Time to Turn Back One Hour / Check Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

It is time to reset your clocks! This year, Daylight Savings Time officially ends on Sunday, November 6, 2011 when clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m.

After turning the clocks back one hour, spend part of the hour gained to change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

Test those smoke and carbon monoxide detectors also for that monthly test.

In 2010, there were 1,331,500 fires, resulting in 3,120 deaths and 17,720 injuries, according to the U.S. Fire Administration

The USFA notes, "One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a ‘Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm.’ A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire."

The recommendation is to install the alarms everywhere they are needed and to keep them maintained. At the very least, there should be a smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Good places for alarms are near dens, living rooms, and family rooms.

As a minimum, one smoke detector is required on each level of the home, including the basement. One smoke detector must be outside the bedrooms. If the home has bedrooms on more than one level, one smoke detector is required outside of each area.

Keep detectors away from windows, doors, or forced air registers.

Detectors should be tested at least monthly, and if you can do so check them weekly by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Replace any smoke detectors in the home that are 8 to 10 years old with new ones. Batteries should be changed twice a year and it has become common practice to do this when we change the clocks to daylight savings time and then back to standard time, which occurs this Nov. 6.

It simple, the only good smoke detector is one that works. BEEP-BEEP-BEEP A Sound You Can Live With! Learn Not To Burn, Be Fire Safe!

(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.)

Being Fire Safe on Independence Day!

U.S. Fire Administration Press Release:

The U.S. Fire Administration and Safe Kids USA Encourage Everyone to Practice Fire Safety During Independence Day Celebrations

EMMITSBURG, MD – The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and Safe Kids USA are encouraging families and individuals to prepare for a safe and memorable Fourth of July by practicing safe grilling and leaving the fireworks to the professionals.

“Independence Day is a major highlight of the summer and for many people there’s a lot of excitement around setting off colorful fireworks and starting up the grill,” said Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines. Meri-K Appy, President, Safe Kids USA joins Deputy Administrator Gaines in urging all Americans to have a fun and safe weekend. “We are reminding everyone of simple steps they can take to protect their children who are most vulnerable to fire-related burns, injuries, and deaths,” says Appy.

Fireworks

Many children and adults are fascinated by fireworks, but they can be extremely dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) annual death and injury report (PDF, 325 Kb) on fireworks, approximately 40 percent of fireworks injuries occur to children younger than 15 years of age. In addition, CPSC received reports of three fatalities related to fireworks in 2010.

The best way to protect your family and friends is not to use any fireworks at home. Attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals.

Fireworks Fire Safety Tips

• Sparklers are not toys. They can reach 2,000^o Fahrenheit--hot enough to melt some metals.
• Leave pieces of fireworks on the ground after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode.
• Stand several feet away from the professionals lighting fireworks; fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction.

For more information, please visit the USFA’s Focus on Fire Safety: Fireworks webpage and Safe Kids USA at www.safekids.org.

Grilling

Every Fourth of July Americans look forward to picnics, camping, and other outdoor activities. The holiday, however, also brings fires and injuries due to outdoor cooking. By taking a few fire safety precautions, you can ensure that everyone enjoys a safe Independence Day.

Grilling Fire Safety Tips

• Propane and charcoal BBQ grills must only be used outdoors. If used indoors, or in any enclosed spaces such as tents, they pose a fire hazard and a risk of exposing occupants to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Place the grill a safe distance from lawn games, play areas, and foot traffic. Grills should be positioned at least 10 feet away from siding, deck railing, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Keep, matches, lighters, and starter fluid out of the reach of children in a locked drawer or cabinet .
• Keep children and pets away from the grill area: declare a three-foot "kid-free zone" around the grill.
• Use long barbeque mitts and long-handled grilling tools to protect the chef from heat and flames when cooking.
• Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below the grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.

For more information, please visit Safe Kids USA at www.safekids.org and the USFA’s Focus on Fire Safety: Summer Fire Safety webpage.

(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.)

USFA Releases Provisional 2010 Firefighter Fatality Statistics

USFA Press Release:

EMMITSBURG, MD — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today there were 85 onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2010, a 6 percent decrease from the 90 fatalities reported for 2009. The 85 fatalities were spread across 31 states. Illinois experienced the highest number of fatalities (9). In addition to Illinois, only New York (8), Ohio (8), Pennsylvania (7), and Kansas (5) had 5 or more firefighter fatalities.

Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines noted that "When evaluating the trend in onduty firefighter fatalities over more than three decades, the past two years have seemed to reflect a possible change in the firefighting culture of the United States where Everyone Goes Home, including all firefighters." Gaines then added, "Working closely with our partners, USFA will continue every effort to be sure that when it comes to firefighter health and safety this downward trend in onduty firefighter deaths continues."

Heart attacks and strokes were responsible for the deaths of 51 firefighters (60%) in 2010, nearly the same proportion of firefighter deaths from heart attack or stroke (58%) in 2009.

Nine onduty firefighters died in association with wildland fires, about half the number that died in association with wildland fires in 2009 and a third of the 26 such fatalities in 2008.

Forty-eight percent of all firefighter fatalities occurred while performing emergency duties.

Eleven firefighters died in 2010 as the result of vehicle crashes, down substantially from 16 deaths in 2009, and for the first time since 1999, none the of the deaths involved aircraft. Four firefighters in 2010 died in accidents involving firefighters responding in personal vehicles. Seven firefighter deaths involved fire department apparatus, one of which was a double firefighter fatality incident.

These 2010 firefighter fatality statistics are provisional and may change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify the names of firefighters reported to have died onduty during 2010. The final number of firefighter fatalities will be reported in USFA's annual firefighter fatality report, expected to be available by July.

Download

• 2010 Firefighter Fatality Provisional Statistics (PDF, 11 Kb)
• 2010 Firefighter Fatality Provisional Statistics (Text, 4 Kb)

For additional information on firefighter fatalities, including the annual fatality reports from 1986 through 2009 and the Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990–2000, please visit the USFA website.

(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.)

Time To Change Smoke Detector Batteries....

Once again it is time to change the batteries in your home smoke alarms. 70 percent of fire deaths come from homes without a working smoke alarm. In the Spring we Spring forward and then in the Fall we Fall back by turning the clocks back one hour. In either case it's a time to ensure the smoke alarms have the necessary power and are all in working order. Change out all batteries with fresh brand new batteries.

Here's a YouTube video showing you a very good view of how simple with little effort it is to change the smoke detector battery:

REMEMBER smoke detectors/alarms do have expiration dates also and should be replaced with new ones after ten years of use. Check the backside of the smoke detector when changing the batteries and there should be a year of expiration for the unit.

ALSO REMEMBER to test smoke detectors/alarms each month.

For some great additional information concerning smoke detectors/alarms please visit the

U.S. Fire Administration web site. Go over the information with family members so all are informed of the importance of having these early warning devices in the home.

Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned!

Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With. Where There's Smoke, There Should Be a Smoke Alarm!

(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.)

Topical Reports From U.S. Fire Administration

Our friends over at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), who you can also follow on Twitter @USFire , are a wealth of information for fire protection and fire prevention related issues for everyone's concern. Here’s a U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) press release from last week with some very important information:

Press Releases for 7/29/10

USFA Releases One- and Two-Family and Multifamily Residential Fires Topical Reports

Source: U.S. Fire Administration

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announces the release of two special reports focusing on the causes and characteristics of fires in one- and two-family and multifamily residential buildings. The reports, One- and Two-Family Residential Building Fires and Multifamily Residential Building Fires, were developed by the USFA’s National Fire Data Center. One- and two-family residential buildings include detached dwellings, manufactured homes, mobile homes not in transit, and duplexes. Multifamily residential buildings consist of structures such as apartments, townhouses, rowhouses, condominiums, and other tenement properties.

An estimated 253,500 fires in one- and two-family residential buildings occur each year in the United States. Annually, these fires are responsible for 2,150 civilian fire deaths, 8,775 civilian fire injuries, and 5.3 billion dollars in property loss. Additionally, there are an estimated 108,400 fires that occur in multifamily buildings each year resulting in 450 deaths, 3,800 injuries, and 1.1 billion dollars in property loss.

+ One- and Two-Family Residential Building Fires (PDF)

+ Multifamily Residential Building Fires (PDF)

(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.)