Home and Community Safety

Additional Resources

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) offers Safety Tip Sheets on a variety of fire and life safety topics. View additional fire safety resources.

Drowning Prevention

In Florida, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of five. A child under the age of four is 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal swimming pool accident than a fatal auto accident. Remember, drowning can happen at any time of the year so parents need to be vigilant and informed to keep your kids safe.

Always remember:

  • While a child is swimming, make sure to maintain adult supervision
  • Never leave a child unsupervised near a body of water
  • Never consider your child DROWN PROOF even after swim lessons
  • A pool side telephone is essential for a safe pool area
  • Downing may occur when a caretaker leaves the pool area leaving a child unsupervised

SafeKids.org has various information and useful tips about keeping your child safe at the pool, the beach, and even the bathroom!

SWIM Central is the coordinating agency for water-safety instruction and awareness in Broward County. It maintains the most comprehensive database in Florida for swimming pools and water-safety programs in the county and is one of the only programs of its type in the country. More than 400,000 children have participated in the SWIM Central program since its inception, and not one has had a fatal or nonfatal drowning incident.

WaterproofFL is a Florida Department of Health Injury Prevention Initiative which provides information using various communication tools and materials to educate the public on pool safety and downing prevention. Their website has several brochures and videos which are available for download. Make sure to share the information with your friends, family, and community members.

Fall Prevention

Nearly 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 fall each year. Falls are the sixth leading cause of death in people over the age of 65 and subsequently lead to 40% of nursing home admissions. The home is a potentially dangerous place for both the young and old. 25% of falls in people over 65 result in serious injury, including broken hips, which can cause the loss of mobility and/or independence.

Older adults are more prone to falling due to medical reasons such as poor hearing, multiple medications, and neurological conditions affecting balance and spatial judgment. As people age their strength, endurance, flexibility, vision, gait, posture, hearing, and balance tend to deteriorate. In addition, fear may also indirectly be a contributor. It is estimated that 20% of the elderly population who fear falling cause limitations to their daily activities.

Making simple changes to lifestyle and environment can provide peace of mind and prevent the likelihood of falling. Moreover research shows that most falls among elders can be predicted and prevented.

For more information about preventing falls visit The Center for Disease Controls' Home and Recreational Safety Page or Fall Prevention Center of Excellence.

Fire Works Safety

According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) the majority of fireworks injuries involve victims under the age of 15. Caution and common-sense work hand in hand to protect children, prevent injury, and safeguard property while celebrating with fireworks. See Additional Resources at the top of this page for a Fire Works Safety Tip sheet.

Fireworks safety tips from the Fire Marshal:

  • Never use illegal fireworks
  • Store products in a cool, dry place
  • Keep spectators back a safe distance
  • Read and follow label directions carefully
  • Wear safety glasses or goggles when igniting fireworks
  • Do not re-light "duds" or malfunctioning fireworks
  • Keep a hose or water bucket nearby
  • Light sparklers in an open area on a smooth hard surface, away from dried brush or other ignitable material
  • Attend a public fireworks display handled by professionals

Holiday Fire Safety

According to The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 people, injure 1,650 more, and cause over $990 million in damage every year. The USFA provides simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following some of their outlined precautionary tips, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of having a holiday fire casualty. The USFA website has available information about how to keep your family safe during the holiday season including information about holiday lights, decorations, preventing Christmas tree fires, candle care, and turkey fryer product safety tips! Visit the USFA's website for more information about home fire prevention.

Home Oxygen Use

If you or someone you know uses a portable oxygen tank or oxygen concentrator it is important to be educated about the hazards. More information about Home Oxygen Use and Safety Tips.

The City of Tamarac Fire Rescue Department recommends that during the hurricane season (June 1st – November 30th) that residents with portable oxygen tanks have an extra supply of bottles on hand in case of emergencies.

Kitchen Fire Safety

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2010, cooking was involved in an estimated 156,400 home structure fires that were reported to U.S. fire departments. These fires caused 410 deaths, 5,310 injuries and $993 million in direct property damage. Cooking caused 44% of reported home fires, 16% of home fire deaths, 40% of home fire injuries, and 15% of the direct property damage in 2010.

Visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website for more information.

Prescription Medication Disposal

Tamarac Fire Rescue does not dispose of expired narcotics, medications, vitamins, etc. at any of our facilities. We recommend contacting the Broward Sheriff's Office at (954) 831-8902 for more information about Operation Medicine Cabinetor by visiting their website.

Sharps Container Disposal

Sharps containers can be properly disposed of locally at Arthurs Pharmacy located at 5816 North University Drive. Please contact them directly at (954) 726-1911 for program information and pricing.

Weather Dangers

FloridaDisaster.org sponsored by the Florida Division of Emergency Management has information about lightening, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, thunderstorms, temperatures, rip-currents, wildfires, and boat-safety. To find out more visit their website.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also has great information about natural disasters and severe weather situations including evacuation centers, pet shelters, response workers, and more! Be prepared before a disaster occurs.

Have questions about local preparations in your area? Visit MyFlorida.com and click Floridian on the top left to see a list of Floridian links including Disasters & Emergency Information.

Be prepared! Start My Family’s Disaster Plan