In 1871, legend has it that on Chicago’s West Side, Katherine O’Leary’s cow knocked over a lantern in the barn and started the Great Chicago fire, killing 300 people, leaving 100,000 homeless, destroying 18,000 buildings, and causing more than $200 million in property losses.
While that was some time ago, fires are still a major cause for concern. Each year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined, according to the United States Fire Administration. It is the third leading cause of accidental death in the home. Educating children about the dangers of fire and how catastrophes can be prevented should be a top priority for caregivers.
The anniversary of the monumental fire in Chicago annually represents the kickoff to Fire Prevention Month. Are you prepared for a fire?
Is it time to take action to make your home safer from fire? Check your family’s fire preparedness with this check list from Met Life Auto & Home.
• Do you prepare and practice a home escape plan?
• Do you have working smoke detectors installed in your home? (It is recommended that households have a smoke detector on every level, in every bedroom, and in the halls outside of sleeping areas.)
• Do you change the batteries in your smoke detectors every six months? (It is suggested to change them in April and October.)
• Do you keep your stovetop, hood above the stove, and oven grease-free and do you turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen?
• Do you keep flammable potholders, towels and other materials away from the stove?
• Do you keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children?
• Do you keep all your electrical cords in good repair?
• Do you have no more than two appliances plugged into any one outlet or extension cord? This could cause overheating or sparking — potential fire hazards.
• Do you keep space heaters at least three feet away from walls, newspapers, clothing and other materials that could burn?
• Do you have your house number visible from the street?
• Do you have all escape windows and doors in good repair?
• Do you clean the dryer lint trap after every use?
Caribou Fire and Ambulance,
It is with much appreciation and gratitude that I write this. The professionalism, expertise, and devotion which the members of the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Company constantly display in performance of their duties are unparalleled. The Department is a model which other communities throughout the State of Maine have questioned and desire to copy.
The level of training and dedication of each member of the Fire and Ambulance Department, to include the Volunteers, as well as the support staff at the station and the city office is most definitely an asset to the taxpayers of the City of Caribou and the surrounding communities which are supported by the Department. Any community should be proud to be supported by such a caring and dedicated group of professionals as the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department.
Mayor Miles R. Williams
• How well do you know the home?
• Is the home clean? Does it appear to be structurally sound?
• Is the home in a safe area?
• If the home has security bars on doors and windows, do you know for certain that the bars have quick release devices inside, so your child could get out in an emergency?
• Is your child comfortable in the home and with all the occupants?
• Are you comfortable leaving your child in the home overnight?
• Are they mature, responsible and conscientious?
• Will they supervise the children throughout the stay?
• Will they remain sober and attentive?
• Are they cautious with smoking materials, matches and lighters, and candles?
• Are there working smoke alarms on every level, throughout their home?
• Do they have a well-rehearsed fire escape plan that includes two ways out and a meeting place outside?
• Where will your child be sleeping? Is there a smoke alarm in or near the room? Are there two escape routes from the room?
• Will the parents walk through their escape plan with your child?
• Do the parents prohibit bedroom candle use by children?
• about your home escape plan and the fire protection equipment you have in your home.
• that you will walk their child through your plan when invited to stay overnight in your home.
Does your child…
• recognize and awaken to the sound of the smoke alarm? Important: If not, tell the sleepover parents that your child does not waken to the smoke alarm and that someone will have to wake them in an emergency.
• know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds?
• know that he or she cannot hide from fire and that the top priority is to get out and stay out until firefighters say it is safe to go back inside?
• know the fire department emergency number?
• feel empowered to ask about the friends’ escape plan?
• feel empowered to tell you if there is a dangerous practice or situation at the friends’ home?
Reproduced from NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org.
