Home and Building Fire
Prevention, Holiday Fire Prevention, Infant & Small Child CPR, Preparing
for: Floods, Extreme Heat, Landslides and Mudflows
Emergency
& First Aid articles - page index
Home
and Building Fire Prevention
A fire can
engulf a structure in a matter of minutes. Understanding the basic characteristics
of fire and learning the proper safety practices can be the key to surviving
a house or building fire.
BEFORE
Install smoke
detectors.
Check them
once a month and change the batteries at least once a year.
Develop and
practice an escape plan. Make sure all family members know what to do in
a fire.
-
Draw a floor plan
with at least two ways of escaping every room. Choose a safe meeting place
outside the house.
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Practice alerting
other household members. It is a good idea to keep a bell and a flashlight
in each bedroom for this purpose.
-
Practice evacuating
the building blindfolded. In a real fire situation, the amount of smoke
generated by a fire will most likely make it impossible to see.
-
Practice staying
low to the ground when escaping.
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Feel all doors
before opening them. If the door is hot, get out another way.
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Learn to stop,
drop to the ground, and roll if clothes catch fire.
Post emergency
numbers near telephones.
However, be
aware that if a fire threatens your home, you should not place the call
to your emergency services from inside the home. It is better to get out
first and place the call from somewhere else.
Purchase collapsible
ladders at hardware stores and practice using them.
Install A-B-C
type fire extinguishers in the home and teach family members how to use
them.
Do not store
combustible materials in closed areas or near a heat source.
Cooking
Keep the stove
area clean and clear of combustibles such as bags, boxes, and other appliances.
If a fire starts, put a lid over the burning pan or use a fire extinguisher.
Be careful. Moving the pan can cause the fire to spread. Never pour water
on grease fires.
Check electrical
wiring.
-
Replace wiring
if frayed or cracked.
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Make sure wiring
is not under rugs, over nails, or in high traffic areas. Do not overload
outlets or extension cords.
-
Outlets should
have cover plates and no exposed wiring.
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Only purchase appliances
and electrical devices that have a label indicating that they have been
inspected by a testing laboratory such as Underwriter's Laboratories (UL)
or Factory Mutual (FM).
Contact your local
fire department or American
Red Cross chapter for more information on fire safety.
DURING
Get out as quickly
and as safely as possible.
Use the stairs
to escape.
When evacuating,
stay low to the ground.
If possible,
cover mouth with a cloth to avoid inhaling smoke and gases.
Close doors
in each room after escaping to delay the spread of the fire.
If in a room
with a closed door.
-
If smoke is pouring
in around the bottom of the door or it feels hot, keep the door closed.
-
Open a window to
escape or for fresh air while awaiting rescue.
-
If there is no
smoke at the bottom or top and the door is not hot, then open the door
slowly.
-
If there is too
much smoke or fire in the hall, slam the door shut.
Call the fire department
from a location outside the house.
AFTER
Give first aid
where appropriate.
Seriously injured
or burned victims should be transported to professional medical help immediately.
Stay out of
damage buildings.
Return home
only when local fire authorities say it is safe.
Look for structural
damage.
Discard food
that has been exposed to heat, smoke, or soot.
Contact insurance
agent.
Don't discard
damaged goods until after an inventory has been taken. Save receipts for
money relating to fire loss.
Heating Devices
Heating devices
such as portable heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces demand safe operation.
Use portable heaters in well-ventilated rooms only. Refuel kerosene heaters
outdoors only. Have chimneys and wood stoves cleaned annually. Buy only
approved heaters and follow the manufacturers' directions.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors
more than double the chance of surviving a fire. Smoke detectors sense
abnormal amounts of smoke or invisible combustion gases in the air. They
can detect both smoldering and burning fires. At least one smoke detector
should be installed on every level of a structure. Test the smoke detectors
each month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Purchase smoke
detectors labeled by the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual
(FM).
First
Aid Only Outdoor First Aid Kit, Softpack, 98 Piece - 1 ea
Preparing
for Floods
BEFORE
Find out if
you live in a flood-prone area from your local emergency management office
or Red
Cross chapter.
Ask whether
your property is above or below the flood stage water level andlearn about
the history of flooding for your region.
Learn flood
warning signs and your community alert signals.
Request information
on preparing for floods and flash floods.
If you live
in a frequently flooded area, stockpile emergency building materials.
These include
plywood, plastic sheeting, lumber nails, hammer and saw, pry bar,shovels,
and sandbags.
Have check valves
installed in building sewer traps to prevent flood watersfrom backing up
in sewer drains.
As a last resort,
use large corks or stoppers to plug showers, tubs, or basins.
Plan and practice
an evacuation route.
Contact the
local emergency management office or local American Red Cross chapter for
a copy of the community flood evacuation plan.
This plan should
include information on the safest routes to shelters. Individuals living
in flash flood areas should have several alternative routes.
Have disaster
supplies on hand.
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Flashlights and
extra batteries
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Portable, battery-operated
radio and extra batteries
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First aid kit and
manual
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Emergency food
and water
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Nonelectric can
opener
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Essential medicines
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Cash and credit
cards
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Sturdy shoes
Develop an emergency
communication plan.
In case family
members are separated from one another during floods or flashfloods (a
real possibility during the day when adults are at work and childrenare
at school), have a plan for getting back together.
Ask an out-of-state
relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster,
it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family
knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.
Make sure that
all family members know how to respond after a flood or flash flood.
Teach all family
members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water.
Teach children
how and when to call 9-1-1, police, fire department, and whichradio station
to tune to for emergency information.
Learn about
the National Flood Insurance Program.
Ask your insurance
agent about flood insurance. Homeowners policies do notcover flood damage.
DURING A
FLOOD WATCH
-
Listen to a batter-operated
radio for the latest storm information.
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Fill bathtubs,
sinks, and jugs with clean water in case water becomescontaminated.
-
Bring outdoor belongings,
such as patio furniture, indoors.
-
Move valuable household
possessions to the upper floors or to safe ground iftime permits.
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If you are instructed
to do so by local authorities, turn off all utilities atthe main switch
and close the main gas valve.
-
Be prepared to
evacuate.
DURING A FLOOD
If Indoors:
-
Turn on battery-operated
radio or television to get the latest emergencyinformation.
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Get your preassembled
emergency supplies.
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If told to leave,
do so immediately.
If Outdoors:
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Climb to high ground
and stay there.
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Avoid walking through
any floodwaters. If it is moving swiftly, even water 6inches deep can sweep
you off your feet.
If In A Car:
-
If you come to
a flooded area, turn around and go another way.
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If your car stalls,
abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground. Many deaths have resulted
from attempts to move stalled vehicles.
DURING AN EVACUATION
-
If advised to evacuate,
do so immediately.
-
Evacuation is much
simpler and safer before flood waters become too deep forordinary vehicles
to drive through.
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Listen to a batter-operated
radio for evacuation instructions.
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Follow recommended
evacuation routes--shortcuts may be blocked.
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Leave early enough
to avoid being marooned by flooded roads.
AFTER
Flood dangers
do not end when the water begins to recede. Listen to a radio ortelevision
and don't return home until authorities indicate it is safe to do so.
Remember to
help your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants,elderly
people, and people with disabilities.
Inspect foundations
for cracks or other damage.
Stay out of
buildings if flood waters remain around the building.
When entering
buildings, use extreme caution.
-
Wear sturdy shoes
and use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights whenexamining buildings.
-
Examine walls,
floors, doors, and windows to make sure that the building is notin danger
of collapsing.
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Watch out for animals,
especially poisonous snakes, that may have come into your home with the
flood waters. Use a stick to poke through debris.
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Watch for loose
plaster and ceilings that could fall.
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Take pictures of
the damage--both to the house and its contents for insuranceclaims.
Look for fire hazards.
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Broken or leaking
gas lines
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Flooded electrical
circuits
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Submerged furnaces
or electrical appliances
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Flammable or explosive
materials coming from upstream
Throw away food--including
canned goods--that has come in contact withflood waters.
Pump out flooded
basements gradually (about one-third of the water per day) toavoid
structural damage.
Service damaged
septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible.
Damaged sewage systems are health hazards.
INSPECTING
UTILITIES IN A DAMAGED HOME
Check for gas
leaks--If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window
andquickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve
if you canand call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn
off the gas forany reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
Look for electrical
system damage--If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if yousmell
hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit
breaker. If youhave to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit
breaker, call an electricianfor advice.
Check for sewage
and water lines damage--If you suspect sewage lines are damaged avoidusing
the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the
water companyand avoid the water from the tap.
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