Learning English with CBC

Transcription

1 Lesson 76: Self Study Edition Learning English with CBC Listening Lessons for Intermediate Students Based on CBC Manitoba Radio Broadcasts February 21, 2012 Level: Topic: Language Skills and Functions: CLB 6 and up Fire Safety Listening listening to a short interview for detail; Speaking making a 911 call; presenting information Reading reading a text for main ideas and detail; reading a quiz and answering multiple choice questions Writing writing instructions Language Competencies: Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Listening and Speaking Strategies, Socio-cultural/sociolinguistic Competence Language Tasks: Answer questions about fire safety in your home Listen for detail in a radio interview with Assistant Fire Chief Bill Clark Use new vocabulary in context to complete sentences on the main ideas of the interview Read a quiz about fire safety / answer multiple choice questions Give written instructions on fire safety using the imperative Read different situations and decide if they are 911 emergencies Make a 911 call to report a fire in your home Read about home fire escape plans / plan a presentation on the topic Essential Skills: Reading text, oral communication, writing Appendices: Transcript Answers to Fire Safety Quiz Fire is Fast! There is little time! Answers to Worksheets

2 Manitoba Memo Statistics show that on average, fires in Canada kill eight people a week. Threequarters of these deaths happen in people s homes. Death from fire is most common between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., while people are sleeping. Most people are killed by smoke inhalation, not by flames. In a house fire, working smoke alarms and an escape plan can be the difference between life and death. A smoke alarm alerts you that a fire has started. A rehearsed escape plan helps everyone get out quickly. Fire can spread through a home within a few minutes. Newer homes and furnishings are made with a lot of synthetic materials and plastics. These materials cause fires to ignite and burn very fast. They also release toxic gases when they burn. The safe escape time in a fire today is very short. Most home fires are preventable. The top five causes are: Kitchen fires, which often result from someone leaving a pot or pan on a hot burner on a stove and forgetting about it. Home heating fires, which are caused by sparks escaping a wood stove or fireplace, by a chimney catching fire or when flammable objects are left near baseboard heaters or space heaters. Electrical fires, which can be caused by wall outlets overheating, by worn or broken electrical cords or by faulty electrical wiring. Careless smoking fires, which are the number one killer in fatal home fires. A lit cigarette can smoulder for hours in a couch or mattress, and then fire breaks out in the middle of the night when people are sleeping. Candle fires, which usually happen when someone forgets to put out lit candles and leaves the room. There are three key words for fire safety: prevention, detection and escape. We need to know and understand all three to stay safe. Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 2 of 24

3 Background 1. Think about the following questions Do you have smoke detectors in your home? Where are they located? Who checks the smoke detectors to make sure they have working batteries? What emergency number would you call if you had a fire in your home? Do you and your family have a plan to exit your home if there is a fire? (e.g. a meeting place outside where everyone would go when they left the burning house) Do you have a fire extinguisher in your home? If so, do you know how to use it properly? Does anyone in your home smoke in bed? Burn candles regularly? 2. Vocabulary definitions Here are some words you need to know to understand the CBC interview. Vocabulary tragic fire prevention fire detection to escape from the Assistant Fire Chief a smoke detector A tragic event or situation can also be described as dreadful or disastrous. It makes you feel very sad because it involves death or suffering. Fire prevention refers to the things people can do to prevent fires from starting. A fire detection system lets people know a fire has started and gives them a warning. For example, a smoke detector is an example of a fire detection system. When you escape from a situation, you get away from it. We usually escape from situations we think could be dangerous. The Assistant Fire Chief is the second-incommand. He or she assists the Fire Chief in running the fire department and fills in for the Chief if he/she is unavailable. A smoke detector is a device that senses when there is smoke in a home or building and sets off an alarm to warn people of the danger. Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 3 of 24

4 a battery a fire escape plan tips a carbon monoxide detector an exit the National Building Code A battery is an object that supplies electricity so that a device like a smoke detector can do its job. A fire escape plan is a plan developed to show people how to escape from a home or building if there s a fire. It shows all of the possible exits. If you give someone tips about a topic, it s similar to giving them advice. Carbon monoxide detectors are similar to smoke detectors, but the alarm sounds if there is carbon monoxide gas in the air in your home. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and poisonous gas. A problem with your furnace could lead to carbon monoxide in your home. An exit is a way out. For example, doors and windows are the common ways to exit a home. The National Building Code is a book for the construction industry. It sets standards and guidelines to ensure that new and renovated buildings are structurally sound, safe from fire, free of health hazards, and accessible to people with physical disabilities. to take something into consideration If you take something into consideration, it means you have considered or thought about it before finalizing what you plan to do. to have an alternative to be warned about something to reach a certain proportion to be rendered unconscious If you have an alternative, it means you have another option or choice. For example, if the front door in blocked in a fire situation, an alternative plan is to escape through a window. When you are warned about something, you are made aware of an event or situation that could be dangerous or harmful. The word proportion means size or scale. If you are rendered unconscious, it means you lose consciousness. In this state, you cannot see, smell, move etc. but you are alive. Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 4 of 24

5 3. Predict what the interview is about In this interview, Marcy Markusa interviews Bill Clark, the Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Winnipeg. Can you predict the advice Bill Clark will give to CBC listeners about what they can do to stay safe from fire? Here are some examples: 4. Get ready to listen I think he ll tell listeners to make sure they have a smoke detector. He ll probably tell listeners to...make sure they know how to get out of their home if there is a fire. He might suggest that listeners go to the Fire Department s website for tips. I m not really sure what advice he ll give. In this podcast, you will hear two speakers. You will hear: Marcy Markusa host and interviewer Bill Clark Assistant Fire Chief, City of Winnipeg Play the podcast for the first time. 5. Listen for spoken language strategies When you listen this time, listen for spoken language strategies. You can use the transcript to help you. The table below gives examples of some of the different strategies Bill Clark uses when he s speaking. Strategy Example Lines Gaining time to think by y know like throughout stalling by using fillers or ah I mean hesitators uh Re-phrasing Absolutely, a home plan ought to be like okay, mean taking into consider, y know, alternative plans. 29/30 Reductions y know throughout Long, run-on sentences. In written English, this passage might be two or three sentences. It s based on like, the houses are based on the National Building Code and with that ah based on the design and exits, there can be a a single exit ah but that s to the code and a lot of houses are built that way Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 5 of 24

6 After you Listen a) Review your pre-listening predictions Were you able to predict the advice Bill Clark gave listeners? b) Practice using vocabulary in context The following sentences summarize the main ideas in the podcast. When you listen this time, listen for new vocabulary and how it is used in the interview. Now try using the new vocabulary. Can you find the correct vocabulary words from the box below to complete each sentence? The first one is completed for you as an example. 1. A tragic house fire in Winnipeg claimed the lives of four people. 2. In the interview, Marcy asks the Assistant Fire Chief what people can do right now to improve their fire. 3. One of the most important things you can do is to have one or more in your home. You also need to check the to make sure they are working. 4. It is important to have an so you and your family know how to get out of your home quickly if a fire starts. 5. Some newer homes only have one main. That s why it is important to know about escape routes, like. 6. However, you can t escape if you aren t. 7. If you don t have a smoke detector to warn you about a fire, you could become and not even realize you are in danger. smoke detectors alternative safety escape plan warned unconscious windows tragic batteries exit Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 6 of 24

7 c) Take the Fire Safety Quiz What do you know about fire prevention and fire safety? Read the following questions and the possible answers. Select the best answer for each question. The first one is completed as an example. (You ll find the answers in Appendix 2.) 1. What kind of fire in the home is most likely to cause death? a) Cooking fires b) Smoking of cigarettes, cigars etc. c) Heating equipment fires (e.g. space heaters, woodstoves) d) Electrical fires 2. What percentage of fires in the home start in the kitchen? a) 10 percent b) 20 percent c) 30 percent d) 40 percent 3. If a pan on the stove catches fire, what should you do? a) Throw water on it b) Throw flour on it c) Put a lid on it d) Carry it to the sink and run water over it 4. If you are leaving your home, at what point should you turn off the clothes dryer? a) If you plan to be gone 15 minutes or more b) If you plan to be gone 30 minutes or more c) If you plan to be gone an hour or more d) Turn off the dryer before you leave regardless of how long you are going to be away 5. What percentage of people have an escape plan for their home? a) 10 percent b) 25 percent c) 35 percent d) 45 percent 6. What is the main reason why smoke detectors fail? a) Missing batteries b) Dead batteries c) Disconnected batteries d) All of the above Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 7 of 24

8 7. How often should you replace a smoke detector? a) Every 5 years b) Every 10 years c) Every 20 years d) You don t need to replace a smoke detector as long as it is working 8. When should you consider using a fire extinguisher? a) When the fire is between you and the phone b) When the fire is between you and the exit door c) When the fire is confined to a very small area d) When a room is filled with smoke 9. If your clothing catches fire, what should you do? a) Run for help b) Jump in the shower c) Find the fire extinguisher d) Drop to the ground and roll over 10. After a fire starts, how long do you have to escape your home safely? a) One to 2 minutes b) At least 5 minutes c) Up to ten minutes d) Up to 15 minutes 11. If a fire breaks out in your home, what should be your first priority? a) Calling 911 b) Trying to put the fire out c) Getting everyone out of the house safely, then calling 911 d) Making sure you take your valuables with you when you leave the house 12. If all the exits are blocked by smoke and fire, what should you do? a) Yell for help out a window and call 911 if you have a phone b) Try to keep smoke from entering the room you are in by filling cracks around the door with sheets, blankets etc. c) Stay where the firefighters can find you - never hide in a closet or under a bed d) All of the above Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 8 of 24

9 d) Use the imperative to give instructions about fire safety Normally, we think that a proper sentence must have a subject and a verb, but that s not always the case. In an imperative sentence, the subject is implied. Read the following information about imperative sentences. The Imperative is Used to give a direct command to someone to give advice, to instruct, to suggest in spoken language more often than in written language to communicate written tips or do s and don ts on a topic Examples of Imperative Sentences Be quiet! Please be quiet. Don t/never smoke in bed. Turn off the dryer before you leave the house. Check the batteries in your smoke detector at least once a year. Imperative Sentence Structure Imperative sentences use the base infinitive form of the verb. The subject (you) is implied but isn t said. Some commands are followed by an exclamation mark. However, if a command starts with please, a period is used. Affirmative imperative sentences tell you to do something. Negative imperative sentences tell you not to do something. Be quiet! (Meaning: You must be quiet.) Please be quiet. (Meaning: I d like you to be quiet.) Turn off the dryer before you leave the house. (Meaning: You should always turn off the dryer before you leave the house.) Don t/never smoke in bed. (Meaning: You should not/you should never smoke in bed.) Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 9 of 24

10 Here is a list of situations that relate to fire prevention and fire safety. Read the situation. Can you write an instruction for each situation using the imperative? The first one is completed for you as an example. 1. Situation: You know it s important for people to remember never to smoke in bed. Instruction: Don t smoke in bed. / Never smoke in bed. 2. Situation: You know it s important for people not to leave the dryer running when they leave the house. Instruction: 3. Situation: You know it s important for people to check the batteries in their smoke detector at least once a year. Instruction: 4. Situation: You know it s important for people not to leave matches or lighters where children can find them. Instruction: 5. Situation: You know it s important for people to remember to put out their cigarette butt before throwing it in the trash. Instruction: 6. Situation: You know it s important for people to practice an escape plan for their home in case of fire. Instruction: 7. Situation: You know it s important for people to remember not to leave the kitchen if they have a pot cooking on the stove. Instruction: 8. Situation: You know it s important for people not to leave candles burning after they leave a room. Instruction: 9. Situation: You know it s important for people to remember to keep flammable items away from portable heaters. Instruction: Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 10 of 24

11 e) In what situations do you call 911? Manitoba s major cities and most regions of the province have 911 service. If you dial 911, you are connected to police, fire and ambulance emergency services. If you aren t sure if there is 911 service where you live, check with your phone service provider (e.g. Manitoba Telephone System) or with your local health authority. The general rule is that you call 911 if you think a situation is life-threatening, a medical emergency, or if you think there could be significant danger to people or property. However, sometimes, people call 911 to report incidents or situations which are not actual emergencies. If a 911 operator has to take a non-emergency call, it takes their time away from a real emergency. That s why most cities and towns also have police non-emergency numbers. For example, Winnipeg has non-emergency numbers for fire, police and ambulance services. 1 It also has 311, a general information line for city services. Read the list of situations below. When would you call 911? Situation Call 911? Yes or No? 1. You or another person is seriously injured and in need of medical attention (e.g. chest pains, bleeding, breathing problems) Yes 2. Someone in your neighbourhood is screaming loudly for help. 3. You want to report a lost pet. 4. You see children playing on the thin ice on the river. 5. A crime has just taken place that has resulted in injury, or there s a situation that could lead to injuries or be life-threatening. 6. Your partner or another person is threatening or abusing you. 7. You want to report that your vehicle was broken into last week. 8. You are driving behind a driver who you think is impaired. 9. A robbery or theft is happening. 10. You hear gunshots or a loud explosion. 11. A serious motor vehicle accident has occurred. 12. You hear the sound of breaking glass. 13. Vehicles are parked on your street in a no-parking zone. 14. You see suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, e.g. there s a stranger knocking on doors or cars that aren t usually there. 15. A fire or smoke has been detected. 16. Someone asks you to call 911. You aren t sure of their situation. 17. You are involved in a minor vehicle accident or fender-bender. 1 The Winnipeg non-emergency numbers are: Ambulance ; Fire ; Police Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 11 of 24

12 f) Call 911 to report a fire Do you have the language you need to make a 911 call? Can you provide the 911 operator with the information they need in order to assist you? Here are some important points to remember if you are calling 911 to report an emergency. Stay calm. Speak clearly. Explain the emergency, and provide the address and telephone number where the emergency is occurring. The 911 operator will ask questions to determine what kind of emergency assistance you need. Listen carefully to the questions. Ask the operator to speak more slowly or repeat information if you need to. Let the operator control the conversation. In some situations, the 911 operator will give you instructions to follow. Listen and follow the instructions exactly. Always stay on the line until you are told to hang up. On very rare occasions, you may get a recorded message when you dial 911. Do not hang up. Stay on the line and your call will be answered as soon as an operator is available. If you aren t sure if a situation is actually an emergency, but you think it may be, call 911 and report what is happening to the operator. If she/he decides it isn t an emergency, you will be asked to hang up and call the non-emergency line. It s a good idea to keep 911 emergency information near all of the phones in your home. You may know this information by heart, but a visitor or babysitter may not know it. Complete the box below with your personal information. Make copies to put by your phone Emergency: Police Fire Ambulance Name: Address: Nearest Intersection: Telephone Number: Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 12 of 24

13 Making a 911 Phone Call to Report a Fire Practice answering the 911 operator s questions out loud. 911 Operator: Hello, this is 911. What is the nature of your emergency? Caller: (Tell the operator your home is on fire.) 911 Operator: What is your address? Caller: (Tell the operator your address.) 911 Operator: What is your name? Caller: (Tell the operator your name.) 911 Operator: What is your phone number? Caller: (Tell the operator your phone number.) 911 Operator: What is the current situation? Is everyone safely out of the house? Caller: (Tell the operator yes, everyone is out of the house.) 911 Operator: The fire and paramedic service is on its way. Do not go back into your home. Caller: (Tell the operator you understand and will not go back inside.) 911 Operator: You can hang up now. Help is coming. Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 13 of 24

14 g) Answer detail questions about home escape plans Read the text Fire is Fast There is Little Time (Appendix 3) for detail. Decide whether the statements below are true or false. The first one is completed for you as an example. 1. A fire can get out of control in 30 seconds. True False 2. You have several minutes to get out of the house if a fire starts. True False 3. One working smoking detector is enough for most homes. True False 4. You should test your smoke detector to make sure it works and to ensure everyone in your home knows what the alarm sounds like. 5. If possible, your home escape plan should show two ways out of each room in your home. 6. It s important to decide in advance who would help infants or older people in the home if there s a fire. 7. An agreed upon meeting place outside the home is a good idea, but it s not an essential part of your escape plan. 8. If you can t read your house number easily from the street, or it can t be seen at night, you should get a new one that is more visible. True False True False True False True False True False 9. You should practice your escape plan monthly. True False 10. Practicing it during the day is important, but it is just as important to practice it at night. True False Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 14 of 24

15 h) Call 911 to report a fire Use the outline below to help you develop a presentation. Think about what information you would stress in a presentation about home escape plans. (Hint: look at the key words which are bolded in the text in Appendix 3.) Think about how you could present the information to help the audience remember the key points. Are there parts you could act out or role play? Are there illustrations or pictures you could use? Are there items you could use (e.g. a smoke detector)? You can look at the websites under the Want to know more section of the lesson if you need more information or to find ideas. Key Points to Stress Support/Expand on Key Points (use facts, role plays, pictures, objects etc.) 1. Fire spreads quickly To make this point, you could use facts from the text. You could also count to 30 with your audience to emphasize how quickly everything happens. What I Would Do/Say in the Presentation It s important to plan how to escape your home in case of fire. Fires can get out of control in 30 seconds. That s not a long time (count to 30 with audience). You may only have a minute to get out so you need to know how you would escape before a fire happens. Self Study: Weedless Wednesday Kicking the Smoking Habit Learning English with CBC Page 15 of 24

16 Key Points to Stress Support/Expand on Key Points What We ll Actually Say or Do Who Will Say/Do It Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 16 of 24

17 Want to know more The information for Appendix 3 is from the City of Winnipeg website, Fire and Paramedics page. Go to winnipeg.ca/fps/. Select Public Information, then Fire Safety Tips, then Escape Plan. There is lots of other information available on this website as well. The website of the Manitoba Fire Commissioner has information on fire safety. You can borrow videos from their library. Go to Quiz questions are from several sources, including: Information on when to call 911 is from numerous sources, including: 1&Topic_ID=45&Category_ID=1 There is lots of information on the Fire Prevention Canada website: These websites have fire safety information in different languages. CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external websites Self Study: Weedless Wednesday Kicking the Smoking Habit Learning English with CBC Page 17 of 24

18 Appendix 1: Transcript 2 January 26, 2012 (broadcast date) Speaker Podcast Line Marcy Hi I'm Marcy Markusa and you're listening to Learning English with CBC. Recently, there was a tragic house fire in Winnipeg that claimed the lives of four people. Whenever something like this happens, we re all reminded of the importance of fire prevention and fire safety. As Assistant Fire Chief Bill Clark 5 explains to me in this interview, there are steps we can all take to stay safe. Marcy What can people do in their homes right now, this morning, to ah improve their fire safety? Bill If you have a smoke detector, check the battery. If you don t have a smoke detector, put one in. Ah if you have a family escape plan, then review it and practice it. If you don t have one, make one. Our our department, we have our on our website, we have ah tips to homeowners and that about developing safe ah uh escape plans for the home, ah about smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors. Marcy One of the one of the neighbours Bill, just because you mentioned the escape plan, had told CBC that that entire house in this particular fire only had one exit. Bill (agrees) 20 Marcy Is that to code? Bill That s that s that s common in a lot of new construction. It s based on like, the houses are based on the National Building Code and with that ah based on the design and exits, there can be a a single exit ah but that s to the code and a lot of houses are built that way To hear the complete interview, go to CBC Podcasts: and locate the interview by its date. Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 18 of 24

19 Marcy Bill So then your your plan obviously is including windows? It has to. Absolutely, a home plan ought to be like okay, mean taking into consider, y know, alternative plans. What if the main exit way is blocked? What then? Y know? People need to consider alternate exit routes, y know and and practice that plan. But the most important thing here is that you can t practice your plan unless you re warned. And if you re asleep, and you don t have an an active ah warning system in the house, I mean the fire can reach proportions where you y know can be rendered unconscious before you even know that there s ah anything going on Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 19 of 24

20 Appendix 2: Answers to Fire Safety Quiz 1. b) Smoking Cigarette/cigar butts are most likely to start fires in mattresses, bedding, trash bins and upholstered furniture (sofas, chairs). Often these fires smoulder for hours and then smoke and flames erupt at night, when residents are asleep. If you, or others smoke in your home be sure to keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn; don t smoke in bed; use large, deep ashtrays; run water on cigarette ends to put them out before you put them in the trash; if someone has been smoking in a room, check furniture, cushions, trash etc. for any butts that are smouldering and could cause a fire. 2. d) 40 percent Most kitchen fires are cooking fires. To prevent cooking fires, be sure to never leave what you are cooking on the stovetop unattended; frequently check on what you are cooking in the oven; keep items that burn easily (oven mitts, tea towels, grease etc.) away from the stove; turn pot handles inward so they can t be bumped or knocked over easily. 3. c) Put a lid on it A lid will help smother the fire. Put on an oven mitt and then cover the flames with a large metal lid. Turn off the stove. Don t pick up the pan as that could make the flames spread. Don t put water on a grease fire as water can cause the hot oil to splash out of the pan. You can also pour baking powder on the flames or use a kitchen fire extinguisher. If the fire is in an oven or microwave, turn off the oven / unplug the microwave to allow the fire to burn out. 4. d) Turn the dryer off regardless of how long you are going to be away To prevent a fire in your dryer, always clean the lint filter before and after you use the dryer; remove any lint you can see on the dryer door etc.; keep the area around the dryer free of clothing, paper etc. that could easily catch on fire; if you have a gas-powered dryer, have it inspected regularly by a professional. 5. b) 25 percent It s estimated that about 25 percent of Canadians have a fire escape plan for their home. Fire safety experts recommend having a plan and practicing it at least twice a year. The plan should have at least two escape routes per room. If you live in an apartment building, know how to escape the building in case of fire. 6. d) All of the above Having a smoke detector in your home isn t enough. It has to be working properly. You should test your smoke detector once a month by using the test button; keep it clean, not dusty; replace the batteries once a year on a consistent date ( e.g. every spring on the day when the clock moves ahead one hour); replace the batteries before that date if the alarm starts to make a chirping or beeping sound. Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 20 of 24

21 7. b) Every ten years Older smoke detectors don t work as efficiently as newer ones, so it is important to replace them every ten years. If you don t know how old the smoke detectors are when you move into a new home, you should replace them. 8. c) When the fire is confined to a small area Fire safety experts recommend using a fire extinguisher if a fire is small and isn t growing, everyone else is already out of the house and the fire department has been called. When using a fire extinguisher, point it at the base or bottom of the fire and sweep the nozzle/spout from side to side. 9. d) Drop to the ground and roll over If your clothing catches fire, stop what you are doing. Don t run. Drop to the floor or ground. Cover your face with your hands and roll over and over until the flames are out. 10. a) One to 2 minutes Once a fire starts, it can spread and grow very quickly. Within a few minutes, a flashover can occur. That s when a room gets so hot that everything in it catches fire. You may have very little time to escape. That s why it s so important to have a fire escape plan and practice it. Closing doors behind you as you re leaving can slow the spread of the fire. 11. c) Get everyone out of the house then call 911 If you wake up to a fire, or one is spreading quickly in your home, you need to get everyone out. Don t take time to get dressed or gather valuables. Once you re outside, use a cell phone or go to your neighbours to call d) All of the above Make sure to tell your children that even if they re scared, they should never hide under the bed or in a closet. That makes it hard for firefighters or other adults who are looking for them to get them out safely. Keep heat and smoke from getting through the door of the room you are in by blocking the cracks around the door with sheets, blankets, and/or clothing. If there is a window in the room that it is not possible to escape from, try to open it wide and stand in front of it. If you can, grab a piece of clothing or a towel, place it over your mouth to keep from breathing in the smoke. This works even better if you wet the cloth first. Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 21 of 24

22 Appendix 3: Fire is Fast! - There is little time! In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke and flames to move throughout a house. Most fires occur in the home when people are asleep. If you wake up to a fire, you won t have time to grab valuables. There is only time to escape. Practice a home escape plan with your family until you can be out in under a minute. Or, if you live in an apartment, practice using the fire escape information provided by the building managers. When planning your home escape, here s what you can do; Be sure you have a working smoke alarm outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home. Talk to your kids about the smoke alarm and let them hear the sound they make by testing them, so they know what to expect in a fire emergency. Put it down on paper. Draw out your home escape plan with the entire family. Be sure to mark the escape routes clearly and have two ways out of every room. For example: Your plan Your meeting place (by a neighbour s tree) Walk through the house to demonstrate ways out and clear items away from exit routes. Be sure everyone can open the doors and windows. Create a buddy system for small infants or elderly who need help to exit the home. Choose a meeting place that everyone can remember. Under no circumstances should anyone ever go back into a burning building. Be sure all family members know the emergency number in your area so any one can go to a neighbour s house to call for help once everyone is out. Make sure your house numbers are a contrasting color to the house and can be easily seen from the street. (If you live in the country, make sure there is a number at the end of your driveway or another way for emergency crews to identify your home from the road.) Practice your plan at least twice a year. Sound the alarm and see if everyone follows the plan. Be sure to practice it during the day for the first time. After that, tell the kids you are going to test them at night. Try a weekend just after the kids are asleep. If they do not even wake up, put the buddy system into place so you know they can get out for sure. Everyone should be out in under a minute. Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 22 of 24

23 Answers to Worksheets Vocabulary 1. tragic 2. safety 3. smoke detectors, batteries 4. escape plan 5. exit, alternative, windows 6. warned 7. unconscious Write Instructions Using the Imperative (answers may vary) 1. Don t/never smoke in bed. 2. Don t/never leave the dryer running when you leave the house. 3. Check your smoke detector batteries once a year 4. Don t leave lighters or matches where children can find them 5. Put out your cigarette butt before throwing it in the trash. 6. Practice an escape plan for your home. 7. Don t leave the kitchen if there s a pot cooking on the stove. 8. Don t leave candles burning after you leave a room. 9. Keep flammable items away from heaters. When to Call 911 (Situations and circumstances can vary.) 1. Y 2. Y 3. N 4. Y 5. Y 6. Y 7. N 8. Y 9. Y 10. Y 11. Y 12. Y 13. N 14. N 15. Y 16. Y 17. N Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 23 of 24

24 Read for Detail 1. T 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. T 6. T 7. F 8. T 9. F 10. T Self Study: Fire Safety Learning English with CBC Page 24 of 24