Parents & Teachers

FIRE SAFETY

Protect Your Family and Home from Fires

Montlick & Associates

Fire Safety

Family Safety Advocate, Jacquie Palisi advises parents how to create a home that is free of fire hazards, and an escape plan to protect your family. Also, view and download our Fire Prevention and Escape Plan Grid to create an evacuation plan for your own home.

Residential Fires

Deaths from fires and burns are the fifth most common cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States and the third leading cause of fatal home injury. The United State's mortality rate from fires ranks sixth among the 25 developed countries for which statistics are available (International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics 2003).

Although the number of fatalities and injuries caused by residential fires has declined gradually over the past several decades, many residential fire-related deaths remain preventable and continue to pose a significant public health problem.

Occurrence and Consequences

  • On average in the United States in 2006, someone died in a fire about every 162 minutes, and someone was injured every 32 minutes.
  • Four out of five U.S. fire deaths in 2005 occurred in homes.
  • In 2006, fire departments responded to 412,500 home fires in the United States, which claimed the lives of 2,580 people (not including firefighters) and injured another 12,925, not including firefighters.
  • Most victims of fires die from smoke or toxic gases and not from burns.
  • Smoking is the leading cause of fire-related deaths.
  • Cooking is the primary cause of residential fires.

Costs

  • In 2005, residential fires caused nearly $7 billion in property damage.
  • Fire and burn injuries represent 1% of the incidence of injuries and 2% of the total costs of injuries, or $7.5 billion each year.

Risk Factors

  • Approximately half of home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms.
  • Most residential fires occur during the winter months.
  • Alcohol use contributes to an estimated 40% of residential fire deaths.

Early Warning and Escape

Even when you have complied with every item in this Home Fire Safety Checklist, you still need to have a plan for early warning and escape in case a fire does occur. Many fire deaths and fire injuries are actually caused by smoke and gases. Victims inhale smoke and poisonous gases that rise ahead of the flames. Survival depends on being warned as early as possible and having an escape plan.

Smoke Detectors

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following statements.

At least one smoke detector is located on every floor of my home

YES ____   NO ____

Smoke detectors are placed near bedrooms, either on the ceiling or 6-12 inches below the ceiling on the wall.

YES ____   NO ____

Smoke detectors are tested according to manufacturer's instructions on a regular basis (at least once a month) and are kept in working condition at all times.

YES ____   NO ____

Batteries are replaced according to manufacturer's instructions, at least annually.

YES ____   NO ____

Batteries are never disconnected.

YES ____   NO ____

The detector has a distinct warning signal that can be heard whether asleep or awake.

YES ____   NO ____

Test your detector monthly. Follow manufacturer's directions for testing the detector. Place one detector on every floor. Make sure detectors are placed either on the ceiling or 6-12 inches below the ceiling on the wall. Locate smoke detectors away from air vents or registers; high airflow or "dead" spots are to be avoided.

Recommendations:

  • Purchase a smoke detector if you do not have one. Smoke detectors are inexpensive and are required by law in many localities. Check local codes and regulations before you buy your smoke detector because some codes require specific types of detectors. They provide an early warning which is critical because the longer the delay, the deadlier the consequences.
  • Read the instructions that come with the detector for advice on the best place to install it. As a minimum, detectors should be located near bedrooms and one on every floor.
  • Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper maintenance. Smoke detectors can save lives, but only if properly installed and maintained.
  • Never disconnect a detector. Consider relocating the detector rather than disconnecting it if it is subject to nuisance alarms, e.g. from cooking.
  • Replace the battery annually, or when a "chirping" sound is heard.
  • Follow the manufacturer's instructions about cleaning your detector. Excessive dust, grease or other material in the detector may cause it to operate abnormally. Vacuum the grill work of your detector.

Escape Plan

Planning ahead, rehearsing, thinking, and acting clearly are keys to surviving a fire. How prepared are you?

You should be able to respond "yes" to the following statements.

The family has an escape plan and an alternate escape plan.

YES ____   NO ____

Escape routes and plans are rehearsed periodically.

YES ____   NO ____

Smoke detectors are tested according to manufacturer's instructions on a regular basis (at least once a month) and are kept in working condition at all times.

YES ____   NO ____

The escape plan includes choosing a place safely outside the house where the family can meet to be sure everyone got out safely.

YES ____   NO ____

At least two exits from each part of the house are established..

YES ____   NO ____

The fire department number is posted on every telephone.

YES ____   NO ____

Recommendations:

Establish advanced family planning for escape. It is an important partner with smoke detectors and it will prepare you for a fire emergency.

Include small children as a part of the discussion and rehearsal. It is especially important to make sure they understand that they must escape; they can't hide from fire under a bed or in a closet.

Your life and that of your family can be saved by foresight, planning, discussing and rehearsal.

Safety Links On This Topic

Sources: The safety tips in this section were compiled from the following great internet resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov)