Off Fishing Topic: Fire Prevention Week and your Family

I’m not sure if it was the resort that had the fire last night, the email I received this morning or both.

We just came off of Fire Prevention week and it made me think of my own home and family.
We always did this once a year but someplace along the way, we strayed.

Does everyone in your family know when it’s time to get out and call 911?

Does everyone know where the electric shut off is in your house?
And when to use it?
How about the gas shut off?
Where are your fire extinguishers located?
Have the dry chemical extinguishers been turned upside down and tapped with a rubber mallet in the last few years.
Are they still charged.

We would talk about if a fire started in the kitchen, how we would exit the house.
Same with hallway rooms and living area.
How do we get out of a smoke filled room/house?

Have the smoke detector batteries been changed?
Are you detectors out dated?

I feel like most, these are common sense things, BUT are your kids aware? Likely if you haven’t talked with them about it they are often clueless. As I’m typing this, I’m realizing that the FD bought a new house a few years ago and I’m wondering if they’ve ever talked about it.

I was reminded today of the national numbers:
Home fire deaths since Jan. 1: 1,672
Fire Fighter deaths since Jan. 1: 77

Great reminder.
Also check the date on your fire extinguishers. You will be happy you did when you need it.

Thank you for the reminders.

I’ve been slacking getting the extinguishers up at the new place following construction, but need to do so. We will be keeping one in the kitchen, 2 in the garage, and one in the basement laundry room.

It’s almost time to change detector batteries too with the clock swing coming.

My 5 year old came home from Kindergarten yesterday and taught me all about how to evacuate in the event of a fire. She also asked for help to draw a map of the house to include where the smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are. They had the local Fire Department stop by yesterday to train the whole school.

I offered to add the checks to her chore list and she was excited. So now I have a resident fire prevention expert telling me what to do…

404 ERROR wrote:

So now I have a resident fire prevention expert telling me what to do…

We all need one of those!!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

We all need one of those!!

There’s nothing better than having your daughter teach you how to crawl and crouch to see through smoke. Kids grow too fast!

Big thanks to all firefighters who willingly place themselves in harms way!

One of the leading causes of home fires is Toasters. Its always a good idea to unplug those things when you are done using them. This is probably true for all kitchen electrical appliances.

Dan wrote:

Big thanks to all firefighters who willingly place themselves in harms way!

X2. ” They run into what most others are running out of “

Good point Thump! Back in the ’60’s early ’70’s my parents made it a habit to unplug the tv when leaving on vacation. Electronics have changed a lot over the years, so I would expect this to not be much of a problem as it was back then.

I was in a kitchen of a restaurant and happened to notice a cord of a turned off coffee maker smoking near the outlet. By the time I got to the breaker there was a flame. Luckily, there wasn’t anything around it to lite.

I have not heard anyone mention unplugging anything in a long while. Never even give it a thought anymore. I remember my folks doing it with some stuff.

I know each year when I take continuing Ed classes they still list Toasters as one of the leading causes of home fires. Maybe they are still working off old Data. I still unplug mine after each use.

Yessir, this is when all the preschool and kindergarteners come to the fire dept and watch us put our gear on and then knock us on the helmet and play around in the trucks. Also get a little general ed on the topic. Fun for the kids and for the firefighters.

Don’t forget to sleep with your bedroom doors closed. Could be the difference between living or not.

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