WASHINGTON, DC -- The Home Safety Council Offers Simple Tips and Advice to Keep Families Fire Safe at Home According to a new survey commissioned by the nonprofit Home Safety Council, most adults across the country feel safest within their own homes, yet few families practice adequate fire safety precautions. The survey polled more than 2,000 adults in top metropolitan area households.
During National Fire Safety Month in October, the Home Safety Council is providing advice to help Americans better prepare their homes and protect their families before a fire occurs.
Home Safety Council research* shows that fire is the third-leading cause of injury-related death within the home, causing an average of more than 3,400 fatalities each year. According to the new survey, nearly all families have smoke alarms, however, only one in ten tests their smoke alarms as often as they should -- at least once a month. The new survey also showed that only 10 percent of families have practiced a home fire drill with members of their household within the past six months.
"Keeping smoke alarms working and having a well-rehearsed fire escape plan are the most important steps to prepare for a fire emergency at home," said Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council. "You may have less than three minutes to escape if a fire occurs, so early warning from smoke alarms is critical and every family member must know the quickest escape routes."
During Fire Safety Month, the Home Safety Council urges families to evaluate the smoke alarms in their home and also practice a fire escape plan using the following guidelines:
Installing and Testing Smoke Alarms
Early warning is essential for escaping a fire. Having working smoke alarms on every level of the home is the most effective way to alert the entire family should a fire strike. The Home Safety Council offers the following guidelines for installing and testing smoke alarms at home:
* Purchase smoke alarms that are listed by UL (look for the UL mark on
packaging).
* At a minimum, install smoke alarms on every level of your home,
including the basement, and near every bedroom. The Home Safety Council
recommends installing additional smoke alarms inside each bedroom or
sleeping area.
* When possible, the Home Safety Council recommends using interconnected
smoke alarms. These are tied in together so that if one alarm operates,
they all signal together, giving you more time to escape a fire.
Interconnected alarms with battery back-up can be hard-wired (run on
your household electrical wiring) or wireless (new technology that can
be interconnected independent of household wiring).
* Smoke rises, so smoke alarms should be mounted high on walls or
ceilings. When installing ceiling mounted alarms, it is recommended to
place them at least four inches away from the nearest wall; and wall-
mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the
ceiling.
* Choose an installation location that is well away from the path of
steam from bathrooms and cooking vapors from the kitchen, which can
result in "nuisance" alarms.
* Place smoke alarms well away from windows, exterior doors and air
ducts, where drafts can interfere with their operation.
* Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions or push the "test button" on the face of the alarm cover.
Put new batteries in your smoke alarms at least one time each year. Do
this sooner if the alarm makes a regular chirping signal, indicating
low battery power.
* When smoke alarms are 8-10 years old, replace them with new smoke
alarms.
Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems
Smoke alarms and fire escape drills are essential in every home. Having these along with an automatic fire sprinkler system is the best way to stay safe from a home fire. Fire sprinklers detect heat and put water on the flames as soon as a fire starts. That limits the smoke and poison gases that a fire produces. Sprinklers will put the fire out or keep it small until firefighters arrive, giving people more time to escape and also protecting property.
If you are buying a home or moving to an apartment, choose a building with a fire sprinkler system if possible. If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home, consider having a home fire sprinkler system installed. Talk to your local fire department for help finding a qualified home fire sprinkler installer.
Plan and Practice a Family Fire Drill
The Home Safety Council recommends the following guidelines for developing and practicing a home fire escape plan:
* Sketch out a floor plan of your home, showing all rooms, windows,
interior and exterior doors, stairways, fire escapes and smoke alarms.
Make sure that every family member is familiar with the layout.
* Choose a place outside, in front of your home, where your family will
meet and wait for the fire department. Mark this place on your escape
plan.
* Walk through your home to plan your escape. Find two ways out of every
room -- the door and maybe the window. Mark them clearly on the plan.
* Keep escape paths clear and find and fix anything in your home that
could slow a quick escape, such as windows that are stuck or heavy
furniture blocking an exit.
* You might need a fire escape ladder to get out of upstairs bedroom
windows. If so, they should be stored near the windows and made part
of your fire drills. Practice with them from a ground-floor window to
prevent injury.
* Hold fire drills to make sure everyone can wake up to the sound of the
smoke alarm. Young children might sleep through the sound.
* Young children will need help escaping a fire. Older family members
may also need help. Ensure that family members with special needs,
such as someone who is ill or frail, have a buddy to help them get out
safely. Find out who needs help and name someone to help them.
* If anyone in the household has a hearing impairment, purchase special
smoke alarms that use strobes and/or vibrations to signal a fire.
* Make sure windows and doors open easily. Make sure everyone can reach
and open locks on doors and windows.
* If you have security bars on doors and windows, have a "quick-release"
latch. This makes it easy to get outside in an emergency. You may
need to have one installed. Make sure everyone in your family knows
how to use the latch.
* Make copies of the escape plan sketches and post them in each room
until everyone becomes familiar with them.
* Practice makes perfect. Every second counts during a real fire.
Practice your plan two times a year with your family.
For additional free resources to help you stay safe in and around your home, please visit http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/firesafetymonth.
About the Home Safety Council
The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. Through national programs, partnerships and the support of volunteers, HSC educates people of all ages to be safer in and around their homes. The Home Safety Council is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Washington, DC.
*State of Home Safety in America(TM) report (2004)
CONTACT: Shannon McDaniel of Brand Resources Group, Inc., +1-703-739-8341, for Home Safety Council.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
Source: Home Safety Council
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| Notes:
CONTACT: Shannon McDaniel of Brand Resources Group, Inc.,
+1-703-739-8341, for Home Safety Council
Web site: http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/firesafetymonth
About This Release
If you have any questions regarding information in this press release, please contact the organization listed in the press release. Issuers of press releases and not TCI are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
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