FIRE SAFETY

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FIRE SAFETY

• Information and
  
• Prevention

April 2009
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Training Objectives

• Identify facts about house fires
• Learn numerous ways house fires can be prevented
  and be able to teach these tips to others

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Statistics

• Eighty-two percent of all fire deaths occur in
  the home.
• Each year about 300 people are killed and 280
  million in property is destroyed in fires
  attributed to children playing with fire.
• Having a working smoke alarm reduces one's chance
  of dying in a fire by nearly one-half. (U.S.
  Fire Administration)

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Facts

• More house fires occur in the winter months, than
  at any other time of the year.
• Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the
  United States.
• Young children and older adults face a higher
  risk of death from cooking fires, than do other
  age groups.
• Frying poses a higher risk of fire than other
  cooking methods.
• (U.S. Fire Administration)

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• Heating appliances are the second leading cause
  of house fires in the United States.
• Fires confined to chimneys, flues, fuel boxes or
  boilers, account for 86 of residential building
  heating fires.
• In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get
  completely out of control and turn into a major
  fire.
• (U.S. Fire Administration)

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Missouri Child Fire Deaths

• In Missouri in 2007, 22 children died as a result
  of unintentional fire/burn injury.
• Fire and burn injuries are the third leading
  cause of unintentional injury deaths among
  Missouri children.

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• Young children, ages four and under, are at the
  greatest risk from home fire-and burn-related
  death and injury, and are more than twice as
  likely to die in a fire than the rest of the
  population.
• Of the 22 children who died from fire/burns in
  Missouri in 2007, 9 were under the age of five.

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• In 2007, a four-year old set his bed on fire
  while playing with matches. He was rushed to the
  hospital, where he died in the emergency room.
  It was reported that he had been caught playing
  with matches the day before.
• In 2007, four children and two adults all died in
  a house fire that was a result of faulty wiring.
  There were no smoke detectors in the house.

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Preventing House Fires

• Never walk away from food cooking on the stove.
• Do not leave burning candles unattended.
• A gas range or oven should not be used as a
  heater, as this can produce toxic fumes.
• When using electric heaters, make sure extension
  cords can carry the amp load required to operate
  the heater.

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• Do not use electric space heaters in bathrooms,
  kitchens or other rooms, where they could have
  contact with water.
• Keep all electric heaters and fuel burning
  heaters away from furniture and drapes.
• Fireplace chimneys should be cleaned yearly.
• Wood stove chimneys should be cleaned once a
  month.

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• When using a fireplace or wood stove, do not use
  flammable liquids to start a fire.
• If a fire has been burning, do not go to sleep
  until making sure the fire in the fireplace is
  out.
• A glass or metal screen should be sitting in
  front of a fireplace that is being used. This
  will prevent embers from coming out from the
  fireplace.
• Keep trash away from all heat sources.

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• Make sure there are working smoke detectors,
  mounted to the ceilings, on all levels of the
  house.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in the house.
• Have fire extinguishers in the kitchen and
  laundry room of the house.
• Keep the clothes dryer lint trap cleaned and lint
  free.

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• As a family, devise an escape plan, in case there
  is a house fire. Practice the plan.
• Talk to your kids about the dangers of playing
  with matches and lighters.
• Never run electrical cords under rugs.
• Replace loose or frayed electrical cords.

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What Children Can Do to Prevent House Fires

• Don't play with matches or lighters. These can
  hurt you, and they can start a house or yard
  fire.
• Make sure to turn off TVs, stereos, lamps and
  other equipment before leaving your room or
  home.
• Don't sit too close to a fireplace. The embers
  from the fire can catch on your clothes.

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• Ask your parents where the smoke detectors are in
  your house and know what to do if you hear them
  beep.
• Do not wear loose pajamas or clothing around
  electric or gas space heaters. Loose clothing can
  catch on the heater and burn.

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• Learn how to stop, drop, and roll. This is
  important to know. If your clothes are on fire,
  it is best to stop, drop to the floor and roll
  around on the floor until the fire is put out
  instead of running.
• Know to call 9-1-1 if there is ever a fire in
  your home.

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For More Information

• Missouri Division of Fire Safety,
  http//www.dfs.dps.mo.gov/
• U.S. Fire Administration for Kids,
  http//www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/html/index.shtm
• U.S. Fire Administration, http//www.usfa.dhs.gov/
  
• United States Fire Administration,
  http//www.usfa.dhs.gov/
• Fire Safety.gov, http//www.firesafety.gov/
• National Fire Protection Association,
  http//www.nfpa.org/
• National Association of State Fire Marshals,
  http//www.firemarshals.org/

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Missouri Department of Social Services State
Technical Assistance Team

• Address
• PO Box 208Jefferson City, MO 65102-0208
• Telephone [phone](800) 487-1626(8 a.m.
  to 5 p.m. CST, Monday Friday)
• Email
•  dls.stat_at_dss.mo.gov