Fire Safety is Everyone’s Job

Jennifer MiethPublic Education Manager

Department of Fire ServicesP.O. Box 1025

Stow, MA 01175(978) 567-3381 fax: (978) 567-3199

What is Fire?

• Fast• Dark• Hot

Fire is Fast• Act fast! You may have less than a

minute to escape.• Fire doubles in size every minute• Get outside and stay outside.

Smoke is the Real Killer

• Most fire victims never come near a flame but are overcome by smoke

• Smoke contains poisonous chemicals like carbon monoxide

• Smoke confuses the brain and makes it hard to think

• Our smell goes to sleep when we do, smoke puts us into a deeper sleep.

Fire is Dark

• Fire is not like in the movies

• Thick, black, choking smoke makes it impossible to see

Crawl Low Under Smoke•Smoke & heat rise, so the coolest, most breathable air and the most light will be low to the ground.

Fire is Hot

• A match burns at 500 degrees F.• Water boils at 212 degrees F.• People are mostly made of water.• One breath of superheated air in a fire can

kill, so roll out of bed and crawl to the exit.• Coolest air will be low to the ground.

Most Fatal Fires Occur at Night

• 75% of fatal fires occur in the home• Most fatal fires occur at night when people

are asleep• Smell of smoke will not wake us up, but

will put us into a deeper sleep.• Smoke alarms give us the

earliest possible warning so we can get out fast.

Smoke Alarms• Working smoke alarms double your chance

of surviving a fire.• Smoke alarms give you time to use your escape plan. • Install smoke alarms outside the bedrooms and on

each level of your home (see directions in the package).

• Test your smoke alarm monthly.• Replace the battery once a year or when they make a

“chirping” sound.

Exit Plans

• Have 2 ways out of every room – the usual door and possibly a window.

• Have a family meeting place outside.• Practice your home escape plan regularly both

in the daytime and at night.• If you cannot leave your room due to smoke or

fire in the hallway, close the door, turn on the light and stand near the window so you can be seen from outside.

Exit Plans

• Have a special meeting place outside for the family.

• If you live in an apartment building, know the location of all exit stairs.

Hotels and Motels

• In a hotel, count the number of doors to each of the exits.

• Use the stairs, not the elevator.

Fire Drills at Home

• Hold a home fire drill.• If you practice your

plan, you will be better able to use it in an emergency.

Escaping a Fire

• Roll out of bed onto the floor, don’t sit up.

• Crawl to the bedroom door.

Check the Door

• With back of the hand see if the door is warm.

• If cool, open a little to see if there is smoke outside. If smoky, close the door quickly and go to the window or other way out.

Escaping a Fire

• If you can go out your door, crawl low to outside.

• Go to the meeting place.• Call the fire department

from outside. Dial 9-1-1.• Stay outside.

Second Way Out

• If you can’t go out your door, use your second way out.

• If you are trapped: stuff towels around doors; call the fire department and tell them exactly where you are; signal from a window with a flashlight or light-colored cloth.

Call the Fire Department

• Your job in a fire is to get outside fast and stay outside.

• Call the fire department (9-1-1) from outside.• Let the professionals look for anyone that is not at

the meeting place – they have the tools and the training.

• Remember fire doubles in size every minute.

Fire Prevention

• Best way to put out a fire is to prevent one in the first place.

• Cooking is the leading cause of fires and fire injuries in the home.

• Smoking is the leading cause of fatal fires in the home.

Cooking Safely

• Stand by your pan. • Most kitchen fires happen

when cooking is left unattended.

• If you have to step away, take a wooden spoon or a dish towel with you.

• Wear tight-fitting or short sleeves when cooking.

Cooking Fires

• Put a lid on it.• Turn off the heat.• Leave the pan on the stove.

– Moving the pan or using a fire extinguisher tends to spread the fire around.

Stop, Drop and Roll• If your clothes catch on

fire, remember to • STOP where you are• DROP to the ground, and• ROLL, to smother the

flames.• Use a blanket or jacket or

towel to help someone else on fire.

• When the fire is out, call 9-1-1.

Cool A Burn

• Cool a burn under cool water• Ice can make it worse• Butter or grease traps the heat and makes

the burn worse.• For serious burns, call 9-1-1 for emergency

medical help.

Smoking Fires

• Quit!• Try to quit again!• Ask your doctor for help quitting again.• Smoke outdoors only. It’s hard to fall

asleep smoking outside.• Wet cigarette butts before emptying

ashtrays.

Space Heaters Need Space

• Keep space heaters 3-feet away from anything that can burn – clothes, beds, furniture, newspapers, walls.

• Avoid using extension cords.• Sometimes an extension cord is needed to get the

heater into a safe position. Use a heavy-duty extension cord – not a thin lamp type of cord.

Candles

• Candles cause a lot of fires.• Burn candles inside of a

one-foot Circle of Safety – free of anything that can burn.

• If you have pets or children, think twice about lighting candles.

• Blow out after use and don’t leave the room where candles are burning.

Be Safe!