Tag Archives: fire prevention

General Safety Issues

HOW TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR HOME FROM FIRE (GUEST POST)

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Fire is  extremely dangerous;  unfortunately, the destruction and devastation it can cause is often underestimated.  Always take the correct precautions  to help ensure that you and others are not injured should a fire occur.

Below are five tips to keep you and your home fire free:

 1.Equip your home against small house fires

It is crucial that your home is equipped to put out small fires that may occur in your home. The best way to ensure that you are equipped against small house fires is to fit fire extinguishers and fire blankets in the kitchen and any other rooms in the house that a fire would most likely start. For instance, place fire extinguishers near any fireplaces you may have in your home. To help equip your home further, fit fire doors throughout. By doing so it will help contain any fires and stop them from spreading throughout your home. 

2.Become educated in how to extinguish fires

After having fire extinguishers and blankets fitted,  it is advised that you read all instructions carefully and seek advice where needed about how to extinguish different types of fires. Many people are unaware that different types of fires should be extinguished using different types of fire extinguishers. If the wrong type of fire extinguisher is used it can have disastrous effects and as a direct result the fire could spread further and quicker. 

3.Pay attention in the kitchen and do not leave hob (stove) unattended

A large majority of house fires start in the kitchen. Many of these fires are due to negligence and leaving pans unattended on the hob. The best way to combat this is by never leaving the hob (stove) unattended and being vigilant of oven cooking times. When finished cooking it is vital to check that all hobs and the oven are switched off before leaving the kitchen.

  4.Fit and check regularly, the fire alarms throughout your home

In the unlikely event of a fire, the fire alarm will be able to alert you. If you are sleeping and a fire starts in your home you will need to be alerted by a fire alarm or there is a good chance that you will not wake and may become overwhelmed by the fires smoke. If you or anyone else in your family is deaf or hard of hearing they may not be woken by the sound of a fire alarm. With advance in technology now fire alarms are being produced that are able to wake the deaf and hard hearing in the unfortunate event of a fire. These types of fire alarms such as the Deafgard are able to wake the deaf and hard hearing through vibrations and high density flashing lights. 

5.Fully extinguish all cigarettes

Although the smoking ban has meant that many people can no longer smoke inside in public places, many people still do smoke inside in the privacy of their own home. Cigarettes can easily ignite a fire if left unattended. If you do smoke inside your own home always check that your cigarette is fully out when finished and never leave a lit cigarette unattended in the home.

Finally in the event of any fire in the home that is out of control always remember to dial 999 immediately.  (In the U.S., call 9-1-1.)

Our thanks to George Tester of  Deafgard for sending this fire safety information.  It is comforting to know that there are fire alerts that can warn those who are hard of hearing or deaf when there may be fire in their homes.  The same fire safety info would apply to offices and other industries that should have the correct amount of fire extinguishers on hand, and employees trained in their use. pb

 
General Safety Issues

OBSERVE NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK!

Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls.  This week’s observation began on Sunday, October 6 and goes through Saturday, October 12.  “Prevent Kitchen Fires”—that’s the message of this year’s Fire Prevention Week.

More fires start in the kitchen than in any other part of the home—and here are some tips for people on how to keep cooking fires from starting in the first place.  Fires that originate in the kitchen are the Number 1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries – mainly from unattended cooking.  Some tips to prevent this are to never leave the stove while you are grilling, frying, or broiling food.  Keep wooden utensils, oven mitts and cup towels away from the stovetop.  Keep lids handy to smother a pan fire.  If you can’t control the fire, call 9-1-1 and leave.

 Another tip: establish a three foot “kid-free-zone” around the stove and area where food is being prepared. 

Scald burns are the second leading cause of burn injuries.  Microwaves frequently cause scalding burns.  One example is soup that is heated in the microwave is extremely hot when it comes out, and should be allowed to cool before it is consumed.  Children should be supervised when using a microwave.  If there is a fire in the microwave, leave the door closed, turn it off, and unplug it. 

Smoke alarms serve an important roll in reducing fire deaths.  Once you hear the alarm, there is a chance of  very little time left to get out of the house.  Families should have an escape plan and find ways to get out of every room. 

 According to an NFPA survey, only one of every three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.  While 71% of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, only 47% of those have practiced it. One-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out. 

Take fire seriously, whether it is a kitchen or home fire, workplace fire, campfire, or any other type that you are able to prevent by being attentive.  Firefighters will appreciate your diligence.  Let’s try to make their job a little easier.

 

Source: National Fire Protection Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

OCTOBER – FIRE PREVENTION MONTH

This year’s observance of Fire Prevention Month is even more significant because it follows the 10th year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  All persons working in fire service, as well as law enforcement and first responders, remember the sacrifices of all who lost their lives that tragic day, and they strive to educate the public in ways to prevent further needless loss of life from fire.   Later this month, the week of October 9th through 15th marks the 88th year fire departments from around the country have observed this event – making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.  The theme for 2011’s observance is “Protect Your Family from Fire!”  We will look into that observance prior to that special week.  First, let’s review changes in the NYFD that have been made since 9/11.  The following is an excerpt from the NFPA Journal, written by Fred Durso, Jr.:

Ten years ago, on September 11, in New York City, the room that housed FDNY’s operations center was very small, with a few phones, and two televisions.  The assistant chief, Salvatore Cassano, was trying to monitor what was what was happening across the river at the World Trade Center after one hijacked airplane, then another, struck the towers.  He says,  “I was trying to get a handle on what was going on at a 16-acre [6.5-hectare] site, trying to round up where our people were, which hospitals they were in. None of that was available to us at our fingertips.”  On 9/11, now Chief Cassano lost 343 of his FDNY comrades.  “Ten years later, that event still haunts us every day,” he says.  After describing their monitoring system, he now proudly shows off the $17 million FDNY operations center that opened in 2005, after the events of 9/11 made it painfully clear that the FDNY’s monitoring and communications resources were no match for an emergency on the scale of the World Trade Center attacks.

It is a large glass-enclosed room, dominated by five large display screens on the front wall. These screens present a listing of current fires and other incidents throughout New York’s five boroughs, photos of building exteriors from around the city pulled from Google Maps, live feeds of New York’s busy thoroughfares, and national news broadcasts. A half-dozen FDNY employees monitor the screens while answering phones and analyzing data on their own computers. This is an example of how the FDNY has been improving since the post-9/11 era.

The National Fire Protection Association has undergone an evolution of its own in the decade following one of the most devastating moments in our country’s history.  New provisions have entered NFPA codes and standards as a direct result of 9/11, changes that have affected building safety, first responder safety, and much more. A new NFPA committee has taken high-rise safety to new heights by strengthening NFPA’s life safety and building codes. Firefighter uniforms and breathing apparatuses have undergone significant upgrades, thanks to provisions safeguarding users against an array of chemical, radiological, biological, explosive, and nuclear threats. New discussions are taking place about the role of elevators during emergencies in high-rise buildings. Federal agencies and departments formed after 9/11 have reshaped the concept of emergency preparedness using NFPA 1600, Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, to help launch an assortment of efforts designed to enhance public safety and preparedness throughout the U.S.

“9/11 will always be considered one of the worst days in American history, and it will also certainly be one of the most important days in the history of NFPA because of our long, forceful advocacy of preparedness, further safeguards to the built environment, and support for emergency responders that followed the attacks,” says NFPA President James Shannon. “NFPA has been a very important part of the country’s effort to do everything we can to prepare, in case anything like 9/11 ever happens again.”

Our fire and police departments, as well as first responders, continue being prepared.  However, with the rash of wildfires and other devastating loss of lives, businesses, and homes, we need to remember that many of those fire departments and first responders in rural communities are volunteers.  Because of heavy demands, their equipment has either been damaged or worn out, and there is always a need for funds.  Your donations will not only be appreciated, but used wisely.  They are ready to answer the call when we need them.

Source: NFPA, USFA

General Safety Issues

OCTOBER 3 – 9 IS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

The National Fire Protection Association has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for eighty-eight years.  This year’s focus is promoting and educating the public on the use of smoke alarms.  The theme for 2010 is “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With.” 

Many homes have smoke alarms, but how many of us take the recommended once a month time to check them out? According to the NFPA, there should be a smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside all sleeping areas, on every level, even the basement.  Most homes do not contain that many smoke alarms.  Families should all be aware of escape plans in case of fire. Two/thirds of home fire deaths were a result of fires in the home that either had no smoke detectors at all, or they did not function properly.  NFPA data shows that smoke alarms that work correctly can cut the chance of dying in a home fire by 50%.  You can find more information at the website: http://www.firepreventionweek.org./ If you have smoke alarms and they begin to “chirp,” they are telling you that they need a new battery! 

There can be multiple causes of fires, either at home, work, on the highways, and other locations where accidents occur.  We depend on our firefighters in times of emergency.  They are trained not only to extinguish and contain fires, but to rescue civilians and furnish medical assistance.  Some are paid and others are volunteers.  These public servants are available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.  

We owe it to these men and women to be cautious when camping outdoors.  Wildfires can happen quickly, and cause devastation to homes, humans, wildlife, and miles of terrain.  Firefighters put their lives on the line many times because of someone’s carelessness.  In addition to the responsibilities firemen and women have, they must wear heavy duty PPE, as well.  Like our military, fire personnel have to wear heavy equipment, such as turnout jacket and pants, safety boots, safety glasses, SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), helmet with face mask/visor, special gloves, a PASS device (personal alert safety system), and reflective vests over their turnout jackets when helping with accident control.

They also conduct inspections of buildings for violations of fire codes.  After a fire, it’s up to fire personnel to conduct investigations to determine the cause.   If you are concerned about the safety of your home, or plan to purchase a home, your fire department will send someone to check it out for you.  Fire departments are helpful to citizens in many ways, such as conducting classes in fire prevention. 

The next time you see a fireman, thank him/her for what they do.  It’s a job that requires a special breed of people, ones who are willing to serve whenever called on.  And remember, think safety always and help prevent fires.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, 2009

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National Fire Prevention Month, which officially began in 1922, in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, has been the longest public safety and health campaign in United States history.  The National Fire Protection Association has designated the week of October 4 – 10, 2009, as National Fire Prevention Week, with its focus on burn awareness and prevention, as well as keeping homes safe from fires.  This year’s theme is “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned!”

Here are some facts from the NFPA regarding home fires in 2008 in the United States:

  • There were 386,500 home fires, resulting in 2,755 deaths.
  • Fire departments responded to home fires every 81 seconds.
  • The kitchen is the leading area of origin for home fires.
  • Unattended cooking is one of the main causes.
  • Bedrooms and family/living rooms are the area of origin in home fires that result in death.
  • Smoking materials cause 1 in 4 fire deaths in the U.S.
  • One of four victims of fatal smoking-related fires is not the person who started the fire.
  • Furniture, mattresses, or bedding are usually the materials that catch on fire from someone smoking carelessly.
  • Space heaters cause far more fires and loss than central heat; the main reason is there are materials too close to them that can burn.
  • Electrical wiring, switches, outlets, lamps, light fixtures, and lighting equipment are also major causes of home fires.
  • Smoke alarms can cut your chances of dying in half in a reported fire.  It has been found that in more than one-half of responses to house fires, smoke alarms were present, but had no batteries, or had been dismantled because of their noise.
  • Not enough American households have a fire escape plan and practice it.
  • There were 320 deaths and $542 million in property loss last year as a result of intentionally set home structure fires.  One-half of the people arrested for arson were under age 18.

We hope these facts make you a little more aware of the danger and destruction of home fires.

I have seen first hand in our own neighborhood, the result of a person’s smoking and falling asleep: he died, as well as two innocent persons in the home, his wife and grandchild.  Many of the firefighters were young men, and had not had to deal with death from a fire before this happened.  It was a very devastating time for the family, firemen, and community.

Other articles you may wish to review are “Don’t Get Burned”, “Preventing Home Cooking Fires”, and “Fire Extinguishers”, which you may find helpful.