Between January 1, 2011 & May 16, 2011, there was 756 residential fire fatalities nationwide. 69 of those were in Pennsylvania
*The Pennsylvania Fireman, May 2011
The number 1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries is cooking fires!
On average, a candle fire in the home is reported to a US fire department every 30 minutes!
Smoke Detectors Save Lives
The majority of fatal home fires happen at night, when people are asleep. Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. The poisonous gasses and smoke produced by a fire can numb the senses and put you into a deeper sleep.
Inexpensive household smoke detectors sound an alarm, alerting you to a fire. By giving you time to escape, smoke detectors cut your risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half. Smoke detectors save so many lives most states have laws requiring them in private homes.
Choosing a Detector
Be sure that the smoke detectors you buy carry the label of an independent testing laboratory.
Several types of detectors are available. Some run on batteries, others on household current. Some detect smoke using an "ionization" sensor, others use a "photoelectric" detection system. All approved smoke detectors, regardless of the type, will offer adequate protection provided they are installed and maintained.
Is One Enough?
Every home should have a smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. The National Fire Alarm Code, developed by NFPA requires a smoke detector in each sleeping room for new construction. On floors without bedrooms, detectors should be installed in or near living areas, such as dens, living rooms, or family rooms.
Be sure everyone sleeping in your home can hear your smoke detector's alarms. If any residents are hearing impaired or sleep with bedroom doors closed, install additional detectors inside sleeping areas as well. There are special smoke detectors for the hearing impaired; these flash a light in addition to sounding an audible alarm.
For extra protection, NFPA suggests installing detectors in dining rooms, furnace rooms, utility rooms, and hallways. Smoke detectors are not recommended for kitchens, bathrooms, or garages - where cooking fumes, steam or exhaust fumes could set off false alarms - or for attics and other unheated spaces where humidity and temperature changes might affect a detector's operation.
Where To Install
Because smoke rises, mount detectors high on a wall or on the ceiling. Wall-mounted units should be mounted so that the top of the detector is 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) from the ceiling. A ceiling mounted detector should be attached at least four inches (10 cm) from the nearest wall. In a room with a pitched ceiling, mount the detector at or near the ceiling's highest point.
In stairways with no doors at the top or bottom, position smoke detectors anywhere in the path of smoke moving up the stairs. But always position smoke detectors at the bottom of closed stairways, such as those leading to the basement, because dead air trapped near the door at the top of a stairway could prevent smoke from reaching a detector located at the top.
Don't install a smoke detector too near a window, door, or forced-air register where drafts could interfere with the detector's operation.
Installation
Most battery-powered smoke detectors and detectors that plug into wall outlets can be installed using only a drill and a screwdriver, by following the manufacturer's instructions. Plug-in detectors must have restraining devices so they cannot be unplugged by accident. Detectors can also be hard-wired into a building's electrical system. Hard-wired detectors should be installed by a qualified electrician. Never connect a smoke detector to a circuit that can be turned off by a wall switch.
False Alarms
Cooking vapors and steam sometimes set off a smoke detector. To correct this, try moving the detector away from the kitchen or bathroom, or install an exhaust fan. Cleaning your detector regularly, according to the manufacturer's instructions, may also help.
If "nuisance alarms" persist, DO NOT disable the detector. Replace the detector.
Maintenance
Only a functional smoke detector can protect you.
Never disable a detector by "borrowing" its battery for another use.
Following the manufacturer's instructions, test all your smoke detectors monthly and install new batteries at least once a year. A good reminder is when you change your clocks in the spring or fall: change your clock, change your battery.
Clean your smoke detectors using a vacuum cleaner without removing the detector's cover.
Never paint a smoke detector.
Smoke detectors don't last forever. Replace any smoke detector that is more than 10 years old.
Plan And Practice
Make sure everyone is familiar with the sound of the detectors alarm.
Plan escape routes. Know at least two ways out of each room. Agree on a meeting place outside your home where all residents will gather after they escape. Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
Make sure everyone in the household can unlock doors and windows quickly, even in the dark. Windows or doors with security bars should be equipped with quick-release devices and everyone in the household should know how to use them.
When an alarm sounds, leave immediately. Go directly to your outside meeting place and call the fire department.
Once your out, stay out. Never return to a burning building.
Home Fire Escape Planning
Children as young as three years old can follow a fire escape plan they have practiced often. Yet, many families don't have detailed escape plans, and those that do usually don't practice them. Practicing a fire escape plan and fire-safe behaviors on a regular basis can mean the difference between life and death. Draw a basic diagram of your home, marking all windows and doors, and plan two routes of escape out of each room. Consider various fire scenarios when creating your plan and develop actions for a safe escape. Plan for each member of your family, including babies and toddlers who may be unable to escape on their own.Keep exits clear of debris and toys. Keep your child's bedroom door closed. If a hallway fire occurs, a closed door may hinder the smoke from overpowering your baby or toddler, giving firefighters extra time for rescue. Teach toddlers not to hide from firefighters. Their uniforms can be scary in times of crisis. Teach children that firefighters are there to help in an emergency. Take children for a tour at your local fire station so that they can see a firefighter in full gear. Teach your children how to crawl under the smoke to reduce smoke inhalation. Also, teach your children how to touch closed doors to see if they are hot before opening. If so, use an alternate escape route. Have a safe meeting place outside the home and teach children never to go back inside. Practicing fire-safe behaviors and knowing what to do in an emergency can give your family extra seconds to escape.
On October 14th, New Stanton VFD and Youngwood VFD participated in Fire Prevention Day at Stanwood Elementary School. Students were provided with helpful information, demonstrations and some show and tell, Below are some pictures from our visit. Click on the photos to see a full version.
New Stanton VFD also attended Lil' Learner's Preschool for their fire prevention day on October 12th.
