Fire Safety

Every day Americans experience the horror of fire. But most people don't understand fire. Only when we know the true nature of fire can we prepare ourselves and our families. Each year more than 4,000 Americans die and approximately 20,000 are injured in fires, many of which could be prevented.

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) believes that fire deaths can be reduced by teaching people the basic facts about fire. Below are some simple facts that explain the particular characteristics of fire.

In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house. In minutes, a house can be engulfed in flames. Most fires occur in the home when people are asleep. If you wake up to a fire, you won't have time to grab valuables because fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick. There is only time to escape.

A fire's heat alone can kill. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super hot air will scorch your lungs. This heat can melt clothes to your skin. In five minutes a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once: this is called flashover.

Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness. If you wake up to a fire you may be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around the home you've lived in for years.

Fire uses up the oxygen you need and produces smoke and poisonous gases that kill. Breathing even small amounts of smoke and toxic gases can make you drowsy, disoriented and short of breath. The odorless, colorless fumes can lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door. You may not wake up in time to escape.

 

Fire Safety Tips

In the event of a fire, remember time is the biggest enemy and every second counts!

Escape first, then call for help. Develop a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside. Make sure everyone in the family knows two ways to escape from every room. Practice feeling your way out with your eyes closed. Never stand up in a fire, always crawl low under the smoke and try to keep your mouth covered. Never return to a burning building for any reason; it may cost you your life.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

For more information about Fire Safety, visit:

 

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Natural Disaster Preparedness

Natural hazards are natural events that threaten lives, property, and other assets.  Often, natural hazards can be predicted.  They tend to occur repeatedly in the same geographical locations because they are related to weather patterns or physical characteristics of an area.

Natural hazards such as flood, fire, earthquake, tornado, and windstorms affect thousands of people every year.  We need to know what our risks are from natural hazards and take sensible precautions to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Disasters

 

Other Disaster Preparedness

In addition to natural hazards, technological hazards and terrorism are also preparedness concerns.

Technological hazards include hazardous materials (haz-mat) incidents and nuclear power plan failures.  Usually, little or no warning precedes incidents involving technological hazards.  The number of technological incidents is escalating, mainly as a result of the increased number of new substances and the opportunities for human error inherent in the use of these materials.

Throughout history, there have been many threats to the security of nations.  These threats have brought about large-scale loss of life, the destruction of property, widespread illness and injury, the displacement of large numbers of people, and devastating economic loss.  The attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 are one of the most recent terrorist incidents on American soil.

Click on the links below to learn more about technological hazards and terrorism:

[Hazardous Materials] [Household Chemicals] [Nuclear Power Plant] [Terrorism Incidents]

 

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