Easter Safety Tips From The El Paso Fire Department

Celebrating Easter with eggs, barbecues and candy can make for a great holiday.

Here are a few tips from officials at the El Paso Fire Department to help keep your family and property safe this Easter.

Barbecue Safety El Paso and surrounding areas are under a 90 day open burning ban, which restricts open burning which does not include barbecue grills. If cooking outside please take the necessary fire safety precautions when utilizing outdoor grills. ? Before using a grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line. Make sure all tubes and lines are not blocked. ? Do not overfill the propane tank. ? Do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a barbecue. ? Be careful when using lighter fluid. Do not add fluid to an already lit fire because the flame can flashback up into the container and explode. ? Keep all matches and lighters away from children. Teach your children to report any loose matches or lighters to an adult immediately. Supervise children around outdoor grills. ? Dispose of hot coals properly to avoid any brush fires; douse them with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers. ? Never grill/barbecue under a patio or porch, or in enclosed areas – carbon monoxide could be produced. ? Make sure everyone knows to Stop, Drop and Roll in case a piece of clothing does catch fire. Call 911 or your local emergency number if a burn warrants serious medical attention

Pet Safety ? Easter poses the greatest hazards to pets living with chocolate lovers. is toxic animals and can be fatal because it contains a caffeine derivative (theobromine) and pets cannot fully metabolize chocolate. If enough is ingested it can create complications or kill an animal ? Easter holiday gifts often include giving live chicks, ducks and bunnies. Thousands of these animals die from lack of proper care and stress. If you still insist on giving a live critter, remember that Easter babies require special care, feeding and temperatures. Ducks and chicks can carry salmonella and are not ideal pets since children can break their bones or cause other injuries by accident.

Egg Safety Tips for the Easter Holiday At Easter time, eggs take center stage. To ensure an enjoyable holiday celebration, follow these egg safety tips: ? Open cartons of eggs before you buy them. Don’t purchase cartons with cracked eggs ? Like other high-protein foods, eggs should not be left out of the refrigerator for more than hours. This goes for both raw and cooked eggs. ? To minimize health risks, cook two sets of eggs-one for an Easter egg hunt and the other for eating. That way, the eggs you eat can stay properly refrigerated. Food Safety Tips ? Wash your hands frequently while preparing foods, and keep countertops, cuttings boards, knives, bowls and other utensils clean and dry when not in use. ? Thaw foods in the refrigerator. Don’t put frozen foods on the counter to thaw, and never thaw a turkey in the garage, in the trunk of a car, or on the back porch. ? Keep one cutting board exclusively cut raw meat on. Never use the same cutting board used to cut up raw meat to chop vegetables, fruit, cooked meats or breads. Thoroughly clean after use with soap and water. ? Use a separate spoon to taste from. Don’t taste from the same spoon used to stir the pot. ? Keep hot foods hot (above 140 F.) and cold foods cold (below 40 F.). ? Put leftover away quickly. Foods can stay out for serving and eating about two hours. After that time, place leftovers in shallow bowls, cover and refrigerate or freeze.