In a fire, seconds count. Seconds can mean the difference between residents of our community escaping safely from a fire or having their lives end in tragedy.
That’s why this year’s National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week theme: “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” is so important. It reinforces why everyone needs to have an escape plan.
Here’s this year’s key Fire Prevention Week campaign messages:
- Draw a map of your home by using our grid in English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF) with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
- Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
- Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
- Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
- Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
- Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.
The NFPA has developed a series of Sparky video clips that reinforce important home escape planning and practice messages. In the video above, Sparky says know two ways out of every room.
Tips for Creating and Practicing Your Escape Plan:
- Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.
- Decide where to meet once you get outside.
- If a fire starts, you may have just two minutes to get to safety. So, time your fire drills and find out: what’s your escape time?
- Smoke is dangerous: practice low crawling.
- If your clothes catch on fire: stop, drop and roll.
Top Tips for Fire Safety from The American Red Cross:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
- Test smoke alarms every month. If they’re not working, change the batteries.
- Check smoke alarms yearly to be sure they are less than 10 years old.
- Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Know the difference between the sound of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.
- If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL FOR HELP. Never go back inside for anything or anyone.
If your home needs a new smoke detector, Carbon Monoxide detector, or combination of both, GNH Lumber is offering several options on sale this October. In support of National Fire Prevention Week initiative’s, we are also featuring a sale on fire extinguishers and straps. Visit our web sales page for pricing and details.
CLICK HERE for Fire Prevention & Safety Checklist
CLICK HERE for this month’s GNH Web Sales
Sources: “Home Fire Safety“, RedCross.org; “Fast Facts About Fires“, NFPA.org.