A Fire Safe Home: Install Smoke Alarms, Practice a Family Escape Plan

"Protect Your Family From Fire"

Press Releases By: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urge consumers to take time during Fire Prevention Week to check their homes for fire risks and to develop and practice a family escape plan.

CPSC estimates an annual average of more than 386,000 unintentional residential fires (pdf), nearly 2,400 deaths and more the 12,500 injuries each year from 2006 through 2008.

“Build layers of fire safety in your home,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “Install smoke alarms on every floor and in every bedroom. If you already have smoke alarms, make sure they are working. Smoke alarms provide early warning of a potentially deadly fire and can reduce the risk of dying from fire in your home by almost half.”

“Planning a home fire escape is an essential part of being prepared to act and get out quickly if a fire occurs,” said NFPA President James M. Shannon. “Develop a fire escape plan that identifies two ways out of every room and a family meeting place outside. Practice your plan at least twice a year.”

Safe practices, such as the following, are the first line of defense in preventing a fire in your home:

1. Install smoke alarms – A smoke alarm (pdf) should be installed on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms. When it comes to surviving a fire, a smoke alarm is critical for early detection of a fire and can mean the difference between life and death. About two-thirds of fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or smoke alarms that don’t work.

   Install both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms. Alarms should have battery backup. Consider installing interconnected smoke alarms because when one sounds, they all sound throughout the home.

2. Have a family escape plan – Develop and practice a family escape plan. Make sure everyone knows how to escape when the smoke alarm sounds, whether awake or asleep at the time. The best plans have two ways to get out of each room. Designate a meeting place outside. Once out, stay out! To help make a family escape plan, see this NFPA publication (pdf).
3. Cook safely – Stay in the kitchen and keep a watchful eye while you are cooking. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of cooking fires. Cooking equipment accounted for the largest percentage of home fires from 2006 through 2008 that were reported by fire departments. For this time period, CPSC estimates an annual average of nearly 150,000 cooking fires which is nearly 40 percent of unintentional residential fires. These fires resulted in an average of 150 deaths each year.
4. Fireplace safety – Have fireplace flues and chimneys inspected for leakage and blockage from creosote or debris every year. Store fireplace ashes in a fire-resistant container, and cover the container with a lid. Keep the container outdoors and away from combustibles. Dispose of ashes carefully, keeping them away from dry leaves, trash or other combustible materials.

   Heating and cooling equipment accounted for the second-largest percentage of home fires from 2006 through 2008. CPSC estimates an annual average of nearly 57,000 fires and 220 deaths during that time period. Fireplaces and chimneys represented the majority of those fires with an annual average of nearly 27,000 from 2006 through 2008.

5. Electrical safety – CPSC estimates there was an annual average of 150 deaths from 2006 through 2008 attributable to electrical components.

   Check the ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) (pdf) in your home to make sure they’re working. GFCIs can prevent electrocution. CPSC recommends installing GFCIs in the kitchen, bathrooms and other areas where the risk of electric shock is higher.

   Install arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). AFCIs are designed to protect against fires caused by arcing faults in a home’s electrical wiring.

   For more information, see CPSC’s “Home Electrical Safety Checklist.” (pdf)

6. Avoid mattress fires (pdf) – Don’t allow children to play with candles, lighters or smoking materials. Extinguish candles before you leave the room. Buy a mattress that meets the federal flammability standards. The open flame standard limits the intensity of mattress fires and provides more escape time for consumers.
7. Use caution when smoking – Smoking materials caused the most deaths in residential fires, an average of 600 deaths each year from 2006 through 2008. Don’t smoke in bed.
8. Don’t use gel fuel in firepots – CPSC has recalled millions of bottles of gel fuel due to burn and flash-fire hazards. The pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still burning. Contact the manufacturer to return the product for a full refund. There have been deaths associated with gel fuel.

---

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years

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

Overloaded Outlets Cause Fires

One of the leading causes of fire is misuse of electrical appliances.

Many people are under the impression that there is nothing wrong with plugging more than one appliance into a wall socket, using multiple plug adapters.

Electrical circuits in offices and at home are designed to carry a maximum load which is fire safe for the wire size. Fuses that blow and circuit breaker that shut off indicate an overload and perhaps too many appliances being used.

Overloading electrical circuits have resulted in grave consequences, causing fires that could have been prevented. However, preventing a potential fire hazards is as easy as pulling a plug.

Don't overload electrical circuits with "octopus" multiple plug adapters. These adapters can cause electrical wires to overheat, especially if several appliances are being run from the same plug simultaneously.

Replaced frayed, worn, defective or broken cords on electrical appliances and never use electrical equipment around water. Exposed wires can easily set fire to anything flammable that they contact. Or fatal current may leap through your own body, especially around water.

Disconnect electrical appliances which aren't being used, besides by doing so saves money. There is also no chance of an item overheating electrical wiring in the house if it's unplugged.

And always use appliances that carry the Underwriter Laboratory (UL) or equivalent label. These items have been tested and as long as they are maintained and used properly, pose less of a fire hazard

(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.)

Electrical fires continue to be leading cause of home fires

NFPA urges public awareness of electrical safety

News releases By: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Electrical fires continue to be a leading cause of home fires, according to a new report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Released during National Electrical Safety Month (May), the report is a reminder for the public not to forget about electrical safety and to adhere to safety tips to help reduce the risk of home electrical fires.

“Electricity literally runs modern lifestyles by powering the amenities that so many of us depend on day to day, so fire safety is something to keep in mind whenever electricity is being used,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of communications. “There are lots of simple things each of us can do to prevent electrical fires, like keeping lighting fixtures and light bulbs away from things that can burn, and never using extension cords to plug in major appliances.”

According to the report, in 2007, electrical failure or malfunction was a factor contributing to ignition in an estimated 51,800 reported home structure fires. Of the 2003-2007 home electrical fires, 46 percent involved some type of electrical distribution or lighting equipment. Other leading types of equipment involved in the ignition of electrical fires were washers and dryers, fans, air conditioning equipment, space heaters, water heaters, and ranges.

Six percent of 2003-2007 home structure fires involved electrical distribution or lighting equipment as equipment involved in ignition, making it the fourth major cause of home structure fires, following behind cooking equipment, heating equipment, and intentional.

NFPA offers the following safety tips on electrical safety:

* Work on home electrical distribution or lighting equipment should only be conducted by someone qualified as an electrician.

* When buying, selling, or remodeling a home, have it inspected by a professional electrician.

* Keep lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs away from anything that can burn, including lamp shades, furniture, bedding, curtains, clothing, and flammable or combustible gases and liquids.

* Major appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, etc., should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.

* Replace cracked, damaged, and loose electrical cords.

* Extension cords are for temporary use only. Have a licensed electrician determine if additional circuits or outlets are needed.

* Consider having a qualified electrician install arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) in your home. This is a type of circuit breaker that shuts off electricity when a dangerous condition occurs.



To learn more about electrical safety, please visit www.nfpa.org/electricalsafetymonth.

Full report: Home Electrical Fires: http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/OS.electrical.pdf

NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization 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.)

Electricity… Friend or Foe

One of the major causes of fatal home fires is electricity . . . short circuits, misuse and abuse of appliances and cords top the list. Most Americans would agree that life would be harder without the use of electricity to heat, cool and light our homes and businesses and to operate our appliances and tools. There are thousands of good uses for electricity, but with the danger of electrical fires ever present, everyone should take precautions and use it wisely.

-- Do not overload electrical outlets. It is safe to plug in only as many appliances as the outlet can take directly. Do not use adapters to plug in more. The current may not be able to handle the load. The wires will heat up, starting a fire.

-- Use only the correct size fuses in the fuse boxes. A 30 amp fuse in place of a 15 amp can start a fire. Never put a penny behind fuses to make them last longer.

-- Keep appliances and extension cords in good condition. Heat, old age and abuse can make cords frayed, worn or split. This causes short circuits and enough heat to start a fire. Damaged cords should be replaced, not repaired, unless by an electrician. Wrapping electrical tape around a cord may not repair it. Do not risk your family and your possessions to save the few dollars it would cost to buy a new cord.

-- Do not run cords under rugs where people walk, over nails or hooks, through doorways or windows. Do not put cord anywhere it might get smashed, cut or split. Once wires are exposed, it is a fire and shock hazard.

-- Keep appliances unplugged when not using. Remove by pulling on the plug, not the cord.

-- Keep hot electrical appliances and light bulbs away from things that can burn. Use only the correct size bulb. Too large a bulb may give off enough heat to start a fire.

-- Feel switch plates and outlets for heat. Contact a licensed electrician if a problem exists.

--Cover electrical outlets with plastic safety caps. Save children from disfiguring mouth burns; keep live extension cords out of their reach.

-- Buy appliances and cords with the UL) Underwriters Laboratory) or FM (Factory Mutual) label indicating they have been tested for safety.

--Leave air space around appliances such as stereos, televisions, microwaves, etc. to keep them cool.

-- Have an electrician rewire your home if it does not have sufficient outlets. The cost you spend will not be near what an electrical fire in your home would cost in money and lives.

(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.)