Red Cross’ Guide to a Successful Valentine’s Day

Photo courtesy of blog.bookrenter.com

By Kassidy Ketron
Intern

Before you prepare a lavish meal for your sweetheart, light every candle in a five-mile radius, or prepare those chocolate covered strawberries sprinkled with nuts, the American Red Cross wants you to keep a few things in mind so this day of love isn’t ruined.

Whether you’re making a five-course meal or turning off all the lights in your home leaving candles as the only option, make sure you know what to do to prevent catching your apron or carpet on fire.

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Stay in the home while simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food. Check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that food is cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire—like pot holders, towels, plastic and clothing— away from the stove.
• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.

 If you fail to follow our preventative steps:

• Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home.
• Make sure everyone knows where to meet outside in case of fire.
• Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year and at different times of the day. Practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling and meeting outside. Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
• Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.

Click here for more information about fire prevention and what to do in case of one.

Assuming you’ve made or purchased a wonderful meal, you sit down with your honey to enjoy it, but they start choking because your charming self said something really funny.

Here’s what you do:

• Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades five times to dislodge the object.
• Then, give five quick abdominal thrusts. Stand behind the choking victim, join your hands around their tummy and form a fist. Pull your hands sharply inward and upward. Don’t attempt this technique on a child under a year old.
• Always call 911 or get someone else to do it when someone is choking.

Prepare yourself as much as possible for the unexpected by downloading the First Aid App by American Red Cross or visit our website to learn more about making sure your Valentine’s Day is disaster free.