News Details (Posted: January 19, 2005):

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM COLLIERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT (Thanks to Kenny Stovall)

Full Description:

Every year fire causes more than 5,000 people deaths, over 25,000 injuries, and over $9 billion in direct property loss. Surprisingly, the U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. Tennessee is the 3rd leading state in fire deaths. The South has the highest fire death rate as opposed to other areas. Fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined each year. Residential fires are especially devastating since 80 percent of all fire deaths occur in homes just like yours each year. Even with these startling statistics, it is often not until a tragic event occurs that many people become proactive about preventing fires and improving safety in their daily lives. Unfortunately, the grave importance of Fire Prevention has not yet been fully realized. Fortunately, most fire losses can be easily prevented through learning and practicing fire safety. So often fire safety and fire prevention take a back seat to busy daily routines. “It is my goal as Public Educator to teach our community techniques to use should a fire occur but also how to prevent the devastating occurrence of fire. Working with schools, daycares, newspapers, television and the Collierville Community at-large to understand the importance of fire prevention and fire safety techniques which reduce the burden of fire on the quality of life is very challenging and extremely rewarding” says Synolve Craft Public Education Specialist for the Collierville Fire Department. Having protective features in residential dwellings such as properly maintained and installed Smoke Detectors can actually assist homeowners reduce the risk of fire, injury or loss of life. “Another thing residents can do is to make Fire Safety and Fire Prevention a priority today and everyday,” says Synolve Craft. Taking the time to incorporate simple tools in their daily lives can prevent fires from occurring or at the very least alert people to the existence of fire and give them precious time to escape in a dangerous situation where minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

>My New Year’s Resolution for Fire Safety and Fire Prevention 1. I will test my smoke detectors each month. > More than 75 percent of child fire deaths occurred in places where there was no working smoke detector, according to a study done for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2. I will change the batteries in my smoke detectors twice per year. Although 94 percent of American homes have at least one smoke detector, 16 million homes have smoke detectors that do not work for various reasons, including batteries that do not work or batteries being removed and placed into a hand-held game, toy or other household item.

3. I will make sure that my smoke detectors are properly installed in areas throughout my home. Install smoke detectors inside of bedrooms, hallways, laundry rooms, upstairs just off the stairwell, through out the upstairs, in basements and just outside the kitchen. Remember that smoke detectors prevent fire fatalities by 50%. Also remember that most fires occur at night and the piercing beeping sound of a smoke detector is my only line of defense to prevent tragedy in the event of a fire emergency. 4. I will teach my children about fire safety. Remember that children are in a high-risk group for death by fire. In fact, a child under the age of 5 is twice as likely to die in a fire than the rest of the population. Also remember that Preparation and Practice of fires safety techniques are the only ways to avoid the unthinkable according to the U. S. Fire Administration. 5. I will have a family meeting and make an exit plan with my family. If a fire occurs, getting out of a house fast is extremely important. The only way to do this is to make a plan and practice your plan often with your family. In this plan, have a meeting place that is a safe distance from the house such as a tree or mailbox. Deciding on a specific meeting place, assures that everyone will know exactly where to go once they are out. This allows everyone to be easy to find so that family members can be dispersed to call 911 and give the emergency responders information once they arrive. 6. I will practice things like knowing two ways out of every room (door and window) and how to escape. Close your eyes. How would you escape if a fire were to occur this very moment? Sleeping with doors closed at night offers another level of protection from smoke and fire since most fires occur at night. You should feel the door with the back of your hand and it is hot, then you will know to escape through a window. If you are on the second floor of a residence, keep a UL approved metal fire escape ladder under your bed for quick escape. Most people die from the poisonous gases and smoke created by fire. Since smoke rises, you should crawl low under the smoke when attempting to escape a fire. 7. I will teach my children to Never Go Back In a Fire Once you Get Out!! Remember that by getting myself out I am not only saving my life but the life of others as well. Did you know that about 100 firefighters are killed each year in duty-related incidents? The most dangerous time for a firefighter is when he or she puts on the air mask and goes into a structure to rescue a victim from fire. And yet the Collierville Firefighters bravely take on the task of risking their own lives to save others everyday. Most fire deaths occur from people that have escaped a fire and decide to go back in for one reason or another. 8. I will move hazardous items out of the reach of my children like the following. Combustible items such as gasoline or kerosene; Lighters and Matches; and HOT items such as curling irons should be placed out of children’s reach. Remember that unintentional injuries are the #1 health hazard for children 14 and under. Researchers have found that one fourth of all children require medical attention due to injury. An estimated 99,000 children 14 and under are treated in hospitals for thermal, scald, chemical, and electrical burns. 9. I will remember what to do if my clothes catch on fire. Stop, Drop, Roll, Cover Face and Mouth puts out flames because fire needs air (oxygen) to keep burning. When you run, you are making a wind that helps the fire! You will want to cut off the air and stop the flames. But when you roll on the ground, you are smothering the flames by cutting off the air. -International Association of Fire Fighters and International Association of Fire Chiefs <­b>10. I will teach my children about HOT items. Children should have constant adult supervision around HOT items. Teach children not to touch or get close to HOT items such as fireplaces, portable heaters, stoves and microwaves. Remember that 95% of all microwave burns among children are scald burns. Most of these injuries are primarily associated with the face. “We, at the Collierville Fire Department, ask you to join us this year in helping to reduce the number of fire fatalities and injuries due to burns. Through education and implementing fire safety programs such as STOP, DROP, ROLL, and Cover Your Face and Mouth, Exit Drills In The Home and Change your clock, change the batteries in your smoke detector, together we can make 2005 the safest year on record” Lt. Kenny Stovall.