FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

October 9-15 is fire prevention week. Lets look at our homes and evaluate if we are prepared for a fire.

Do you have a smoke detector? Is it working? If it's working then that's a good start, but is one really enough? Newer homes have a smoke detector on each level of the home and 1 in each sleeping area that are inter-connected (when one smoke detector is activated they all activate). This is the best way to protect your family, however, this can be costly and sometimes can't be achieved because of the type of construction of an existing dwelling. Adding battery type smoke detectors to all these areas is still better than not having them at all. So check your smoke detectors once a month, change the batteries once a year, and vacuum once in a while. Never paint or apply stickers to a smoke detector.

Fire extinguishers are not just for commercial buildings. You should have at least one ABC type, but it would be better to have one on each level of the home. Install one in the kitchen pantry or an area away from your stove or oven. If you have a fire at the stove, you may not be able to reach the extinguisher under or beside the stove without getting burned. Check or replace the fire extinguishers every year and make sure everyone in the house knows how to use it.

Do you have a fire escape plan? Let your kids help make the plan and then practice it. They probably know more about fire safety than we do!