Fire is an important part of our lives. We use it to cook food
and we use it as a source of warmth on a cold night. But, if
uncontrolled, fire can bring injury - and even death - to those we
love. Unwelcome fires can erupt from a cooking pot left on the
stove.
Smart fire safety kids always remember:
- Never play with matches or with a cigarette lighter; and keep
them away from your sister, brother and friends.
- Make sure your house has a smoke detector; ask the grown-ups
in your house to check it often to make sure it's working.
- Ask your family if they will help you come up with an escape
plan to get everyone out of the house in case of a fire or other
emergency.
- If you see a fire breaking out, quickly tell an adult and
leave right away.
- If the smoke is bad, cover your mouth with a cloth; crawl low
on the floor until you get to the door or window.
- While trying to exit the house during a fire, always touch
doors with the back of your hand to see if they are hot before
you open them. If the door is hot, don't open it; go out the
other way in your escape plan. If the door is cool, open it
slowly and check to see whether it's safe and clear.
- If your clothes are on fire, drop to the ground and roll until
the flames go out.
- Do not go back inside; wait outside at the spot where your
family members will meet you.
- Know how to call for emergency assistance.
From U.S. Fire Administration
Americans over the age of 65 are at the greatest risk of dying in
a fire. Seventy-five percent of the 1,300 seniors who perish each
year in fires do not have a working smoke detector in their homes.
If you are a senior, remember to do the following:
- Have a smoke detector installed in your home; make sure it is
checked out at least monthly.
- Have a licensed electrician examine the wiring in your home;
also have the wiring on your appliances checked out.
- Keep space heaters away from combustible materials.
- Never cook in loose-fitting clothing that could catch fire
over the stove.
- Avoid smoking inside the house; if you must smoke, do not
smoke in bed, around upholstered furniture or near anything that
may ignite easily.
- Keep your address and directions to your house next to your
phone, in case you have to call to report an emergency.
- If fire breaks out, put a cloth or towel over your mouth and
nose, and crawl low on the floor to the nearest exit.
- In case of a fire; get out of the house immediately; call for
emergency assistance; and do not go back into the house for any
reason.
- Talk to other seniors about starting a fire prevention
education group; invite a fire official to a meeting.
From U.S. Fire Administration
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What You Should and Shouldn't Do
Fires don't just happen. There are a lot of measures you can take
to help ensure that a fire doesn't start. Here are a few important
things you can do:
- Install a smoke detector on every level of your home and in
the garage. Check it monthly and replace batteries when
necessary.
- Have an electrician look at the wiring in your house. Make
sure circuits are not overloaded.
- Have all alternative heating units, such as wood stoves and
space heaters, checked by an expert.
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach and away from children.
- Never smoke in bed.
- Be aware of the dangers from smoking in overstuffed furniture.
No house can be 100 percent fire proof. Fire officials emphasize
there are some basic things you should do to prepare for a fire:
- Determine at least two ways to escape from every room in your
home.
- Purchase an approved chain ladder to use to climb out of rooms
above the first floor, and practice using it.
- Select a location where everyone could meet after escaping the
house.
- Discuss what you would do about family pets in the event of a
fire
- Know how to call for emergency assistance.
When a fire strikes:
- Crawl low under the smoke to escape. This should be practiced
beforehand to prepare you for an actual fire.
- Close the door when you exit a room, and feel closed doors
before you enter a room. A hot door or doorknob usually means
the room is on fire.
- If your clothes are on fire, drop to the floor and roll to
smother and put out the flames.
- Get everyone out quickly, and then call for emergency
assistance.
- Know how to give accurate directions to your house when you
call for assistance.
From U.S. Fire Administration
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