Safety tips

This page focuses on safety in and around the cottage. There is a second page that pertains to safety in sporting in the recreation section of the site, for tips on boating and winter sports.

No one wants to think about the potential problems with any vacation home. You want your cottage experiences to be fun and to be memorable, and this means taking preventative measures to keep it that way. It can be a long time before a fire truck or emergency medical personnel can reach your cottage, so prevention is the rule of the day.

There are certain items you should have on hand to make sure that small injuries can be dealt with immediately, and more serious injuries tended to before embarking on a journey into the doctor's office or hospital.

Post a list of important phone numbers in a central location, either in the kitchen or near the front door. You can download a template for printing here.

Fire Safety

The two big items you need to make sure are installed and working all year round at the cottage are the smoke detector and the carbon monoxide detector. Make sure one is installed on every level of the cottage, and in each bedroom. CO detectors last about five years, and smoke detectors about ten years. Write the year they were installed inside the cover in indelible ink so that you know exactly when to replace them.

Test the batteries regularly - ensuring to keep extras on hand, and to replace them before they run out. Because it is possible that no one will be at the cottage when the "batteries low" signal is being emitted, replace the battery with a high-quality brand at the start of every season.

In addition, you should have a fire extinguisher on every level of the cottage, and a smaller one in the kitchen. Make sure they are recharged, or if you are buying disposables, replace them within 12 years. Write on them in indelible ink.

Create a fire exit strategy and make sure everyone knows what it is.

Portable space heaters need to be kept at least one metre away from anything flammable. Do not let children or pets play with the heaters as they may overturn them and cause a fire. Kerosene heaters should be filled only with kerosene, used in a well-ventilated area, and the refilling process should be done outside, once the heater has cooled.

Your safety checklist:

First aid kit
First aid reference guide (see below)
10 Candles, candle holder (wind-proof)
Waterproof matches
Metal kettle, pot or even a large tin can for boiling water - that can be used over an open flame if necessary
Instant coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or other hot instant beverage
Granola or Trail mix in a rodent-proof container
Small axe or hatchet
Flashlight
Spare batteries
Clean drinking water
Tarp or other plastic sheeting

Winter Storms

If you use your cottage year-round there is a possibility that you will encounter at least one storm during your time there. Even if it never happens, it is much better to know what to expect and to have the necessary items on hand than to be surprised and uninformed.

Anyone who may be at the cottage during the winter should know where to shut off the water. If the heat goes out, they will need to be shut off in case the pipes freeze. (They should also be turned off when you leave the cottage at the end of your stays incase anything happens when no one is there.)

Take it easy when shoveling snow; cold weather and over-exertion can combine to cause heart attacks. Avoid shoveling heavy snow if you have a history of heart ailments or are out of shape. If you must remove snow, dress warmly in layers, and take frequent breaks.

In the winter time there are several items you should definitely have on hand:

Snow shovel
Extra layers of clothing and spare blankets (including hats and mittens)
High calorie food items like nutrition bars or chocolate
Canned goods and a manual can opener
Battery-operated radio
Rock salt
Sand or non-clumping kitty litter

Safety Tips:

Never eat snow as a source of water - it lowers your body temperature dramatically. Always melt it first, even if this means using a candle and the tin can or pot.
Do not put oil, butter, or cream on a burn. Run burns under cold water to drop the temperature.

Books:

Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to Emergency Medical Procedures and First Aid
by Paul Auerbach
First Aid Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Treating Emergency Victims of All Ages in Any Situation
by Jon R. Krohmer
First Aid
by Alton L. Thygerson, National Safety Council
Backcountry First Aid and Extended Care: With a New Section of Advice to International Travelers
by Buck Tilton
Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook
by J. & Borgenicht, D. Piven (Author)
The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats
by Amy D. Shojai
The Onboard Medical Guide: First Aid and Emergency Medicine Afloat
by Paul Gill
Surviving Cold Weather
by Gregory Davenport
Herbal First Aid and Health Care
by Kyle D Christensen

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Basics Cottage Safety Opening the cottage Wood burning Glossary Cottage Rental Tips Family Time Cottage Romance Cottage as Retreat Food	Safety tips This page focuses on safety in and around the cottage. There is a second page that pertains to safety in sporting in the recreation section of the site, for tips on boating and winter sports. No one wants to think about the potential problems with any vacation home. You want your cottage experiences to be fun and to be memorable, and this means taking preventative measures to keep it that way. It can be a long time before a fire truck or emergency medical personnel can reach your cottage, so prevention is the rule of the day. There are certain items you should have on hand to make sure that small injuries can be dealt with immediately, and more serious injuries tended to before embarking on a journey into the doctor's office or hospital. Post a list of important phone numbers in a central location, either in the kitchen or near the front door. You can download a template for printing here. Fire Safety The two big items you need to make sure are installed and working all year round at the cottage are the smoke detector and the carbon monoxide detector. Make sure one is installed on every level of the cottage, and in each bedroom. CO detectors last about five years, and smoke detectors about ten years. Write the year they were installed inside the cover in indelible ink so that you know exactly when to replace them. Test the batteries regularly - ensuring to keep extras on hand, and to replace them before they run out. Because it is possible that no one will be at the cottage when the "batteries low" signal is being emitted, replace the battery with a high-quality brand at the start of every season. In addition, you should have a fire extinguisher on every level of the cottage, and a smaller one in the kitchen. Make sure they are recharged, or if you are buying disposables, replace them within 12 years. Write on them in indelible ink. Create a fire exit strategy and make sure everyone knows what it is. Portable space heaters need to be kept at least one metre away from anything flammable. Do not let children or pets play with the heaters as they may overturn them and cause a fire. Kerosene heaters should be filled only with kerosene, used in a well-ventilated area, and the refilling process should be done outside, once the heater has cooled. Your safety checklist: First aid kit First aid reference guide (see below) 10 Candles, candle holder (wind-proof) Waterproof matches Metal kettle, pot or even a large tin can for boiling water - that can be used over an open flame if necessary Instant coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or other hot instant beverage Granola or Trail mix in a rodent-proof container Small axe or hatchet Flashlight Spare batteries Clean drinking water Tarp or other plastic sheeting Winter Storms If you use your cottage year-round there is a possibility that you will encounter at least one storm during your time there. Even if it never happens, it is much better to know what to expect and to have the necessary items on hand than to be surprised and uninformed. Anyone who may be at the cottage during the winter should know where to shut off the water. If the heat goes out, they will need to be shut off in case the pipes freeze. (They should also be turned off when you leave the cottage at the end of your stays incase anything happens when no one is there.) Take it easy when shoveling snow; cold weather and over-exertion can combine to cause heart attacks. Avoid shoveling heavy snow if you have a history of heart ailments or are out of shape. If you must remove snow, dress warmly in layers, and take frequent breaks. In the winter time there are several items you should definitely have on hand: Snow shovel Extra layers of clothing and spare blankets (including hats and mittens) High calorie food items like nutrition bars or chocolate Canned goods and a manual can opener Battery-operated radio Rock salt Sand or non-clumping kitty litter Safety Tips: Never eat snow as a source of water - it lowers your body temperature dramatically. Always melt it first, even if this means using a candle and the tin can or pot. Do not put oil, butter, or cream on a burn. Run burns under cold water to drop the temperature. Books: Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to Emergency Medical Procedures and First Aid by Paul Auerbach First Aid Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Treating Emergency Victims of All Ages in Any Situation by Jon R. Krohmer First Aid by Alton L. Thygerson, National Safety Council Backcountry First Aid and Extended Care: With a New Section of Advice to International Travelers by Buck Tilton Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by J. & Borgenicht, D. Piven (Author) The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats by Amy D. Shojai The Onboard Medical Guide: First Aid and Emergency Medicine Afloat by Paul Gill Surviving Cold Weather by Gregory Davenport Herbal First Aid and Health Care by Kyle D Christensen
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