Fire Prevention Week is October 9th through the 15th. What a perfect time to blog about preventing fires and maybe a little history on how Fire Prevention Week came to be.
According to
Wikipedia, The Great Chicago Fire lasted from October 8 to October 10th
. The fire devastated the city of Chicago killing upwards of 300 people, leaving
more than 100,000 people homeless and destroying virtually everything in its
path. The Chicago Water Tower is most commonly known for one of a handful of
buildings that were left standing. While there were several speculations on how
the fire started, the cause of the fire is unknown. I wonder if it would have sread so fast if there was a fire extinguisher on hand.
As the
people of Chicago experienced, fire spreads very quickly and without the right
tools, the results could be catastrophic, taking out everything in its path.
The best way to be prepared, is to be proactive and have a plan.
When it
comes to fires, water is not always the way to go. In some situations it can
make it worse. Grease fires and electrical fires are definite NO’S to putting
out with water. If you have a grease fire in the kitchen, first turn off the
stove and then toss baking soda over it to stop the fire. If the fire is in a
pot you can also put a metal lid over it to help stop the fire as well. In an electrical
fire, turn off whatever is on and smother it with a blanket that is
nonflammable. In a grease or electrical fire, you can use a fire extinguisher
to put those flames out as well.
Speaking of
fire extinguishers, did you know that there are a few different kinds?
Different fire extinguishers have different matters in them to battle different
fires. Typically, what we would want in our homes are either the A, B or C type
fire extinguishers. For more information and a breakdown of what the different types
of fire extinguishers, go to Fire Extinguishers: 101. They have great information
not only on the different types but on prevention, first aid, hazards and lots
more when it comes to fires.
What about
your smoke alarms? When is the last time you checked to make sure the batteries
are still good in them? How often should they be replaced? No worries! I
searched the internet and found the answers for you. Here is what the National
Fire Protection Association had to say about smoke alarms and a little more important
and useful information to keep you and your family safe in case of a fire:
- Have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room, outside separate sleeping areas and on every level of your home.
- Test your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button.
- There are two kinds of alarms. Ionization smoke alarms – quicker to warn about flaming fires. Photoelectric some alarms – quicker to warn about smoldering fires. You should have both types in your home.
- When your smoke alarm sounds, get out of the house and stay out of the house. Call 911.
- Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.
Being
proactive is key. Sit down with your family and have a plan in place in case
there were a fire in your home. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
