Practice Fire Safety
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Do You Know E.D.I.T.H.?
E.D.I.T.H. - Exit Drills In The Home is a
way family members can gain knowledge about different ways to escape from
their home. Families should plan and practice together what to do in case
there is a fire in the home.
All family members should know the
following components of a good emergency escape plan:
·
Emergency escape routes out of
your home
·
Two ways out of each room
·
Establish an outside meeting
place (neighbor’s house, parkway)
·
Once out - Stay out! Do not
return to retrieve items from your house.
PRACTICE your home fire drill often!
DO THIS TEST AT HOME:
Stand in your bedroom or another room that you know very well. Close your
eyes and turn around three times. Keeping your eyes closed, crawl on your
hands and knees to the door. Can you find it quickly in the dark?
This is how you would feel in a real fire. Even if you know your way out
of your room very well, it will be difficult to find your way out. You can
be prepared by practicing your escape route often and keeping a flashlight
nearby.
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Smoke
Get Below The Smoke!
Crawl And Go, Stay Low!
More people die from smoke
inhalation than by fire. Heat and smoke in a fire rise leaving a small area of
cooler cleaner air near the floor. Crawl like a baby - Stay Low and Go!
This will help you get out of a
fire situation safely. You can practice this by holding a sheet or blanket
about two feet off of the floor and have your children crawl under the
“smoke” to safety.
- Install and check smoke detectors.
Because the smell of smoke WILL NOT wake you while you sleep, you must
rely on a smoke alarm to save your life. Make sure your home has a smoke
detector near each sleeping area and escape route. Remember to change the
batteries often. It is a good idea to change the batteries twice a year
when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
Smoke detectors are an excellent early warning system.
When a home fire starts, every second counts. A smoke alarm can provide the
valuable time needed to exit the home safely.
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Choose detectors that are tested and rated by
Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
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Place detectors on each level of your home, and
especially in the hallway ceilings near sleeping areas. Don't place
them too close to cooking areas, in the garage or near vents.
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Maintain units by testing batteries monthly and
replacing weak ones immediately.
- Always sleep with your bedroom door closed.
The closed door will delay the fire and smoke from entering your room and give you time to escape. It is
also a good idea to keep a flashlight near your bed so you can find your
way around. Remember, in a real fire there is no light!
- Know how to dial the emergency fire number- 911
Post this number near the phone where it will be easily seen.
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Have fire extinguishers accessible.
Locate extinguishers in each level of your home. Keep one in the
kitchen, not too close to the stove. Don't forget the garage, workshop,
basement, camper and vacation home.
Different areas of the home will require different
extinguishers. For more on the different types of extinguishers and
the proper way to use them, click here.
Maintain extinguishers by checking them monthly to be sure each is
holding its charge.
- Conduct regular fire inspections
The Sedgwick County Fire District has developed a Residential Fire Safety Checklist
to assist you in identifying fire hazards in your home. In
addition, professional
inspectors can help you survey your home. Call 316-660-3473 (660-FIRE) between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through
Friday to schedule an appointment.
Cooking:
- Grease Fires: Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy.
If a small grease fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother
the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner.
Don't remove the lid until it is completely cool. Never pour water on a
grease fire and never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire, as it
can spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen, actually spreading
the fire.
- Oven Fires: Turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent
flames from burning you and your clothing.
- Microwave Fires: Keep the door closed and unplug the microwave.
Call the fire department and make sure to have the oven serviced before
you use it again. Food cooked in a microwave can be dangerously hot.
Remove the lids or other coverings from microwaved food carefully to
prevent steam burns.
Gasoline:
Gasoline can cause serious burns.
Recreational vehicles, lawn mowers and power tools are the primary sources.
Remember to let the engine sit and cool before refilling the tank. Keep
gasoline in a “safety can” and store in an outdoor shed, not in the house
or garage.
Barbecue/Charcoal:
Store unused charcoal in a cool, dry place
as damp coal can ignite itself. Be careful around barbecues. Do not wear long
sleeves. If clothes catch fire, do not run. Drop and roll to smother the
flames. Make sure your barbecue is completely out before you leave the area.
Hotel Fire Safety Tips:
After checking into your room, check the
fire exits. Do the doors open? Count the doorways and other features between
your room and the exits. Remember, never use the elevator in a fire.
What to do in a Fire:
- When the fire alarm wakes you, roll out of bed to the floor.
Always stay as close to the floor as possible; the air is cleaner and
cooler near the ground. In a blaze, the temperature at knee level may be
as cool as 90 degrees, but a burning 690 degrees at shoulder level. Stay
on your hands and knees to avoid the heat and smoke.
- Crawl to the door and touch it to see if it's hot. If the door is cool,
open it a crack to check for smoke. If there is none, leave by your escape
route. Remember to crawl and keep your head low. On your way out, be sure
to close all doors behind you. This can delay the fire for hours.
- Do not open the door if it feels hot! Opening the door will only
let in the harmful smoke and gas. Keep the door shut and look for a
different escape route. Go to the window if possible.
- If you are unable to leave your room or apartment, seal the cracks around
the door with wet towels or blankets, and try to let some fresh air in
through the window. Call 911 if possible, and tell them
exactly where you are. Shout for help and signal your position by waving a
bright cloth or sheet.
- If your clothes catch on fire, do not run!
STOP where you are - DO NOT RUN!;
DROP to the floor or ground; and
ROLL back and forth using your hands to cover your face.
Roll as many times as necessary until the fire is out.
Fire Facts:
Fire is black
A real fire is so dark that you can barely see the flames. You will be lost
and confused by the thick smoke even in your own bedroom, unless you know what
to do. You must know how to escape your home with your eyes closed.
The odor of smoke will not wake you
The poisonous gases actually put you into a deeper sleep! Most fires occur at
night and only a loud noise, such as a smoke alarm will wake you when you're
sleeping.
The fire's heat is intense
You don't have to be near the flames to be injured. Your body cannot survive
temperatures higher than 150 degrees, (that's hot enough to cook some food in
an oven), and a fire can rage over 600 degrees! Learn what you can do
to survive this kind of heat.
There is no time to think
You may have as little as one minute to escape once a fire starts. If a fire
is not put out in 30 seconds, it should be considered out of control. Every
second must be used to get out!
Common Causes of House Fires:
- Cigarettes
If anyone in the house smokes, provide a
lot of large, steady ashtrays. Be alert for a smoker who is sick in bed.
Before retiring for the night, check cushions in rooms where people have been
smoking.
- Electrical / Overloaded outlets:
Replace or repair any electrical device with a loose or frayed cord.
Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.
In homes with small children, electrical outlets should have plastic
safety covers.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a
receptacle outlet. Most receptacle outlets contain two receptacles. As an
added precaution, consider plugging only one high-wattage appliance into
each receptacle outlet.
Avoid the use of "cube taps" and other devices that allow the
connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.
Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn.
Use bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage.
- Children playing with matches and lighters
©, Copyright, 2001 Sedgwick County Fire
District #1
last update:
12/01/05
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