As families and friends get together to celebrate the holiday season, it is important that Delawareans consider fire safety as they decorate their homes and entertain guests. During the holidays, residential fires generally increase. Following a few simple tips will help ensure your family has a happy, fire-safe holiday season.

HOLIDAY DECORATING

• Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn. Do not use real candles in decorations.
• Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Check for proper use.
• Inspect strings of lights for exposed or frayed wires, and loose bulb connections.
• Do not overload extension cords. Never place cords under a rug.
• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING

• Check your smoke alarms. Discuss your home fire escape plan with any overnight guests.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stove top. Keep children 3 feet away to prevent spills and burns.
• Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them.
• Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.

PICKING THE TREE

• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

PLACING THE TREE

• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk.
• Make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents, or lights.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
• Add water to the tree stand.  Be sure to add water daily.

LIGHTING THE TREE

• Use lights that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.
• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Please refer to our fact sheet on holiday safety,  DSFM Holiday Safety

Thanksgiving Safety

November 20, 2023

As Thanksgiving approaches, the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office would like to remind Delawareans of the importance of fire safety in the kitchen. On Thanksgiving Day, there is a lot of activity in the kitchen and many people in the home. Nationwide, it is also the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment. We want all Delawareans to have a safe, Happy Thanksgiving.

Please follow these tips to keep you and your families safe this holiday season:
• When cooking on the stovetop, be sure to stay in the kitchen, so you can monitor the food.
• Be on alert! Do not leave the home when cooking your turkey and be sure to check on it often.
• Children should stay 3 feet away from a hot stove.
• Make sure there are no trip hazards on the floor and pot handles are turned in. Spilling hot liquids on skin can cause serious burn injuries.
• Keep anything that can catch fire (towels, oven mitts, utensils, food packaging, etc.) away from your stovetop. If you have a small grease stovetop fire, slide a lid over the pan and turn off the burner, or use a fire extinguisher. Never use water, as it can cause the fire to spread. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
• Be sure any electrical equipment cords are not dangling off the counter within a child’s reach.
• Likewise, keep knives, matches and lighters away from children. Never leave children in the room unsupervised with a lit candle.
• If your family will be frying a turkey this year, make sure your turkey fryer is outside, on a sturdy, level surface, and at least 10 feet away from your home (not under roof eaves).
• An overfilled fryer will cause cooking oil to spill out when the turkey is put in. Before adding oil, test the amount of oil you need by filling your fryer with water instead. Place the turkey in the pot, making sure the water doesn’t get too close to the top. Measure the water and use that as a guide for filling the pot with oil.
• A partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to splatter when you put it in the cooking pot. Make sure your turkey is fully thawed before you fry it.
• If your turkey fryer does not have a thermostat, use a kitchen thermometer that attaches to the side of the pot. This will help you monitor the temperature of the oil. Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat oil to the point of starting a fire.
• Always use protective oven mitts. Keep children and pets at least 3 feet from the turkey fryer.

This guest column was written by Delaware Secretary of Education Mark A. Holodick and Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Josette D. Manning.

As the new school year gets underway, now is the time to remind local communities that continuing to protect ourselves against influenza, COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and other infectious diseases is a powerful way to also support Delaware students and school staff. The flu, COVID, and RSV are dangerous but preventable respiratory illnesses that can spread quickly, especially in close-knit settings. A single infected person has the potential to set off a chain reaction that can disrupt schools and communities, impacting everyone from students to educators, nutrition staff, school bus drivers, security personnel, their families and more.

Simple, safe, and effective prevention helps keep pathogens out of classrooms. Healthy lifestyle choices boost public immunity. To help reduce school disruptions this year, we encourage everyone to:

• Get sufficient sleep, eat nutritious meals, practice good oral hygiene, and get enough physical activity to keep our bodies healthy.
• Stay home when sick and know your school and work return policies.
• Schedule annual well visit appointments and stay up to date on routine vaccinations, which includes flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or bent arm. Throw the tissue away without touching the bin.
• Keep hands away from our noses, mouths, and eyes.
• Routinely clean surfaces.
• Learn more about viral signs and symptoms.
• Have a plan in place for if you are exposed or become ill.

For flu: Experts predict this year’s flu season will start as early as September or October. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu vaccine provided “substantial” protection for all age groups last year. School-age children are at higher risk of serious complications from the flu, so consider vaccines early in the fall. Everyone 6 months of age and older is eligible for vaccines, unless they have a specific contraindication.

For COVID-19: The public health emergency due to COVID-19 has ended, but the virus still requires attention. Cases may increase among different locations and populations at various times. As needed, consider wearing masks in crowded places, if cases rise, or if you are at higher risk for illness.  Take a COVID-19 test immediately if you have symptoms or test five days after exposure to someone with COVID-19. Those who test positive for COVID-19 should follow CDC isolation guidance. The CDC is now recommending everyone ages 6 months and older get the newly updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine to help lower the risk of severe illness, hospitalization or death from the coronavirus. These updated vaccines are expected to provide protection against currently circulating variants and will be available soon. Increased protection is especially important for those who are high risk, elderly, those in nursing homes, and those who are pregnant, immunocompromised or have lung and heart conditions.

For RSV: Cases of RSV tend to rise from fall to spring. RSV typically causes cold-like symptoms but can sometimes be severe, especially in infants and older adults. In May, the first RSV vaccine was approved for those 60 and older. Those most at-risk for RSV complications are children under age 2, adults over 60, and those who are immunocompromised or with a lung or heart condition.

Deciding to get vaccinated in the early start of the K-12 school year is a proactive choice that demonstrates a commitment to the health of the entire school community. For individuals and families who may have concerns regarding vaccine safety and efficacy, it is important to speak with health care professionals and rely on reputable sources for information.

Classroom environments must remain places where students and school staff can work, learn, and thrive without illness. We encourage all members of school communities to make informed decisions that prioritize their well-being as well as the well-being of their local schools. Together, we can all help lay the groundwork for a strong, successful academic year ahead.

Learn more:

• https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/ – Get current Delaware COVID data, testing, and vaccine information.
• https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/ – Find FREE Covid-19 vaccinations, boosters and third doses.
• https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/fight-the-flu/ – Learn more about flu and RSV prevention.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

Smryna – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and the State Health Operations Center (SHOC) are announcing today the plan for an additional alternate care site (ACS) to support Kent and Sussex Counties.  This plan is to accommodate overflow patients from Delaware hospital systems as they begin to experience a surge in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19).  This mobile hospital will join the two previously designated: the first on the campus of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and the second at Governor Bacon Health Center.

The site will be a collaborative effort between Bayhealth, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, and Beebe Healthcare.  The three healthcare systems are coordinating their surge plans with county and state officials.  The primary goal is to maintain the surge within current hospitals.  If needed, the state has offered to set up a mobile hospital as an alternate care site.  Triggers have been identified as well as potential locations dependent on surge.  Site evaluations were performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Delaware National Guard in the weeks preceding.  The Delaware National Guard will provide crucial assistance with preparing, building, and operating this facility.  The field hospital was utilized during a 2016 exercise and the Delaware National Guard stands ready to deploy the unit as previously trained.  The mobile hospital can potentially treat 50-60 patients who do not have COVID-19.  If the site is used for COVID-19 patients that number would be reduced.  Numerous buildings were surveyed, however proximity to existing health care facilities and the accompanying resources are crucial to a successful mission.

The hospitals are managing the patients now with their current staffing but we are preparing for the expected increase in the coming days.  This location, like the New Castle County sites, will be opened to alleviate the surge on hospitals when needed.  We are grateful for the efforts of our partners in the health care systems within the state, the Division of Public Health, and the Delaware National Guard for their continued support.

For more information on COVID-19, http://de.gov/coronavirus

Follow Delaware Emergency Management Agency on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/delawareemergencymanagementagency

Follow Delaware Emergency Management Agency on Twitter, https://www.twitter.com/delawareema

Contact: Jeff Sands, Delaware Emergency Management Agency, 302-659-2211.

SMYRNA (April 6, 2020) – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and the State Health Operations Center (SHOC) are announcing today the designation of alternate care sites (ACS) in New Castle County to accommodate overflow patients from Delaware hospital systems as they begin to experience a surge in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Sites for the southern part of the state are expected to be announced later this week.

One alternate care site will be Governor Bacon Health Center, the Department of Health and Social Services’ long-term care facility in Delaware City, said DEMA Director A.J. Schall and Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay.

Residents in two units will be transferred over several days this week – along with their current staff – to the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, another DHSS long-term facility in Smyrna. The residents from Governor Bacon will be placed in a separate unit at the DHCI Campus, isolated from current residents of DHCI. If all transferred residents clear the 14-day quarantine period, they will be integrated with the current residents of DHCI, said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a practicing family physician.

Residents of one unit at Governor Bacon will remain on the second floor for 14 days, with the current staff caring for them. If those residents clear the quarantine period, they also will be transferred to Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill.

The residents’ families and Governor Bacon staff have been notified of Governor Bacon’s alternate care site designation and the impending move, Secretary Walker said. As floors of Governor Bacon are made available, they will be deep-cleaned by DHSS before they are used as an alternative care site, Secretary Walker said. When all residents are moved to Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, Dr. Rattay said the State will have the potential of 75 additional beds at Governor Bacon for overflow patients from Delaware’s hospitals. Staffing to care for the potential overflow patients is currently being developed.

“We are grateful to the families of the residents and the staff for understanding why we have to move the residents of Governor Bacon,” Secretary Walker said. “Throughout this crisis, our top priority is the health and safety of our residents and also making sure that our staff who care for our residents are safe and healthy as well.”

Schall and Dr. Rattay said the other alternate care site being announced today by DEMA and SHOC is within Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. Nemours will only be accepting transfers from Delaware community hospitals of non-COVID-19 adults. 

Nemours duPont Hospital for Children has developed two treatment areas to provide medical care for non-COVID-19 adults. The rehabilitation gym, which is located one floor below the main level and away from pediatric care, has been converted into an alternative care site for low-acuity cases beginning with 38 beds, with possible expansion if needed. A medical intensive care unit will be situated across and separate from the pediatric intensive care unit, and be comprised of 24 beds.   

Nemours’s treatment sites can become operational this week, and will begin providing medical care only once capacity is exceeded within Delaware’s community hospitals. Nemours’ surge sites will remain operational until community hospitals can reabsorb these non-COVID-19 adult patients.

Schall and Dr. Rattay said last week the State worked with Nemours, St. Francis Healthcare and ChristianaCare to identify options for the northern part of the state. After searching multiple possible sites with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Nemours campus was identified as the location that would provide the most efficiencies.  

Nemours has worked diligently over the last week to prep part of its building and this week training will take place with Nemours, ChristianaCare and the Delaware National Guard.

Schall and Dr. Rattay said the State, National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers continue to work with Beebe Healthcare, Nanticoke Health Services and Bayhealth for options to place non-COVID-19 patients from the southern hospitals if surge occurs. Site assessments continue today, with potential options being the old Milford Memorial Hospital and a National Guard field option adjacent to one of the current hospitals. 

For more information on COVID-19, http://de.gov/coronavirus

Follow Delaware Emergency Management Agency on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/delawareemergencymanagementagency

Follow Delaware Emergency Management Agency on Twitter, https://www.twitter.com/delawareema

Contact: Jeff Sands, Delaware Emergency Management Agency, 302-659-2211.