Fire Safety Tips

Tips to Protect & Save Lives

Storms and floods are not the only disasters you should protect your family from. Fires account for billions of dollars in damage each year and take hundreds of lives. Fires produce toxic gases, blinding smoke, and deadly heat. These gases travel upward until they reach the ceiling then roll over and bank down toward the floor. Unfortunately, most fire deaths occur in residences during the night when most people are asleep.

Many people believe the smoke and heat will wake them. The deadly truth is the carbon monoxide produced lulls the victim into a deeper sleep and room temperatures don't raise very fast during this beginning stage of fire. However, once flames are produced, the temperature can quickly rise to over 1,000 degrees (Fahrenheit) and studies have shown the average person has less than 4 minutes to escape.

Tips to Protect & Save Lives

Each year, there are nearly 17 million kitchen fires. Use these tips to protect you and your family:

• Unattended pans start the most fires. watch your cooking!
• Turn pot handles in so they can't be knocked off the stove.
• Keep the stove and oven clean of grease.
• Unplug appliances and keep them clean and dry.
• Don't leave pot holders and towels around the stove.
• If a fire starts, use a fire extinguisher, not water.
• If your clothing catches on fire, immediately stop, drop, and roll on the ground to smother the flames.

Additional Fire Facts

• Fatal fires are usually during the early morning hours.
• Fires usually burn a long time before being discovered.
• Smoke from fire kills more people than flames from fire.
• Unconsciousness occurs quickly because of carbon monoxide.
• Smoke rises, so stay low to escape.
• You can double your chances of living with a working smoke detector.