March, 2011 -- Child Fire Safety

Hi everyone. Well….It’s that time again. So here comes this month’s edition of "Remington’s Fire Safety Tips”. It is with a heavy heart that I will be discussing this month’s topic because of breaking news being broadcast just prior to this being written. With that being said, our focus for fire safety this month will deal with children.

Now I know that this topic may not necessarily directly affect us all, but I am equally sure that there are many of you out there that have homes just full of those cute little dog lovin’ munchkins or that have other family or friends that have small children. So without being too morbid, I’m going to throw out a few statistics for your consideration.

According to a statistical study done in 2007, typically, children under the age of 15 have a lower percentage of mortality than that of the general population when talking about Fire Related Deaths. This, however, can be misleading when grouping all children together in one segment. When breaking children out into 0-4, 5-9, and 10-14 age groups we learn something very alarming, this being that over 50% of all Fire Related Child Deaths occur in the 0-4 age group. And, as would stand to reason, this group also suffers from the highest percentage (45.5%) of Fire Related Child Injuries. OK…This tells us the "who”…now let’s look at the "why”.

When you take a closer look at younger children, it becomes apparent that they are not able to sense danger in the same way as adults. They have a very limited ability to react quickly and properly in emergency situations and typically have little control over their environment. This substantially increases their risk of death and injury in a fire. So now we have the "why”. That leaves us with the "what”. By that I mean what actions can we take to avoid contributing negatively to these statistics? The United States Fire Administration has been kind enough to furnish us with this shortlist of things we can do to help keep children of all ages "Fire Safe”.

• Keep matches, lighters and other items used for ignition in a secured drawer or cabinet out of the reach of children.
• Teach your children to tell you when they find matches and lighters.
• Always dress children in pajamas that meet Federal flammability standards. Avoid dressing children for sleep in loose-fitting, 100% cotton garments, such as oversized t-shirts.
• Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly and call for help from another location.
• Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get out of the house and stay out.
• Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground, and roll if clothes catch fire.
• Develop and practice a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside. Get out and stay out.
• Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.
• Replace mattresses made prior to the 2007 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard.
• Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches, evidence your child may be playing with fire.

  What a great list of ideas and suggestions. All that needs to be done now is to implement them. So… do all you can around your home to address the things listed. Visit your local Fire Department, letting your children familiarize themselves with fire department personnel by having a fireman "Bunker Up” in their Personal Protective Clothing (PPE) and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). Most importantly, make sure you have Working Smoke Detectors in your home and that everyone knows what they sound like and what to do when one has activated. What’s that called?….Oh yea….Fire Drills. One a month is not too many with young children in the home.

   
  Well…That’s all for this month. Hope everyone is having a great start to their year. Daylight Savings Time is right around the corner….Time to change those smoke detector batteries. Remember…Smoke Detectors Save Lives.
   
  I’m "Remington the Fire Dog” and I’m out of here.
   
  If you’d like more information on this subject, it is available on the US Fire Administrations web site at: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v11i9.pdf

   

   

   

  The following is a partial e-mail received by our Department from the USFA and is the driving force behind this month’s blog. 

  Heartbreaking: Child Fatalities

  Two days before Valentine’s Day, two children perished in a home fire in Oak Grove, OR.  One day after Valentine’s Day, two children and an adult died in a home fire in Jonesboro, AR.  In a month filled with hearts and roses, these families received flowers for a different reason and their hearts were most assuredly torn.

  You and your department know all too well that people are dying every day in home fires across the country.  Children are one of two high-risk groups that experience a higher percentage of fatalities, as compared to the general population.  The U.S. Fire Administration is working to reduce the number of people, including children, killed in home fires.

  The U.S. Fire Administration’s Fire Safety Campaign for Parents and Caregivers of Babies and Toddlersreaches out to parents, caregivers and the Fire Service.  It’s an excellent resource of fire safety information that contains materials that are 100 percent ready for distribution to people in your community. 

  Ask a Colleague:  Are You a Member of the Quick Response Media Corps?
  The USFA’s Quick Response Media Corps is a great way to get the latest news and updates on fire safety campaigns, as well as general fire safety information.  Invite a colleague to become a member of the Quick Response Media Corps.  It’s free and carries no commitment!
  For more information about USFA’s Quick Response Media Corps or to enroll online, go to http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/fireprev/qr/index.shtm

  USFA Focus on Fire Safety:  Children

  Did you know that 50 percent of child fire deaths affect those under the age of five? Escaping from a fire can be difficult for very young children, because they generally lack the motor skills and mental capabilities needed to quickly escape a burning building. The U.S. Fire Administration provides fire prevention information to teach children and their caregivers about the dangers of fire. Protect your kids: install and maintain smoke alarms and residential sprinklers and practice home fire escape plans to ensure your children will be safe if a fire were to start in your home.

  Prevention Starts with You!

  Ninety-six percent of homes in the United States have at least one smoke alarm. However, only three-quarters of all homes have at least one working smoke alarm.*

  Almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in 2003-2006 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

  * Source: National Fire Protection Association

  What Can You Do?

  • Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home, including the basement, and both inside and outside of sleeping areas.
  • Install both ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
  • Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
  • Replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old.
  • Consider installing a 10-year lithium battery-powered smoke alarm, which is sealed so it cannot be tampered with or opened.

  For more information about Focus on Fire Safety, go to: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/focus/children.shtm