What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irratating gas. It kills more
people annually in the US than any other type poisoning.
What produces carbon monoxide?
The incomplete combustion of fuels such as wood, coal, oil, kerosene, natural gas
or propane.
What are some sources of carbon monoxide?
(a) coal stoves, (b) furnace, (c) automobiles, (d) fire. The gases build up quickly, even in
areas that seem to be ventilated and it overcome you without warning. Some symptoms of
carbon monoxide poisoning are fatigue, headache and chest pain. Prolonged exposure to
carbon monoxide may cause heart or brain damage or even death.
What can you do to protect your family?
A large number of deaths each year could be prevented with regular maintence to your
heating system and with the installation of carbon monoxide detectors. The CO detector is
designed to detect CO from any source. It is not designed to detect smoke, fire or any other
gas. Every home should have at least one detector. The device should be installed near the
sleeping area.
What Should you do if your detector goes off, or you suspect CO Build Up?
Call 9-1-1 and leave the house, closing all doors and windows behind you. If you leave doors
or windows open, the fire department will not be able to gather accuarate readings. With CO,
it's better to be sabe than sorry. You cannot see or smell it, that's why it's referred to as the
silent killer.
Smoke
Detectors
Still a Major Problem
Although 13 of every 14 homes have at least one smoke detector, almost half of home fires and three-fifths of fire deaths occur
in the share of homes with no detectors. Thousands of people still die each year in home fires where smoke detectors aren't
present.
In addition, there are now more homes with smoke detectors that don't work than homes without detectors at all. These poorly
maintained units create a false sense of security among occupants. Approximately one-third of homes with smoke detectors that
experience fires have smoke detectors that aren't working, and hundreds of people die each year in these fires.
Tragically, the grave importance of installing and maintaining smoke detectors has not yet been fully realized. Most people who
die in home fires are not in the room where the fire starts; working smoke detectors alert people to fire and give them time to
escape in a situation where minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
Make sure you buy only those detectors that bear the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Some detectors operate using an
"ionization" sensor while others use a"photoelectric" sensor. An ionization detector uses an extremely small quantity of
radioactive material to make the air in the detector chamber conduct electricity. Smoke from a fire interferes with the electrical
current and triggers the alarm. A photoelectric detector uses a tiny light source shining on a light sensitive sensor. The alarm is
triggered when smoke from a fire interferes with the light. All tested and labeled smoke detectors offer adequate protection if
they are properly installed and maintained.
Make Placement a Priority
A recent NFPA report on smoke detectors found that there is a substantial number of households that do not have the devices
on every level of the home, as needed. The majority of fire deaths occur at night when people are asleep. NFPA's National Fire
Alarm Code (NFPA 72) says homes must have smoke detectors on every level of the home -- including the basement -- and
outside each sleeping area. New homes are required to have a smoke detector in each sleeping area as well.
To slow the spread of smoke and fumes if a fire develops, NFPA suggests that you sleep with your bedroom doors closed. If
you sleep with your bedroom doors closed, install a smoke detector inside each bedroom. Detectors should also be installed in
other areas of your home where people sleep. In new homes, the National Fire Alarm Code requires hard-wired detectors to
be interconnected, so that if one detector is activated, all detectors will sound the alarm signal. On
floors without bedrooms,
smoke detectors should be installed in or near living areas, such as family rooms and living rooms.
Detectors that are hard-wired into the home electrical system should be installed by a qualified electrician. If your detector plugs
into a wall socket, make sure it has a restraining device to keep its plug from being pulled out. Never connect a detector to a
circuit that could be turned off at a wall switch. Most detectors are battery-powered and can be installed with a screwdriver
and drill and by following the manufacturer's instructions.
"Test Your Detectors!""Let's Hear it for Fire Safety":
Since smoke and deadly gases rise, detectors should be placed on the ceiling at least 4 inches from the nearest wall, or high on
a wall, 4-12 inches from the ceiling. This 4-inch minimum is important to keep detectors out of possible "dead air" spaces,
because hot air is turbulent and may bounce so much it misses spots near a surface. Installing detectors near a window, door or
fireplace is not recommended because drafts could detour smoke away from the unit. In rooms where the ceiling has an
extremely high point, such as in vaulted ceilings, mount the detector at or near the ceiling's highest point.
Maintenance is a Must
What good are smoke detectors that don't work? No good at all! That's why it is imperative that you keep your smoke
detectors fit and in good shape. It's easy. Maintain your smoke detectors by:
Testing
Whether your detectors are hard-wired or battery-operated, NFPA recommends testing them once a month to make
sure they are operating. A working smoke detector greatly reduces your chances of dying in a home fire. Testing is the
only way to ensure they are working to protect you. Test each detector by pushing the test button and listening for the
alarm. If you can't reach, stand under the detector and push the test button with a broom handle.
Replacing Batteries
If your smoke detectors are battery operated, replace their batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions. NFPA
recommends doing this at least once a year or when the detector chirps, alerting you that the battery power is low.
Replace the batteries immediately if you move into a new home. Make sure no one disables your smoke detectors by
borrowing batteries for other uses. Everyone you live with should understand how critical it is to have working smoke
detectors.
Cleaning
Just as you clean your home, your smoke detectors need to be cleaned. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's
instructions about cleaning. Cobwebs and dust usually can be removed with a vacuum cleaner attachment. If you are
going to be doing work nearby that could send dust in the air, cover the detector with a shield. Also, shield the detector if
you are painting around it, and never paint on it. Remove the shield promptly after work is completed.
Dealing with Nuisance Alarms
Regularly cleaning your smoke detectors and following the manufacturer's instructions may help stop "nuisance" or false alarms.
If this doesn't stop them, install a fresh battery in the detectors giving nuisance alarms. Evaluate where your detectors are placed
if the problem still persists. Cooking vapors and steam can set off a smoke detector. If the detector is near the kitchen or
bathroom, try moving it farther away. If nuisance alarms continue, install a new smoke detector.
No Substitute for Smoke Detectors
Fire protection in the home must start with smoke detectors. There are many other kinds of detectors which may be designed to
detect such factors as high temperatures, rapid changes in temperature, and certain gases produced in fires. However, these
detectors are not as effective as smoke detectors in giving the first warning when a fire breaks out. NFPA does not require heat
detectors in homes, however, they may be used for optional extra protection in areas like kitchens, attics, and garages, where
smoke detectors are susceptible to nuisance alarms.
Tests performed on the speed of warning given by smoke detectors and heat detectors for many types of typical home fires
showed smoke detectors consistently give first warning -- often by enough of a margin to make a major difference in your
chances of escaping alive. Smoke and deadly gas spread farther and faster than heat.
Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. Instead, the poisonous gases and smoke
produced by a fire can numb the senses and put one into a deeper sleep.
Smoke Detectors Are Cost-Effective
A battery-operated smoke detector for the home retails for less than $10. Smoke detectors with extra features can cost up to
$25. Batteries cost $1 to $2, depending on the brand. A smoke detector for a typical hard-wired system costs $14-$18.
Smoke detectors for people with hearing impairments cost approximately $100 each. In 1994, home fires caused $481,000 in
damage every hour.
For further information contact the
National Fire Protection Association
E.D.I.T.H
Exit Drills In The Home
HOW YOU CAN SURVIVE
Install and maintain working Smoke Detectors in your home
Make an escape plan and practice it
YOU HAVE TO PLAN YOUR ESCAPE
When a fire happens, there is no time for planning. Sit down with your family now and make a step-by-step plan for escaping
from a fire in your home. Some people might think ... " I've lived in this house for 10 years ... I know my way
around. If there's a fire I can get out." Well, it doesn't work that way. When a fire happens, especially at night, you will be
sleepy ... you will be afraid ... you will be confused, even in your own home. You might not get out. If you don't have working
Smoke Detectors, your chances of surviving a fire in your home, especially at night dramatically decrease. That's how many
people are killed and injured.
Draw a floor plan of your home and mark 2 ways out of every room, especially the bedrooms. Go over these escape routes
with every member of your household especially any children.
Agree on a meeting place outside your house where every member of the household will meet after escaping a fire and wait
there for the fire department to arrive. This lets you count heads to make sure everyone is there, and to tell the fire department if
anyone is missing.
Practice your escape plan several times a year. Hold a fire drill in your home. Appoint someone to be a monitor and
have everyone take part in the drill. A fire drill is not a race, but practice to get out quickly ... remember to be careful.
Make your fire drill realistic ... pretend that some exits are blocked by fire and practice getting out different escape routes.
Pretend that the lights are out and that some escape routes are getting smoke in them.
Be Prepared ... make sure everyone in the house can unlock all the doors and windows quickly, even in the dark. Windows or
doors with security bars on them need to be equipped with quick-release devices and everyone in the house should know how
to use them.
If you live in an apartment building use stairways to escape. Never use an elevator during a fire ... it can stop between floors or
take you directly to a floor where a fire is burning.
If you live in a two story house and you must escape from a second floor window, be sure there is a safe way to reach the
ground. Make special arrangements for kids, older adults, and people with disabilities. People who might have trouble moving
should have a telephone they can easily get to in their bedroom, and if possible, should sleep on the ground level floor.
Test doors before opening them ... while kneeling or crouching at the door, reach up as high as you can and with the back of
your hand (it's more sensitive than the front of your hand to feel things such as heat), touch the door, the doorknob, and the
space between the door and its frame. If the door is hot, use another way out. If the door is cool, open it slowly.
If you are trapped, close all doors between you and the fire. Stuff the cracks around the doors with clothes or anything to help
keep the smoke out of the room you are in. Wait at a window and signal for help with a light colored cloth (use a pillow case,
sheet, anything light colored) or a flashlight if you have one. If there is a phone in the room, call the fire department and tell them
exactly where you are.
GET OUT FAST ...
In case of fire, do not stop for anything. Do not try to rescue anything, including pets. After you get out, go directly to your
meeting place and then call for the fire department from a neighbor's home (or use an alarm box if there is one nearby). Every
member of your household should know how to call the fire department (911 in most, but not all areas).
Crawl low under smoke. Smoke contains deadly gases and heat rises. During a fire the cleaner air will be down near the floor.
If you find smoke when using your primary exit (your 1st way out), then use your alternate escape plan (2nd way out). If you
must get out of the house through smoke, get down and crawl on your hands and knees ... even down on your belly if you have
to ... and keep your head close to the floor where the "good" air is so you can breathe easier (and its not as hot down
there, since heat rises).
... AND STAY OUT ... once you are out of the house, DO NOT go back in for any reason. If people are trapped, the
firefighters have the best chance of rescuing them. Firefighters have the training, experience, and the protective clothing and
equipment needed to enter a burning building. Most of the time, those people that go back into a house that is burning do not
come back out alive. Remember, we can replace toys and TV's and clothes ... but we can NEVER replace YOU!
DON'T BE STUPID ... More than half of all fatal home fires happen at night while people are sleeping. One of the first body
senses to go to sleep is that of smell. Working Smoke Detectors act like a big nose smelling the air all night for you. If a fire
starts, the Smoke Detectors will sound an alarm alerting you before you can become trapped or overcome by smoke. With
working Smoke Detectors, your risk of dying in a home fire is cut almost in half. Install Smoke Detectors outside of every
bedroom and on every level of your home including the basement. Follow the installation instructions carefully and test all of the
Smoke Detectors at least once every week. Change Smoke Detector batteries at least once every year ... a good idea is to
change the batteries on a certain birthday each year.
If your Smoke Detectors are more than 10 years old, replace them.
Paraphrased from Sayre Fire Department
Portable
Fire Extinguishers
When used properly, portable fire extinguishers can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the
fire department arrives.
Portable fire extinguishers for home use, however, are not designed to fight large or spreading fires. Even for small fires they are
useful only under certain conditions:
The operator must know how to use the extinguisher. There is no time to read directions during an emergency. The extinguisher must be within easy reach and in working order, fully charged. The operator must have a clear escape route that will not be blocked by fire. The extinguisher must match the type of fire being fought.
Extinguishers that contain water are unsuitable for use of grease and electrical fires. The extinguisher must be large enough to put out the fire. Many portable extinguishers discharge completely in as few
as 8 to 10 seconds.
What Type of Extinguisher Should I Use?
There are three basic classes of fires, and all extinguishers are labeled as to what type of fire they can put out. They will have
standard symbols on them and if there is a red slash through a symbol that tells you it cannot be used on that kind of fire.
The three classes are:
Class A: Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, and cardboard.
Class B: Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, and oil-based paint.
Class C: Electrical such as wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers and appliances.
The fire extinguisher must be appropriate for the type of fire being fought. If you use the wrong kind of fire extinguisher, you can
make the fire worse and endanger yourself (for example, if you use a water extinguisher on an electrical fire, you'll find that to be
quite a shocking experience ... using a pressurized extinguishing agent on a grease fire will spread the fire rather than
extinguishing it). Multipurpose fire extinguishers can be used on all three classes of fires.
What Size Extinguisher Should I Buy?
Portable fire extinguishers are also rated for the size of fire they can handle. This rating will appear on the label - for example,
2A:10B:C. The larger the numbers, the larger the fire that the extinguisher can put out ... but the higher-rated models are often
much heavier. Make sure you can hold and operate an extinguisher before you buy it.
What You Need to Know About Installing and Maintaining Extinguishers ...
Fire extinguishers should be installed in plain view, above the reach of children, near an escape route and away from stoves
and heating appliances. Fire extinguishers require some routine care. Make sure you read your operator's manual to learn how to inspect your fire
extinguisher. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on maintaining the extinguisher.
Rechargeable models must be serviced after every use (look in the Yellow Pages of your telephone directory under "Fire
Extinguishers" for local companies that service them). The disposable fire extinguishers can be used only one time and must be
replaced after use.
How to Use Your Fire Extinguisher ...
Always remember to keep your back to an unobstructed exit and stand six to eight feet away from the fire. Remember to
PASS:
PULL the pin: this unlocks the operating lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher. Some extinguishers may have other lever release mechanisms.
AIM low: point the extinguisher nozzle (or hose) at the BASE of the fire.
SQUEEZE the lever above the handle ... this discharges the extinguishing agent. Releasing the lever will stop the discharge (some extinguishers have a button instead of a lever)
SWEEP from side to side ... moving carefully toward the fire, keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire and sweep back and forth until the flames appear to be out. Watch the fire area. If the fire re-ignites, repeat the process.
ALWAYS make sure the fire department is called and inspects the fire site, even if you think you have extinguished the fire!
Should You Try to Fight the Fire?
Before you begin to fight a fire:
Make sure everyone has left or is leaving the building
Make sure the fire department has been called
Make sure the fire is confined to a small area and is not spreading
Make sure you have an unobstructed escape route to which the fire will not spread
Make sure you have read the instructions and know how to use the extinguisher
It is reckless to fight a fire in any other circumstances. Instead, leave immediately and close off the area.
For further information contact the
National Fire Protection Association
STOP . .
DROP .
ROLL .
If your clothes catch on fire, DON’T RUN!
STOP where you are,
DROP to the ground, cover your face with your hands,
ROLL over and over to smother the flames.
CALL 911 for help!
If someone else’s clothes catch on fire:
blanket, towel, or other heavy cloth to help put out
the flames on their clothing.
