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Fire prevention week 2012: have two ways out

  • Published
  • By Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Fire Department
  • Naval District Washington
WASHINGTON --  The reality is that when fire strikes, your home could be engulfed in smoke and flames in just a matter of a few minutes and your chances of escape are reduced drastically. Should this happen, do you and your family know two ways out of your home?

National Fire Prevention Week runs Oct. 7 through Oct. 13 this year. Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on Oct. 8 that year but continued into the evening and did most of its damage the next day.

It is important to have and practice a home and workplace fire escape plan that prepares you both at work and at home with your family to think fast and get out quickly when the alarm sounds. If your first escape route is blocked by smoke or flames, would you know how to get out? That's why having an escape plan and knowing two ways out is such a key part of your plan.

This year's National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) theme, "Have Two Ways Out!" focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice.

You are the first link when it comes to fire safety at work and at home. Ensuring your safety not only includes being fire safe but knowing what to do should you experience a fire at work or at home. Here are some fire safety tips that we suggest you follow to help keep you safe:

Home Fires
· Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2010, 19 home fires killed five or more people
· In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires
· Almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms

Escape Planning
· According to an NFPA survey, only one-third of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan
· Almost three-quarters of Americans do have an escape plan; however, less than half actually practiced it

Smoke Alarms
· Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home so when one sounds, they all sound
· Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button, replace the batteries in these devices at least once a year and replace alarms every 10 years
· Working smoke alarms improve your chances of surviving a fire in your home by 50 percent and are an inexpensive device to ensure you and your family's safety
· Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices use strobe lights, vibration devices can be added to these alarms

Cooking
· Cooking has been the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries since 1990
· Cooking caused two of every five reported home fires

Smoking Materials
· Smoking materials are the leading cause of home fire deaths
· If you have smokers or you are a smoker, please be sure to have large deep receptacles to extinguish you smoking material and ensure they are completely out before going to bed.

Electrical
· Half of home electrical fires are involved with faulty electrical distribution or lighting equipment with the other 50 percent of electrical equipment were washer or dryer, fans, portable or stationary space heater and water heaters
· In 2010, electrical failures or malfunctions were factors in an estimated 46,500 home structure fires resulting in 420 deaths, 1,520 injuries and $1.5 billion in property damage.

Candles
· On average, there are 35 home candle fires reported per day
· In 2010, candles caused 3 percent of home fires, 4 percent of home fire deaths, 6 percent of home fire injuries and 5 percent of direct property damage from home fires.
Home Fire Sprinklers
· Automatic fire sprinkler systems cut the risk of dying in a home fire by about 83 percent

The NFPA would like to remind everyone that by following these simple but vital tips, the chances of you or your family experiencing a home or workplace fire can be greatly reduced. To learn more information about National Fire Prevention Week, visit online at www.fpw.org.