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Safety Programs |
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PROGRAM ONE: Fire Safety and Prevention
Activities: To introduce the topic of fire safety. Have the audience stand up. Then ask any person who has had a fire of any kind sit down. Next ask those with a family member who has had a fire sit down. Next those who have had a friend who has experienced the destruction of fire. After each question point out the number of people standing. It should dramatically decrease after each question. This should prove to them the importance of learning about fire safety, since it is more common than people realize. Other activities with the fire safety unit include a demonstration of how a fire extinguisher is used properly. This can be done with the help of your local fire department. They may also bring in fire equipment to be shown. Displaying smoke detectors to show the differences between types and demonstrating their use can also be informative. INTRODUCTION: Each year fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Eighty percent of all fire deaths occur in the home. Direct property loss due to fires is estimated at 9.4 billion dollars annually. In addition 300,000 Americans are injured in fires each year. Many are scarred and disfigured and suffer emotional trauma as well. Treasured mementos, family photos, and other irreplaceable personal items are lost for good. The worst thing about these facts is that most home fires are preventable. |
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PREVENTION
Never overload electrical outlets or extension cords. Do not place cords and wires under rugs or carpeting, over nails, close to long drapes, or in high traffic areas. When using appliances follow the manufacturer's safety precautions. Use a surge suppressor at any outlet where more than two small appliances are plugged in. Overheating, unusual smells, shorts, and sparks are all warning signs that appliances need to be shut off, then replaced or professionally repaired. Unplug appliances when not in use. Use safety caps to cover all unused outlets, especially if there are small children who live in or visit the home. Do not tamper with your fuse box or use improper-size fuses or circuit breakers. Have your furnace and chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional once a year. If burning wood be sure to burn only dry wood to prevent creosote buildup. Portable space heaters need their space. They should be kept at least three feet away from walls, bedding, curtains, and all other combustibles. Kerosene stoves should be refueled outside and only after the heater has cooled. Be sure to keep children and pets away from the heaters, and never leave heaters on when you leave home or go to bed. Cook carefully. Never leave cooking unattended. Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles. Wear tight or short sleeves when cooking; loose-fitting garments can catch fire. Keep your stove and oven clean of grease and oil. If grease catches fire in a pan, slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames and turn off the heat. Leave the lid on until cool. Turn pot handles inward on the stove where you can't electrical appliances that aren't in use. Position microwave ovens so they have room to breathe and all vents are free of obstructions. Children are naturally curious about fire. In a child's hand, matches and lighters can be deadly. Keep them in a safe place away from children. Never l leave children unattended near a working fireplace, stove or space heater. Teach your children that fire is a tool, not a toy, and talk to them about fire safety. Make sure they learn to take smoke detectors seriously and respond to them. Teach them not to hide from a fire but to get out and stay out. Develop and practice escape plans with the entire family. Be sure to practice getting out of the house from several locations, and have a prearranged place for everyone to meet once they're out. Practice leaving with your eyes closed or blindfolded, because you may not be able to see during a home fire. Keep halls and escape paths clear and free from clutter and obstructions. Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths in North America. Never smoke in bed or when you are sleepy. Use large, deep non-tip ashtrays. Soak ashes and butts before discarding them in the trash. Before going to bed or leaving home after someone has been smoking, check under and around cushions and upholstered furniture for smoldering cigarettes. If you use lit candles make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they can't be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning. Working smoke detectors can alert you to a fire in your home in time for you to escape, even if you are asleep. They can be purchased at any hardware or discount store at a very reasonable price providing inexpensive protection for uou and your family. Install a smoke detector on every level of your home including the basement, and in close proximity to your sleeping areas. Placing them both inside and outside of your bedroom is a good idea since fires may occur in a bedroom and a detector inside the bedroom may give quicker detection than one outside the room if you are sleeping. A working smoke detector can double your chances of survival. Test every detector monthly, following the manufacturer's directions, and be sure to keep it clean and free of dust. Replace batteries once a year, or whenever a detector "chirps" to signal low battery power. Never remove the battery to stop the chirping or to deactivate the detector, and never borrow a battery from the detector for another use. A disabled detector cannot save your life or the lives of your loved ones. Replace detectors that are more than ten years old. Carbon monoxide detectors should also be used in your home if you have any type of heat produced by combustible fuels, especially furnaces and stoves that burn coal. If there is an electrical outage and you are using a gas powered generator be sure it is located outside the house. The same goes for gas powered pumps used to pump water from a basement. Gas engines emit dangerous carbon monoxide fumes that are hard to detect and may be deadly. Never operate them inside the home or in confined areas. |
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: National Fire Protection Association Pennsylvania Affiliate American Heart Association Susquehanna Emergency Health Services Council Robert Stackhouse Copyright© 2000, The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania | Credits |