Thursday, October 7, 2021
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
I've learned a lot from firefighters over the years, what tools they need to keep us and them safe and one of the things that they always say is that they want the public to know what to do to to prevent fires from causing harm. In a fire, seconds make all the difference. Fire safety is important for every member of the community - children, adults, and the elderly and taking just a little time every October during Fire Prevention Week can help us all understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.
In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country.
Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety:
- A continuous set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire.
- Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
- A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
- All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years. Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced. Make sure your smoke and CO alarms meet the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
If there is a fire, remember:
- Leave the building immediately and call 9-1-1.
- If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop, cover & roll to put out the flames.
- Most fire victims are hurt trying to fight the fire. Leave firefighting to the professionals. To keep your home safe from fire:
Make sure you have working smoke alarms. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly. If the alarms have regular batteries, change them every time you change the clocks. Consider installing home sprinklers. Sprinklers buy time, and time saves lives.
