Mount Prospect, IL - As Illinois residents prepare their homes for the holiday season, the nonprofit Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) advises them to be aware of and avoid potential fire and burn hazards. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires ? followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ? while candle and decoration fires peak in December.

"Unfortunately, fire and burn prevention measures are often overlooked during the holiday season as families have their minds on the celebrations themselves, but statistics prove that we should be even more attentive to fire safety during this time," says IFSA Executive Director Philip Zaleski.

Cooking Safety

Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and injuries. It is also the third leading cause of home fire deaths. In 2013, Thanksgiving had more than three times the average daily number of reported home structure fires caused by cooking.

• Do not cook when tired or leave cooking unattended.

• Unplug appliances in case of a fire.

• Do not use water to put out grease fires.

• Prevent scald burns to children by turning pot handles inward on the stovetop; create a three-foot, child-free zone around the stove.

• Push the test buttons on your smoke alarms to make sure they are properly working.

• Do not use turkey fryers indoors; consider purchasing a turkey cooking appliance that does not use oil, as oil splashes and spills cause serious burn injuries.

Candle, Decoration & Lighting Safety

Nearly half of all holiday decoration fires occur because decorations are placed too close to a heat source. Two of every five home decoration fires are started by candles, which most commonly occur on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

• Never leave candles unattended.

• Place candles on flat, heat-resistant surfaces at least one foot away from anything that can burn.

• Battery-operated flameless candles are better alternatives to traditional candles.

• Keep decorations clear from heat sources and be sure they are flame resistant or flame retardant.

Although Christmas tree fires are not quite as common, they tend to be very serious when they do occur. On average, one of every 40 reported home structure Christmas tree fires resulted in a death. Electrical problems accounted for one of every three home Christmas tree fires.

• Choose live trees that are fresh and green with needles that are difficult to remove.

• Keep live trees well watered and away from heat sources that can dry them out.

• Live trees should be disposed of shortly after Christmas.

• Tree lights should be turned off overnight and when residents leave home.

Electrical failures or malfunctions were factors in nearly two-thirds of fires involving holiday or decorative lights.

• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so cords are not damaged.

• Check if lights are intended for indoor are outdoor use and use appropriately.

• Outdoor lights should be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected outlet.

• When choosing lighting and electrical components, be sure they are UL listed to limit risks.

• Do not overload electrical outlets/extension cords; electrical components can overheat and ignite.

• Replace or repair damaged cords.

• Avoid placing extension cords across doorways or under carpets.

• Call a qualified electrician if outlets or switches are warm and if there are frequently blown fuses or tripping circuits.

"Illinois residents can better enjoy the holidays, knowing they have taken the proper steps to prevent fires in their homes," adds Zaleski. "The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance wishes everyone a happy and fire-safe holiday season."

NFPA Statistics: "Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment" (November 2015); "Home Structure Fires That Began with Decorations" (November 2013); "Home Christmas Tree and Holiday Light Fires" (November 2013).

ABOUT THE ILLINOIS FIRE SAFETY ALLIANCE: Since 1982, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been promoting and disseminating fire safety and burn prevention materials and resources. The IFSA also hosts a variety of support programs for burn survivors including the Young Adult Summit, Family Day, and Camp "I Am Me," a unique weeklong camp for children who have experienced severe burn injuries. For more information, visit www.IFSA.org.
###

 

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is offering tips to help shoppers remain safe and keep their purchases secure during the holidays.

"The holidays are a time for giving, but that doesn't mean you should give criminals a gift by letting them take advantage of you," said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. "By following a few common-sense tips, shoppers can stay safe and make sure their purchases reach the intended recipients."

The FOP offers the following holiday shopping safety tips, courtesy of the National Crime Prevention Council., www.ncpc.org.

Shopping in Stores

• Do not buy more than you can carry. Plan ahead by taking a friend with you or ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.

• Save all receipts. Print and save all confirmations from your online purchases. Start a file folder to keep all receipts together and to help you verify credit card or bank statements as they come in.

• Consider alternate options to pay for your merchandise, such as onetime or multi-use disposable credit cards or money orders, at online stores and auction sites.

• Wait until asked before taking out your credit card or checkbook. An enterprising thief would love to shoulder surf to get your account information.

• Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an unattended bag or package. The same applies if you are using mass transit.

Walking to and From Your Car

• Deter pickpockets. Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front trouser pocket.

• Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.

• Do not leave packages visible in your car windows. Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home.
  
  Shopping with Small Children

• If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you are separated from each other.

• Select a central meeting place.

• Teach children to know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help.
  
  Shopping Online

• Before surfing the Internet, secure your personal computers by updating your security software. Everyone's computer should have anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam software, as well as a good firewall installed. Visit www.bytecrime.org for free software downloads.

• Keep your personal information private and your password secure. Do not respond to requests to "verify" your password or credit card information unless you initiated the contact. Legitimate businesses will not contact you in this manner.

• Beware of "bargains" from companies with whom you are unfamiliar?if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• Use secure websites for purchases. Look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or "https" in the URL address.

• Shop with companies you know and trust. Check for background information if you plan to buy from a new or unfamiliar company.

The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.

# # #

With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Q:  Why is adoption a public policy concern?

A: The family is the foundation of American society. For millions of Americans, the season of Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to count our blessings and give thanks for hearth and home. The safety, stability and security of a permanent, loving home reinforces for the next generation a strong foundation of support to last a lifetime. Growing up in a caring family imparts a sense of belonging and acceptance. Surviving sibling rivalry, pitching in to help with household chores and meeting parental expectations arguably shape impressionable kids to learn self-discipline, take personal responsibility and step up to lead productive lives as contributing members of one's family and society. Children who grow up in a forever family have the immeasurable benefit of a nurturing environment that teaches kids to dream big, step out of their comfort zone to take risks and work hard to reach their potential. Consider what happens for millions of families across Iowa every day. Moms and dads get their kids off to school, go to work, scramble with evening activities and finally get to bed to wake up and do it all over again. Some days are more overwhelming than others. But close-knit, loving families wouldn't trade their lives together for anything in the world. That sense of belonging is what foster and orphaned kids dream to find. Loving parents provide so much more than food, clothing and shelter. They set boundaries, help with homework, celebrate joys and soothe setbacks. Strong families make America strong. That's why public policies that promote strong families rest squarely in the national interest.  Permanent, loving homes equip the next generation with the tools for self-sufficiency, to go out and succeed in the workforce, volunteer in service to others, join the ranks of the military or pursue public service. Although it can't guarantee happiness and prosperity, the prospects of raising the next generation to embrace the rights and responsibilities of citizenship are much brighter for children who are able to count a forever family among their year-round blessings at the Thanksgiving table.

Q: How many kids in America go to bed each night without a permanent place to call home?

A: On any given day, more than 400,000 children are living in foster care. About one-quarter of these kids wait with uncertainty for an adoptive family. So many of these children are victims of trauma, abuse or neglect. The temporary, transitional arrangement of foster care just doesn't replace the stability and security of a forever family. In fact, last year 23,000 foster kids aged out of the system without permanent adoption. Just like that, tens of thousands of young people start adulthood without a permanent family support system. Earlier this year, I introduced legislation that builds on my earlier work to help foster youth up to age 21 qualify for federal resources distributed through the states. For the more than 20 states that have taken up this option, my bipartisan bill would bump eligibility up to age 23 to extend services that give these young adults a stronger foothold to succeed. These programs offer transitional assistance that promotes self-sufficiency. As co-chair of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, I work year-round to bring people together at the policymaking tables to help make a difference for foster youth, such as identifying barriers to financial independence, higher education, job training and housing. Listening to the ideas directly from foster families, court and welfare advocates and those who have lived and are living in the foster care system is the best way to identify and solve problems. In May, we convened a panel on kinship care to learn more about the financial strain and challenges that grandparents or other relatives face who take kids in and keep them out of the foster care system. Kinship care saves taxpayers billions of dollars each year and keeps kids out of group homes. In October, I also co-hosted a discussion on Capitol Hill to learn more about Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in the foster care system.

Q: What is Congress doing to promote adoption?

A: Every parent in America knows that raising children is expensive. Easing the burden for adoptive parents to afford costly adoption expenses builds on the nation's interest to support strong families. I championed the expansion of the federal adoption tax credit from $5,000 to $10,000 in 2001 that is now permanent law and indexed to inflation. November is National Adoption Month. This month I will conduct a Judiciary Committee hearing to celebrate the positive impact that adoption brings to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The committee also will examine specific policies that pertain to international adoptions. A father from Spencer, Iowa, will testify about his family's experiences in Haiti.  The family has nine children; the youngest four are adopted, two from foster care and two from overseas.  The father will speak about his family's work to promote adoptions of orphaned children. Adoption shines hope where poverty, family dysfunction or tragedy have brought darkness, despair and desolation to innocent children, whether in our hometown communities or half-way around the world. As a society, we owe a debt of gratitude to those who are in a position to open their hearts and homes to a child in need.

On this November 26, 2015, as you carve the turkey, and look around the table at your loved ones, there are important lessons you can teach both young and old about our American Thanksgiving holiday.

When the Pilgrims traveled to America on the Mayflower, before coming ashore, they wrote a Compact, or an agreement, on how they would govern themselves. That document inspired the Founding Fathers as they drafted our United States Constitution. The Pilgrims are among the few colonists during the Colonial period who practiced self-governance.

The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians wrote a treaty, once they made contact in New England, that allowed them to live together peacefully for fifty years. Plymouth Colony stood out admirably for its consistent attempt to treat Native Americans fairly in the courts, for paying Natives for land, and for allowing the courts to settle differences between the Pilgrims and Indians.

As you enjoy your delicious meal on our national Thanksgiving holiday, you are repeating a celebration the Pilgrims shared with the Native Americans in 1621, one year after they arrived in America. After gathering a bountiful harvest, a three-day Thanksgiving celebration was enjoyed with 90 members of the Wampanoag Tribe including Chief Massasoit. Their shared thanksgiving included food, games, and fellowship.

In honor of the 1621 celebration between the Pilgrims and Native Americans, on October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring the last Thursday in November to be a day of "thanksgiving and praise."

Hopefully, discussing the Pilgrim story will create meaningful conversation around your table on Thanksgiving Day. There are some 10 million people in America who are Mayflower descendants so it is important that we not forget this unique American story. The Pilgrim story is about how we became who we are. The Pilgrim story is America's story.

###

About the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD)
The General Society of Mayflower Descendants is a lineage society that has some 30,000 members and welcomes anyone who researches and proves lineage to the Mayflower Pilgrims. In addition to genealogy research, our mission is to educate the public as to why the Pilgrims were important, how they helped shape western civilization, and what their story means today. For more information about the Pilgrims, visit www.TheMayflowerSociety.org.

governorgeneral@