When was the last time you checked to make sure your smoke alarms are working? Have you changed the batteries recently and checked the expiration date of your fire extinguishers?
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) takes a week in October to remind us that “when there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. You need working smoke alarms to give you time to get out. Test yours every month!” They also have created a quiz to help you learn all you need to know about smoke alarm safety. Take the quiz now! We believe that the more you know, the more likely you are to keep your household and family safe from fires…
Smoke Alarms
- Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly.
- Install smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement.
- Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.
- It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds they all sound.
- There are two kinds of alarms. Ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn about flaming fires. Photoelectric alarms are quicker to warn about smoldering fires. It is best to use both types of alarms in the home.
- A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet from the stove.
- Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
Stats from the NFPA:
- Almost three of five (60%) of reported home fire deaths in 2007 to 2011 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
- Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
- In fires considered large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hardwired alarms operated 93% of the time, while battery powered alarms operated only 79% of the time.
- When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected, or dead.
- An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, or where extra time is needed, to awaken or assist others, both types of alarms, or combination ionization and photoelectric alarms are recommended.
Kitchen Fire Safety
- Keep dishtowels, napkins, paper bags, and anything that can burn away from open flames on the stovetop and ovens.
- Don’t leave cooking food unattended.
- Don’t leave any items, such as pizza boxes, on your stove even if you’re not using it. Curious dogs can easily bump the stove knob and ignite the burner without realizing it.
- Store a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and remember to check the expiration date. They don’t last forever. The last thing you want to happen is find out it’s way past it’s expiration date during a moment of need.
Stats from NFPA:
- Cooking is the leading cause home fires and home fire injuries.
- U.S. Fire Departments responded to an estimated annual average of 156,600 cooking-related fires between 2007-2011, resulting in 400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries and $853 million in direct damage.
- Two of every five home fires started in the kitchen.
- Unattended cooking was a factor in 34% of reported home cooking fires.
- Two-thirds of home cooking fires started with ignition of food or other cooking materials.
- Ranges accounted for the 57% of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.
Electrical Fire Safety
- Have your AC/Heating units cleaned and checked regularly, and be conscious of any unusual sounds or noises coming from the units. This could be an indicator of loose parts.
- Don’t neglect maintenance of your washer and dryer. It’s important to remove lint from your dryer screen with every load and also have your main dryer vent cleaned to removed lint build-up that can easily catch fire from an electrical spark.
Stats from the NFPA:
- About half (48%) of home electrical fires involved electrical distribution or lighting equipment. Other leading types of equipment were washer or dryer, fan, portable or stationary space heater, air conditioning equipment, water heater and range.
- Electrical failure or malfunctions caused an average of almost 48,000 home fires per year, resulting in roughly 450 deaths and nearly $1.5 billion in direct property damage.
Fireplace and Heating Safety
- Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned at least once a year. The leading factor with heating equipment home fires is failure to clean, principally creosote from solid fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
- Use glass fire doors or a mesh screen enclosure that covers the entire fireplace opening to stop unexpected sparks.
- Discard cooled ash in a metal bucket and place outside away from your house.
Stats from the NFPA:
- Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires, fire deaths, and fire injuries
- Portable or fixed space heaters, including wood stoves, were involved in one-third (33%) of home heating fires and four out of five (81%) home heating deaths.
- Half of home heating fire deaths resulted from fires caused by heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses or bedding.
- Fixed or portable space heaters are involved in about 4 out of 5 heating fire deaths.
Escape Plans
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Do you have an escape plan if the unexpected fire tragedy occurs in your home? You may have only a few minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Everyone needs to know what to do and where to go if there is a fire.
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Make an escape plan so there are at least two ways to exit a room if possible and pick a safe meeting place outside.
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Practicing the plan is most important. This helps so all members of your family, including your children, know how to get out on their own quickly.
Stats from the NFPA:
- 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, more than half never practiced it.
- One-third (32%) of respondents who made an estimate thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life threatening. The time available is often less. Only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out!
We know that it’s easy for some of these tasks to take a back seat to busy lives, however, these recommendations could help when faced with the unexpected home fire. Take the last couple of weeks of October’s Fire Prevention Month to check your smoke detectors, or possibly replace; make your escape plan and PRACTICE it; and don’t forget to do your yearly maintenance of appliances and heating equipment to help avoid a potential home fire.