Fire Prevention
Over 4, 000 people die each year from home fires. Most victims of home fires die from smoke or toxic gases (Hall 2001). While smoking is the leading cause of fire-related deaths, cooking is the primary cause of residential fires (Ahrens 2011). Having smoke detectors, home fire sprinklers, along with carbon monoxide detectors will help to keep your family safe.
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Smoke alarms save lives by providing alerts to wake residents of your home during a fire. The smoke alarms must be installed inside every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Make a routine to test your smoke alarms every month, say the first of each month.
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Home fire sprinklers can generally extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive at your home. Fire sprinklers can also save lives, reduce property loss and can even help cut homeowner insurance costs. With fire sprinklers, only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire, resulting in 90% of fires being extinguished by the only one sprinkler.
Some states are already requiring new homes and apartment buildings to have home fire sprinklers. Check with your city or county building department. Additional information on home fire sprinklers can e found at the Fire Sprinkler Initiative, a project of the National Fire Protection Association. |
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Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas found in the fumes of fuel that contain carbon, like wood, coal, and gasoline. It is known as the “silent killer” because you cannot smell it, see it, or taste it. It can come from cars, trucks, boats, lawnmowers, generators, and in common appliances at home such as clothes dryers, gas ranges, water heaters, BBQ grills, furnaces, and fireplaces. Know the sources in your home and install Carbon Monoxide Detectors in all rooms of your home.
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