SAFETY EDUCATION
As firefighters and EMTs we take safety seriously. Our lives depend on it. This section of our web site contains items that you as a home owner/business owner can do to make the lives of your family, coworkers and our lives safer. Please take the time to give these items consideration.
Smoke detectors save lives...
Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half. Ninety-six percent of all homes have at least one smoke alarm, according to a 2010 telephone survey. Overall, three-quarters of all U.S. homes have at least one working smoke alarm.Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths in 2005-2009 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead. Almost one-quarter of the smoke alarm failures was due to dead batteries.
Source:NFPA's "Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires",
by Marty Ahrens, September 2011.
As firefighters and EMTs we take safety seriously. Our lives depend on it. This section of our web site contains items that you as a home owner/business owner can do to make the lives of your family, coworkers and our lives safer. Please take the time to give these items consideration.
Fire Extinguisher Use
A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives; but portable extinguishers have limitations. Because fire grows and spreads so rapidly, the number one priority for residents is to get out safely.
Safety tips
Use a portable fire extinguisher when the fire is confined to a small area, such as a wastebasket, and is not growing; everyone has exited the building; the fire department has been called or is being called; and the room is not filled with smoke.
To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS:
- Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you, and release the locking mechanism.
- Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.
For the home, select a multi-purpose extinguisher (can be used on all types of home fires) that is large enough to put out a small fire, but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle.
Choose a fire extinguisher that carries the label of an independent testing laboratory.
Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out. Local fire departments or fire equipment distributors often offer hands-on fire extinguisher trainings.
Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.
Know when to go. Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape. Every household should have a home fire escape plan and working smoke alarms.
Fireplace, Woodstove and Chimney
There is nothing like the cozy feeling you get from a warm fire burning on a cold winter's night. Learn what dangers lurk inside your chimney and how to manage them. Coming soon.
Common Household Hazards
There are probably many common household hazards lurking in your home right now. Most of the time you get lucky and nothing goes wrong. When it does though, the results can be devastating. Check out this page to learn how to make your home safer. Coming soon.
