The City of Lynn Haven, Florida

ALL ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION WEEK/MONTH

Fire Prevention Week was established in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire. The fire occurred in 1871 and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. Because the fire did most of its damage on October 9th, to this day, Fire Prevention Week always occurs in the week of October 9th. In 1922, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day. Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

General Fire Safety & Protection Tips

Make sure all family members know what to do in the event of a fire. Draw a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping every room. Make a drawing for each floor. Dimensions do not need to be correct. Make sure the plan shows important details: stairs, hallways and windows that can be used as fire escape routes.

Practice staying low to the ground when escaping.
Feel all doors before opening them. If a door is hot, get out another way.
Learn to stop, drop to the ground and roll if clothes catch fire.

Conduct a family meeting and discuss the following topics:
1. Always sleep with the bedroom doors closed. This will keep deadly heat and smoke out of bedrooms, giving you additional time to escape.
2. Find a way for everyone to sound a family alarm. Yelling, pounding on walls, whistles, etc. Practice yelling "FIRE!"
3. In a fire, time is critical. Don't waste time getting dressed, don't search for pets or valuables. Just get out!
4. Roll out of bed. Stay low. One breath of smoke or gases may be enough to kill.

Install smoke detectors

Check smoke detectors once a month and change the batteries at least once a year. Smoke detectors sense abnormal amounts of smoke or invisible combustion gases in the air. They can detect both smoldering and burning fires. At least one smoke detector should be installed on every level of a structure. Purchase smoke detectors labeled by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM).

Be Careful Cooking

Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles and wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when you cook. Keep the handles of your pots turned inward so they do not over-hang the stove. If grease catches fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan and smother the flames, then turn off the burner.

Matches and Lighters are Dangerous

In the hands of a child, matches and lighters can be deadly! Store them where kids can't reach them, preferably in a locked area. Teach children that matches and lighters are "tools" and should only be used by adults.

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