"Have 2 Ways Out"

Fire Prevention Week 2012 has come and gone. But, this year's highlighted fire safety theme is something that everyone, young & old, should do as well as needs to practice through the year. Always "Have Two Ways Out!"

listen to ‘Check Out Exits In Public Buildings’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘"Two Ways Out!"’ on Audioboo

Can a fire happen in your home or where you work? Will you know what to do if a fire does happens? These are important questions to answer...a person or family member's life may depend on simply knowing and having two ways out when exiting a structure, be it your home, place of work, or where you shop when a fire occurs.

Most people believe a fire won't happen to them in their homes and they don't plan ahead. Since fires usually give only three to four minutes to escape safely, not knowing what to do can be deadly. Prepare a Home Fire Escape Escape Plan and have the entire family practice it.

- Plan two ways out of every room. Your normal exit may be blocked.
- Test emergency exits. Make sure you can open windows and remove screens and storm windows.
- Provide folding escape ladders from second story windows. Make them out of light rope or purchase metal ladders for escape.
- Practice using emergency exits in the dark and always be safe when practicing. Keep a flashlight next to every bed. Most fatal home fire start at night, while we are asleep and least likely to respond quickly.
- Install and maintain smoke detectors/smoke alarms on every level of the home. Test them monthly and change out the batteries twice a year. Once in the Spring and in the Fall.
- Teach the family to stay low in smoke to avoid poisonous gases. Crawl to exits. Most fire deaths that do happen occur due to smoke inhalation.
-Arrange a meeting place outside the home. Make sure everyone knows to get out quickly and go to the meeting place.
-Call the fire department from a neighbor's house. Do not wait in a burning building to use a phone. Get out and stay out if a fire is occurring in the home.

Plan Your Escape - Have Two Ways Out! 

Be Fire Safe, Be Fire Wise, Learn Not To Burn!

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Key to Surviving Fires In The Home: Smoke Alarms & Escape Plan

During this past month's Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) sent out a news release where along with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Both agencies are providing new statistics on fire in American homes that urges consumers to install smoke alarms in there homes and check to make sure all smoke alarms are working properly. It is also vitally important to develop and practice a family fire escape plan.



In a report released, the CPSC estimates there were an average of 366,700 unintentional residential fires each year between 2008 and 2010.

The top cause of fires in the home is cooking equipment, accounting for an estimated 147,400 or 40 percent of residential 2008 and 2010. Cooking was also associated with the largest percentage of fire-related injuries, an estimated average 27.4 percent or 3,450 in the home.

Home heating and cooking equipment, including portable space heater, was a top cause of fire deaths, accounting for about nine or 210 deaths on average, in homes each year between 2008 and 2010. Portable heaters were associated with100 percent of those deaths each year.

"Six people die every day in home fires," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "The early warning provided by smoke alarms can make a big difference. Consumers who have working smoke alarms in their homes die in fires at about half the rate of those who do not have alarms."

"Every second counts where there is a fire in you home," said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernie Mitchell. "It is easy to believe that when the smoke alarm sounds, you and your family will be able to escape. A home fire drill can prepare you and others to escape a real life emergency in your home."

CPSA and USFA recommended that every family have a working smoke alarm in their home. To provide better warning of a fire and more escape time, install more than one alarm and interconnect all smoke alarms in the home. Interconnected alarms speak to one another so if there is a fire in one part of the house, the interconnected alarms sound throughout the house and alert consumers to the fire more quickly.

For the best protection, CPSC and USFA recommend installing alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom. Install both ionization and photoelectric alarms and made sure alarms are interconnected throughout the home. Alarms that are powered by house wiring should have battery backup.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the death rate per 100 reported fires was 49% less in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes without this protection. In addition to using alarms, never leave cooking items unattended and have a professional inspect heating and cooling equipment every year, including fireplaces and chimneys. Be extra careful with cigarettes and other smoking materials. Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

According to USFA, the fire death rate dropped by 20 percent over the 10-year time period 2000 through 2009 on a per capita basis for a variety of reasons . CPSC and USFA are working to further reduce fires and fire deaths through education and standards work. CPSC staff is working with other federal agencies on new smoke alarm technology to improve effectiveness and reduce nuisance alarms. CPSC is also developing rule making at reducing upholstered furniture fires.

This year's Fire Prevention Week theme was "Have Two Ways Out!" It's not just a fire slogan for a week that highlights Fire Safety once a year, it's something that should be practice throughout the year!

Be Fire Safe - Be Fire Wise - Learn Not To Burn!



(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

TFPFP PodCast/G+ Hangout On Air [06.18.2012]

I've tried a few traditional "Pod Casting" with audio which was ok but I was limited to the 5 minutes of time I had on for the platform I was using. Not really enough time plus something was missing.  With the Google Plus Hang Out On Air capability that Google Plus now offers users I couldn't resist to give it another go but this time with visuals. I do need a newer & updated mic and I'll be working on that improvement here down the road. 


I do think though with the limited online tools and hardware at the old PC desk that I did an ok performance for being still new to it all. It was fun to put the Hangout On Air/Pod Cast together and I should only get better when I do another one. Here is the show...









(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Focusing on Having Two Ways Out

National Fire Protection Association focuses on Having Two Ways Out during Fire Prevention Week in October 

2012 theme highlights the importance of fire escape planning and practice 

Click to tweet: Have Two Ways Out! Join @NFPA in spreading importance of fire escape planning and practice http://tinyurl.com/25rdvy9  

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced the 2012 Fire Prevention Week theme as “Have Two Ways Out!” to encourage families across the country to prioritize fire escape planning and practice. From October 7-13, 2012, NFPA blazes the trail for home fire safety and leads the campaign tohave a home fire escape plan that prepares families to think fast and get out quickly when the smoke alarm sounds. If one exit is blocked by smoke, it’s imperative to plan for another escape outlet.

“We are excited for this year’s theme because it is simple and to the point—always plan for two ways out of your home,” says Jim Shannon, president of NFPA. “You never know which direction a fire will come from, and being prepared can save the lives of you and your loved ones.”

  

To coincide with this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, NFPA gives practical fire safety tips to families:

• Make a map of your home; mark a door and window that can be used to get out of every room.
• Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home.
• Have a grown-up sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan.
• Practice your escape plan twice a year.

To further spread the word about fire safety during Fire Prevention Week, Sparky the Fire Dog kicks off Sparky’s Wish List. The Wish List encourages neighborhoods to partner together to build fire-safe communities and provides a tangible way for media, local businesses and the general public to get involved with Fire Prevention Week. In the online registry, fire departments create wish lists of fire safety materials needed for school visits, bringing fire departments and community members together to support life-saving programs.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

 

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)