A note from the Health & Safety Department

According to the NFPA, if you have reported a fire in your home, you are more likely to die today than you were a few decades ago. The fire death rate (per 1000 home fires reported to the fire department) was 10 percent higher in 2016 than it was in 1980. Here are a few more “Home Fire Facts” to highlight the importance of fire safety/prevention at home…

• On average, seven people die per day in U.S. home fires.
• Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home-fire injuries.
• For decades, smoking has been the leading cause of home-fire deaths.
• U.S. fire departments respond to an average of one home fire every 86 seconds.
• Between 2011 and 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 358,000 home structure fires per year. These fires caused 12,300 civilian injuries, 2,510 civilian deaths, and $6.7 billion in direct damage.

If you ever encounter a fire while at work just remember, R.A.C.E. and P.A.S.S.

If you were to find yourself at a fire’s origin point, make sure to utilize the R.A.C.E. procedure:  

• Rescue: anyone that is in immediate danger from the fire.
• Alarm: by pulling the closet pull-station and/or dialing 911 and reporting the location of the fire to emergency responders.
• Confine: the area by closing all doors.
• Extinguish: the fire if it is small enough using the P.A.S.S. method OR
• Evacuate: from the area.

If you do decide you want to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher be sure to follow the P.A.S.S. procedure:​

• Pull: the pin.
• Aim: the nozzle at the base of the fire, while standing 8-10 feet away.
• Squeeze: the levers to begin discharging the fire extinguishing agent.
• Sweep: the nozzle from side to side, 3-6 inches on each side, until the contents are exhausted to prevent re-ignition.

However, not all fires start in occupational settings. The American Red Cross suggests that if a fire were to start in your home you may have as little as two minutes to escape. As such, they have a few tips for home fire safety

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
• Test smoke alarms every month. If they’re not working, change the batteries.
• Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.
• If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT AND CALL FOR HELP. Never go back inside for anything or anyone.

Please keep these tips in mind either at work or in your own home to make sure to keep you and your loved ones safe!

For more information on Home Fire Safety please visit the Red Cross’ website: 

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire.html