Project Safe District is a an effort to provide the citizens of the New Hope Fire District with information so that they may make their homes, vehicles, and the activities that they take part in, safer.

Vial of Life – L ifesaving I nformation F or E mergencies

Having accurate and timely information is extremely important in a medical emergency.

The treatments that First Responders and hospital staff provide during an emergency is significantly influenced by your medical history, medications, and allergies. Serious medical emergencies may prevent you from being able to speak for yourself or the stress and anxiety caused by an emergency may impede your family's ability to provide accurate medical information. The Vial of Life ensures that Emergency Responders have the right information at the right time so that medical professionals can provide the right treatments.

The Vial of Life kit consists of a container, medical information sheets, and a refrigerator magnet, and a instruction pamphlet. To receive a Vial of Life Kit stop by our Fire Station located at 4012 Whitfield Rd during business hours.

Download the Vial of Life Brochure ( brochure pdf )

Download additional information sheets ( information sheet pdf )

~Can we find you if you call?~

Are your address numbers clearly marked and visible from the road?

 The color of your address numbers should contrast completely with that of the background that they are affixed to. (Ex.: black numbers on a white house, or white numbers on a black mailbox) Numbers that are mounted on a residence need to be large enough so that they are visible from the street. Mailboxes should be marked with numbers on both sides so that they are visible from both directions of approach by emergency vehicles. Brass numbers are attractive, however in hours of darkness brass markers become virtually invisible.

~Can we get to you if you call?~

Residences that are set back off of the road are very popular with the home owners in our district. We also truly appreciate the privacy that this affords, however there are some inherent complications that come with the solitude. Can we navigate an emergency vehicle up to your house should you ever have a fire?

Our Engines need a clearance of 12Ft. in height and 10Ft.in width.
All low branches and trees that block this path must be removed so that we can gain access to your residence.
Since the majority of the New Hope Fire District is not serviced by a municipal water system we have to resort to setting up portable water tanks or by feeding our fire trucks with a supply line from another apparatus. These alternatives require at least 80-100Ft. (Fire Trucks average at least 35 Ft. Long ) of cleared space on the approach to your residence.

More and more residents in the New Hope District are adding security gates to their property. Please ensure that you have a plan, and communicate it with our department, on how we can access your gate in the event of an emergency at your home.

In many Emergencies: Time is critical. The preplanning that you do to address these issues will allow us to do our job more efficiently and effectively and just may save you or your families life

~Smoke Detectors~

Most fire related deaths occur as a result of inhaled poison gas that are created from combustion rather than thermal burns. Your chance of dying in a fire are cut in half by having a functioning smoke detector.

-At a minimum, smoke detectors should be installed on every level of your home including the basement. Most fires occur between 8PM and 8AM when most people are sleeping, therefore detectors ideally should be placed outside of every bedroom.

-Install smoke detectors away from air vents.

-There are more homes with smoke detectors that do not work properly than there are homes that do not have them. Check your detector to be sure that it is functioning properly.

-Replace the battery in your smoke detector with a NEW battery twice a year. Do not use batteries that have been used previously in other devices.

-Do not take the battery out of a smoke detector that is hard wired into your home. You will have no warning mechanism during events that cause a power outages which also tend to be periods of increased risk for fires.

-After installing a smoke detector, create and practice an escape plan which includes an outside safe rendezvous point, such as your mailbox away from your home, should your detector alert. Practice drilling it with your children.

~Seat Belts and Child Safety Seats~

The use of seatbelts and child safety seats is paramount to avoiding injury or death in an automobile accident.

Unfortunately, at this point, New Hope Fire Department does not have the resources to become a Certified Child Safety Seat Inspection Point.

-You can have your Child Safety seat inspected at:

- Chapel Hill Fire Station # 2 1003 Hamelton St. Across from Glenn Lenox Shopping center . Hours: Wednesday from 3-6PM. Station #2 Phone : 919-968-2825 Chapel Hill Administration Phone: 919-968-2781

- Carrboro Fire Station 301 W. Main St . Downtown Carrboro. Hours: Saturday 9:30-11:30AM. Phone: 919-918-7347

- Durham County EMS Station #6 226 Milton Rd. Hours: Wednesday by appointment only Phone 919-560-8287

~Out Door Burning~

-Always have a plan when you burn.

-Check to be sure that there are no restrictions on outdoor burning. You can check on burning restrictions by calling the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Forest Resources at 919-733-2162, or check their web site for restrictions.

-Obtain a burn permit. You can obtain a burn permit at the following locations in Orange and Durham counties , or you may apply for a burn permit online

-Burn only natural material such as leaves, limbs, and grass. It is illegal to burn house hold waste.

-Choose to burn after a rain. Do not burn during drought periods or when there are high winds.

-Cut or clear a path around burn piles that is free from any combustible materials.

-Keep burn piles at least 1000ft. away from any structures and 250ft. from any roads.

-Do not use any accelerant's to start the fire. Using gasoline to start a fire is extremely dangerous and serious injury or death may result.

-Always keep tools such as shovel, rake, and a water extinguishment source at the location of the burn.

-Never leave the fire un attended.

-For more safety information or helpful tips on outdoor burning contact the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources at 919-732-8105 or visit their web site.

~Portable fire extinguishers are designed for small fires~

-Always have an escape route planned out in the event you fail to extinguish the fire-

-Be sure that the extinguisher you are using is made for the materials that are burning-

	PULL the pin: This unlocks the operating lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher.
	AIM low: Point the extinguisher hose/nozzleat the base of the fire
	SQUEEZE the lever above the handle: This discharges the extinguisher (releasing the lever will stop discharge)
	SWEEP from side to side: Keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire as you sweep back and forth until the flames appear to be out. If fire ignites again, repeat process.
Warning: Portable fire extinguishers discharge very quickly — most within 30 seconds.