Fire Prevention Week
October 4-10, 2009 is Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme is “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned,” which focuses on the importance of fire safety and fire safety education and ways to prevent fires and the deaths, injuries, and property loss they cause.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, 84 percent of all fire deaths in 2007 were attributed to a home fire. By providing valuable information and safety tips, the Fire Prevention Week campaign aims to help the public protect themselves and their homes from fire and burns.
Each day during Fire Prevention Week, Fire Corps will be sending out tips on an important fire prevention and safety topic. The tips are also provided below. Distribute them in your community or use them as part of your own Fire Prevention Week campaign.
Also consider submitting Fire Corps' Fire Prevention Week Letter to the Editor to local newspapers to inform the public about the Week and encourage your members of your community to help by volunteering with their local Fire Corps program.
Find more fire prevention and safety resources offered by Fire Corps, including the Home Safety Checklist and Smoke Alarm Order Form in the Preparendess and Fire Prevention Resources section of this web site.
For more information about the Fire Prevention Week 2009, including planning materials, safety tips, statistical information, and other resources that can be used by fire departments, Fire Corps teams, and teachers, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.
October 5: Preventing and Treating Burns
October 6: Kitchen Safety
October 7: Child Safety
October 8: Burn Hazards Around the Home
October 9: Resources for your Fire Corps Program
Being aware of your surroundings is the best way to reduce the likelihood of being burned. In the event someone is burned, it is important to know the steps for proper treatment.
- Be sure to keep hot foods, liquids, and appliances (such as a curling iron) away from tables or counter edges to avoid them being knocked over or pulled down.
- When using a heating pad, do not use for durations longer than 15-20 minutes and avoid placing objects on top of the pad.
- If someone is burned, treat it right away by applying cool water for 3-5 minutes, and then cover with a clean, dry cloth.
- Remove all clothing, diapers, jewelry, and metal from the burned areas.
- If a burn is severe or bigger than a fist, seek medical attention immediately.
Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2009 NFPA.
Many fires, burns, and injuries occur in the kitchen. The following tips will help keep you and your family safe:
- Always use pot holders or oven mitts when putting food in or taking food out of the oven and handling hot items on the stove.
- Don't put any hot foods or liquids near the edge of the counter or table as they could spill, fall, or get knocked over and cause burns.
- Always make sure the stovetop is clean as residue grease can catch fire.
- If a fire should occur on the stove, carefully slide a pan lid over the flames (make sure you are wearing an oven mitt) and then turn off the heat.
- If a fire should occur in the oven, keep the oven door closed and turn off the heat to smother the fire.
- Never leave appliance cords dangling over the counter as children or pets could pull them and injure themselves.
- When microwaving water, let it sit a minute before removing the cup as water heated past the boiling point can erupt out of the cup.
- When using a microwave oven, make sure the containers and wrappings are microwave-safe. Never put metal (such as aluminum foil, staples, metal utensils, etc.) in a microwave.
- Remember that food heated in a microwave can be very hot and use care when removing it or opening lids or other packaging/covers after heating.
- Puncture plastic pouches and plastic wrap coverings before heating items in a microwave to reduce the risk of steam burns.
Find more cooking fire safety tips in Fire Corps’ Fire Prevention Week Resource Center for 2008.
Children are vulnerable to burns and injury. Below are some simple tips to help reduce the risk of harm:
- Use tamper-resistant electrical receptacles inside the home.
- Keep children up to 3 feet away from the stove, open fires/flames, and heaters.
- Keep matches and lighters in a locked cabinet.
- Be sure to test bath water; a bath should be warm to the touch, not hot. Remember, children’s skin is more sensitive and burns easily.
- Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
- Make sure children know how to escape the house in the event of a fire. Teach children how to call for help and practice your escape plan.
Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2009 NFPA
There are countless safety hazards around the home. Below are suggestions of how to keep your family safe:
- Never leave a portable heater unattended and be sure to keep all flammable objects at least 3 feet away.
- If you have a fireplace, make sure your chimney is inspected and cleaned each year. Also, use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from igniting objects outside the fireplace.
- Keep all light fixtures and bulbs away from flammable objects.
- Only use extension cords as a temporary measure. A qualified electrician should install additional circuits when necessary.
- Check electrical cords throughout your home and replace them if they are frayed or show signs of wear.
- Remove potential fuel sources from your yard such as tree branches and trash.
Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2009 NFPA
Fire Corps programs can assist communities in taking preventative measures to avoid home fires. Fire Corps teams routinely educate their communities about home safety practices, and home safety checks are conducted by many programs across the country to reduce the risk of fire or injury.
The Home Safety Checklist can help your Fire Corps team implement a home safety check program in your community. The Checklist provides a basic, step-by-step approach to ensure residents in your community are safer and more secure. Use the Checklist to identify hazards in and around the home, as well as hazards that are associated with a variety of household situations, including those where children, older residents, pets, and/or those with disabilities may reside.
To assist your program in providing critical services to your community through home safety checks and other prevention activities, Fire Corps has partnered with First Alert to establish a smoke alarm donation program for registered Fire Corps programs. Your program may apply for these free smoke alarms by filling out the Smoke Alarm Request Form. Please keep in mind that quantities are limited and restrictions apply.
For access to more fire prevention resources from Fire Corps, visit www.firecorps.org/prevention.
