Fire Prevention and Safety

Your home is probably your most valuable asset. Your family members -- well, to quote a famous credit card commercial -- they are priceless. Every family needs to implement fire safety and prevention plan to protect themselves and their property.

Fire-related loss statistics are staggering. According to the National Fire Protection Association:

* Every 20 seconds, a fire department is responding to a fire somewhere in the U.S.
* Approximately 80% of fires in the United States occur in the home.
* Some 4,000 fire-related deaths occur each year.
* Children five and under comprise about 9% of the country's population, yet these youngsters account for appriximaltey 17% of the home fire fatalities.
* Smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths. In winter months smoking and heating equipment problems cause and equal percentage of fire-related deaths.

Here are some suggestions to help you avoid becoming part of these startling statistics:

SMOKE DETECTORS

* Install smoke detectors outside all sleeping areas, on every level of your home.
* Test the batteries in every detector at least once a month. Replace batteries with new ones at least once a year, or as soon as the detector makes a chirping sound.
* If you have a smoke detector wired into your home electrical system, make sure the signal light is blinking.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

* Make sure your family members know how to properly use a fire extinguishers.
* Keep fire extinguishers safely mounted in the kitchen, garage and any work area.
* An ABC type extinguisher is recommended for dousing all types of fires.
* Extinguishers should be used only for small fires. If a fire spreads, exit your home immediately and call 911 from another location.

EXIT PLAN

* Map out at least two paths to exit from each room.
* A closed bedroom door helps to hold back heat and smoke if there is a fire. If a door feels hot, escape through another door or window.
* If you have any rooms on the second floor or higher, invest in window escape ladders and teach all family members how to use them.
* Agree on an outdoor meeting place in case family members get separated.
* Call 911 from a location outside the home.
* Do not re-enter the burning building.
* As you exit the home, clear any obstructions and combustible material from hallways or stairs.
* If you have pets, determine your plan in advance for helping them to safety. Some pets will find a hiding place within the home if they sense danger. Do not spend too much time locating pets if the fire is spreading.
* Keep a comfortable pair of shoes and a robe near the bed in case you need to escape quickly.

CHILDREN

* Keep children away from lighters and matches.
* Never leave children unattended around any hot surface (over, space heaters, etc.).
* Pay special attention to any child who appears overly fascination with fire.
* As we already mentioned, make sure children are aware of escape routes, understand how to properly use extinguishers, and know your rules regarding fire safety.

SMOKING

* Never smoke in bed.
* Don't smoke when you are drinking or tired.
* Use large, deep ashtrays, and keep them clean.
* Never dump a hot ashtray into the garbage.

KITCHEN

* Never pour water on a grease fire. It is better to turn off the stove, cover the pan with a lid or close the oven door.
* Keep pot handles pointed to the back of the stove, out of reach from children or pets that can reach the handles.
* Do not store items on the stove top.
* Keep appliances clean, and unplug them when not in use.
* Avoid loose clothing (loose sleeves, ties, etc.) when cooking.
* Clean the exhaust hood and duct over the stove.
* Clean spilled grease off the surface of the stove as soon as the grease has cooled.
* Only place safe microwaveable materials in the microwave.

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

* Make sure extension cords are not worn or frayed. Do not run extension cords under a rug or twist them around a nail or hook.
* Never overload an electical socket.
* Only use the proper light bulb wattage for each fixture. The label inside each fixture will indicate the maximum wattage.
* Make sure all light fixtures and wall outlets are properly secured. Adjust any loose parts.
* If a circuit breakers or fuses are malfunctioning, reduce the electrical usage on them by re-routing appliances or electrical equipment.

FIREPLACE

* Always keep a screen in front of your fireplace to block potental sparks from escaping.
* Do not store kindling or any flamable material near the fireplace.
* Have your chimney cleaned each year by a professional.
* Install a chimney spark arrester to prevent roof fires.
* When lighting a gas fireplace, strike your match first, then turn on the gas.

FURNACE/SPACE HEATERS

* Make sure your heating equipment is properly installed and maintained.
* Do not store flamable materials near a furnace or hot water heater.
* Turn off space heaters before leaving the room, and keep space heaters several feet away from any wall or anything flamable. In addition, do not use extension cords with space heaters.
* Never use an oven as a space heater.

GASOLINE AND OTHER FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

* Store flammable liquids securely in safety containers, and keep the containers outside the home in a separate storage shed.
* Keep gas-powered equipment (lawn mowers, leaf blowers, snow blower, etc.) outside the home and away from any source of heat. Start the equipment at least 10 feet from your fuel tanks.
* Let the engine cool before re-fill a hot lawn mower, snowthrower, or other motor with fuel.

CLOTHES DRYER

* Never leave home with the clothes dryer running.
* Always Vent dryers to the outside.
* Clean the lint screen before every use.
* Never dry flamable material, including fabrics, plastic, rubber or foam.

(Source: seniors.tcnet.org)