Most families are ill prepared for a deadly home fire and it is usually because there is a lot we do not know. Many fire safety campaigns are good at getting out the message that we need to do something, but that something is too often not enough. Public service announcements are limited to 30, or 60, second commercials on TV or radio, a small handout brochure, or maybe a tiny ad in the paper. There is no way to give each family the education they need to really fight the home fire problem in these tiny sound bites.
The National Fire Protection Association includes complete information in the 2010 Code Book, but it takes over 20 pages to describe all the methods and requirements that are needed for life safety. There is simply no way to properly project this information through typical media. True and complete fire protection for a home and family needs to be customized and should be done by a trained professional, but here are the basics of what should be considered.
1. A Family Escape Plan. It is critical to plan for escape and the most important consideration should go to where everyone is located while sleeping, since this is the time that most (deadly) fires occur. Plan for escape considering that it will be pitch black and you won't be able to see and that you will have very little time; only one or two minutes.
2. Fire Extinguishers. Fire extinguishers are a good idea to have handy in many areas of the home, but one area that I believe is the most important (and commonly overlooked) is the parents bedroom. I have been criticized for this stance, saying it encourages people to fight a fire that they have no business fighting. Of course if you can, you should get out of the home as fast as possible, and stay out. But what if you wake up in the middle of the night and there is a fire is between you and your children? You would rather have an extinguisher handy to help you get to the kids. You know you are not leaving the home without the kids anyway!
3. Carbon Monoxide Detectors. Although not really designed for sensing fires, a carbon monoxide detector can be a life saving tool if you have gas appliances in your home. You should have one on each floor, but especially on any floor where someone is sleeping. The best location for a carbon monoxide detector is at about chest height. Since carbon monoxide is the same consistency as air, it has more of a tendency to stratify, rather than travel up or down.
4. Quality Smoke Detectors. Notice I said the word quality; and yes, there are huge differences. Most of the detectors we buy over the counter are designed for do it yourselfers and are not known to be the best quality. To start with, photoelectric smoke detectors have proven to be more reliable in detecting both smoldering and flaming fires. There are numerous other features that can make a smoke detector more effective and long lasting. They may cost more initially, but features such as 10 year batteries, removable and cleanable smoke chambers, automatic drift compensation, self diagnostics, military specification hardware, including high melting temperature plastics are well worth the time to find and invest in.
5. Reliable, Fast Acting Heat Detectors. Heat detectors are commonly overlooked in the home fire protection scheme, but that is a mistake. Heat detectors that use a eutectic metal to detect heat (such as sprinkler systems and some mechanical heat detectors) can be considered life saving devices and are a vital part of complete protection for your family. We need protection from both types of fires and heat detectors can be put in many areas that you cannot locate smoke detectors, such as in or near kitchens, garages, most utility areas, attics, etc.
There you have it: the five things needed for complete protection for your family. How many of these things you have may determine the outcome when you have a fire in your home. And the odds are, it will happen.
Author Resource:
Bill Driscoll,a top expert in home fire safety for over 25 years, is a member of the Educational Section of the National Fire Protection Association since 1986. He has been invited to speak to over 1,000 groups on home fire safety and is the author of numerous manuals. Visit http://detech.com.
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