CURWENSVILLE – Do you have a smoke alarm in your home? A fire extinguisher? An escape plan?
Those questions are something firefighters across the country will be asking people as they recognize Fire Prevention Week Oct. 7-13.
Charlie Wall, safety office with Curwensville Rescue, Hose and Ladder Co., said the National Fire Prevention Association is educating people on the importance of having an escape plan and practicing it this year.
That plan should include a primary as well as a secondary escape from every room in the house. The plan should also include a place to meet so that if mom exits through the back of the house and dad and the kids from the front, everyone knows to meet next to the oak tree.
But Wall said there are some basic fire safety measures every home should take.
Smoke Alarms
Wall said these should be checked monthly with a minimum of one alarm on every floor and ideally one in every bedroom.
“These should be placed high, likely on the ceiling,” he said.
To check smoke alarms, refer to the manufacturer’s directions on the unit. Most require that a button be pressed and held for a few seconds. Batteries should be replaced annually as well.
Carbon Monoxide Detector
Wall said homes should have at least one carbon monoxide detector per floor with one in “reasonable proximity” to the home’s furnace.
He warned, “It’s not always the furnace itself that causes the problem.” For that reason, he said, homes should have more than one carbon monoxide detector.
Older homes, he said, are sometimes at risk because chimneys could have been built without a lining or because the chimney runs through the middle of the home.
EDITH
An important practice, Wall said, is for families to run through what is being called EDITH or Exit Drills In The Home.
He said the first step is to make a blueprint.
“Make the picture look like you lifted the roof and are looking down into the home.”
Each room should have two exits that can be used in the event of a fire, he said.
“If the fire starts downstairs and you are in a bedroom that is next to the porch roof, you have an alternate exit,” he said. For rooms without such an exit, he said collapsible fire escapes are available to purchase.
“They’re not too expensive, and they’re fairly easy to work.”
But the biggest part of the escape plan is to practice it, he said.
By doing so, he said every member of the family knows what to do in the event of an emergency and where to meet after they get out of the house.
“Adults sometimes go back in if they know somebody’s in the house,” Wall said. “That’s why one of the most important things is to have a meeting place where everyone can go to be sure everyone is outside.”
Preparation for Children
“Tot Finder” stickers, Wall said, are an important tool for firefighters.
The stickers, often available at fire company demonstrations or through your insurance company, include a sticker to put on the child’s bedroom window. Wall said the newer stickers also have reflective strips to be placed at the bottom of the doorway that leads to the child’s room.
Such preventative measures, Wall said, can be extremely helpful in locating children in the event of a fire.
Extension Cords
Wall said extension cords should be rated in accordance with the appliance for which they are used.
“Compare the look of the cord on the appliance to the extension cord,” he said.
“If you use a low-quality cord, that wire is going to heat up because it can’t handle the load.”
Wood Burners
Wall warned to never use “green” wood in wood burners. In addition, he said hardwoods are recommended for use in wood burners with wood seasoned for at least one year.
Chimneys, he said, should be cleaned at least once per year.
Clothes Dryers
Lint traps should be cleaned after every use. The vent and hoses should be regularly checked.
“An easy way to do it is to shine a flashlight through the hose,” Wall said, adding that any obstructions can be seen in this manner.
Fire Hydrants
Fire hydrants, Wall said, should be kept clear so that they can be used in the event of an emergency.
“If they’ve got to take time to hovel that hydrant, you can imagine what would happen to the fire.”
Wall noted that those who live near a fire hydrant should consider clearing snow away from the unit during the winter months to ensure that emergency responders need not do so in the event of a fire.
Wall said it is also a good idea to introduce children to what firefighters look like when they dress in the gear used while fighting fires. He said that if children can see this before an actual emergency, they might be less likely to be frightened by the way they look.
He also noted that although firefighters in Clearfield County are volunteers, he said they are still professionals.
“Professional is a state of mind,” he said. “It’s an attitude you have.”
Firefighters in other areas, he said are career firefighters, but even those who don turnout gear without payment are still professionals.
“We do it because it’s what we have to do.”