Beginning October 5th, Fire Prevention Week will bring attention to potential fire hazards at home, steps to take in fire prevention and how to prepare an escape plan in the event of a fire.
According to a survey done by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),
“While the majority of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, more than a third have not practiced it. However, 75 percent believe they have 10 minutes or less until a fire turns deadly.
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Candles left unattended, cigarettes not properly put out, bad electrical wiring, or any number of other problems can start a fire. You need to be prepared just in case a fire does start in your home. Every home should have an escape plan in case of a fire and it should be practiced because if a fire starts in the middle of the night you don’t want there to be any confusion as to where to go or what to do.
Some of the NFPA tips to help families practice their plan are as follows:
- Practice your home fire escape plan twice a year, making the drill as realistic as possible. Timing your practice with the twice a year time changes from daylight savings time and standard time are a good way to remember.
- Special plans need to be in place for anyone in your home who has a disability.
- Children and other family members may or may not be awakened by the sound of a fire alarm. It is a good plan to assign someone to wake them up as part of the drill and in a real emergency situation.
- For two story homes, escape ladders can be placed in or near windows. Practice setting up the ladder from a first floor window to make sure you can do it correctly and quickly. Children should only practice with a grown-up, and only from a first-story window. Store the ladder near the window, in an easily accessible location. You don’t want to have to search for it during a fire.
- During your practice fire drill, everyone in the family should practice getting low and going under the smoke to your exit.
- Closing doors on your way out slows the spread of fire, giving you more time to safely escape.
- In some cases, smoke or fire may prevent you from exiting your home or apartment building. To prepare for an emergency like this, practice “sealing yourself in for safety” as part of your home fire escape plan. Close all doors between you and the fire. Use duct tape or towels to seal the door cracks and cover air vents to keep smoke from coming in. If possible, open your windows at the top and bottom so fresh air can get in. Call the fire department to report your exact location. Wave a flashlight or light-colored cloth at the window to let the fire department know where you are located.
To learn more about fire safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association website.