Safety First: American Red Cross Offers Fire Prevention Tips
News Release: October 1, 2004
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
As Fire Prevention Week begins Oct. 3, the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley urges families to prepare for safety in the event of a fire. By taking time to make your home fire safe, plotting and practicing escape routes and following through on your plan if needed, you can prevent tragedy from occurring.
Make Your Home Fire Safe
Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home.
If people sleep with doors closed, install smoke alarms inside sleeping areas, too.
Use the test button to check each smoke alarm once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately. Replace all batteries at least once a year.
Vacuum away cobwebs and dust from your smoke alarms monthly.
Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time. Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.
Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department in how to use them.
Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home.
Plan Your Escape Routes
Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second or third floor. Learn how to use them and store them near the window.
Select a location outside your home where everyone would meet after escaping.
Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
Escape Safely
Once you are out, stay out! Call the fire department from a neighbors home.
If you see smoke or fire in your first escape route, use your second way out. If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke to your exit.
If you are escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it. If it is warm, use your second way out.
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.
For more disaster safety information, visit www.redcross.org or www.redcrosslv.org or call the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley at (610) 865-4400.
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 20,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information or volunteer opportunities, visit www.redcrosslv.org.
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