American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [64]
Fire Safety
More than 4,000 people in the United States die in fires each year, and an additional 25,000 are injured. Bedrooms are common sites for fires to start—especially electrical fires—and most home fires occur at night when people are asleep. Many fires occur when extension cords are overloaded or portable space heaters are placed too close to bedclothes or draperies. Other common causes of fires are children playing with matches and smokers falling asleep with a lit cigarette.
Preventing home fires
Fire is a major cause of injury and death and can rob you of your home and your most treasured possessions. Take steps now to protect your family and home from fire:
• Keep matches and lighters locked away from children.
• Keep bedding, clothes, curtains, and other combustible items at least 3 feet away from space heaters.
• Make sure electrical cords are not frayed, especially cords on electric blankets.
• Don’t overload wall outlets.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Replace any mattress made before 1973. (Federal mattress flammability standards were raised in 1973.)
• Install smoke detectors (see below) on every floor of your house. Have one close to the bedrooms.
• Avoid planting trees or shrubs that can catch or spread fire easily. Consider planting fire-resistant plants around your home.
• Have your home heating system checked by a professional every year.
• Place a fire screen in front of your fireplace.
• Get your chimney cleaned and inspected each year.
• Consider installing residential fire sprinklers.
Smoke Detectors Save Lives
Smoke detectors—small, battery-powered devices that sound an alarm when exposed to smoke or fire—dramatically increase your chances of survival in a fire. Install a smoke detector on every floor of your home, and make sure one is installed near the bedrooms. Test the smoke detector every month by pressing the test button on the front of the alarm. Change the batteries once a year. Smoke detectors need to be replaced about every 10 years, or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
The best way to protect your family’s safety in a fire is to have an escape plan that you practice every month. Plan at least two ways out of every room. If your secondary exit must be through a window, make sure you’ll be able to get to the ground safely. If necessary, buy a collapsible ladder that you can quickly and easily hook on the windowsill and hang out the window. If you have security bars or window guards on your windows, make sure they are the kind that have a quick-release device so they can be opened quickly in an emergency. Check all of your windows to make sure they are not painted shut or otherwise stuck in a closed position.
When you practice your escape plan, rehearse feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed. Practice feeling the doors (not only to be able to find them if you’re blinded by smoke, but also to feel if they are hot before exiting through them). Practice crawling low to the ground. Designate a meeting place outside of your house (such as at the end of the driveway or near a certain tree) where family members can meet after everyone has gotten out safely.
What to do in a fire
In a home fire, every second counts. A small fire can go out of control and become a major fire in less than 30 seconds. In only a minute, your house can fill with smoke and become engulfed in flames. The thick, black smoke produced by a fire produces total darkness, making escape more difficult. Room temperatures in a fire can quickly soar to 600°F at eye level, and inhaling superheated air can scorch your lungs. To safely escape a home fire, remember