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Important Facts You Need To Know About Fire Safety
Eighty Americans will die needlessly today. 29,000 will die this year.
Many of them will be trapped in an incinerator they previously referred to as "home."
The sad fact is, many of these tragedies could have been prevented. By being prepared,
having smoke detectors, knowing basic fire prevention, and knowing what to do in
an actual fire, you could save your life - and the lives of those most dear to you.
Take a moment to read this information. We hope you never need it, but if you do,
knowing this information could be your best defense against a fire.
Be Prepared:
When fire strikes, everything happens too fast to make a plan. That's why you
should make a family fire emergency plan now - before you need it. Here's how:
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Make sure all family members know how to dial 911 in case of emergency.
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Have at least two exits from every room in your home. Invest in fire escape
ladders for upstairs bedrooms.
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Go through a practice drill every 6 months. Practice what to do in a fire
emergency. Make sure the whole family takes part in drill.
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Arrange a central meeting place at a tree or other landmark in front of
your house. Train family members to go straight to the meeting place after they
escape from the house.
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Teach children never to go back in the house after they escape. Train them
not to hide under beds or in closets.
Smoke Detectors:
The importance of smoke detectors cannot be overestimated. Most fires occur
at night, while people are sleeping. The toxic gases from a fire can numb your
senses, disorient you and kill you while you sleep. For this reason, smoke
detectors are a must.
With smoke detectors, your risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half! You can
protect your family by:
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Installing a smoke detector in every bedroom and keeping one centrally
located on each floor of your home. Hallways and kitchens are especially good
places.
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Mounting smoke detectors either on the ceiling or high on a wall - 6-12 inches
from the ceiling (smoke rises).
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Not installing smoke detectors by doors, windows or vents, where drafts
could affect their performance.
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Testing and cleaning your smoke detector's batteries about once a month.
You'll need to replace batteries about once a year.
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Not painting your smoke detector unit, as you might clog it's smoke
detecting sensors. Gently vacuum it and keep it free of dust and other foreign
particles that could hinder its abilities.
Preventing a Fire:
The key to surviving a fire is preventing one from happening in the
first place by:
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Keeping your home free of oily rags and trash build-up. Gasoline and other
flammable liquids should be stored in approved metal safety cans. (The legal
limit for gasoline storage is five gallons.)
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Keeping cleaning materials in a ventilated area and away from any heat
source - such as a water heater. Vapors given off by these substances can ignite
when they come into contact with a heat source, such as a pilot light.
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Checking lamps, appliance cords and light switches to make sure there is
no faulty wiring. Never overload electrical circuits.
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Allowing adequate ventilation space around televisions, stereos, and
other entertainment equipment.
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Teaching your children not to play with matches. Keep matches in a
closed metal container away from heat sources and out of the reach of children.
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NEVER
smoking in bed! Carelessly discarded cigarettes are the leading cause of fire deaths
in the United States.
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Removing all weeds, tree branches and litter from your yard. If you have a fireplace,
make sure it is properly screened and install a spark arrester with at least a half-inch mesh
in the chimney.
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Keeping household trash in a covered can away from any heat source.
Recycle newspapers frequently.
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Being a careful cook. Never wear long sleeves when you cook, as they can
catch fire. Keep the handles of your pots turned inward so the pots can't be
knocked over. Never put foil or other metals in a microwave oven.
If a Fire Does Occur:
If a fire does start, do you know what to do?
The following tips may save your property and maybe your life:
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If a grease fire occurs while you are cooking,
DO NOT
throw water on it. Water splashes the grease and the flames. Use a dry chemical
fire extinguisher or cover the fire with the pan lid.
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Before opening a door, make sure there's not fire on the other side. Check the
closed door for heat. If everything feels cool, brace your shoulder against the door
and open it carefully. Be ready to slam it shut if heat or smoke rushes in.
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Close all doors behind you. This can slow the spread of fire and smoke.
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Crawl under smoke. If you encounter smoke, use an alternate escape route.
If you must exit through smoke, the cleanest air will be several inches off the
floor. Crawl on your hands and knees to the nearest safe exit.
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Once you are outside, do not go back into the house. Go to your family's
central meeting place, then have someone use a neighbor's phone to call
the fire department.
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If you're trapped, close doors between you and the fire. Stuff the cracks
around doors and cover vents to keep smoke out. Wait at a window and signal
for help with a flashlight if you have one, or by waving a piece of light-colored
cloth. If there's a phone in the room where you're trapped, call the fire department
and tell them exactly where you are.
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Everyone in your family should know the
"Stop, Drop, and Roll"
rule. If your clothes catch fire,
DON'T RUN!
Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands to protect
your face and lungs, and roll over and over to smother the flames.
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If you see someone on fire, quickly cover them with a blanket to
smother the flames.
After a Fire:
After any fire, you should use caution when re-entering or cleaning your home.
Consult your fire department as well as repairmen and other specialists in
home restoration.
You may accidentally cause even more damage to your possessions and your
home if you re-enter and try cleaning without knowing the special needs
and dangers involved. The fire, smoke and water damage that are the result
of a large home fire pose certain problems you usually don't come across.
The following is a list of things to be aware of, but you should consult
specialists who can personally inspect your home.
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Immediately contact your insurance agent.
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Be especially careful of electricity, particularly when there is water
damage. Water is an outstanding conductor of electricity, and the risk is
too great to ignore.
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Be careful using electricity appliances and outlets. You've already
survived a major fire, you don't want to risk electrocution by using damaged
equipment. (This also goes for electric lights.)
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Remove valuable rugs, leathers, and furs that have sustained water damage.
Let them air dry.
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Don't wash walls and carpets without first consulting a professional.
Improper cleaning methods could result in even more damage.
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Limit movement within your home so weakened household goods
and furniture are not further damaged. Also, you might accidentally stamp
dirt and soot permanently into your furniture and carpet.
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