U.S fire departments responded to an
estimated 1,602,000 fires in 2005. These fires resulted in 3,675 civilian fire
fatalities, 17,925 civilian fire injuries, and an estimated $10.7 billion in
direct property loss.
A new NFPA study finds that in 2005, one
person died in a fire every 143 minutes. Although the number of fires increased
3.3% from the previous year, the overall number of fire deaths decreased by
5.8%.
Cool in the kitchen
-
 Kids
and pets should stay at least 3 feet away from
the stove when food is cooking. This is what
Sparky likes to call the “kid-free
zone” (PDF, 977 KB).
If you are too close to the stove, you could be
burned if something hot is spilled.
- A grown-up watches the
stovetop when he or she is frying, grilling, or
boiling food.
- Grown-ups always pay
attention to the things that are cooking.
- Things that can burn,
dish towels, curtains, or paper, are at least 3
feet away from the stove.
- Pot holders or oven mitts
are easy for grown-ups to reach when they are
cooking.
- Pot handles are turned in
toward the back of the stove when a grown-up is
cooking.
- If someone gets burned,
put cool water on the burn for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Microwave ovens cook food
really fast. Food cooked in a microwave can get
very hot. Be careful when you take the cover off
food because hot steam can burn you. Let the
food cool before you eat it. You should use a
microwave oven only if a grown-up says it is
okay.
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Sound the alarm
-
 Your
home should have smoke
alarms on every level (even the basement).
It's especially important to have them outside
of each sleeping area.
- If
you sleep with the door closed, have grown-ups
consider having interconnected alarms installed.
These alarms (installed by a qualified
electrician) are connected so that if one
sounds, they all sound.
-
Smoke alarms should be mounted high on walls or
ceilings. Remember: smoke rises.
-
Check to make sure the batteries in the smoke
alarms work. Have a grown-up test them once at
least month.
-
Batteries should be replaced once a year, or
when you hear the alarm "chirp"—that means that
the battery is low.
- How
old is that alarm anyway? Smoke
alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
And if no one can remember how old it is, it's
probably time to replace it.
-
Consider installing smoke alarms with
"long-life" (10-year) batteries.
-
Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm.
-
Never paint or decorate a smoke alarm (even with
stickers!) because this could keep it from
working properly.
- Make sure that everyone
in your home knows the sound of the smoke alarm,
and knows exactly what to do if the alarm goes
off. Have a grown-up sound the alarm at night to
make sure that everyone wakes up. If they don't,
make sure to factor that into your home
fire escape plan (PDF,
111 KB).
- When the alarm sounds,
get out. Always assume that the alarm means a
real fire and follow your escape plan
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