FIRE SAFETY—DON'T GET BURNED!
Fire is the third leading cause of accidental death in the United States, yet most people ignore it. More than 150 workplace fires occur every day.
HOW FIRES START
Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of a fuel. It needs three elements to occur:
FUEL - Fuel can be any combustible material - solid, liquid or gas. Most solids and liquids become a vapor or gas before they will burn
OXYGEN - The air we breathe is about 21 percent oxygen. Fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16 percent oxygen.
HEAT - Heat is the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the fuel to a point where sufficient vapors are given off for ignition to occur.
CHEMICAL REACTION - A chain reaction can occur when the three elements of fire are present in the proper conditions and proportions. Fire occurs when this rapid oxidation, or burning takes place.
Take any one of these factors away, and the fire cannot occur or will be extinguished if it was already burning.
REMEMBER, THE BEST STEP TO TAKE IS TO PREVENT FIRES FROM OCCURRING.
Knowing what to do should fire occur is very important. More important still is the prevention of a fire. Take the time to inspect your home for possible safety hazards, bare wires, and improperly operating heating equipment
Fire prevention is something the entire family may participate in. Encourage children to assist with checking the home for hazards.
By taking the time to carefully inspect your home for possible hazards, you may prevent a major catastrophe later on.
WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE CATCHES ON FIRE
If you should catch on fire:
STOP - where you are
DROP - to the floor
ROLL - around on the floor
This will smother the flames, possibly saving your life.
Just remember to STOP, DROP and ROLL.
If a co-worker catches on fire, smother flames by grabbing a blanket or rug and wrapping them up in it. That could save them from serious burns or even death.
HOW TO USE A PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Remember the acronym, "P.A.S.S."—
P ......Pullthe pin.
A ......Aim the extinguisher nozzle at the base of the flames.
S ......Squeeze trigger while holding the extinguisher upright.
S ......Sweep the extinguisher from side to side, covering the area of the fire with the extinguishing agent.
REMEMBER:
- Should your path of escape be threatened
- Should the extinguisher run out of agent
- Should the extinguisher prove to be ineffective
- Should you no longer be able to safely fight the fire
...THEN LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY!
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HOME FIRE SAFETY CHECKLIST
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PRE-FIRE PLANNING
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Have you planned at least two ways to get out of every room in your home?
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Do you keep exit routes clear in your home?
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Do you know how to notify your fire department quickly and correctly in case of fire?
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ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN
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Do you make it a rule never to leave small children alone or unattended?
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Do your baby-sitters (and you) know the first rule of safety in fire emergencies? —Get everybody out fast, and don't go back in.
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Do you show your baby-sitters the escape routes from your home, and give instructions on the correct way to report a fire?
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GOOD SMOKING HABITS
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Is smoking in bed strictly against the rule in your home?
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Do you always make sure that cigarette, cigar and pipe ashes are completely extinguished before you dispose of them? Before going to bed, be SURE there are no cigarettes still burning.
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Are matches kept out of the reach of children? Keep matches and lighters above the "strike zone" (too high for children to reach).
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HEATING AND COOKING
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Are furnaces, stoves and smoke pipes kept in good repair and located far enough away from combustible walls and ceilings so that they do not create a hazard? Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying.
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If you have portable space heaters in your home, do you see that they are properly maintained and located? Keep portable space heaters away from people, curtains, and furniture.
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Do you have an annual inspection of your heating system? Have heating equipment checked and cleaned each year.
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Do your sleeves get into things when you cook? Wear tight-fitting clothing when you cook.
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Can you stop a cooking fire safely? Smother a pan fire with a lid. Never use water. If cooking oil starts to smoke, turn down the heat. Don't throw whatever's handy on the counter, such as dumping flower from the bag, on the fire (explosion!)
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ELECTRICITY
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Do you see that extension cords are never run under rugs or hooked over nails? Avoid using extension cords wherever possible (especially small-wired cords use with high-wattage appliances.)
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When the breaker "trips" or a fuse blows, do you investigate WHY it happened? If a fuse blows (or a breaker "trips"), find the cause. Remove excess appliances (lamps, stereo components, space heaters, etc.) from a breaker circuit that frequently "trips".
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Is the right size fuse (20 amps for lighting circuits) in each socket in the fuse box? Replace the fuse with one of the correct size.
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Is your TV well ventillated? Allow air space around the TV to prevent overheating. If it doesn't work right, it can be a fire danger.
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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
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Do you keep rubbish cleaned out of the attic, basement, closets, garage and yard? Sort and remove rubbish. Don't store things near the furnace or heater.
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Are gasoline and other flammable liquids stored in safety cans, and kept well away from both heat and children? Move flammable liquids away from heat. Do not store flammable liquids in the home. Keep them stored outside and away from the house in a separate storage building. Don't fill a hot lawn mower or other motor; let it cool first.
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