Did you know?
- Having a working smoke alarm reduces one’s chance of dying in a fire by one-half.
- Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1-14 years.
- Children ages 5 and under are at a greater risk from home fire-related death and injury, with a fire death rate 1.5 times the national average.
- A less acute perception of danger, less control over their environment, and a limited ability to react promptly and properly to a fire contribute to this excess risk.
Smoke Alarms are Essential
- As of 2004, 96 percent of homes in the United States had at least one smoke alarm.
- However, only three-quarters of all homes had at least one working smoke alarm.
- When a child dies in a residential fire, a smoke alarm is not working or not present in almost three-quarters of these occurrences.
Home Fire Sprinklers Provide Added Protection
- If you are building a new home, consider adding a fire sprinkler system.
- If there is a reported fire in your home, fire sprinklers reduce the risk of dying by about 80 percent.
Action Plan - Fire prevention starts with you!
Preparation and education are key elements of preventing fire tragedies. Here are a few simple steps for you to help prevent fire-related injuries and deaths in your home.
- Purchase smoke alarms. Smoke alarms are available at a variety of price points; they can be battery operated or electrically hard wired in your home.
- Install the smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, making sure that there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area and in every bedroom.
- Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Ceiling-mounted alarms should be installed at least four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
- Test smoke alarms monthly; follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Replace smoke alarm batteries once a year, or as soon as the battery chirps warning that the battery is low. Replace batteries even if alarms are hardwired in case of a power outage.
- Create and practice an escape route with your family. Mark two ways out of every room, including doors and windows.
- Choose a safe meeting place outside the home. Make sure to mark this on your escape plan.
- Have a designated person to help young children and others who might have difficulty escaping.
- Once there is a fire, get out and stay out! Call 911 from a neighbor’s house.
