Fire Safety Message
Be Safe, Be Smart.
A little knowledge goes a long way when it comes to fire safety. Please take the time to review these helpful prevention tips to keep you and your loved ones safe!
Fire Safety Highlight
Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead.
- 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. When one sounds, they all sound.
- Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
- Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance.
- Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
- If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.
- Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.
Get the Facts
- In 2007, there were an estimated 399,000 reported home structure fires and 2,865 associated civilian deaths in the United States.
- Only one-fifth to one-fourth of households (23%) have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure they could escape quickly and safely.
- U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 52,500 reported U.S. home structure fires involving electrical failure or malfunction in 2006. These fires resulted in 340 civilian deaths, 1,400 civilian injuries and $1,447 million in direct property damage.
- A 2004 survey found that 96% of U.S. households had at least one smoke alarm, yet in 2000-2004, no smoke alarms were present or none operated in almost half (46%) of the reported home fires.
- The dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO) exposure depend on a number of variables, including the victim's health and activity level. Infants, pregnant women, and people with physical conditions that limit their body's ability to use oxygen (i.e. emphysema, asthma, heart disease) can be more severely affected by lower concentrations of CO than healthy adults would be. A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter amount of time.
- Cooking equipment fires are the leading cause of home structure fires and associated civilian injuries. These fires accounted for 40% of all reported home structure fires in 2005 and 36% of home civilian injuries.
- Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February, and second to cooking home fires year-round.
- In 2002-2005, only 16% of reported lightning fires occurred in homes but these accounted for nearly all the associated civilian deaths, 90% of the associated injuries, and 58% of the direct property damage.
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