Safety Share: Family Fire Safety
October 7-13 marks National Fire Prevention Week. Despite an overall decrease in house fires, the death rate per 1000 fires has risen by 10% since 1980. Sadly, most of these deaths are the result of not having an escape plan or a working smoke alarm. Here are some safety tips that can keep your family safe.
Have an escape plan
You may only have one or two minutes to get to safety during a fire, so having a plan on what to do and where to go is crucial. With your family, draw a map of your house, marking doors, windows, and other potential exit points. Assign a designated meeting spot like a mailbox to gather at to ensure everyone is accounted for and to call 911 from. Once at the meeting spot, never re-enter a burning building to search for a person or pet.
Practice your plan twice per year, using different exit points each time.
Smoke alarms
60% of fire deaths occur in homes that either do not have a functioning smoke alarm. Smoke spreads quickly during a fire and a functioning detector can give you precious extra seconds to get to safety. It is recommended to at least have interconnected alarms in every bedroom. Batteries should be tested monthly and replaced annually.
Fire extinguishers
Having a fire extinguisher in your home can prevent smaller fires from growing out of control. While it’s a good idea to have at least one in your residence, it’s suggested to store an extinguisher in the garage and kitchen, where house fires most commonly start. In apartment buildings, know where the extinguishers on your floor are, though it’s a good idea to have one of your own as well.
Extinguishers should only be used for small fires. If the fire is larger than a wastebasket, get to safety instead.
Be cautious while cooking
The number one cause of house fires is leaving cooking food unattended. Don’t leave the kitchen while cooking on a stove and keep anything that could potentially catch on fire, like oven mitts or utensils, off the cooking surface. If using the oven, set a timer as a reminder to frequently check the food.
Also keep in mind that trying to put out grease fires with water can cause the fire to spread. Instead, cover the fire with a lid or baking soda, and turn off the heat.
For more information and tips on fire prevention and safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website.