(by 9 people)
In the last two years I've spent over one hundred hours teaching kids about fire safety and prevention. The kids are always so smart. When you ask them what the magic phone number to call is, they gleefully shout out, "911!" When you ask them what you do if you're on fire, they all know to "stop, drop, and roll." I'm always amazed how much they know about special meeting places, camp fire safety, and not hiding under the bed. What amazes me even more is how little adults seem to know about fire safety and prevention.
At last year's local Senior Health, Wellness, and Safety fair, I gave away free smoke detectors to seniors who needed them. I had the opportunity to chat with nearly 100 people about their smoke detector needs and questions on how to install them. I learned a great deal about what seniors think about fire safety. One said he didn't need one because he didn't smoke, and another turned down the offer because he had one in the basement where the furnace was. These are your parents and grandparents who are going unprotected in their homes.
I often tell kids to stand up to their parents about fire safety and prevention, because it's disappointing to hear stories about the things their parents do. One regularly removes the batteries from the smoke detector so the burned pizza doesn't set it off, and another leaves candles lit in the bathroom.
This lens is designed to educate adults about issues regarding fire safety. Fire hazards are all around us and can happen to anyone. Hopefully this information will save you much aggrevation and possibly even your life.
Myths about fires and fire safety
- I don't need a smoke detector if I don't smoke. WRONG! Having smoke detectors has nothing to do with smoking cigarettes or cigars. There are dozens of things than cause fires.
- We don't have kids in the house so we don't need detectors. WRONG! Besides the fact that you are putting yourself at risk, what happens when your family comes to visit? On Christmas Eve Day, 2004, a house a block from mine burned down and killed a 21-month-old baby girl, her 20-year-old mother, and the 67-year-old grand/great-grand mother. Are you willing to risk that?
- The smoke from a fire would wake me up. WRONG! Most people don't die from fire, they die from inhaling the toxic smoke, including carbon monoxide - the odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that is produced in combustion. Even if you are never touched by flames, you can be seriously injured or killed by smoke and gas.
- I can get out of the house in time. WRONG! If a fire doubles every minute, your 1 square foot kitchen fire can take over your 2000 square foot house in 11 minutes. Will the fire department reach you in time?
- My kids know what to do in a dangerous situation. DO THEY? If you don't PHYSICALLY practice testing detectors, checking doors for heat, crawling out of the house, and meeting at your special place, your kids, no matter how verbally prepared, could still panic. You cannot just tell your family what to do, you must practice it.
- The candles/oven/fireplace/fireworks/stove/dryer/Christmas tree will be ok... WRONG! Most fires are preventable, and caused exactly by the type of human error that you think as an adult you can handle.
First line of defense: the smoke detector
Since adults are, well, adults, they often underestimate the need for a smoke detector. As such, they often fail to have enough of them, don't install them in the proper locations, and/or forget to test the batteries or remove the batteries. Smoke detectors are your first line of defense against fires because they can detect problems that are out of your line of sight, smell, and touch. How can we use smoke detectors effectively?Install them in the right rooms. It is recommended to have at least one smoke detector on each level of your house, including the attic and basement, and in the garage. It is not necessary to have them in EVERY room, for example having one right in or too close to the kitchen and bathrooms can cause problems. Steam and burned food can set them off. One rule of thumb to use is to ask, "Can I hear a smoke detector from every room, even with the door shut?" If a detector will not wake you up in a bedroom with the door shut, you need more detectors.
Install them in the right place on the ceiling. Manufacturers recommend installing your smoke detector on the ceiling no less than 6-8 inches from a wall. If you absolutely cannot do this, place it on the wall 6 inches below the ceiling. Placed too close to a corner, detectors can trap clean air and delay an alarm. If on a wall, placed too far down will allow smoke to build up above the detector and delay an alarm.
Do not teach your kids to ignore them and don't you ignore them either. The alarm is not a dinner bell. If you ignore the smoke detector, your kids will too, and that can be a fatal mistake.
Never remove the batteries. A few Christmases ago, a toddler woke his mother up to tell her the fire was on. She had taken the batteries out of the smoke detector the night before to run toys. Enough said.
Test the batteries monthly. Each detector has a test button that, when depressed, will sound the alarm. If the detector does not sound or if it chirps, replace the batteries.
Purchase the right smoke detector
FirstAlert Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm- SC01CN3
Smoke and CO alarm has 2 distinct 85-decibel horns, so when it goes off, you know why. Test/silencer button allows you to check alarm functions or quiet unwanted alarms while you correct the problem. Different lights indicate low battery, power on and malfunction. Includes a 9V battery
Amazon Price: $31.89 (as of 10/13/2008)
Selecting and using a fire extinguisher
Fire extinguishers are given a series of ratings based on what types of fires they are designed to extinguish and how much product they hold. This is very important because you want to make sure you get a fire extinguisher that will extinguish the material that is on fire and extinguish enough of it. An extinguisher that is too small is useless.There are four categories of materials that extinguishers are designed for:
Class A: extinguishes wood, paper, common garbage, and other things that burn. Remember A for "Ash" - if it will create ash, it's class A.
Class B: extinguishes liquid and fuel fires. Remember B for "Boil" - gasoline, grease, and solvents.
Class C: extinguishes electrical fires. C is for "Circuit" - the faulty toaster or burned out vacuum motor.
Class D: used mostly in commercial operations where flamable metals such as magnesium are present.
Class A and B extinguishers are also rated according to how much product they hold, which determines an estimated square footage that can be extinguished by a novice user. In a residential area, consider at least one extinguisher for each 600 square feet of living space, putting priority on the kitchen, laundry area, garage, and utility room.
How to use a fire extinguisher.
Even if you've read the bottle a hundred times, using an extinguisher can seem daunting. The first time I ever used one was in my first practical exam - by that time I'd used a 2 1/2 inch hose (which creates enough pressure to sit you back on your butt!) but never that little red bottle.
PASS - Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
Step 1 - Pull the pin from the handle of the extinguisher.
Step 2 - Aim the nozzle at the BASE of the fire.
Step 3 - Squeeze the trigger.
Step 4 - Sweep the base of the fire, back and forth, until it is extinguished.
Step 5 - if necessary, call 911.
Purchase the right fire extinguisher
Kidde FA110 Multi Purpose Fire Extinguisher 1A10BC
At just over a foot tall this extinguisher dry chemical, complete with mounting bracket, will cover your common "Ash", "Boil", and "Circuit" fires.
Amazon Price: $52.08 (as of 10/13/2008)
Kidde Kitchen 21006206 2BC Fire Extinguisher
Designed for the kitchen and garage where grease and electrical fires are common, this extinguisher is in a white shell so it looks nice on the wall (just don't forget it's there!)
Amazon Price: $19.11 (as of 10/13/2008)
First Alert Recreational Fire Extinguisher
Your boat, camper, RV, motorhome, etc. should all have a fire extinguisher on board. Even if it's not for you, you could save someone else's property!
Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 10/13/2008)
Fire Extinguisher- Home, Car & Boat Rated for Insurance Discounts
This small can for your vehicle or boat includes a fire extinguishing substance that is easy to clean up.
Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Kidde 900-0056 Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Alarm
I have used this model CO alarm for 15 years and it has been great. The digital readout gives a CO level in parts per million so you can tell if your level is rising or dropping, and how much of a problem it is. No batteries require - it plugs into your standard electrical outlet.
Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)
First Alert FCD2NCN Plug In Carbon Monoxide Detector
This model also plugs into an outlet, and does not have a digital PPM readout, but is more cost effective.
Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)
Kidde KN-COPP-B Front Load Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display
This model is designed for the ceiling or wall, and looks like a smoke detector.
Amazon Price: $38.04 (as of 10/13/2008)
Fire escape plans and procedures
Kids, still afraid of fire and smoke, have memorized the information we drill into them - roll out of bed, check the door with the back of your hand, have two ways out of every room, crawl under the smoke, never go back inside, go to your meeting place, call 911 from a neighbor's house or cell phone.Adults, however, seem to forget and ignore these important steps. They run around the house trying to put out the fire or find things to take with them, they call 911 from the house that is on fire, they wander around the property to scope out the situation, and often cause more stress than necessary when the fire department finally shows up.
Firefighters are trained to attack a situation based on a value system:
1. Self preservation
2. Rescue
3. Mitigate hazard (extinguish fire)
4. Preservation of property
If everyone is out of the house, our number one problem is solved. Everything else can be replaced and a safe fire attack can be made. If not, the entire situation changes drastically as a rescue must be organized. Firefighters have died trying to save people who were actually out of the house but failed to meet up with their family as planned.
Help the fire department find your house
Have clear address numbers posted at your residence. For city-dwellers this means on your house, visible from the road. If you live in the country, this means a fire-address sign at the entrance of your driveway. Having your numbers on the mailbox is not good enough. These numbers are often too small to read, or aren't posted on the side of the box that responders are approaching from. Ask your fire department what signs they can recommend. You can even purchase some styles at your local hardware store.
Keep your driveway clear. One problem with rural residences is that trucks cannot fit into driveways because the driveway is too narrow, improperly based, or crowded by trees. There are ordinances in your county that mandate rules about driveways. Water supply to rural fires is crucial, and driveway problems can greatly delay the fire department's ability to respond.
Keep clutter and trash away from doors. In all homes, clutter is a problem for firefighters. They are already in unfamiliar territory, now they have to deal with more piles and barriers. People have died trapped in their homes because firefighters weren't able to cut through piles of newspapers, toys, clothes, and boxes to save them.
What to do after a fire
The United States Fire Administration has an excellent publication titled, "After a Fire: Returning to Normal." The basic details of this document can be read online, and the table of contents includes:
* The First 24 Hours - Securing Yourself and The Site
* Insured
* Not Insured
* Valuing Your Property
* Replacing Documents & Records
* Salvage Hints
* Fire Department Operations
* Emergency Numbers
* After the Fire Strikes: More Information
While they are on scene, ask your fire department or law enforcement officials about how to contact the Salvation Army and/or American Red Cross. These agencies will set you up with temporary shelter, food, personal essentials, and counselling.
Photos of House Fires
Photos don't do house fires justice. In photos they look like cosmetic problems that can easily be remedied. In reality, house fires are both cosmetically and structurally destructive. They destroy unreplaceable property, tie up your lives while you rebuild, and often cause deaths. Even small fires can cause immense smoke and water damage.
Fire on Outer Drive
Fire on Outer Drive
Fire on Outer Drive
Fire on Outer Drive
Fire on Outer Drive
Fire on Outer Drive
Fire on Outer Drive
Fire on Outer Drive
Fire on Outer Drive
Fire on Outer Drive
Bang Bang Duh
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Respect emergency vehicles on the road
Then I tell them to go home and tell this to their parents.
My number one frustration and pet peeve with being a firefighter is dealing with traffic while responding to a call in my personal vehicle or a fire truck. It absolutely blows my mind how ignorant and careless drivers can be.
If you are driving and you see an emergency vehicle with lights and/or sirens engaged, the appropriate response is to calmly pull over and stop. Continue once you are sure all vehicles have passed, by properly signalling back into your lane.
DO NOT use the opportunity to go faster in front of the vehicle. Unbelievable as it may seem, this happens with some frequency. A fire truck is approaching a vehicle from the rear so they speed up, thinking to themselves, "Wow, right on, now I can get there faster."
If you disregard these rules, you can and will be ticketed. Just because police are busy at the time does not mean they won't make a house call. Besides being obnoxious to us, delaying our response causes a potentially deadly situation for whomever we are trying to help. If it were you or a loved one in danger, you would want us to get there 'yesterday'. No matter what you're doing, nothing is so important that you cannot take an extra 20 seconds to pull over.
The University of Oklahoma Fire Department has a fabulous resource that answers all your questions about sharing the road with emergency vehicles.
I've seen a lot of crazy stuff on the road while trying to navigate the mile and a third from my house to the fire hall, or from the fire hall to a call. One of my favorites has to be the woman who cut me off three blocks from my house, and drove 25 mph in a 30 mph speed zone with four of us in our private vehicles behind her, lights and sirens blaring, happily chatting away on her cell phone the entire time. She didn't look in her mirror until 20 feet from the fire hall driveway, at which time she totally freaked out and nearly put her car in the ditch.
Another time a minivan decided that instead of finishing a left-turn, they'd sit in the middle of the two-lane road that was already lined with school traffic. They stopped all right, but failed to pull over.
What questions do you have about fire safety?
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RyanJSmith
Kimberly, it's great to see your passion for fire safety. A home fire protection method that is gaining more and more attention is residential fire sprinklers. This is the focus I have taken to raise awareness of the benefits of fire sprinklers and clear up the many myths about them. If you would to team up to help further promote home fire protection just let me know. Thanks. Posted May 15, 2008 |
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potosivfd1411
Really appreciated your lens. I have a lens devoted to firefighting as well. I would appreciate your feedback on what I can do to get mine up to par. Posted May 12, 2008 |
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ShelbieD
Great site, lots of info. Check out the Signal One smoke alarm...I've added you to my lensroll. Posted February 14, 2008 |
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bspilner
you have a great site! nice job and gave me inspiration Posted February 06, 2008 |
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ShortSaleRealtor
great lens 5 stars 4 u Posted February 01, 2008 |
Call 911 Sticker
Have you ever had a run-in with the fire department?
Real videos of house fires!
Nick Nolte in House Fire
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Fire Safety for the Whole Family
- Sparky.org
- Great interactive resources for the whole family.
- Fire Prevention Week 2006
- This year's theme from the NFPA is "Prevent Cooking Fires, Watch What You Heat." October 8-14th, 2006.
- People with Special Needs
- Safety resources and technology available for people with disabilities.
- Translated Materials
- Get fire safety resources in French, Spanish, and Russian.
