SAFETY FIRE PREVENTION WEEK OCT Inside is information you need to help keep you, your family and neighbors free from fire hazards.

Transcription

1 Supplement to the Oct. 12, 2016 Charleston Gazett SAFETY FIRE PREVENTION WEEK OCT Inside is information you need to help keep you, your family and neighbors free from fire hazards. n Smoke alarms - key to home safety n PlannIng ahead - Fire drills also: holiday safety Co alarms twitter.com/wvgazett facebook.com/charlestongazett

2 2G October 12, 2016 Message from the state fire marshal As our children have begun a new year of learning and the fall season is upon us, it brings us to a time that began 96 years ago when President Woodrow Wilson designated and issued a proclamation of National Fire Prevention Day. since 1922, the nation has observed the week which includes october 9 as Fire Prevention Week, to recognize and bring public awareness to the needs and concerns of all, young and old, individuals and families. This has been done to help keep people safe from preventable and even unpreventable acts of fire, and also to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that killed 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres. In an effort to keep West Virginians and others safe, this year s Fire Prevention Week Campaign, Don t Wait Check the Date! focuses on an educational and action effort to educate the public about the basic but essential elements of smoke alarm safety, recognizing the need of: replacing smoke alarms every 10 years, making sure you know how old the smoke alarms in your home are, and for everyone to find out how old a smoke alarm is by looking at the date of manufacture on the back and replacing that alarm 10 years from that date. In addition to smoke alarms, other educational concerns for safety that need to be reviewed are: the importance of planning and practicing fire escape drills, safe cooking and heating practices, proper use of matches, lighters, candles, and smoking materials, just to name a few. so, you re probably wondering, How can I help in this effort outside of my own home? Here are a few ideas: encourage your local leaders to spotlight and bring attention to fire safety in the home and businesses through signing a proclamation and promoting the importance of fire prevention and safety; use social media to share information, safety tips, and other information and resources to get the word out; participate and encourage educational events at schools in your community. share your own knowledge of fire prevention or safety by inviting the local fire department in your community to enhance this important information, and lastly, encouraging organizations in your community to host an open house at the fire department or other community events with the focus being on safety. This year our office has established our first annual Fire Prevention and safety Poster Contest for elementary students, grades K through 5 to encourage students and their families to review fire safety information and tips, and to give students the opportunity to express artistically a fire prevention or safety concept. The top 12 place-winners in the state will be awarded for their efforts and recognized in a 2017 Fire safety Calendar, which will be available for sale with all proceeds going to the West Virginia Fallen Firefighters Memorial Fund. As your state Fire Marshal, I believe that each of us can help make a difference in keeping people safe from injury and even death as a result of fire. Let s work together to keep those who live, work, and visit our state safe! Sincerely, Kenneth E. Tyree Jr. WV State Fire Marshal Fire Prevention Week This year s Fire Prevention Week campaign, Don t Wait Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years, represents the final year of a threeyear effort to educate the public about basic but essential elements of smoke alarm safety. Why focus on smoke alarms three years in a row? Because the National Fire Prevention Association s survey data shows that the public has many misconceptions about smoke alarms, which may put them at increased risk in the event of a home fire. For example, only a small percentage of people know how old their smoke alarms are, or how often they need to be replaced. As a result of those and related findings, the NFPA is addressing smoke alarm replacement this year with a focus on these key messages: Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Make sure you know how old all the smoke alarms are in your home. To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date. Why do we observe this date? Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. > Fire Alarm > Access Control >Intercom P >Cameras >Gates > Nurse Call Combining Old Fashioned Principles With Cutting Edge Technology

3 October 12, G Smoke alarm safety, installation and maintenance Smoke alarms provide an early warning of a fire, giving people additional escape time. In , smoke alarms sounded in more than half (53 percent) of the home fires reported to U.S. fire departments. Three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (38 percent) or no working smoke alarms (21 percent). The death rate per 100 reported home fires was more than twice as high in homes that did not have any working smoke alarms compared to the rate in homes with working smoke alarms (1.18 deaths vs deaths per 100 fires). In fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, almost half (46 percent ) of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries. Dead batteries caused one-quarter (24 percent) of the smoke alarm failures. Alarm placement Smoke alarms should be installed according to NFPA 72 and the manufacturer s instructions. Heat and smoke rise, so smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling or high on a wall to detect the first traces of smoke. If a room has a pitched (slanted) ceiling, mount the unit near the ceiling s highest point, 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30.5 centimeters) away from the wall. If the room has an A-frame ceiling, mount the unit at least 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30.5 centimeters) away from the peak. Wall-mounted smoke alarms should be installed so that the top of the alarm is not more than 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) from the ceiling. Install basement smoke alarms close to the bottom of the stairs. Don t install an alarm at the top of basement stairs; dead air trapped near the closed door could prevent smoke from reaching the unit. Some household environments can cause nuisance alarms or interfere with a smoke alarm s operation. Avoid placing alarms near a cooking appliance, a dusty area, a shower, or any area where the temperature drops below 40 F (4.5 C) or rises above 110 F (43 C). Cooking fumes, steam, and automobile exhaust can result in nuisance alarms. Do not install alarms in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, attics, or unheated areas or near recessed ceiling areas, ceiling fans, furnaces, or furnace vents. Place alarms at least 3 feet (0.9 meter) horizontally from bathroom doors. It s a good idea to have an experienced installer available, if possible, while your volunteers are in the field. Give volunteers a phone number to call your expert for advice on installation problems. Adequate protection Since the majority of fatal home fires happen when people are asleep, a smoke alarm should be installed outside each sleeping area, inside all bedrooms and on every level of the home (including the basement). People sometimes sleep in rooms other than bedrooms, such as living rooms, dens, dining rooms, and home offices where a fire may start. The closer an alarm is to a fire s origin, the sooner the alarm will sound. For the best protection, install interconnected smoke alarms so when one sounds, they all sound. Alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing Smoke alarms and alert devices, called accessories, are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Strobe lights throughout the home are activated by smoke alarms and alert people who are deaf and hard of hearing to fire conditions. When people who are deaf are asleep, a high-intensity strobe light along with a pillow or bed shaker can wake them up and alert them to fire conditions so they can escape. When people who are hard of hearing are asleep, accessories that produce a loud, mixed lowpitched sound can effectively wake them up and alert them to fire conditions. This equipment is activated by the sound of a standard smoke alarm. SERVICES Standpipe Systems Backflow Prevention Devices Fire Hydrants Fire Pumps Fire Extinguishers Fire Alarm Systems Emergency &Exit Lighting Special Hazards Systems Design (including full CADand BIM capabilities), fabrication, installation and project management of fire sprinkler systems including: Wet-Pipe Dry-Pipe Pre-Action Deluge Foam Systems MAIN OFFICE Charleston th Avenue Charleston, WV phone fax Recent research shows that a loud, mixed low-pitched sound is more effective for waking people of all ages than the loud high-pitched sound of a traditional smoke alarm. Again, choose products that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Safety tips Here are some life-saving tips to keep in mind as youinstall new alarms or change the batteries in existing alarms. Once the alarm sounds, you may have as little as two minutes to escape. Test your smoke alarms once a month by pushing the test button. Smoke alarms with nonreplaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away. For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries at least once a year. If that alarm chirps, replace only the battery. Hint: schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clocks from daylight saving time to standard time in the fall. Never borrow a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms can t warn you of fire if the batteries are missing or have been disconnected. Don t disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding nuisance alarms, try relocating it further from the kitchen, where cooking fumes or steam can cause the alarm to sound. Or, replace the alarm with a photoelectric type alarm which is not as sensitive to cooking fumes. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for cleaning to keep smoke alarms working well. Practice your home fire escape drill twice a year with everyone in your home. Practice at night and during the daytime. Practice your drill with overnight guests. Fire Protection Contractors BREWER &COMPANY OF WV, INC. Brewer &Company currently provides fire protection services to WV and all surrounding states. Services provided include fire suppression systems, fire alarm systems, maintenance, testing and repair. With in-house engineering, fabrication and project management, Brewer prides itself on offering quality and efficient services for all levels of construction needs. BRANCH OFFICES Morgantown 683 Hornbeck Road Morgantown, WV phone fax Martinsburg 1221 Hedgesville Road Martinsburg, WV phone fax

4 4G October 12, 2016 Have a home fire escape plan If you have children and want to make this a family activity: Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room. Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they ve escaped and where firefighters can see you and know you are out. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan. Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your escape plan. Sound the smoke alarm, and practice your escape drill with everyone in your home. Keep your escape plan on the refrigerator, and practice the drill twice a year or whenever anyone in your home celebrates a birthday. If your family is all adults: Walk through your home, and identify two ways out of each room. Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they ve escaped and where firefighters can see you and know you are out. Make sure everyone knows the emergency number for your local fire department. Practice your escape drill twice a year.

5 October 12, G Smoke Alarms q There is one smoke alarm on every level of the home and inside and outside each sleeping area. q Smoke alarms are tested and cleaned monthly. q Smoke alarm batteries are changed as needed. q Smoke alarms are less than 10 years old. Home safety checklist Have a fire drill! Cooking Safety q Cooking area is free from items that can catch fire. q Kitchen stove hood is clean and vented to the outside. q Pots are not left unattended on the stove. Electrical & Appliance Safety q Electrical cords do not run under rugs. q Electrical cords are not frayed or cracked. q Circuit-protected, multi-prong adapters are used for additional outlets. q Large and small appliances are plugged directly into wall outlets q Clothes dryer lint filter and venting system are clean. Candle Safety q Candles are in sturdy fire-proof containers that won t be tipped over. q All candles are extinguished before going to bed or leaving the room. q Children and pets are never left unattended with candles. Carbon Monoxide Alarms q Carbon monoxide alarms are located on each level of the home. q Carbon monoxide alarms are less than 7 years old. Smoking Safety q Family members who smoke only buy fire-safe cigarettes and smoke outside. q Matches and lighters are secured out of children s sight. q Ashtrays are large, deep and kept away from items that can catch fire. q Ashtrays are emptied into a container that will not burn. Heating Safety q Chimney and furnace are cleaned and inspected yearly. q Furniture and other items that can catch fire are at least 3 feet from fireplaces, wall heaters, baseboards, and space heaters. q Fireplace and barbecue ashes are placed outdoors in a covered metal container at least 3 feet from anything that can catch fire. q Extension cords are never used with space heaters. q Heaters are approved by a national testing laboratory and have tip-over shut-off function. About Sparky the Fire Dog Sparky the Fire Dog was created for the NFPA in 1951 and has been the organization s official mascot and spokesdog ever since. He is a widely recognized fire safety icon who is beloved by children and adults alike. Home Escape Plan q Have two ways out of each room. q Know to crawl low to the floor when escaping to avoid toxic smoke. q Know that once you re out, stay out. q Know where to meet after the escape. q Meeting place should be near the front of your home, so firefighters know you are out. q Practice your fire escape plan

6 6G October 12, 2016 Carbon Monoxide Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. Inthe home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide. Safety CO alarms should be installed in acentral location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for placement and mounting height. Choose acoalarm that is listed by aqualified testing laboratory. Call your local fire department s non-emergency number to find out what number to call if the CO alarm sounds. Test CO alarms at least once amonth; replace them according to the manufacturer s instructions. If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call the fire department. If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to afresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from afresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel. If you need to warm avehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run avehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of arunning vehicle is not covered with snow. During and after asnowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up. Agenerator should be used in awell-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings. Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO only use outside. Your Source for SAFETYInformation NFPA Public Education Division 1Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA HOME HEATING EQUIPMENT Have fuel-burning heating equipment and chimneys inspected by aprofessional every year before cold weather sets in. When using afireplace, open the flue for adequate ventilation. Never use your oven to heat your home. FACTS Aperson can be poisoned by asmall amount of CO over alonger period of time or by alarge amount of CO over ashorter amount of time. In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 80,100 nonfire COincidents in which carbon monoxide was found, or an average of nine calls per hour. Name of Organization Here Contact Information Here Carbon monoxide safety tips Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide. CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for placement and mounting height. Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Call your local fire department s non-emergency number to find out what number to call if the CO alarm sounds. Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer s instructions. If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call the fire department. If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel. If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow. During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up. A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings. Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO only use outside.

7 October 12, 2016 Your Source for SAFETY Information NFPA Public Education Division 1Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA Candle Safety Candles may be pretty to look at but they are acause of home fires and home fire deaths. Remember, acandle is an open flame, which means that it can easily ignite anything that can burn. CANDLE WITH CARE Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn. Think about using flameless candles in your home. They look and smell like real candles. If you Do burn CANDLEs, make sure that you... Use candle holders that are sturdy, and won t tip over easily. Put candle holders on asturdy, uncluttered surface. Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame. Don t burn acandle all the way down put it out before itgets too close to the holder or container. Never use acandle if oxygen is used in the home. Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during apower outage. Never use candles. Candles and Kids Never leave a child alone in aroom with aburning candle. Keep matches and lighters up high and out of children s reach, in a locked cabinet. FACTS December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. Roughly one-third of home candle fires started in the bedroom. More than half of all candle fires start when things that can burn are too close to the candle. Thanksgiving safety tips 7G For most, the kitchen is the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations. So keeping fire safety top of mind in the kitchen during this joyous but hectic time is important, especially when there s a lot of activity and people at home. Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food. Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently. Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away. Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns. Keep the floor clear so you don t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags. Keep knives out of the reach of children. Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child. Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children up high in a locked cabinet. Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle. Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button. Turkey fryers NFPA discourages use NFPA continues to believe that turkey fryers that use cooking oil, as currently designed, are not suitable for safe use by even a well-informed and careful consumer. These turkey fryers use a substantial quantity of cooking oil at high temperatures and units currently available for home use pose a significant danger that hot oil will be released at some point during the cooking process. In addition, the burners that heat the oil can ignite spilled oil. The use of turkey fryers by consumers can lead to devastating burns, other injuries, and the destruction of property. NFPA urges those who prefer fried turkey to seek out professional establishments, such as grocery stores, specialty food retailers, and restaurants, for the preparation of the dish, or consider a new type of oil-less turkey fryer.

8 8G October 12, 2016 HOLIDAY DECORATING Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant. Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer s instructions for number of light strands to connect. Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged. Keep decorations away from windows and doors. HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan. Keep children and pets away from lit candles. Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet. Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop. Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them. Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding. Your Source for SAFETYInformation NFPA Public Education Division 1Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA Winter Holiday Safety Winter holidays are atime for families and friends to get together. But that also means agreater risk for fire. Following afew simple tips will ensure ahappy and fire-safe holiday season. Before Heading Out or to Bed Blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed. FACTS Twoofevery five home decoration fires are started by candles. Nearly half of decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to aheat source. Name of Organization Here Contact Information Here Keep safety in mind when decorating for the holidays U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 860 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees, in These fires caused an annual average of one civilian fire death, 41 civilian fire injuries and $13.4 million in direct property damage. Ten percent of decoration fires were intentional. The decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle or equipment in nearly half (45 percent) of the fires. One-fifth (20 percent) of the decoration fires started in the kitchen. One out of six (17 percent) started in the living room, family room or den. One-fifth (20 percent) of the home decoration fires occurred in December. Christmas trees Between , U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 210 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 7 deaths, 19 injuries, and $17.5 million in direct property damage annually. Tree safety tips Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2 from the base of the trunk. Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights. Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit. Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily. Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer s instructions for number of light strands to connect. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree. Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed. Get rid of the tree after Christmas. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage. Check with your local community to find a recycling program. Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.