Residents should have a game plan to escape home fires
With the recent dry conditions in Jeff Davis Parish, there have been several structure fires reported by authorities in the Elton and Jennings areas over the last two weeks alone.
In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage.
According to State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, you have less than two minutes to quickly escape with little time to help others and no time to save belongings.
“One home structure fire was reported every 85 seconds in 2010,” says Browning. “Fire is unpredictable and moves faster than most people realize. Having a tried and true escape plan with two ways is essential to ensuring your family’s safety should fire break out in your home.”
The state fire marshal recommends the following tips for planning your family’s escape:
• Install and maintain smoke alarms in your home.
• Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room.
• Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they’ve escaped. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan.
• Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your escape plan.
• Have a grown-up sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan with everyone living in your home.
• Keep your escape plan on the refrigerator and remind grown-ups to have your family practice the plan twice a year or whenever anyone in your home celebrates a birthday.
Residents can learn more about the importance of fire escape planning and practice, as well as the power of prevention at the state fire marshal’s office’s website at http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov.
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Posted by Graphic Designer 2
on Nov 7 2012. Filed under Editorial.
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