Have you ever been in a structure fire? Most of us are fortunate in that we can answer “no” to that question.
The chance of being in a house fire are unfortunately higher than most people think. According to FEMA, in 2011 there were 1,389,500 fires in the US, causing 3,005 deaths and an additional 17,500 injuries, and $11.7 billion in damages.
There’s a lot of things we do in life “just in case” we find ourselves in a bad situation. If you hit ice when you’re driving, get off the brakes. If you experience road rage, call 911. If someone is choking, administer the heimlich maneuver. Someone is unresponsive and has no pulse? CPR
One of my favorite Pete Townsend songs has a lyric “No one respects the flame like the fool who’s badly burned”. Don’t be the fool. Although it may be unlikely that you could be in a home fire, it’s certainly a possibility.
It only takes an afternoon to make a plan, and keep your family safe in the event of a fire. In 2012, 48.7% of residential building fires were from cooking, 12.1% from heating, and only 5.6% from carelessness.
Did you know that smoke detectors have an expiration date? According to Consumer Reports May 2014, “The life expectancy of smoke alarms is generally 10 years, after which point their sensors can begin to lose sensitivity. The test button only confirms that the battery, electronics, and alert system are working; it doesn’t mean that the smoke sensor is working. To test the sensor, use an aerosol can of smoke alarm test spray that simulates smoke. But even if the 17-year-old smoke alarms in your homes can still detect smoke, we recommend replacing them with new models.”
The US EPA has a similar note on their website:
Regardless of the detection technology used in your smoke alarm, the product label, User’s Manual or Warranty should state the expected useful life of the smoke detector. For example, smoke alarms with the UL label have been certified with an expected useful life of 10 years. The product label also will tell you whether this includes the useful life of the battery. If you do not have a lithium long life battery (10 years), fire officials recommend that you change your batteries at the same time you turn your clock back each year for the end of Daylight Saving Time. It’s also important to make sure your smoke alarm is working properly. You should test the alarm periodically.
It’s probably fair to say that if you live in a house that’s more than 10 years old, you still have the original smoke detectors in your house. It’s time to change them out. Smoke detectors are between $15 -$25. Most detectors are hardwired. If you are not comfortable installing them yourself, you can hire a licensed electrician.
Dave Ptasinski owner of EAST COAST ELECTRICAL SERVICES INC. In Holly Springs notes that, “Most fires occur between the hours of 11pmand 7am. In the last 3 months, I’ve seen many customers with charred outlets and damage within their walls. I cannot stress enough the importance of having properly working fire alarms that communicate with each other so that when one goes off, they all go off. The danger increases even more with lightning strikes and large power loads.”
Different sources have different recommendations as to how many smoke alarms you should have in a home, and where they should be located. At a minimum, there should be one on every floor of the house.
According to Joseph D. Harasti, the Fire and Life Safety Education Officer with Holly Springs Fire-Rescue, he told us “There should be a smoke alarm on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and in each bedroom. Smoke alarms save lives.”
In addition to having working smoke alarms, you need a plan. Practice Exit Drills In The Home (EDITH). Just as children practice fire drills at school, having these drills at home can save lives.
Practice feeling a door for heat before opening it. Teach children not to hide in a fire. Encourage all family members to have two ways out of every room. Teach children and adults that smoke rises and that cooler-safer air can be found by crawling low under smoke. Have a meeting place outside of the home to account for all family members. Once outside of the home, stay out and call 911.
For more detailed information and tips on how to make a plan for your home, go to the National Fire Protection Agency website at http://www.nfpa.org. They offer some great tools to help with your plan.
A plan and talk with the family will only take a short time to do. Isn’t your family worth it?
