| Fire
Fire
can take everything away from you in a matter of hours or minutes.
So, be prepared! The chances of survival will depend largely on how
quickly and safely one escapes the fire. Read information on fire
safety. Prevent fires and save lives.
It is important to understand the basic
characteristics of fire in order to protect yourself. Fire spreads quickly; there is no time to
gather valuables or make a phone call. In just two minutes, a fire can
become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed
in flames. Heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames.
Inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous
gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being awakened
by a fire, you may fall into a deeper sleep. Asphyxiation is the
leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.
Fire Safety Tips Emergency Action: BURNS
Suggestions
Fire Prevention Tips |
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Install Smoke Detector/Smoke Alarm on each level of the house.
An effective fire escape. Review escape route with your family.
Clean out storage areas from accumulation of flammable materials.
Never use flammable liquids indoors. Never smoke near flammable liquids
Insulate chimneys and place spark arresters on top. The chimney should
be at least three feet higher than the roof. Remove branches hanging
Be careful in using alternative heating sources. Check with your local fire department on the legality of using kerosene
heaters in your community. Be sure to fill kerosene heaters outside, and be sure they have cooled above and around the chimney.
Place heaters at least three feet away from flammable materials. Floors properly insulated.
Keep a screen in front of the fireplace.
Keep matches and lighters up high, away from children, and, if possible, in a locked cabinet.
Never smoke in bed or when drowsy or medicated. Provide smokers with deep, sturdy ashtrays.
Inspect extension cords for frayed or exposed wires or loose plugs.
Do not overload extension cords or outlets.
Sleep with your door closed.
nstall A-B-C-type fire extinguishers in your residence and teach family members how to use them.
Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system.
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| What To Do During A Fire
If your clothes catch on fire, you should:
Stop, drop, and roll - until the fire is extinguished. Running makes the fire burn faster.
To escape a fire, you should:
Check closed doors for heat before you open them. If you are escaping
through a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the top of the
door, the doorknob, and the crack between the door and door frame
before you open it. Never use the palm of your hand or fingers to test
for heat - burning those areas could impair your ability to escape a
fire (i.e., ladders and crawling).
If the door is hot, do not open. Escape through a window. If you cannot escape, hang a
white or light-colored sheet outside the window, alerting fire fighters
If the door is NOT hot to your presence.
Open slowly and ensure fire and/or smoke is not blocking your escape
route.
If your escape route is blocked, shut the door immediately and
use an alternate escape route, such as a window.
If clear, leave
immediately through the door and close it behind you. Be prepared to
crawl. Smoke and heat rise. The air is clearer and cooler near the
floor.
Crawl low under any smoke to your exit - heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.
Close doors behind you as you escape to delay the spread of the fire.
Once you are out, stay out! Never reenter to get something that you think you have forgotten.
Call 9-1-1 or the EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER in your area.
Guidelines for different circumstances in the period following a fire
If you are with burn victims, or are a burn victim yourself, call the emergency number in your area.
Cool and cover burns to reduce chance of further injury or infection.
If you detect heat or smoke when entering a damaged building, evacuate immediately.
If you have a safe or strong box, do not try to open
it. It can hold intense heat for several hours.
If the door is opened
before the box has cooled, the contents could burst into flames.
If
you must leave your home because a building inspector says the building
is unsafe, ask someone you trust to watch the property during your
absence.
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Never Ignore Your Home's Electrical System There
is always a "faulty home owner" behind every fire caused by faulty
electrical wiring. Our lives literally depend on the safe use of
electricity in our homes. Make
sure the home you are buying or selling is thoroughly inspected by a
qualified electrician. Inspection is also important when you are
remodeling your home. You always have to ensure that your home's
electrical system operates at the highest level of safety possible. December
is the most dangerous month for electrical fires. Fire deaths are
highest in winter months which call for more indoor activities and
increases lighting, heating, and appliance use. Most electrical wiring
fires start in the bedroom.
Warning Signs Frequent or re-occuring issues with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers. If a fuse opens or circuit breaker is
tripped, be sure to investigate the cause before replacing the fuse or
resetting the breaker. If necessary, call a qualified electrician to
investigate the cause.
| Tips
When
using appliances, follow the manufacturer's safety precautions.
Overheating, unusual smells, shorts, sparks and sputters are all
warning signs that appliances need to be shut off, then replaced or
repaired. Have an electrician check the wiring in your house. Unplug
appliances when not in use.
Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
Never overload extension cords or wall sockets.
Do not place cords and wires under rugs, over nails or in high traffic areas.
Immediately shut off, then professional replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.
Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets.
Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old, or damaged appliance cords immediately.
Keep electrical appliances away from wet floor and counters;
pay special care to electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
When buying electrical appliances, look for products which meet the UL standard for safety.
Don't allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons and hair dryers.
Do not trap electric cords against walls where heat can build up.
Keep clothes, bedding, curtains and other potentially combustible items at least 3 feet from all heaters.
Only use lab-approved electric blankets and warmers. Check to make sure the cords are not frayed.
If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a
three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two slot outlet or
extension cord.
Check your electrical tools regularly for signs of wear. If
the cords are frayed or cracked, replace them. Replace any tool if it
causes even small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out or gives off
smoke or sparks.
Replace mattresses made before the 1973 Federal Mattress
Flammability Standard. Mattresses made since then are required by law
to be safer. |
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