Fire prevention reminder

A new survey from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has found Americans underestimate their risk of fire. Choosing from a list of disasters, 31 percent of those surveyed said they felt most at risk for tornado, while only 27 percent named fire as the highest risk, followed by hurricane (14 percent), earthquake (9 percent), flood (9 percent) and terrorist attack (5 percent).

Among all those disasters, fires are actually more common and many times more deadly. Fire departments responded to 1.6 million fires in the United States in 2003, killing 3,925 people most of them in the home, according to the NFPA.

Being prepared for the emergency before it happens can save lives.  An emergency preparedness plan can provide information to employees regarding when and how to evacuate a building.  It is essential to provide general procedures and inform all employees of the actions that are to be taken in case of an emergency evacuation.

The following are some recommended procedures from NFPA and CAL OSHA for an evacuation of a building;

• Ensure that all employees are trained regarding the evacuation plan for your department.
• Learn all emergency escape procedures and emergency escape routes.
• Have a pre-arranged designated location for all employees to meet and account for them.
• Determine the preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies.
• If you have to escape through smoke, crawl low to your exit, keeping your head one- to two-feet above the floor, where the air will be cleanest.
• Test doorknobs and spaces around the door with the back of your hand. If the door is warm, try another escape route. If it's cool, open it slowly. Slam it shut if smoke pours through.
• Use the stairs when there's a fire; never use an elevator during a fire.
• If you're trapped, call the fire department for assistance. Seal your door with rags and signal from your window.
• Open windows slightly at the top and bottom, but close them if smoke comes in.
• Fire sprinkler systems protect their immediate area by extinguishing or containing fires. They will not flood the whole building.
• Respond to every alarm as if it were a real fire. Report information on false alarms to authorities.
• If you hear a fire alarm, leave immediately and close doors behind you as you go. In case your escape from the building is blocked by fire, take your room keys with you so you can get back inside your room and call the fire department to let them know you are trapped.
• Remember EARS:
  • Evacuate – to a safe place
  • Assemble – keep group together
  • Report – your location to 8-2132
  • Status – monitor radio 1040 AM or call 8-4000 for update information

For more fire safety information, contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 8-7422.