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Home Fire Preparedness. Why Fire?. Why Fire?. Constant Risk of Home Fires. 1,000 times a day, a fire department responds to a home fire. 36 times a day, a fire-related injury is reported . Seven times each day, someone dies in a home fire.
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Constant Risk of Home Fires 1,000 times a day, a fire department responds to a home fire. • 36 times a day, a fire-related injury is reported. • Seven times each day, someone dies in a home fire. • Nearly 5 million homes do not have a smoke alarm installed. National Fire Protection Association, 2013 National Fire Protection Association, 2014
Effect of Home Fires Last year, the Red Cross responded to nearly 60,000 home fires. • Arizona Chapter responds to a fire every 17 hours, on average. • After each of these, residents had a lot to face: • Finding a safe place to stay • Purchasing food and clothing • Replacing lost possessions • Notifying loved ones • Navigating insurance A Red Cross volunteer meets with Erica Lopez from Chicago, Ill., whose home was destroyed by a fire. The Red Cross provided comfort kits, as well as support for food, clothing and shelter to Erica and her children. 1 National Fire Protection Association, 2013
What are the most common sources of home fires? • 1. Cooking • 2. Heating • 3. Smoking • 4. Electrical • 5. Candles
Why Smoke Alarms Matter Smoke Alarms in US Households Home Fire Fatalities in US Households Households with at least one working alarm Households with non-working alarms Households with no alarms Source: National Fire Protection Association (M. Ahrens, 2014)
Planning is Key Only 10 percent of households have taken appropriate preparedness steps, including creating an escape plan. • Practicing your plan ensures your entire family knows how to respond should a fire occur. • Specific populations are at a greater risk of home fires: • Low-income • Elderly • Disabled • Young people 1 Harris Interactive Emergency Preparedness Survey, 2009 2 National Fire Prevention Association, 2014
Campaign Strategies • Neighborhood Canvassing: • Engaging partners, including fire dept • Going door-to-door in high-risk areas • Installing smoke alarms • Educating on local hazard • Helping families prepare escape plan • Engaging Youth: • Educating youth on the science of fire • Teaching them what to do when a fire occurs • Marketing campaign to drive behavior: • A call to action; check your smoke alarms, and practice your escape plan
Installation Team Goals Documenting resident informationand services provided Educating residents on fire safety & other local disasters Testing and installing smoke alarms
Smoke Alarms • Smoke alarms save lives. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. • Place smoke alarms high on a wall or on the ceiling. • Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button. • Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away. • Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond properly.
Technology 101 10- year battery smoke alarms • Battery is sealed inside so that it can’t be tampered with • Lithium battery should last 10 years • Battery isn’t activated until it is put onto the plate
Installation • Hammer • Awl • Screwdriver • Slip Joint Pliers • Measuring Tape Tool Kit
Installation Alarm Location • Install an alarm outside each separate sleeping area. • Install an alarm on each level of the home including the basement. • Suggest that the homeowner install an alarm in every bedroom.
Installation Alarm Location • Wall or ceiling locations are both acceptable. • Avoid the 4” “dead space” where the wall meets the ceiling. • Mobile home- install alarm on INSIDE WALL ONLY
Installation DO NOT install smoke alarms in the following locations: • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Garages • Laundry Rooms • Dusty or Greasy Areas These areas are prone to “nuisance alarms” and excessive moisture, grease or dust can damage the sensors.
Education Matters • Smoke alarms don’t prevent fires • Smoke alarms don’t prevent injuries • Smoke alarms can’t encourage you to practice your plan • Education saves lives
Educator Information • Help residents make a fire escape plan • Two routes out of every room • Practice (fire drills) at least twice a year • Ensure that residents know to: • Check closed doors for heat before opening them • Get low to stay below toxic smoke • Get Out and Stay Out! … if a fire starts, you may have just TWO minutes to get to safety! • Call 911 from their outside meeting location • Review a home fire safety checklist with residents
Testing & Maintenance Instruct the resident to: • Test battery and horn function monthly by pressing the test button. • Replace battery (Alkaline only) every six months regardless of functionality. • Never remove the Lithium battery from the alarm. The battery should last the useful life of the alarm, approximately 5-10 years. • Periodically vacuum the surface of the alarm if dust is present.
Documentation Service Acknowledgement Form • Have the resident read, fill in the address, sign and date the waiver • You will witness, sign and date the waiver and fill in the number of alarms installed and tested. Be sure to leave the smoke alarm User’s Manual with the resident when you leave!
