KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE

	Home Fire Drills Could Save Your Child's Life
	What You Can do to Minimize Damage Following a Fire
	10 Fire Tips for Safety
	Leading Causes of Fire
	Trampolines
	Is Your Kitchen Safe?

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Home Fire Drills Could Save Your Child's Life

It's a frightening statistic - Each year, fires and burns kill more than 1,100 children ages 14 and under. Over 11,000 children are injured by fires in their homes.

One reason children die in home fires can be explained by their reactions to fire. Young children often hide under beds or in closets thinking they are safe from the fire. Older children mistakenly think they can control the fire. Some fear blame, so they fail to alert an adult.

The national SAFE KIDS Campaign (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) recommends that parents and caregivers prepare children in case of a residential fire. Take time to have a home fire drill by doing the following activities:

• Teach your children what the smoke detector alarm sounds like.
• Plan two escape routes from your house and practice them with your children.
• Designate an outside meeting place - a tree, street light or a neighbor's house - where family members should go immediately after leaving the house.
• Teach your children to touch doors before opening them. Tell them to use another exit if the door is hot.
• Teach your children to crawl under the smoke. Practice crawling with your child around his or her room.
• Teach children never to re-enter a burning building.

Remember, children need to know exactly what to do when they hear the smoke alarm or see thick, black smoke. It could save their lives.

Did you know that fires started by children playing with matches or lighters represent three out of 10 preschool child fire deaths? Keep matches and lighters away from children.

What You Can do to Minimize Damage Following a Fire

If you're one of the unfortunate people to experience a fire in your home, prompt action can help reduce permanent damage. Often, the following Do's and Don'ts can help reduce additional damage and help restore some of your furnishings.

These suggestions should be undertaken only after the Fire Department or other responsible party has okayed re-entry into the building.

(Source: Servicemaster)

DO:

• First, contact your agent as soon as possible. They can also provide you helpful information about what to do immediately following a fire.
• If the temperature is below freezing, take steps to see that freezing pipes won't produce more damage.
• Pour environmentally safe antifreeze in sinks, tubs, and toilet bowls if inside temperature is below freezing.
• Cover good carpet areas with towels or old linens to prevent more soiling.
• If the fire came near the kitchen, discard opened food packages which might be contaminated. Keep a list of discarded goods for your insurance record.
• If the electricity is off, clean out the refrigerator and freezer and leave the doors propped open.
• Use soap and water to clean chrome and metal fixtures. They may tarnish permanently if left uncleaned for more than a couple of hours.
• Air out the house as much as possible by circulating fresh air.

DON'T:

• Don't attempt to personally wash any papered or flat painted walls. Incorrect cleaning can compound the problem.
• Don't attempt to clean the carpet yourself.
• Don't use appliances which were in the proximity of the fire or were wetted down by the firemen.
• Don't eat food exposed to fire or smoke.
• Don't attempt to paint over areas which have been exposed to fire.

10 Fire Tips for Safety

Here are 10 important tips for fire safety, provided by NFPA, the National Fire Protection Association.

1. Stop, Drop and Roll - If your clothing catches fire, stop wherever you are, drop to the floor or ground, and roll over and over to smother the flames. Cover your face with your hands to protect your face.
2. Install and Maintain Smoke Detectors - Install at least one smoke detector on every level of your home. There should be one outside each sleeping area. In apartment buildings, there should be smoke detectors in each apartment. Test smoke detectors once a month according to directions. Replace dead batteries immediately. Clean away any dust or cobwebs from the face of the detector.
3. Practice EDITH - Exit Drills in the Home - Design an escape plan for your family. Make special provisions for infants, elderly and handicapped persons. Have two ways out of every room in case flames or smoke block one way. Establish a place outside where everyone will gather. Don't go back into a building that is on fire. Practice an escape plan with an Exit Drill in the Home (EDITH). In an apartment building, use only the stairs as a fire exit, never an elevator.
4. Crawl Low in Smoke - Crawl low in smoke, moving on hands and knees. Cleaner air is nearer the floor.
5. Cool a Burn - If someone gets burned, put cool water on the burned skin immediately. Seek a doctor's help if a blister forms or if the burn is severe.
6. Smokers Need Watchers - Make sure smokers extinguish cigarettes in large, deep ashtrays. Empty ashtrays into the toilet. Check under sofa and chair cushions for cigarette butts before going to bed. Never smoke in bed.
7. Space Heaters Need Space - Keep portable heaters at least 36 inches away from things that burn - papers, bedding, clothing, curtains. Keep small children away from heaters. Turn heaters off when going to bed or when leaving the home.
8. Be Careful When Cooking - Pay complete attention when cooking at the stove. Keep young children out of the way. Make sure pot handles are turned inward so they can't be accidentally tipped over. If grease catches fire, place the lid over the pan to smother the fire; turn off the burner. Never throw water or anything else onto a grease fire.
9. Practice Safety with Electricity - If an appliance gives off smoke or a burning odor, unplug it immediately and have it checked for repair. Check cords on appliances; have cords replaced if they are frayed or broken. Do not place extension cords under rugs or in other places where they may be stepped on and broken. If you replace a blown fuse, make sure the new fuse is of the same amperage rating.
10. A Match is a Tool - For Adults - Matches and lighters are tools for adults. Keep them where children can't reach them. Teach children to give matches and lighters to adults.

REMEMBER - If there is a fire, get out immediately and call the fire department from a neighbor's. Ask your fire department for information and help with fire safety in the home.

Leading Causes of Fire

According to the latest reported figures, accidents related to cooking caused more residential fires more than any other known cause. Careless smoking is the leading known cause of residential fire deaths.

Causes of reported fires include:

Cooking	20%
Unknown	18%
Heating	15%
Suspicious Causes (arson)	11%
Electrical wiring	8%
Appliances	6%
Smoking	5%
Open flame	5%
Children playing	4%
Other	4%
Exposure	3%

Is Your Kitchen Safe?

According to the latest reported figures, accidents related to cooking caused more residential fires than any other known cause. There are things you can do to help keep your kitchen and your family safe.

• Keep small children at a safe distance from hot liquid, both at the table and the stove.
• When children are nearby, use placemats on the table rather than a tablecloth. A child may try to pull himself up by the tablecloth and a heavy object or hot liquid could fall on the child. Keep all hot items near the center of the table.
• When cooking, keep small children away from the area or in a high chair or playpen. Keep pot handles turned in so they cannot be reached by a small child. If practical, use the back burners when cooking.
• Parents are encouraged to avoid the use of deep fryers/cookers when young children are present in the home. The grease may reach over 400 degrees and can cause extremely severe burns.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in a convenient and safe location. If a fire occurs, call the fire department after getting everyone OUT OF THE HOUSE. The fire extinguisher may be considered for use only after everyone is safe.
• When working around the stove, give special attention to the clothing you wear. Full or fluffy sleeves and other loose clothing present a greater risk of catching fire than short sleeves or snug-fitting clothes.
• If a burn occurs...
  • Immediately cool the burn with cold water.
  • Cover with a sterile pad or clean sheet and seek medical help immediately.
• The vapor in a bag of microwaved popcorn may exceed 180 degrees. Use caution when opening the bag and always follow directions using a microwave.
• Be sure babysitters and others who care for your child are aware of basic safety procedures to follow in the home and kitchen.

Trampolines

Trampolines. They seem like so much fun. Just put one in your back yard and let your children enjoy themselves for hours on end.

But trampolines may be the most dangerous piece of recreational equipment on the market. The American Academy of Pediatrics has officially recommended that the use of trampolines in schools be discontinued. Many gymnastic programs have eliminated this once officially sanctioned piece of apparatus.

The problem is that it's so easy to land on your neck or head and sustain a neck injury, thus risking permanent paralysis. Interestingly, just as many accidents occur on mini-trampolines as on the large ones.

(Source: The Physician and Sportsmedicine '93)

If you have a trampoline, here are a couple of safety tips you should observe.

1. Adult supervision should be required for spotting purposes whenever in use.
2. Only one person at a time should be on the trampoline.
3. Padding should always be present and in good condition.
4. The trampoline should be stored when not in use or when the owner is away for an extended period.