all ages to spend time with him and have traditional pictures taken with St. Nick.

Staff at Jones Family Farms would appreciate any donations of canned food or other non-perishable food items.
The food will be delivered to the Valley Food Bank.

Jones Family Farms is at 606 Walnut Tree Hill Road.


This information is taken from an online community calendar sponsored by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and The New Haven Independent.

Program at Wesley Village in Shelton to help caregivers

SHELTON - Balancing the responsibilities of work, finances, family life, and caring for an aging loved one can leave one feeling “sandwiched” and in need of support.

Let us help! Caregivers are invited to join us at Wesley Village from 5:30–6:30 p.m. Jan. 7 for our caregiver education series.
Snow date is Jan. 14.

The topic for this session is Use It or Lose It: Helping Your Aging Loved One Stay Active and Fit!

Has your loved one become best friends with the recliner chair? 
Hear from Dianne Terrace, Certified Trainer and Director of The Wellness Center at Wesley Village, to learn some important fitness tips that will help your loved one get moving again in the coming year. A light supper will be served. 

To RSVP, contact us at 203-925-4952 or at www.wesleyvillage-ct.org. The program will be held at Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community on the Wesley Village Campus, 580 Long Hill Ave.

This is a monthly series. Be sure to “Save the Date” for other upcoming programs, happening on the first Wednesday of the month.


This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.