ROLE TO PLAY IN OUR BODY SYSTEM WE MAKE GLP-1 IN OUR GUT AND TO REGULATE OUR BLOOD SUGAR AND IT CAN HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS.

>> Jeff: AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE DIABETES CAN WORK WITH WEIGHT LOSS.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED IS THE NEW PATIENTS WITH DIABETES AND THE DRUGS LOSING WEIGHT SO THEY SAID WHY DON'T WE TRY IT IN PATIENTS WITHOUT DIABETES AND IT WAS AS GOOD WITH WEIGHT LOSS WITH PEOPLE WITH OR WITHOUT DIABETES.

>> Jeff: AND YOU READ ABOUT SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT LOSS.

WHAT CAN IT BE?

>> PEOPLE CAN LOSE 20% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT.

IF YOU ARE 200 POUNDS THAT IS 40 POUNDS.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD DRUGS FOR WEIGHT LOSS SAFETY WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE.

A LOT OF THESE DRUGS PEOPLE WOULD HAVE HEART ISSUES WITH OR SIDE EFFECTS.

NOTHING WAS REALLY OUT THERE THAT YOU COULD USE LONG-TERM AND THAT YOU WOULD BE CERTAIN WOULD BE SAFE.

THE AMAZING THING ABOUT THIS CLASS OF MEDICATION IS NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE 20 PLUS YEARS OF DATA NOW, BUT THEY PREVENT THINGS LIKE HEART DISEASE OR KIDNEY DISEASE.

NOT ONLY ARE FAY SAFE BUT THEY TREAT CONDITIONS THAT WE WORRY ABOUT WITH PEOPLE OVERWEIGHT OR DIABETES.

>> Jeff: ADDICTION ISSUES.

>> ADDICTION ISSUES THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE ARE JUST LEARNING.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THESE DRUGS COULD TREAT.

>> Jeff: IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAGIC PILL BUT IT'S STILL A SHOT, RIGHT?

>> MAINLY A SHOT.

THERE IS ONE ORAL VERSION OR PILL VERSION OF THE MEDICATION.

BUT THEY ARE RESEARCHING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DRUGS NOW.

SO SOME OF THE DRUGS ARE THE GLP-1.

BUT ONE OF THE DRUGS THAT WE HEAR ABOUT MOUNJARO IS THE OTHER NAME IS DISCREPANCY BOUND FOR DIABETES OR WEIGHT LOSS, GLP-1 IS ANOTHER DPUT HORMONE IMPORTANT FOR DIABETES AND BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL AND WEIGHT.

THEY ARE COMING UP WITH OTHER HORMONES TOO.

BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL INVOLVES MULTIPLE HORMONES NOT JUST INSULIN OR GLP-1.

>> Jeff: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS SEND US AN E-MAIL AT LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG AND WE WILL HAVE THAT ON THE SCREEN.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DOWNSIDES.

THEY ARE EXPENSIVE WE COME BACK TO THAT.

BUT THERE MUST BE SIDE EFFECTS.

>> THE MAIN SIDE EFFECTS ARE GI.

SO NAUSEA, SOME PEOPLE HAVE VOMITING, BUT IT CAN LEAD TO THINGS LIKE GALLSTONES.

THERE IS ASSOCIATE WITH PAIN CREITIS.

BUT WE'VE SEEN SOME PEOPLE MIGHT TRIGGER THAT.

IT CAN SLOW DOWN YOUR BOWL AND CONSTIPATION.

>> Jeff: IF YOU GAVE ME A PILL THAT MADE ME NAUSEOUS, I COULD LOSE WEIGHT.

HOW BIG A PART OF THE EFFECT IS THAT YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE EATING.

>> NAUSEA AND NOT FEELING LIKE EATING ARE TWO THINGS.

THE NAUSEA IS LESS COMMON AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S BUILDING THE DRUG UP SLOWLY.

WE START WITH LOW DOSES AND WE DO THAT FOR A MONTH AND WE START TO INCREASE THE DOSE.

AS PEOPLE TOLERATE IT.

SOME PEOPLE CAN'T TOLERATE THE LOWEST DOSES IF YOU GO SLOWLY IT'S TOLERABLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.

THE DECREASE IN APPETITE IS NOT NECESSARILY NAUSEA YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE EATING.

IT DECREASES THE FOOD NOISE YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT FOOD AND EATING IF YOU SEE A BAG OF COOKIES PATIENTS SAID BEFORE THEY MIGHT EAT THE WHOLE THING.

AFTER ONE OR TWO I'M SATISFIED DONE.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE DRIVE TO KEEP EATING.

>> Jeff: THAT IS SO AMAZING.

WHAT IS THE MECHANISM HOW DOES IT DO THAT?

>> THE RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN FOR THE GLP-1 HORMONE.

AND THEY ARE IN THE CENTER IT MAKES YOU SATIATED.

THIS HORMONE PROMOTES THOSE RECEPTORS TO MAKE YOU FEEL LESS HUNGRY.

SIMILAR TO ADDICTION YOU DON'T HAVE THAT URGE.

DECREASING THEFIED NOISE AND THE ADDICTION NOISE OF WHATEVER IT MAYBE THAT YOU ARE ADDICTED TO.

>> Jeff: E-MAIL QUESTION THIS IS CINDY.

I'M 26 WANTED TO KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE SAFE FOR ME TO TAKE.

I'M 250 POUNDS AND NONDIABETIC.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THIS PATIENT?

>> I MEAN, NOT GIVING PERSONAL ADVICE BUT SOMEBODY IN THAT SITUATION YEAH, THEY EVEN HAVE STARTED TO USE THE DRUGS IN THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION YOUNGER THAN 26.

AND SO FAR WE'VE SEEN GOOD LONG-TERM SAFETY.

NOW, THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 20 SOME YEARS NOT 50 YEARS OR 100 YEARS.

AGAIN WE CAN'T PREDICT THESE THINGS SUPER LONG-TERM.

BUT WE HAVE GOOD MEDIUM LONG-TERM STATE TA THEY ARE SAFE.

>> Jeff: HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO STOP TAKING THIS AFTER IT'S SUCCEEDED IT'S GOTTEN YOU TO A DESIRED WEIGHT AND YOU WANT TO CUT BACK BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE GIVING THEMSELVES SHOTS TAKEOVER.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP?

>> THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION PEOPLE ASK.

SO MOST STUDIES SHOW THAT PEOPLE WILL REGAIN WEIGHT.

AND PART OF IT DEPENDS HOW YOU CHANGE.

IF YOU MAKE MAJOR LIFESTYLE CHANGES IN YOUR DIET YOUR ACTIVITY LEVELS, SOME PEOPLE CAN STOP THEM AND MAINTAIN I'VE HAD PATIENTS LOSE WEIGHT AND MAINTAIN EVEN IF THEY CUT BACK OR STOP THE MEDICATION.

BUT THIS IS LIKE MOST CHRONIC DISEASES, OBESITY IS SIMILAR.

DIABETES, HIGH PLURP WHEN YOU START -- BLOOD PRESSURE YOU TAKE MEDICATION INDEFINITELY.

AS TIME GOES ON WE'LL FIGURE OUT A MECHANISM OR A WAY TO STOP THE DRUG SAFELY.

RIGHT NOW MOST PEOPLE DO NEED TO TAKE IT LONG-TERM.

>> Jeff: DOES IT HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE PRIMARILY IN YOUR PRACTICE BECAUSE OF DIABETES?

>> YEAH.

>> Jeff: THE IDEA OF LOSING WEIGHT DOES THAT HELP?

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

I THINK, THE MEDICINES HAVE DIFFERENT EFFECTS THEY CAN INCREASE YOUR INSULIN SO THEY HELP CONTROL YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.

AND WE CALL A COUNTER REGULATORY HORMONE IT COUNTERACTS THE EFFECTS OF INSULIN YOU DECREASE THAT.

AND THEN IT PROVIDES SATIATE AND IT SLOWS OUR STOMACH DOWN YOU ARE GETTING FULL BECAUSE YOUR STOMACH IS NOT EMPTYING QUICKLY.

SO THE FOOD WILL SIT IN YOUR STOMACH AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE EATING.

THAT IS THE MAIN EFFECT.

BUT IT HAS OTHER EFFECTS WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT ON INFLAMMATION AND IN THE BRAIN AND IN THE GUT.

AND THESE THINGS CAN HELP NOW THEY HAVE DATA THAT IT HELPS HEART DISEASE, IT HELPS HEART FAILURE AND KIDNEY DISEASE, IT CAN HELP PEOPLE WITH FATLY LIVER DISEASE WHICH WE SEE OFTEN IN PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT AND DIABETES THESE ARE LEAD TO KIDNEY DISEASE AND DIALYSIS OR LIVER DISEASE.

SO WE'RE REALLY CAUSING OR PREVENTING THESE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OR COMPLICATIONS THAT CAN OCCUR WITH THESE CONDITIONS.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR PRACTICE IN TERMS OF INSURANCE COVERAGE?

IN THE DIABETIC POPULATION THAT IS WHAT IT WAS DEVELOPED FOR.

I'M GUESSING THAT IS EASIER IF SOMEBODY IS IN FRONT OF YOU WITH A SERIOUS WEIGHT PROBLEM CAN THEY GENERALLY GET IT APPROVED?

>> YEAH, THAT'S THE TRICKY PART.

FOR DIABETES, THERE'S BETTER COVERAGE OVERALL.

MOST INSURERS WILL COVER AT LEAST ONE OR MULTIPLE DRUGS IN THE CLASS.

BUT FOR OVERWEIGHT OR OBESITY IT DEPENDS ON THE INSURANCE.

THAT IS A STRUGGLE.

SOME PEOPLE THEY WOULD BE A GREAT CANDIDATE BUT THE INSURANCE WON'T COVER IT.

THERE ARE PLANS COPING OUT TO MAKE THE DRUGS CHEAPER FOR PEOPLE IF THEY CAN BUY IT FROM THE COMPANY.

BUT STILL, INSTEAD OF $1500 IT MIGHT BE 300 OR 400.

STILL EXPENSIVE BUT LESS EXPENSIVE.

>> Jeff: COUPLE THINGS PEOPLE CAN DO ABOUT THE COST THERE ARE COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES THEY MAKE IT UP.

THEY MANUFACTURE IT BASICALLY.

AND SMALL DOSE BASIS.

SMALL BATCH BASIS.

>> YES.

SO THESE DRUGS WERE IN SHORTAGE FOR A LONGTIME BECAUSE THERE WAS SUCH DEMAND FOR THEM.

SO A LOT OF COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES GOT INTO THE GAME BECAUSE THEY ARE PATENTED IN A SHORTAGE THE FDA ALLOWS IT.

COMPANIES STARTED MAKING THEM AND NOW THEY HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY SO IT'S FDA DOES NOT ALLOW AT THAT TIME BUT PEOPLE WILL DO IT.

THE TRICKY PART WITH COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING.

THESE ARE NOT REGULATED.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF PEOPLE GETTING TOO MUCH OF THE MEDICINE, TOO LITTLE THEY ARE CHARGING YOU FOR NOT GIVING YOU ANYTHING OR GIVING YOU TOO MUCH AND THEY ESCALATE THE DOSE TOO QUICKLY THERE'S MORE SIDE EFFECTS AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE MIXING OTHER THINGS IN THE MEDICINE SO THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN.

>> Jeff: THE OTHER THING YOU READ ABOUT SOMETIMES TO DEAL WITH THE COST IS CALLED MICRO DOSING WHICH MEANS TAKING LESS OF IT THAN THEY TYPICALLY PRESCRIBE.

HAVE YOU SEEN ANYONE IN YOUR PRACTICE DO THAT AND DID IT WORK?

>> YEAH, IT CAN WORK.

SOME PEOPLE ARE SENSITIVE TO THE MEDICATIONS.

SO WE ACTUALLY SOMETIMES PRESCRIBE IT FOR PEOPLE.

WE SEE THEY ARE DOING GREAT BUT THEY HAVE SIDE EFFECTS.

SOME OF THE PEN DEVICES YOU CAN CLICK TAKE THREE CLICKS OF THIS MEDICINE AND IT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR SOME PEOPLE.

IT'S OFF LABEL NOT SOMETHING THE F.D.A.

APPROVES OF BUT YOU ARE USING LOWER DOSES, AND FOR SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE SENSITIVE IT HELPS THEM WITHOUT HAVING THE SIDE EFFECTS.

>> Jeff: VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW, FAMILY MEMBER GAINED A GREAT DEAL OF WEIGHT ON PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS.

MIGHT SHE BENEFIT FROM THESE DRUGS?

>> YES.

IT'S POSSIBLE.

YOU CAN.

NOW, THERE ARE SOME REPORTS OF POSSIBLE PSYCHIATRIC SIDE EFFECTS.

AGAIN IT'S NOT FULLY VALIDATED BUT IN SOME CASES THEY THOUGHT MAYBE DEPRESSION AND SOME STUDIES THEY HAVE SHOWN IT MIGHT IMPROVE THAT.

YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IF YOU DO IT SLOWLY THERE IS POTENTIAL BENEFIT.

BUT UNDER SUPERVISION.

>> Jeff: ANOTHER VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT OPTIONS DO THE MEDICATIONS WOULD BE BETTER SUITED FOR A PATIENT WITH ONE KIDNEY, MID-50s, CURRENTLY TAKING DIABETES MEDS SUCH AS JARRIANS.

>> THAT IS A SPECIFIC QUESTION.

YOU CAN USE IT.

THEY ARE PROTECTED FOR THE KIDNEYS.

THERE IS A DRUG WHICH IT'S SOMEWHAT WE DUNDENT WITH THE GLP-1 USUALLY YOU WOULD STOP THAT.

AND THE YARDIANS IS FINE AND YOU CAN TAKE THE METAPHOR MINUTE.

>> Jeff: ANOTHER VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT HAIR LOSS WITH THIS.

IS THAT A THING?

>> SO ALL DRUGS HAVE SOMETIMES WEIRD SIDE EFFECTS I HAVE HEARD THAT AND SHOULDER PAIN, AND I'VE HAD PEOPLE WITH CONSTIPATION.

YOU CAN GET UNUSUAL SIDE EFFECTS SOMETIMES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY IT HAPPENS BUT IT IS NOT A COMMON OR COMMON SIDE EFFECT.

>> Jeff: LAST THING EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THE TV ADS AND EVERYBODY LOOKS HAPPY ON THESE MEDICATIONS MAYBE PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED.

DO YOU GO TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE?

OR DO YOU WANT TO SEE A SPECIALIST SOMEONE LIKE YOU, DEPENDING ON OTHER CONDITIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE?

>> YES, I THINK A LOT OF PRIMARY CARES ARE WRITING THESE DRUGS.

IT IS A DISCUSSION.

IF YOU DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN WRITE IT AND THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND THEY HAVE GOOD FAMILIARITY WITH IT THAT IS FINE.

WE ARE ALSO KIND OF TRYING TO USE THE DRUGS FOR ALL THESE OTHER CONDITIONS THAT YOU CAN PREVENTED KIDNEY DISEASE, HEART DISEASE, FATTY LIVER DISEASE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT THE WEIGHT LOSS FOR COSMETIC REASONS BUT THERE IS A HUGE BENEFIT OF ALL THE CONDITIONS YOU CAN TREAT AND HELP PEOPLE LONG-TERM PREVENT SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS THAT IS OUR PRIMARY CONCERN.

>> Jeff: Dr.

KASHIF MUNIR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER, SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: JOINING US NOW IS PETE PIRINGER THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FOREMONTGOMERY COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS NOW.

CONGRATULATIONS THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

I KNOW YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN BUSY AND ARE BUSY IN WINTER MONTHS.

WHAT SORT OF CALLS ARE COMING IN?

>> THIS IS TYPICALLY THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR.

COOKING FIRES ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF FIRE YEAR-ROUND AND IT PICKS UP DURING THANKSGIVING AND GOING INTO THE HOLIDAYS THE NUMBER ONE FIRE IS RELATED TO THE HEATING EQUIPMENT AND ALTERNATIVE SOURCES SPACE HEATERS, WOOD STOVES AND FIREPLACES.

>> Jeff: I HAD THE SPACE HEATER GOING IN MY OFFICE.

IT IS ELECTRIC YOU DON'T WANT TO TIP IT OVER AND KEEP IT AWAY FROM FLAMMABLE THINGS LIKE MY PANTS.

>> GIVE SPACE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY I RECOMMEND THREE FEET AROUND IT.

PEOPLE HAVE ONE UNDER THEIR DESK AT WORK.

GIVE THE SPACE HEATER SPACE AND NEWER ONES ARE SAFE IF THEY FALL OVER THEY WILL TURN OFF.

THE COMBUSTIBLES NEARBY.

SOMETIMES WE TEND TO OVERLOAD OUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IF YOU HAVE A POWER STRIP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE WOULD RECOMMEND AT THAT TIME YOU PLUG THE SPACE HEATER DIRECTLY INTO THE OUTLET.

THOSE APPLIANCES THE HEAT PRODUCING APPLIANCES HAVE THE RIGHT SIZED CORD AND WE WANT YOU TO PLUG IT INTO THE OUTLET.

>> Jeff: YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE PLUGGING IT INTO THE EXTENSION CORD THAT GOES UNDER A CARPET THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WEARING AWAY AT IT.

THAT IS TROUBLE.

>> AND WE'VE HAD FIRES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY SIGNIFICANT FIRES CAUSED BY THE SPACE HEATERS, CATCHING NEARBY COMBUSTIBLES ON FIRE.

>> Jeff: KEROSENE HEATERS NOT LEGAL?

>> WE DON'T SEE MANY OF THOSE ANYMORE.

THAT GOES BACK A FEW YEARS.

ANY KIND OF FUEL BURNING SPACE HEATER TYPICALLY ARE USED IN AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTS OUTDOORS.

BUT CERTAINLY, WE HAVE THE HEATERS WHERE YOU HAVE MAYBE OUT ON THE PATIO ARE PROPANE WHAT WE SEE NOW.

BUT ANY OF THE FUEL BURNING ONES ARE USED OUTSIDE.

>> Jeff: WE DID HAVE A REALLY COLD START TO THIS WINTER.

I'M THINKING PEOPLE MAYBE FIRING UP THE FIREPLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SEASON.

CAN ALSO CAUSE PROBLEMS.

>> WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF COLD WEATHER AND PEOPLE WERE FIRING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD WEATHER.

PEOPLE ARE INDOORS MORE.

THEY ARE COOKING.

HOLIDAY SEASON.

A LOT OF DISTRACTIONS.

ALL THESE ALTERNATIVE HEATING SOURCES WHETHER A WOOD STOVE A FIREPLACE AND TYPICALLY PEOPLE ARE OVERUSING THE HEATING SYSTEMS THEY ARE WORKING OVERTIME AND THEY TEND TO IF YOU GIVE IT SPACE WE FIND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE STACK STUFF ON MIGHT BE THE UTILITY ROOM WHERE YOU FILL IT WITH OTHER THINGS THAT CAN CATCH ON FIRE THAT IS WHAT WE SEE.

>> Jeff: WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEIR HOLIDAY TREES AND THEIR RISK OF FIRE?

>> WE THINK THAT EVERYDAY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS A HOLIDAY.

THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE SAFE.

SO, YES, WHEN YOU BRING A TREE IN TO A HOUSE, KEEP IT HYDRATED.

IT'S PROBABLY IF YOU BOUGHT IT TYPICALLY SOME PEOPLE GET IT AFTER THANKSGIVING IT'S DRY BUT IT DRINKS A LOT OF WATER.

WE FOUND OUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO ARTIFICIAL TREES ARE A HECK OF A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL.

THEY ARE HARDER TO GET STARTED BURNING BUT WHEN THEY BURN IT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC.

THE FIRE STARTS WITH THE ELECTRICAL.

IF YOU ARE USING LIGHTS THAT YOUR GRANDMA USED IT'S TIME TO CHANGE.

>> Jeff: THOSE RAN HOTTER THE NEW ONES ARE LED'S BARELY ANY NOT WARMTH FROM THOSE?

>> AND THEY ARE INEXPENSIVE IF THERE IS ANY FRAYING WITH THAT, TOO, CERTAINLY PETS SOMETIMES CHEW ON THOSE.

BUT CHECK YOUR ELECTRICAL WIRES.

KEEP ANYTHING KEEP A TREE AWAY FROM ANY HEAT SOURCE.

>> Jeff: AND YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE KEEPING THEM AROUND UNTIL ST.

PATRICK'S DAY.

TIME TO GET IT OUT.

>> WE HAD A TRACKIC FIRE IN ANNAPOLIS WHERE A FAMILY WELL INTO JANUARY THEY HAD A HUGE TREE AND A LARGE HOUSE.

AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.

WE RECOMMEND DECEMBER 26, THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS GET RID OF IT.

CONSIDER GETTING RID OF IT BY THE NEW YEAR A KEEP IT HYDRATED.

>> Jeff: GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT YOUR SMOKE ALARM YOUR FIRE ALARM YOUR MONOXIDE ALARMS AS WELL.

IF YOU DIDN'T CHANGE THE BATTERIES FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS.

>> SMOKE ALARMS IT IS A LAW IN MARYLAND THE 10-YEAR BATTERIES SO YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE BATTERIES.

CHECK THOSE REGULARLY.

I WILL SAY THAT CO DETECTORS AND SMOKE ALARMS MAKE EXCELLENT STOCKING STUFFERS.

>> Jeff: THE TEN-YEAR BATTERY I HAVE A ELECTRICAL SMOKE DETECTORS I REPLACE THEM ALL BECAUSE YOU CANNOT USE THEM FOREVER.

SIX, SEVEN EIGHT YEARS AGO I REPLACED ALL OF THEM AND THEY RUN ON NINE VOLTS THEY ARE PLUGGED IN BUT THE BACKUP IS NINE VOLT.

>> HARDWIRED SMOKE ALARMS THEY HAVE A NINE VOLT BACK UP BATTERY.

>> Jeff: IS THAT STILL THE CASE?

>> THAT HASN'T BEEN OUTLAWED.

BUT THOSE WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU CHANGE EVERY YEAR.

BUT YOU CAN GET HARDWIRED ALARMS WITH A 10-YEAR BATTERY ALSO.

>> Jeff: THE IMPORTANCE OF IN FAMILY SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY HAVING A PLAN.

AND TRY NOT TO SCARE THE KIDS AND EVERYTHING, BUT PRACTICING IT.

>> THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THEY HAVE AN EMERGENCY.

AND HAVING AN EXIT PLAN IN YOUR HOME YOUR APARTMENT, WHEREVER YOU MIGHT LIVE EVEN GOING OUT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AT A RESTAURANT OR SOME OTHER ESTABLISHMENT KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENTS OF AN EMERGENCY.

TYPICALLY OUT IN THE PUBLIC PLACE, SOMETIMES WE FIND THAT PEOPLE IN AN EMERGENCY WILL GO TO THE WAY THEY CAME IN.

AND SOMETIMES THAT IS A PROBLEM.

SO KNOW TWO WAYS OUT BUT HAVE A PLAN AND PRACTICE IT.

>> Jeff: I'VE WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE BATTERY FIRES THE LITHIUM ION BATTERY FIRES, COMMON IN POWER TOOLS AND LAWN MOWERS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAS HAD A CASE OR TWO?

>> WELL, EVERYONE HAS EXPERIENCED.

THE BATTERIES ARE IN EVERYTHING EVERYDAY LIFE YOUR PHONE AND TOOLS AND CARS.

AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN.

SO CERTAINLY THE ONE THING I'VE LEARNED WITH ALL THIS RESEARCH YOU DON'T NEED TO CHARGE YOUR DEVICES 100%.

AND CERTAINLY IT'S LIKE COOKING WE DON'T WANT YOU TO COOK UNATTENDED.

DON'T LEAVE THINGS CHARGING UNATTENDED.

DON'T CHARGE IT OVERNIGHT.

>> Jeff: I ALWAYS CHARGE THE PHONE OVERNIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> ONLY CHARGE TO 80%.

WHATEVER THE MANUFACTURER ADVISES.

AND YOU DON'T NEED TO CHARGE IT.

AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE FELT IT FROM TIME TO TIME WHERE IT GETS HOT.

>> Jeff: MAYBE IT'S GOOD I HAVE AN OLD CHARGER FROM THREE IPHONES AGO THE TINY CUBE.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF KNOCK-OFF CHARGERS, USE THE CHARGING DEVICE THAT COMES WITH YOUR PARTICULAR THING WHATEVER YOU ARE CHARGING.

THAT'S IMPORTANT SPHOOR LAST POINT YOU KINDLY DROVE FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

I THINK THE ROADS THE HIGHWAYS ARE FINE BUT THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE YOU CAN GET SLICK SPOT BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.

>> I MEAN IT'S PAY ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ALL THE ALERTS.

CERTAINLY THE WEATHER WE'VE HAD THERE HAVE BEEN ICY SPOTS HERE AND THERE.

IF YOU JUST DRIVE SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT, DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT, SPEED LIMITS ARE FOR GOOD WEATHER TYPICALLY.

IN BAD WEATHER, YOU SHOULD SLOW IT DOWN A BIT.

>> Jeff: PETE PIRINGER WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> SAME TO YOU.

>> Jeff: THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS INCLUDING THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M., FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]