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Fire
Prevention
Fire Facts:
* Cooking fires are the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries
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The majority of home fires – 40% – start in the kitchen.
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Heating fires are the second-leading cause of home fires
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Heating equipment and smoking are the leading causes of civilian home fire deaths
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In 2002-2005, there were an estimated 82,400 smoking-material fires per year in the United States. These fires caused 800 civilian deaths and 1,660 civilian injuries.
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Candle fires accounted for an estimated 4% of all reported home fires.
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In 2007, there were an estimated 399,000 reported home structure fires resulting in 2,865 civilian deaths and 13,600 civilian injuries and $7.4 billion in direct damage in the United States. Home fires caused 84% of civilian deaths and 77% of injuries
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Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home structure fires in half.
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The fire death rate in homes with working smoke alarms is 51% less than the rate for homes without this protection.
Safety 101:
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Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
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Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
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Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
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Make sure everyone can hear the sound of the smoke alarms.
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When the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out.
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If the smoke alarm sounds, DO NOT call 911 from inside the house!! Get out and call from outside or from a neighbors house!
Practice E.D.I.T.H(Exit Drills In The Home):
* Have a home fire escape plan. Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible, and a meeting place outside. Practice your escape plan twice a year.
* If you need to escape from your house in a fire, stay as low to the floor as possible. Dangerous heat and smoke will rise, and the air will be cooler and cleaner near the floor.
* If you crawl to a closed door, always feel the door for heat before opening it. There may be fire on the other side of the door! If the door feels hot, DO NOT OPEN IT!! Crawl to a secondary escape route.
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