The purpose of heat and smoke detectors is to detect a fire in its earliest stages and
sound an alarm, giving occupants more time to exit the premises before smoke
reaches a dangerous level.
Cl KNOW FIRE HAZARDS
No
detection device can protect life in all situations; therefore, safeguards should
be taken to avoid such potentially dangerous situations as smoking in bed, leaving
children home alone, and cleaning with flammable liquids such as gasoline.
The best fire protection is minimizing
fire
hazards through proper storage of
materials and good housekeeping practices. Careless use of combustible materials
andelectricalappliances or overloading of electrical outlets are major causes of fire.
Explosive and fast burning materials must be eliminated from the home.
0
IN CASE OF FIRE
Leave
immediately! Do not stop to pack or search for valuables. In heavy smoke,
hold your breath and stay low-crawl
if
necessary.
The clearest air usually is at the
floor. If you have to go through
a
closed door, carefully feel the door and door knob
to see if undue heat is present. If relatively cool, brace your foot against the bottom
ofthedoorwithyourhipagainstthemiddle,andonehandagainstthetopedge.Open
slightly. If there is arush of hot air, slam the door quickly and latch it. Unvented fire
will build up considerable pressure. Be sure that all the household realizes this
danger.
Use your neighbors
phone
or street fire alarm box. The job of extinguishing the
fire
should be left to the professionals. Too many unforeseen things can occur when
inexperienced people try to extinguish a fue.
0
BE PREPARED
Perform
fire
drills regularly. Use them to assure recognition of an alarm signal. For
your protection, simulate different circumstances (smoke the hall, living room,
etc.).Then
haveeveryonereacttothesituation.
Draw
a floorplanandshow
twoexits
from each room. It is important that children be instructed carefully. Their tendency
is to hide in a crisis.
It is imperative that one meeting place outside the home be established. You should
insist that everyone meet there during an alarm. This will eliminate the tragedy of
someone re-entering the house for a missing member who is
actually
safe.
If you have small children and/or invalids residing in your household, you can help
yourfnedepartmentby placingdecalson bedroom windows. Mostfiredepartments
supply the decals.
Become familiar with the distinctive sounds of your
Fire
alarm and Burglar alarm
signals.
14