Dix Hills Fire Department Offers Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

During this time of year, it’s common for people to clean their homes, paint, do yard work and other chores. Sadly, this cleanup time also results in thousands of injuries nationwide each year from accidents around the house. To avoid falls
and other injuries, and to use this time to take certain safety measures during your spring cleaning, the Dix Hills Fire Department offers the following tips to help ensure you and your family’s safety:

• Clean or replace furnace and air conditioning filters, and vacuum all accessible air ducts and vents.
• Read the labels on all cleaning products and follow the directions. These products should be stored out of children’s reach.
• Check the house, garage and yard for potentially toxic trash, such as old paint cans, oils, solvents and pesticides. 
• When cleaning out basements, closets and garages, always keep steps, staircases, landings and floors clear.
• Never use gasoline as a cleaning solvent. 
• Do not dispose hazardous items, such as antifreeze, paints, solvents, fertilizers, insecticides and other chemicals down your drains. 
• Do not dump hazardous items and pet or yard waste into a storm drain. In addition to the harmful environmental effects, laws prohibit this activity. 
• When cleaning out cabinets, place dangerous products and medications in a separate location that is out of the reach of children. 
• Make sure electric cords are not running across doorways or under carpets. 
• Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust from the detectors.

HOW TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS

The Town of Huntington’s STOP (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) program allows residents to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other toxic products, which helps protect the groundwater supply. The STOP facility is located at the Town Recycling Center at 641 New York Ave. in Huntington (1/4 mile north of The Home Depot). It is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please visit http://www.huntingtonny.gov/permit_pics/1332.pdf.