Fire Safety Tips

BE AWARE! TAKE FIRE PREVENTION CARE!

These few reminders may seem quite simple, and they are. But when you stop and think a moment, the simple basics can save lives, suffering - and a great deal of property.

Safety and Prevention

PREVENT FIRES FROM OCCURRING

IN A FIRE, SECONDS COUNT!

IF A FIRE SHOULD OCCUR IN YOUR HOME...

KITCHEN GREASE FIRES

SMOKING

HEATING SOURCE

USE THE PROPER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

HOW TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

REMEMBER, THE BEST STEP TO TAKE IS TO PREVENT FIRES FROM OCCURRING

By taking the time to carefully inspect your home for possible hazards, you may prevent a major catastrophe later on.

Fire prevention is something the entire family may participate in. Encourage children to assist with checking the home for hazards.

Knowing what to do should fire occur is very important. More important still is the PREVENTION of a fire. Take the time to inspect your home for possible safety hazards, bare wires, and improperly operating heating equipment.

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IN A FIRE, SECONDS COUNT!

For early detection of fires, install smoke detectors near your sleeping areas. If you have a multi-story house, install smoke detectors at each level in the home.

In addition to working smoke detectors, there are a few other items that you should have in your home in case of a fire. Fire extinguishers and escape ladders can provide added protection.

Place fire extinguishers on each floor of your home. Make sure you have one in the kitchen and in the garage. Make sure to use an all-purpose extinguisher in the kitchen so it can be used on grease and electrical fires.

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IF A FIRE SHOULD OCCUR IN YOUR HOME REMEMBER...

E.D.I.T.H

Exit Drills In The Home

It is never too soon to teach your family how to be safe. Taking a few small preventative measures now is certainly a lot easier than dealing with the damaging effects of a fire in your home.

Prepare a floor plan of your home showing at least two ways out; for example, one window and one door. Familiarize your family with both exits from each room; Know where the exits are; practice using them.

Practice dialing 911 with young children. Rehearse what they should say in an emergency.

Sleep with your bedroom door closed. It helps to hold back heat and smoke.

A fire is no time to be worrying about who made it out and who did not. By establishing a central meeting place outside the house, you can count heads and not have to wonder who might still be inside.

Once you are outside, do not go back inside. The fire department will be there in a matter of minutes. Stay at the meeting place and wait for the fire department.

Practice a family fire drill monthly. Explain the importance of getting out of a burning house safely. Instruct children to take nothing with them – no toys, etc.

Should you be caught in smoke, CRAWL! Smoke rises, so stay close to the floor where the air will be less toxic.

Clothing, should it ignite, will burn rapidly. If your clothes ignite,
DO NOT RUN... !STOP, DROP, AND ROLL!

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Kitchen Fires rank at the top for accidental home fires.

Cooking fires are often the result of unattended cooking and human error, rather than mechanical failure of stoves or ovens.

For initial handling of small kitchen or electrical fires, quickly turn off gas or electricity while standing back and tossing handfuls of Arm and Hammer baking soda at base of flames. If the fire continues to burn, leave the house immediately and dial 911.
Do not use flour as flour has been known to explode!

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Cigarettes, Cigars and Pipes

Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths.
Eliminating smoking in your home takes care of that risk factor.
If you must smoke, never smoke in bed.
Do not empty your ashtrays into your regular kitchen or bath trashcans.
Use a metal can or bucket.

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Heating is the third leading cause of residential fires, mostly due to lack of maintenance.

Regular and proper maintenance of your furnace is important. Replace your filter on a regular schedule.
Clogged filters make the furnace work harder and overheat.
Have your furnace cleaned by a professional once a year.

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Fire Extinguisher Ratings



Class A Extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles, such as wood and paper. The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher refers to the amount of water the fire extinguisher holds and the amount of fire it will extinguish.



Class B Extinguishers should be used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, oil, etc. The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher states the approximate number of square feet of a flammable liquid fire that a non-expert person can expect to extinguish.



Class C Extinguishers are suitable for use on electrically energized fires. This class of fire extinguishers does not have a numerical rating. The presence of the letter "C” indicates that the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.

Class D Extinguishers are designed for use on flammable metals and are often specific for the type of metal in question. There is no picture designator for Class D extinguishers. These extinguishers generally have no rating nor are they given a multi-purpose rating for use on other types of fires.

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P.A.S.S. Pull Aim Squeeze Sweep

Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher that keeps the handle from being accidentally pressed.

Aim the nozzle toward the base of the fire.

Stand approximately 8 feet away from the fire and Squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguisher. If you release the handle, the discharge will stop.

Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire. After the fire appears to be out, watch it carefully since it may re-ignite!

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