According to national fire stats about 84% of all fires are residential fires, and most of these occur in the winter months due to the use of alternative heating devices such as space heaters and fireplaces.
Many of these fire safety sources repeat the logical suggestions that each home should have a working smoke detector and families should practice fire drills.
To this, 1800Prepare adds the following suggestions which are excerpted from the book “Disaster Prep 101″ (found on our books page).
1. Smoke detectors are great to have and they’re inexpensive, so have at least 2 per floor, and have one that only comes out in winter. This extra one is meant to be used near your alternate heating devices during the winter when they’re in use.
2. Some of these extra smoke detectors might be located far away from your bedrooms. Since the worst time for a fire to occur is when the family is asleep, use this simple trick. Go get a “baby monitor.” They’re inexpensive new, and you might find some deals at yard sales or thrift stores. Put the monitor’s transmitter near your farthest smoke detector and the receiver in your bedroom. If the smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night, you’ll be sure to hear it.
3. When you practice your family fire drills, take turns to allow each family member to be “it,” the one who discovers the fire and warns the others. Also, be sure to have some realistic practice by performing your fire drill while blindfolded and crawling on hands and knees (IF all family members are physically capable and you’re not doing anything dangerous like trying to crawl down the stairs. Safety first, even in drills!)
4. Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher in each area a fire may occur such as the kitchen, garage, and near your clothes dryer.
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Author: Paul Purcell
Paul Purcell is the lead security analyst and preparedness consultant for InfoQuest Investigators in Atlanta, GA. Having grown up in a military family that moved constantly, and having spent the early part of his career in hospitality industry risk management, Paul has been exposed to numerous risks, threats, disasters, and emergency situations.
Paul Purcell is the lead security analyst and preparedness consultant for InfoQuest Investigators in Atlanta, GA. Having grown up in a military family that moved constantly, and having spent the early part of his career in hospitality industry risk management, Paul has been exposed to numerous risks, threats, disasters, and emergency situations.
The combination of a lifetime of preparedness experience with risk management and business continuity consulting led him to create the comprehensive disaster education package Disaster Prep 101 which is now a part of the 1-800-PREPARE family of life-saving products. Paul is a member of our advisory team and is part of our consultant educator lineup for onsite presentations. His areas of expertise include:
Corporate Security Analysis (including Red Team work) to include:
-General Risk Management & Site Security
-errorism Preparedness and Reaction
-Disaster Preparedness and Reaction
-Workplace Violence Prevention and Reaction
Business Continuity Consulting to include:
-Human Resource Preparedness
-Workplace Disaster / Terrorism Reaction
-Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
-Private / Public Sector Relationships / Liaison
Previous presentations based on his areas of expertise were made to such groups as:
-DeKalb County Homeland Security
-Emergency Management Association of Georgia
-State of Georgia PTA
-United States Security Institute Foundation
-Georgia Department of Public Health
-GA Association of Professional Private Investigators
-Colorado Division of Emergency Mgt
-Soldiers for the Truth Foundation
-Coastal Health District of Georgia
-Morehouse School of Medicine Homeland Security
-GA Public Health for the 2004 G-8 Summit held at Sea Island, GA.
-and many others.
Paul Purcell's Homepage is: Disaster Prep 101
Winter fire safety is especially important to those who live in cold climates and heat mainly with wood. Knowing how to extinguish a chimney fire and having the right kind of chimney in the first place. Eileen
Well, this is a very informative post for everyone. Following safety guidelines strictly, can keep our life 100% safe. We should always follow some basic rules for fire protection, which I’ve mentioned below. House Fire control is 95% in our hand.
1. Always be careful while cooking
2. Drop and roll: if fire catches your clothes then never run. STOP running and roll over to reduce the flame
3. Use safety guard for electric devices.
4. Match box is always for adults’ use.
5. Do not use elevators in fire affected building. Always use stairs.
6. Consultant with a Fire Safety Expert