East County CERT

03/16/2026

Heat related illness can happen quickly. There are things you can do on your own to help fight off Heat Exhaustion. The more serious condition is Heat Stroke and it requires immediate medical attention.

03/16/2026

It’s going to be hot this week and whether you don’t have air conditioning in your home or you’re trying to save on electric bills, there are plenty of ways to stay cool this summer. You may want to consider going to one of the County’s Cool Zones during the heat of the day. https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/.../Public.../cool-zones.html

The main goal when trying to cool off without air conditioning is to lower your body temperature. This will be easier than trying to cool down your whole home. Once you know the basics of how to keep cool without air conditioning, you can get creative and find your own ways to beat the heat. These tips will help keep you cool, all summer long.
• Spend time in PUBLIC FACILITIES that are air-conditioned.
• Check regularly on those WITHOUT air-conditioning.
• Drink plenty of FLUIDS even if you don’t feel thirsty.
• LIMIT or avoid outside activities, especially at midday when the sun is hottest.
• Wear loose, LIGHTWEIGHT, light-colored clothing and use sunscreen.
• CLOSE your blinds. Your windows let in a lot of heat from the sun.
• Take COOL showers or baths to cool down.
• Skip the STOVE. Instead of cooking inside, consider heading outdoors and using a grill or opting for foods you can eat without warming
• Move DOWNSTAIRS. Heat rises, so consider moving to a lower floor if it’s too hot to sleep upstairs.
• Apply ice packs or cool washcloths. Placing an ice pack or cool washcloth on strong-pulsed areas like your wrists and neck can help to cool you down.

01/05/2026

It's time again for our annual Basic training Academy. If you or someone you know is interested in joining East County CERT, please share this information with them. For more information about our program and about the academy, please follow this link, https://www.heartlandfire.org/165/Community-Emergency-Response-Team-CERT

01/01/2026

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy new year!

12/30/2025

New Year’s Eve is a time for celebrating. If your celebration includes consuming alcohol, remember drinking and driving are not a good mix. Here are some ways to help you enjoy the evening and get home safely.

• Designate a sober driver. Plan ahead and pick someone dependable to be the sober designated driver. This means you can relax and indulge without worrying about driving yourself home. Pay for your driver’s gasoline and their food while you are out.

• Take a cab or a car service. You said you’d just stay for one drink, but that turned into more. It’s time to put away your keys. A sober driver is just a few taps away with a car service or taxi.

• Take the Trolley. If you live in or around the San Diego metro area, consider taking the trolley. You can enjoy the evening and avoid all the traffic and parking hassles. Don’t drive home from the station if you’ve been drinking, use a car service instead.

• Take the Keys. If you can safely do so, protect others by taking their keys if they attempt to drive after consuming alcohol or if they are otherwise impaired. They may be mad at you, but the alternative is much worse.

12/25/2025

12/11/2025

Nothing can spoil the holidays like an emergency trip to the veterinary clinic. The following tips can help keep your winter holiday season from becoming not so happy, for your pet and for you.

Food
• Chocolate is an essential part of the holidays for many people, but it is toxic to dogs and cats.
• Other sweets and baked goods also should be kept out of reach. Not only are they often too rich for pets; an artificial sweetener often found in baked goods, candy and chewing gum, xylitol, has been linked to liver failure and death in dogs.
• Turkey and turkey skin – sometimes even in small amounts – can cause a life-threatening condition in pets known as pancreatitis.
• Table scraps –Many foods that are healthy for people are poisonous to pets, including onions, raisins and grapes.
• Yeast dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating.

Decorating
• Christmas trees can tip over if pets climb on them or try to play with the lights and ornaments. Consider tying your tree to the ceiling or a doorframe using fishing line to secure it.
• Water additives for Christmas trees can be hazardous to your pets. Do not add aspirin, sugar, or anything to the water for your tree if you have pets in the house.
• Ornaments can cause hazards for pets. Broken ornaments can cause injuries, and ingested ornaments can cause intestinal blockage or even toxicity.
• Tinsel and other holiday decorations also can be tempting for pets to eat. Consuming them can cause intestinal blockages, sometimes requiring surgery.
• Unplug decorations while you're not around. Cats, dogs and other pets are often tempted to chew electrical cords.
• Flowers and festive plants such as amaryllis, mistletoe, balsam, pine, cedar, and holly are among the common holiday plants that can be dangerous and even poisonous to pets who decide to eat them. Poinsettias can be troublesome as well.
• Candles are attractive to pets as well as people. Never leave a pet alone in an area with a lit candle.

If you believe your pet has been poisoned or eaten something it shouldn't have, call your veterinarian or local veterinary emergency clinic immediately. You may also want to call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline: 1-888-426-4435. Signs of pet distress include: sudden changes in behavior, depression, pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.

11/24/2025

When you’re cooking or baking over Thanksgiving, it can be easy to get distracted. Here is your safety check list that can help keep your cooking experience a safe one.
• STAY IN THE KITCHEN when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

• IF YOU ARE SIMMERING, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind yourself that you’re cooking.

• KEEP THINGS THAT CAN CATCH FIRE, such as potholders, oven mitts, paper or plastic bags, wooden utensils, away from your stove top.

• WEAR SHORT, CLOSE FITTING, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove tops and catch fire if it contacts a gas flame or electric burner.

• HAVE A “KID FREE ZONE” of at least 3 feet around your stove or cooktop, or other areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

• KEEP AN OVEN MITT and lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan, Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.

• IN CASE OF AN OVEN FIRE, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you. Call 911 immediately to have the stove and surrounding area checked by firefighters. After a fire, the oven should be checked and/or serviced by a professional before being used again.

• IF YOU HAVE A STOVE OR OVEN FIRE, when in doubt, just get out and call 911.

• OPEN MICROWAVED FOOD SLOWLY, away from your face. Hot steam from a container of microwaved food or the food itself can cause burns.

• TREAT A BURN IMMEDIATLEY, putting it in cool water. Cool the burn for 3 to 5 minutes, then cover it with a clean dry cloth. If the burn is bigger than your fist, or if you have any questions, get medical help right away.

• BE EXTRA SAFE and unplug small appliances when not in use.

11/20/2025

Fried turkeys are popular for Thanksgiving and they are delicious, but they come with a slew of safety issues. Thousands of fires as well as many deaths and injuries happen each year due to turkey fryer fires. Before you set up your turkey fryer this Thanksgiving, remember these safety tips.
• Keep outdoor fryers off decks and out of garages. Set up the turkey fryer more than 10 feet away from your home and keep children and pets away. Never leave it unattended.

• Never operate a fryer outdoors in the rain.

• Purchase a fryer with temperature controls, and watch the oil temperature carefully. Cooking oil that is heated beyond its smoke point can catch fire. If you notice the oil is smoking, turn the fryer off.

• The oil must be even and steady at all times to ensure safety. Place the fryer on a flat, level surface and carefully gauge the amount of oil needed.

• Choose a smaller turkey for frying. A bird that's 8 to 10 pounds is best; pass on turkeys over 12 pounds.

• Make sure your Thanksgiving turkey is completely thawed and dry. Extra water will cause the oil to bubble furiously and spill over. If oil spills from the fryer onto the burner, it can cause a fire.

• Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, turn the burner on.

• Use caution when touching the turkey fryer. The lid and handle can become very hot and could cause burns. Also be sure to keep track of the oils temperature as many fryers do not have their own thermostats.

• Wear goggles to shield your eyes, use oven mitts to protect your hands and arms.

• Leave 2 feet between the tank and the burner when using a propane-powered fryer.

• Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, turn the burner on.

• Have a fire extinguisher (multipurpose, dry-powder) ready at all times in the event that the oil ignites. Do not use water or a garden hose on a fire related to turkey fryers.

11/08/2025

We are at the Santee Fire Fighters Pancake Breakfast today, spreading the word on preparedness and home safety.

11/01/2025

Daylight Saving ends tomorrow, November 2. When you set your clocks back one hour, check your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms too!

Replace smoke alarms after 10 years, and replace CO alarms after 5, 7, or 10 years (depending on the model). The manufacturing date should be printed on the back of each alarm. And remember to put fresh alkaline batteries in alarms that use them.