Burn and fire prevention SWAT team descends upon Westchester neighborhood as part of "Safer Homes, Fewer Burns" public service outreach program

FPL teamed up with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the UM/JM Burn Center to conduct home safety makeovers for approximately 50 local residents

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Florida Power & Light Company

Oct 10, 2012, 09:30 ET

MIAMI, Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and the UM/JM Burn Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, Florida Power & Light Company visited approximately 50 families in the Westchester neighborhood today to conduct free safety makeovers, evaluating potential for burns and other electrical and fire safety hazards.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120301/FL62738LOGO )

The "Safer Homes, Fewer Burns" initiative coincided with National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13). Miami-Dade County Commissioner Javier D. Souto, Fire Marshall Chief Arthur L. Holmes, and Dr. Louis Pizano of the UM/JM Burn Center all joined forces with the FPL team to work with the homeowners to lessen their risk of burns and fires.

"Safety and savings are cornerstones of our company's commitment to our customers," said Manny J. Rodriguez, FPL's regional external affairs manager for Miami-Dade County. "We're thankful for the opportunity to unite with our partners to raise awareness of the dangers of burns and fires, helping customers learn how to be safer while saving energy and money at the same time."

To commemorate the occasion, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Souto has proclaimed Oct. 10 as "Burn Prevention Day" in the County. According to the CDC, there are 1.1 million burn injuries every year that require medical attention, with scalding water being the leading cause of burns.

"This is an excellent opportunity to remind my constituents in District 10, in fact all residents of Miami-Dade County, to take the necessary precautions to ensure their homes, inside and out, are safe from electrical and fire hazards," said Commissioner Souto. "I would like to thank all of the individuals with FPL, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and UM/JM Burn Center at Jackson's Ryder Trauma Center who dedicated their time and services to this community event."

Twelve teams of "Safer Homes, Fewer Burns" volunteers conducted safety makeovers including adjusting water heater temperatures, checking the safety of fuse boxes and power outlets, and checking smoke detectors to replace the equipment or replace batteries. Most of the "Safer Homes, Fewer Burns" work can be replicated by consumers at home using the following tips:

In the kitchen, ensure the stovetop is clean with no grease or clutter; pot handles should be turned towards the back of the stove
Check the condition of all electrical cords and extension cords. If they are damaged, cracked, or loose, replace them
Make sure any space heaters are at least three feet from anything that can catch fire
If you have a fireplace, ensure that the chimney has been inspected or cleaned within the last year
Install smoke alarms on every level, inside each bedroom, and outside each sleeping area
All your smoke alarms should be newer than 10 years old
Test all smoke alarms once a month
Never overload electrical outlets
Check your clothes dryer's exhaust to make sure it's not clogged with lint
To avoid hot water scalds, make sure your water heater is set at no higher than 120°F. This can also save you money on your electric bill
Use only professionals to trim trees near power lines and call 811 two full business days before planting or digging to locate underground utilities to avoid injury

"The UM/JM Burn Center is experienced in treating numerous types of burns from extremely severe to mild," said Dr. Louis Pizano, medical director of the UM/JM Burn Center. "However, most of these burns are preventable by fire proofing your homes and being aware of the proper protocol when handling boiling water, other hot liquids and objects."

In representing the UM/JM Burn Center, Dr. Louis Pizano was joined by Drs. Carl Schulman, associate director of the UM/JM Burn Center, and Nicholas Namias, medical director of the Ryder Trauma Center, along with Don Steigman, chief operating officer of Jackson Health System, and Alexander Contreras, chief administrative officer of Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest rate-regulated electric utility in Florida and serves the third largest number of customers of any electric utility in the United States. FPL serves approximately 4.6 million customer accounts and is a leading Florida employer with approximately 10,000 employees as of year-end 2011. During the five year period ended December 31, 2011, the company delivered the best service reliability among Florida investor-owned utilities, while its typical residential customer bills, based on data available in December 2011, are about 25 percent below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit www.FPL.com.

SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company