Home and Building
Fire Prevention
A fire can
engulf a structure in a matter of minutes. Understanding the
basic characteristics of fire and learning the proper safety
practices can be the key to surviving a house or building fire.
BEFORE
Install smoke
detectors.
Check them once a month and change the batteries at least
once a year.
Develop and
practice an escape plan. Make sure all family members know
what to do in a fire.
- Draw a floor
plan with at least two ways of escaping every room. Choose
a safe meeting place outside the house.
- Practice
alerting other household members. It is a good idea to keep
a bell and a flashlight in each bedroom for this purpose.
- Practice
evacuating the building blindfolded. In a real fire situation,
the amount of smoke generated by a fire will most likely
make it impossible to see.
- Practice
staying low to the ground when escaping.
- Feel all
doors before opening them. If the door is hot, get out another
way.
- Learn to
stop, drop to the ground, and roll if clothes catch fire.
Post emergency
numbers near telephones.
However, be aware that if a fire threatens your home, you
should not place the call to your emergency services from
inside the home. It is better to get out first and place
the call from somewhere else.
Purchase collapsible
ladders at hardware stores and practice using them.
Install A-B-C
type fire extinguishers in the home and teach family members
how to use them.
Do not store
combustible materials in closed areas or near a heat source.
Cooking
Keep the stove area clean and clear of combustibles such as bags,
boxes, and other appliances. If a fire starts, put a lid
over the burning pan or use a fire extinguisher. Be careful.
Moving the pan can cause the fire to spread. Never pour water
on grease fires.
Check electrical
wiring.
- Replace
wiring if frayed or cracked.
- Make sure
wiring is not under rugs, over nails, or in high traffic
areas. Do not overload outlets or extension cords.
- Outlets
should have cover plates and no exposed wiring.
- Only purchase
appliances and electrical devices that have a label indicating
that they have been inspected by a testing laboratory such
as Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM).
Contact your
local fire department or American
Red Cross chapter for more information on fire safety.
DURING
Get out as
quickly and as safely as possible.
Use the stairs
to escape.
When evacuating,
stay low to the ground.
If possible, cover mouth with a cloth to avoid inhaling
smoke and gases.
Close doors
in each room after escaping to delay the spread of the fire.
If in a room
with a closed door.
- If smoke
is pouring in around the bottom of the door or it feels hot,
keep the door closed.
- Open a window
to escape or for fresh air while awaiting rescue.
- If there
is no smoke at the bottom or top and the door is not hot,
then open the door slowly.
- If there
is too much smoke or fire in the hall, slam the door shut.
Call the fire
department from a location outside the house.
AFTER
Give first
aid where appropriate.
Seriously injured or burned victims should be transported
to professional medical help immediately.
Stay out of
damage buildings.
Return home only when local fire authorities say it is
safe.
Look for structural
damage.
Discard food
that has been exposed to heat, smoke, or soot.
Contact insurance
agent.
Don't discard damaged goods until after an inventory has
been taken. Save receipts for money relating to fire loss.
Heating Devices
Heating devices such as portable heaters, wood stoves,
and fireplaces demand safe operation. Use portable
heaters in well-ventilated rooms only. Refuel kerosene
heaters outdoors only. Have chimneys and wood stoves
cleaned annually. Buy only approved heaters and follow
the manufacturers' directions.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors more than double the chance of surviving
a fire. Smoke detectors sense abnormal amounts of smoke
or invisible combustion gases in the air. They can
detect both smoldering and burning fires. At least
one smoke detector should be installed on every level
of a structure. Test the smoke detectors each month
and replace the batteries at least once a year. Purchase
smoke detectors labeled by the Underwriter's Laboratories
(UL) or Factory Mutual (FM).
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