We may have missed Fire Prevention Week (October 7 – 13) due to the anticipation of Hurricane Michael but there is information that is good all year long. The campaign this year is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.”
We have all heard what we need to do to prevent or put out a fire, but it is good to remind ourselves about a few key points:
- LOOK – Look for places fire could start. One of the main culprits that most of us are guilty of is overloading electrical outlets. Some homes don’t seem to have enough outlets to plug in all our devices as well as reading lights, heaters, and other appliances. Look around your house and see if you can find other places for these items or call an electrician to install some additional outlets. This is especially true around the holidays when we put up lights and decorations.
- LISTEN – Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. Daylight Savings Time ends on November 4 and we will be reminded to replace the batteries. Be proactive and purchase the batteries now. Also, smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years as the sensors wear out. If your detectors are high up or you are unable to get to them, contact the local fire department to see if they will come out and replace the batteries or the whole unit.
- LEARN – Learn two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter. In addition, make sure fire extinguishers are easily available. Many of us put them under the sink, which is near the stove/oven. In case of a fire, you may not be able to get to them. The Fire Department recommends that you also put extinguishers near exit doors, such as in a coat closet or pantry. Check the date of your fire extinguishers to make sure they are not out of date.
Sparky the Fire Dog® has a new friend, Simon, who is 21st-century character helping teach this year’s Fire Prevention Week messages, You may see him around!
–Tidelines Editors