October is Fire Prevention Month, and October 8th – 14th is National Fire Prevention week. This year’s theme - “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!”- reinforces the need for everyone to have an escape plan.
“Your chance of survival in the case of deadly house fires significantly improves when you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, especially inside and just outside of bedrooms,” said New Rochelle’s Fire Chief Louis DiMeglio.
The National Fire Protection Association estimated an average of 45,210 home fires caused by electrical failure or malfunction, resulting in an estimated 420 deaths, 1,370 injuries, and $1.4 billion in property damage each year.
“All households are advised to develop and practice a home escape plan,” DiMeglio continued.
In a typical home fire, occupants may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Home escape planning is so critical in a fire situation because it ensures that everyone in the household knows how to use that small window of time wisely.
NFPA and the New Rochelle Fire Department offer these additional tips and recommendations for developing and practicing a home escape plan:
- Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
- Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
- Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
- Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
- Close doors behind you as you leave — this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
- Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.
For more information on this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out”, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.
