Fire Safety Check List

Question
Do you have a smoke alarm in your home? Have you checked to see whether it works (batteries working etc.)? Do you have a fire alarm in your home? Have you checked to see whether it works (batteries working etc.)? Do you unplug electrical items when not using them? Do you have fire extinguishers in your home? Do you have yearly gas check-ups?

Yes

No

If you have answered no to any of these, you need to act as soon as possible!

2012
Alarms alert after house fire death Fire safety officials have reiterated the importance of ensuring smoke alarms are working after the death of a 79-year-old man in a blaze on Christmas Day when his smoke alarm did not work. The fatality occurred just a day after a 65-year-old woman died in a fire at a mid-terrace property in nearby Whaley Thorns, which left several other people suffering from smoke inhalation. Mr. Curry, Fire Service Group Manager, said "Whilst a working smoke alarm gives essential early warning of a fire, having a sprinkler system installed will actually fight the fire and will help to reduce the spread."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/alarms-alert-after-house-fire-death-6281675.html

Smokers' materials, predominantly cigarettes, were the source of ignition in the fires that accounted for 96 of the 268 fatalities in accidental dwelling fires in 2010-11.
http://www.communities.gov.u k/fire/researchandstatistics/fire statistics/firestatisticsuk/

By Jamie Gillum

How to make your home as safe as possible! Fire equipment for the home.
There are many steps you can take to make sure your home is protected from the threat of a fire and to warn you about one.

Cigarette safety
When smoking cigarettes, you should always take extra precaution in lighting and putting it out. Never smoke in bed, or if on prescription drugs, as it is very easy to fall asleep with them still lit. It is very easy to set things alight with a cigarette as it can burn at temperatures up to 700c. Cigarette caused fires kill over 2,300 men, women and children each year. There are many ways to prevent cigarette fires: Dont smoke in bed. Its too easy to fall asleep and set bedding on fire. Always use proper ashtrays. Make sure when you put out a cigarette, it is really out. Take responsibility and keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. For more information
http://www.safetycommunity.com/profiles/blogs /cigarette-safety-theessentials?xg_source=activity

Kitchen Safety
There are many kinds of cooking appliances of different size and design, like stoves, ovens, microwaves, deep fryers, that all use fuels like gas, solid/liquid fuel and electrical power. 66% of all cooking fires start within 15 minutes of starting to cook and that 75% start when no-one is in the room. There are many ways a kitchen can catch fire: -Keep electrical equipment, like leads, away from the cooker and toaster. -Keep the oven, toaster, hob and grill clean from crumbs, fat and grease. -Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water. There are ways of controlling a fire if one breaks out. A fire blanket will put out the flames when placed on top of them. A correct fire extinguisher will also help. There are simple steps you can follow to help reduce the chance of a kitchen fire: -Dont use matches or lighters to light gas cookers. Spark devices are safer. -Make sure saucepan handles dont stick out from the hob. -Never leave food unattended when cooking. -Avoid wearing loose clothing and long sleeves. -If a fire breaks out in a pan, put a lid on the pan. -Never throw water on a grease fire. -Place a fire extinguisher or fire blanket in the kitchen. -Install and regularly maintain a smoke detector. -Store cleaning products and chemicals away from the reach of children.

Fire/Smoke Alarm:
A fire and smoke alarm will sound when smoke is suffocating it to warn you about a potential fire. It lets out a loud high pitch scream that echoes through the whole house. You should have one on every level of your house.
Smoke alarms were absent from the fire area in 38 per cent of dwelling fires (18,600 fires).

Fire Extinguishers:
There are four types of fire extinguishers; water, foam, dry powder and CO2. If a fire occurs in your home, you should have a fire extinguisher in which you can point at the fire, and spray the fire with either of the extinguishers depending on what fire extinguisher you have. Not having the correct fire extinguisher in certain situations can be fatal. Sadly a
fatality occurred in 2001, whilst an employee was using a hand held fire extinguisher to put out a small fire, when it suddenly exploded resulting in the individual's death due to flying debris. To

find out more information about fire extinguishers to use, visit

http://www.mfs-fireextinguishers.co.uk/types.htm

Candle Safety
Because candles are now becoming more popular, the rate of house fires involving candles has risen. More than 15,000 residential fires are caused each year by the careless or inappropriate use of candles. 85% of candle fires could be avoided if consumers followed three basic safety rules: -NEVER leave a burning candle unattended. -NEVER burn a candle on or near anything that might catch fire. -Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Following these instructions will lead to a reduce in candle fires. 38% of candle fires start in the bedroom, 15% in the dining room, 14% in the bathroom and 8% in the kitchen.

Unplugging electrical items:

Leaving electrical items plugged in when not using them can be very dangerous as they can overheat and then even catch fire. For more information, visit
http://www.esfrs.org/communitySafety/adv ice/electricalFireAdvice.shtml

Fire Exits:
Every house should have a fire exit so you can leave the area of the fire immediately if other exits are blocked.

Sprinklers:
Some buildings may have sprinklers on the ceiling. These are a good addition, as when smoke hits the censor, water will spray out and douse the fire and controlling it so it doesnt spread.
In buildings fully protected by sprinklers: 99% of fires were controlled by sprinklers alone, 60% of fires were controlled by the spray from no more than 4 sprinklers.

If the fire is out of hand, heres what you should do; In the event of a fire, do not spend a significant amount of time attempting to put it out. Get out first, then call 911 and give them your complete address, the phone number you are calling from, the location of the fire, and inform them as to whether or not anyone is still inside the house. No matter the reason, never go back into the house until it has been declared safe by the fire department. If you have any further questions with regard to kitchen fire safety, contact your local fire department and ask for guidance.