Fire Prevention & Safety

• October 11, 2016
• Safety

As the weather starts to cool down and the fall/winter holidays approach, we’re turning off air conditioners and starting to think about turning on heaters, whether that is the home heating unit, some sort of portable device or a wood-burning or gas fireplace.

All of these things (and more) can lead to fires in the home if not properly installed, maintained, and operated. Implementing a few fire prevention safety measures in your home could save lives and keep you and your family from suffering first to third-degree burns and more.

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Fire Prevention Safety Tips

According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths.  The following list can be used as a fire prevention and home safety checklist.

• Make sure all heating equipment is properly installed and vented.
• Make sure you have a working smoke alarm.
• Keep anything that can burn (such as paper or wood) three feet away from all heating units.
• Have chimneys and vents cleaned and inspected by a professional.
• Only use the recommended fuel.
• Dispose of ash properly. Scoop cooled ashes into a metal container and store it away from your home.
• Make sure that you have a spark screen in front of the fireplace.
• Make sure that you have a properly installed chimney cap.
• Make sure that tree limbs are 10 feet away and never overhang the chimney. Keep leaves and pine needles off the roof.

Find Fire Prevention Safety Tip Sheets for the following:

• Escape Planning
• Smoke Alarms at Home
• Home Fire Sprinklers
• People with Disabilities
• Smoke Alarms for People who are Deaf or Hard-of-hearing
• Portable Fire Places and Portable Generators
• And More

Questions? Contact us at (877) 284-6600.

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Don’t Wait. Check the Date – Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that:

• One quarter of home fire deaths are due to fires that start in the bedroom.
• Three out of five home fire deaths are due to fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.

Smoke alarms are a critical part of fire prevention and safety in the home giving you an early warning so you and your family can get outside quickly.

• Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
• To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.

Be sure to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home, including the basement.

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Alarming Statistics from the NFPA

Source: NFPA.org

• In 2014-2018, smoke alarms sounded in more than half (54%) of the home fires reported to U.S. fire departments.
• Almost three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (41%) or no working smoke alarms (16%).
• The death rate per 1,000 reported home fires was more than twice as high in homes that did not have any working smoke alarms compared to the rate in homes with working smoke alarms (13.0 deaths vs. 5.8 deaths per 1,000 fires).
• In fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, two of every five (41%) of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries.
• Dead batteries caused one-quarter (26%) of the smoke alarm failures.

Do you need a personal injury attorney? Contact us at (877) 284-6600.

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Treating Burn Injuries

No matter the fire safety precautions you put in place, there is always the potential of someone suffering a burn injury. First-degree burns can be extremely painful and third degree can be life threatening. If you or a family member suffers a burn whether from a fire or other hot appliances, you need to seek medical attention immediately.

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HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

DO YOU NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE?

When you are seriously injured in an accident, you need an experienced personal injury attorney who will collect all the facts about what happened, assess your injuries and answer questions about your concerns.

Call us at (877) 284-6600 or contact our office online.  We have a successful track record of helping accident victims collect the compensation they deserve. One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation review of your case.

CONTACT US FOR A FREE REVIEW OF YOUR CASE

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