Are you Prepared for a Fire?

10/13/2020 (Permalink)

Kitchen Safety

This year the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) set aside October 4-10, 2020 as fire prevention week. The 2020 theme was, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” This topic works to educate everyone about the simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves, and those around them, safe in the kitchen. Does your family have a fire evacuation plan? 

To ensure the fastest emergency evacuation plan, consider the following:

1. Start your fire evacuation plan with a map. This map should include locations of exits, assembly points, and equipment (such as fire extinguishers) that may be needed in an emergency. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm.
2. A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
3. When you walk through your plan, check to make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be opened easily.
4. Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor's house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped. Make sure to mark the location of the meeting place on your escape plan.
5. Go outside to see if your street number is clearly visible from the road. If not, paint it on the curb or install house numbers to ensure that responding emergency personnel can find your home.
6. Have everyone memorize the emergency phone number of the fire department. That way any member of the household can call from a neighbor's home or a cellular phone once safely outside.

Now that you have your plan in place, make sure you practice it every year.