Each year, more than 4,000 Americans die and more than 25,000 are injured in fires,
many of which could be prevented. Direct property loss due to fires is estimated at $8.6 billion annually.
To protect
yourself, it is important to understand the basic characteristics of fire. Fire spreads quickly; there is no time to gather
valuables or make a phone call. In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can
be engulfed in flames.
Heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames. Inhaling the super-hot air
can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being awakened by a fire,
you may fall into a deeper sleep. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.
Take Protective Measures
Before a Fire
Smoke Alarms
*
Install smoke alarms. Properly working smoke
alarms decrease your chances of dying in a fire by half.
*
Place smoke alarms on every level of your residence. Place
them outside bedrooms on the ceiling or high on the wall (4 to 12 inches from ceiling), at the top of open stairways, or at
the bottom of enclosed stairs and near (but not in) the kitchen.
*
Test and clean smoke alarms once a month and replace
batteries at least once a year. Replace smoke alarms once every 10 years.
Escaping the Fire:
*
Review
escape routes with your family. Practice escaping from each room.
*
Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut.
Make sure security gratings on windows have a fire safety opening feature so they can be easily opened from the inside.
*
Consider escape ladders if your residence has more than one level, and ensure that burglar bars and other antitheft mechanisms
that block outside window entry are easily opened from the inside.
*
Teach family members to stay low to the floor
(where the air is safer in a fire) when escaping from a fire.
*
Clean out storage areas. Do not let trash, such as
old newspapers and magazines, accumulate.
Flammable Items
*
Never use gasoline, benzine, naptha, or similar
flammable liquids indoors.
*
Store flammable liquids in approved containers in well-ventilated storage areas.
*
Never smoke near flammable liquids.
*
Discard all rags or materials that have been soaked in flammable liquids
after you have used them. Safely discard them outdoors in a metal container.
*
Insulate chimneys and place spark arresters
on top. The chimney should be at least three feet higher than the roof. Remove branches hanging above and around the chimney.
Heating Sources
*
Be careful when using alternative heating sources.
*
Check with your local fire
department on the legality of using kerosene heaters in your community. Be sure to fill kerosene heaters outside, and be sure
they have cooled.
*
Place heaters at least three feet away from flammable materials. Make sure the floor and nearby
walls are properly insulated.
*
Use only the type of fuel designated for your unit and follow manufacturer’s
instructions.
*
Store ashes in a metal container outside and away from your residence.
*
Keep open flames
away from walls, furniture, drapery, and flammable items.
*
Keep a screen in front of the fireplace.
*
Have
heating units inspected and cleaned annually by a certified specialist.
Matches and Smoking
*
Keep matches
and lighters up high, away from children, and, if possible, in a locked cabinet.
*
Never smoke in bed or when drowsy
or medicated. Provide smokers with deep, sturdy ashtrays. Douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before disposal.
Electrical
Wiring
*
Have the electrical wiring in your residence checked by an electrician.
*
Inspect extension cords
for frayed or exposed wires or loose plugs.
*
Make sure outlets have cover plates and no exposed wiring.
*
Make
sure wiring does not run under rugs, over nails, or across high-traffic areas.
*
Do not overload extension cords or
outlets. If you need to plug in two or three appliances, get a UL-approved unit with built-in circuit breakers to prevent
sparks and short circuits.
*
Make sure insulation does not touch bare electrical wiring.
Other
*
Sleep
with your door closed.
*
Install A-B-C-type fire extinguishers in your residence and teach family members how to use
them.
*
Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your residence.
*
Ask your local fire department
to inspect your residence for fire safety and prevention.
During a Fire
If your clothes catch on fire, you should:
*
Stop, drop, and roll - until the fire is extinguished. Running only makes the fire burn faster.
To escape
a fire, you should:
*
Check closed doors for heat before you open them. If you are escaping through a closed door,
use the back of your hand to feel the top of the door, the doorknob, and the crack between the door and door frame before
you open it. Never use the palm of your hand or fingers to test for heat - burning those areas could impair your ability to
escape a fire (i.e., ladders and crawling).
Hot Door Cool Door
Do not open. Escape through a window. If you cannot
escape, hang a white or light-colored sheet outside the window, alerting fire fighters to your presence. Open slowly and ensure
fire and/or smoke is not blocking your escape route. If your escape route is blocked, shut the door immediately and use an
alternate escape route, such as a window. If clear, leave immediately through the door and close it behind you. Be prepared
to crawl. Smoke and heat rise. The air is clearer and cooler near the floor.
* Crawl low under any smoke to your exit
- heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.
* Close doors behind you as you escape to delay the
spread of the fire.
* Stay out once you are safely out. Do not reenter. Call 9-1-1.
After a Fire
The following
are guidelines for different circumstances in the period following a fire:
* If you are with burn victims, or are
a burn victim yourself, call 9-1-1; cool and cover burns to reduce chance of further injury or infection.
* If you detect
heat or smoke when entering a damaged building, evacuate immediately.
* If you are a tenant, contact the landlord.
*
If you have a safe or strong box, do not try to open it. It can hold intense heat for several hours. If the door is opened
before the box has cooled, the contents could burst into flames.
* If you must leave your home because a building inspector
says the building is unsafe, ask someone you trust to watch the property during your absence.
* Follow the instructions
for recovering from a disaster in Part 5
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