If you woke up to a fire in your home, how much time do you think you would have to get to safety? According to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one-third of Americans who made an estimate thought they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. But the time available is often less.
The Kentwood Fire Department is teaming up with the NFPA during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7-13, to urge residents to have a plan in place before a fire strikes.
“The two things we’d like to stress would be have two ways out – have secondary means of escape – and have working smoke detectors or check your smoke detector batteries,” said Kentwood Fire Marshal Tim Maday.
This year’s theme focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice.
In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires that caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in damage.
The Kentwood Fire Department and the NFPA recommend the following tips to plan your family’s escape:
- Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room.
- Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they’ve escaped. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan.
- Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on the escape plan.
- Have an adult sound the smoke alarm and practice the escape plan with everyone living in the home.
- Keep your escape plan on the refrigerator and practice the plan twice a year or whenever anyone in the home celebrates a birthday.