October is Fire Prevention Month

Wednesday, October 11, 2000

October

is Fire Prevention Month

ATLANTA Last

year, the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross helped

more than 1,090 local citizens get back on their feet after fire destroyed

their homes. Many of those fires could have been prevented if simple,

common sense tips had been observed.

The American

Red Cross urges citizens to be serious about the responsibility of planning

for and practicing what to do in case of a fire. Nancy Brockway, director

of disaster services for the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the American

Red Cross, emphasized the need for prior planning.

"Everyone

should take the time to make their home fire safe," she said. "Prevention

is the key but you also need a plan in place just in case tragedy strikes,"

she added.

Brockway provided

some tips that could save lives:

Practice prevention

aggressively. Don't leave food unattended on the stove. Don't let small

children play with candles or matches. Don't store flammables near an

ignition source.

Why is early

escape so important? Fire's power is often underestimated or misunderstood.

If more people understood fire's intense heat, the high speed in which

it spreads, and the toxic power of smoke, they'd undoubtedly take early

warning signs of fire much more seriously.

Buy and install

smoke detectors on each level of your residence, as well as in the garage

and workshop. Replace all batteries at least once a year.

Test smoke

detectors every six months. Start a chart and sign it after each round

of tests. Vacuum away cobwebs and dust from your smoke alarms monthly.

Alarms become less sensitive over time. Replace your smoke alarms every

ten years.

Buy a fire

extinguisher to protect your home or test the one you have.

Draw a floor

plan of your home and mark two fire escape routes for each room.

Get everyone

out quickly. (In a real fire, escape and then call the fire department

from a neighbor's house if necessary.)

Pick a place

outside to meet following a fire so you can easily account for everyone.

Practice a

low-crawl escape from your bedroom. Try it with your eyes closed to see

how well you could do in thick smoke. Also, practice the "stop, drop

and roll" technique. Teach small children how to do these techniques.

Close the

door åas you leave a room and feel closed doors before you enter

a room. A hot door probably means fire on the other side.

Make or purchase

rope or chain ladders to use to climb out of rooms above the first floor,

and practice using them. Store them in the room where they will be used.

If smoke,

heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door

closed. Signal for help using a bright-colored cloth at the window. If

there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and tell them

where you are.

Discuss what

you would do about family pets if you need to escape from a fire.

Conduct a

home fire drill at least once a year.

The South Metro

Service Center is participating in several local events during Fire Prevention

Month. For details or more information about fire safety, contact the

South Metro Red Cross Service Center at 770-961-2552.