BENTON COUNTY — NFPA.ORG (National Fire Protection Association) is a great place to check out, lots of resources for parents, firefighter Ryan Walker said.
Fire safety tips
◊Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan.
◊Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
◊Everyone in the household must understand the escape plan.
◊Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor’s house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they’ve escaped.
◊Have everyone memorize the emergency phone number of thefire department
If there are infants, older adults or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in the fire drill and in the event of an emergency.
◊Once you’re out, stay out! Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building.
SPARKY.ORG is a childfriendly web site for children to learn about fire safety (with their parents’ permission).
According to the NFPA and Harris Interactive Survey:
◊In 2010, there were an estimated 369,500 reported home structure fires and 2,640 associated civilian deaths in the United States.
◊Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Your abilityto get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms, and advance planning - a home fire escape plan that everyone in your family is familiar with and has practiced.
Facts and figures
◊ Only one-fifth to onefourth of households (23 percent) have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure they could escape quickly and safely.
◊One-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become lifethreatening. The time available is often less. And only eight percent said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out!
Suggestions
Make sure primary and secondary escape routes are not blocked. In the event of a fire, you have very little time to get out.
On top of the chaos, it will most likely be dark and a lot of smoke. Remember the basics, get low and get out. A fire will typically fill a room/house with hazardous smoke that starts from the ceiling and works it way to the floor.
The best available air to breathe will always be found at the floor level.
The temperatures willalso be lower closer to the floor. Plan at least two escape routes for every room of the house. You will never know which room you will be in, or which exit route could be blocked by the fire. Make sure children know where to meet you in the event of a fire. Make sure they understand to NEVER hide.
Some families have placed slides/ladders at the windows of children’s room so they can slide/ climb out in the event of a fire. Make sure if you have an emergency slide, ladder, or anything else that you check it prior to each drill.
Make sure those items are working properly and are safe for anyone using them, but that they do not allow a potential criminal access to your house.
Make sure that your children know what a firefighter and police officer look like. Often a police officer will arrive with the fire department. Fire fighters might already be in their “bunker gear” upon exiting the fire truck. To most younger children this is a scary thing. Explain to smaller children that thefire fighter has to wear their gear to keep them safe. If your children want to meet a firefighter or see a firefighter in their bunker gear, feel free to bring them by the Pea Ridge Fire Department for a tour of the fire department and a brief safety review, including a firefighter putting on their gear.
Make sure your children also know to go to a neighbors house to call 911 in the event of a fire, and to never try to put it out by themselves. Make sure they know not to play with fire, cigarette lighters, etc. And make sure they don’t have access to those items.
News, Pages 1 on 04/11/2012