Help
prevent fire fatalities by making sure your home is safe and
that your family knows what do in case of a fire! Not only
should every home have “working” smoke alarms,
but you should also have an escape plan! The rule of thumb
for changing the batteries in your smoke alarms during the
fall time change. Follow the guidelines below, from
Anne Arundel County, for installation of smoke alarms
and escape plans.
Did you know that every year 1,200 children age
14 and under are killed in home fires in the United States?
About 3,000 adults die as well. Your family probably won't
be one of them if you practice (EDITH)
Exit Drills in the Home. If there’s a fire in your
home, you won't have time to think and you probably won't
be able to see, either. (The smoke from the fire will make
the room pitch black.) Please consider this three-step plan.
Step 1: Install Smoke Alarms
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Install smoke alarms on every
floor of your home, outside every sleeping area and inside
every bedroom
-
Test your smoke alarm by following
the manufacturer's suggested method at least once per month
-
Replace the battery once per
year - A good time to change the battery is during the fall
time change from daylight savings time
Step 2: Develop a Family Escape Plan
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Include the family in your preparation
-
Map out two exits from every
room
-
Make sure that windows can be
opened quickly
-
Purchase chain ladders for exiting
from above the first floor; Keep them readily accessible,
not stored away in a closet
-
Make sure exits are not blocked,
that persons are not sleeping in a basement with no exits
and dead bolts have thumb-turns not keys
-
Designate a safe meeting place
in front of your home to account for everyone first, before
leaving to call 9-1-1
Step 3: Practice Your Plan
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In a fire, crawl low on the floor
with your mouth and nose covered with a cloth or towel until
you can exit
-
"Stop, Drop and Roll"
if your clothes catch fire while exiting; Cover your face
(nose, eyes and mouth) with hands to protect your throat
and lungs
-
If you are in a room, go to the
door and feel it with the back of your hand; If it is hot,
use the second exit; If you are trapped, hang a sheet from
the window to indicate the need for rescue
-
Once out, stay out! Go to your
designated meeting place first, then call 9-1-1
-
When the Fire Department arrives,
prepare to report whether all persons and pets are out of
the building.
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