National Fire Safety and Prevention Week, which takes place near the anniversary of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, aims to raise public awareness of fire safety. Senior citizens and children under 7 are the most at risk of dying in a fire, so early fire safety is essential. This year's theme is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!”
This Saturday, October 14, the Denver Firefighter's Museum is offering FREE admission in honor of Fire Safety Week. They'll even have special fun activities from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Now is also a great time to review fire safety tips with all the members of your family.
In a fire, seconds count. Seconds can mean the difference between escaping safely from a fire or having lives end in tragedy. That’s why this year’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 what you can do to help prepare your family:
- Draw a map of your home, 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.
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half. While research shows that most U.S. homes have at least one smoke alarm, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
In addition to monthly testing, smoke alarms should be installed and maintained as follows:
- There should be at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home (including the basement), outside all sleeping areas, and in every bedroom.
- For smoke alarms that include a 10-year non-replaceable battery, replace the entire smoke alarm if it begins to "chirp" (indicating that the battery is running low). For smoke alarms that use regular batteries, replacing the batteries once a year is recommended, or before then if the battery begins to chirp.
- All smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years or sooner if they don’t respond properly when tested.
- For the best protection, smoke alarms should be interconnected, so that when one alarm sounds, they all do.
Visit NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week website for a wealth of information and resources for parents and teachers, and for fire departments working to implement the campaign in their communities.
