04
Feb 2011

Four Minutes to Save Your Life

One of the greatest challenges fire and life safety educators have is to help more people understand the importance of working smoke alarms in the home. Perhaps we've said it so many times that people simply tune out the message. The fact is -- almost one-fourth of home fire deaths happen where there are NO working smoke alarms. If we know people die from fire in homes where there is no alarm -- or no working alarm -- why do we continue to ignore the message?

Take four minutes to watch the video in this post. Your life -- and the lives of your loved ones -- is worth four minutes of your time, right?
 
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The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) launched the Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign, encouraging people to install and maintain smoke alarms and sprinklers, practice fire escape plans, and perform a home safety walk-through.

The USFA recommends installing smoke alarms both inside and outside of  sleeping areas and on every level of your home; testing them monthly; changing alkaline batteries at least once a year; and installing ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor smoke alarms. For more information, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms or call the USFA Publications Office at (800) 561-3356.

03
Jul 2009

Fire: Rental Insurance

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If you are a renter, don't hesitate to have a renter's insurance policy. Fortunately, the renter at this apartment did.

Also, if you have a stovetop fire, the recommended way to extinguish it (I'd rather you get out and call the FD) is to put a lid or bigger pan or cookie sheet over the top of it. Use the lid as a shield as you approach the burning pot or skillet. Tilt it into place and cover the pot. Turn off the heat. DON'T move the pot or skillet. Leave it there to completely cool.

Also, Ohio, as in many states, has a law that requires you to report fires like these. Best not to take chances.

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