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Here are the 2020 dates for the Children’s Hospital Colorado Mobile Blood Drive at Brighton Fire Station 55:

Friday, February 14th – 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Thursday, June 18th – 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Friday, August 7th – 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Sign up sheets will be made available here one month before each blood drive. Donors are required to sign up before the event.

The need for blood donors grows every day so your donation can make a big difference. There are plenty of available appointments if you would be interested in donating, please click the sign up link below. The process takes about 30 to 45 minutes total, from arrival, paperwork, a brief interview to the actual blood draw.

Remember to have something to eat and hydrate beforehand, we will have snacks available after your donation! Donors will need to bring their government issued ID’s (passport or driver’s ID) to each donation. Pleaseknow that 30 minutes of your time could mean a lifetime to a child in need!

You may be eligible to donate blood if you:

• Are in good health
• Have not donated blood in the last 56 days
• Are symptom free of a cold or flu
• Are at least 18 years of age, or 17 with written parental consent
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Have not delivered a baby in the last six weeks
• Have no history of, or risk factors for, HIV/AIDS
• Have not had any tattoos or body piercings within the last year
• Have not traveled to a malaria risk area within the last year
• Have not spent 3 months or more in the UK from 1980 to present
• Answer a series of medical history/lifestyle questions which determine eligibility
• Please remember to bring your Government Issued ID (driver’s license or passport) to each donation.
• For any questions, call 720-777-5398 or email donate4kids@childrenscolorado.org

The Gift of Blood is the Gift of Life. Thank you.

Often considered the unofficial kick-off to summer, Memorial Day weekend includes lots of celebrations featuring cookouts and barbeques. But it also means the increased risk of grilling fires, as May is among the leading months for home grilling fires. The peak months for grilling fires are July, followed by June, May, and August.

On average each year (between 2013 and 2017), U.S. fire departments responded to 10,200 home fires involving grills, hibachis, or barbeques, including an average of 4,500 structure fires and 5,700 outside or unclassified fires. These fires resulted in 10 civilian deaths, 160 civilian injuries, and $123 million in direct property damage, on average each year.

Leading causes of home grilling fires include failing to properly clean the grill, leaks or breaks, and having a flammable object too close to the grill. Unattended cooking is a major cause of all types of cooking fires, including grill fires. Leaks and breaks are a particular problem with gas grills.

NFPA offers these tips and recommendations for enjoying a fire-safe grilling season:

• For propane grills, check the gas tank for leaks before use in the months ahead. (Watch NFPA’s video on how to check for leaks.)
• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
• Place the grill well away from the home, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grilling area.
• If you use starter fluid when charcoal grilling, only use charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire. When you a finished grilling, let the coals cool completely before disposing in a metal container.

As the long weekend fast-approaches, take the time to inspect and test your grill, and make sure you have a safe location for using it!

Kids 8-11 are invited to join us for Kids Academy!

When: June 25-28, 2019 **JUNE ACADEMY IS NOW FULL**
                 July 23-26, 2019 **JULY ACADEMY IS NOW FULL**
Where: Fire Station 55 (15959 Havana St.)
Times: 9 a.m. – noon each day
Ages: 8-11
Cost: $40 in-district, $50 outside of district
Contact: kidsacademy@brightonfire.org

Get a glimpse of what life as a firefighter is like at the Brighton Fire Kids Academy! Kids ages 8-11 are invited to attend the four-day academy at Fire Station 55. Kids will learn about safety and injury prevention, while spending time with firefighters and seeing what life is like at the firehouse. The cost is $40 for kids who live in Brighton Fire Rescue District, and $50 for kids outside of the Fire District. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis and we expect spots to fill up quickly.

We are offering two academies this year: June 25-28 and July 23-26.

To register, email Safety Educator Dawn Blunt at kidsacademy@brightonfire.org with which academy you’re interested in, the names and ages of kids you’d like to register, and your phone number. You will receive a registration form that must be filled out and returned with payment to hold your child’s spot. Children must be registered by a parent or guardian.

Bathroom fans can cause house fires if not regularly cleaned or left running for too long. Please check manufacturer guidelines, clean your vent fans regularly and don’t leave them running for more than 20 minutes.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July by leaving fireworks to the professionals. Brighton offers two great opportunities for fireworks!

July 3 – Adams County Stars & Stripes
July 4 – Fourth of July Celebration

Car Seat Safety Checks
Have your car seat inspected by a certified car seat safety technition:
Free Car Seat Safety Checks

U.S. Safety Standards
Is your child’s car seat FMVSS 213 certified? This means the car seat meets safety standards in the United States. Many companies overseas will claim other certifications, but unless the car seat is FMVSS 213 certified, it does not meet U.S. safety standards. For more information, or to schedule a free car seat check with one of our certified technicians call 303-659-4101.

Click here to sign up for CodeRED alerts

You will be notified by your local emergency response team in the event of emergency situations or critical community alerts. Examples include: evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices and missing child reports.

It’s true, home fires are more prevelant in winter than in  any other season. This is due in part to an increase in cooking and heating related fires. Heating, holiday decorations, winter storms and candles all contribute to an increased risk of fire during the winter months. Follow these tips to help reduce your risk to winter fires and other hazards, including carbon monoxide and electrical fires.

• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns.
• Read manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect.
• Make sure your tree is at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents.
• Make sure your tree does not block exits.
• Get rid of your tree after Christmas or when it’s dry.
• Keep portable generators outside away from windows and as far away as possible from your home.
• Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.
• Plug only one heat-producing appliance into an electrical outlet at a time.
  

Thanksgiving by the numbers

• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, and the day before Thanksgiving.
• In 2016, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,570 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, the peak day for such fires.
• Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
• Cooking equipment was involved in almost half of all reported home fires and home fire injuries, and it is the second leading cause of home fire deaths.