Firefighter Safety Tips – Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Your neighborhood fire department provides protection for you and your family in case of a fire or other emergency. Your local fire department provides community fire safety to help keep you safe. Local firefighters are trained to provide the highest level of support in fighting fires and saving lives, and they are continuously offering the community firefighter safety tips.

Community fire safety begins with your local fire department. The local fire department distributes firefighter safety tips to help ensure that every neighborhood is safe. Firefighters have events where the community is invited to come and learn more about fire safety. They take every opportunity available to educate everyone, from children to adults, about firefighter safety tips. In fact, some departments give out free smoke alarms to local residents.

Some fire departments put on CPR classes, as well as drug awareness programs. They do a lot more than simply put out fires; they clean up leaks and spills, help extricate car accident victims and assist with carbon monoxide emergencies. The men and women of your local fire department go through rigorous training and stay in good physical condition to dedicate themselves to the safety of their community.

Here are some of the top firefighter safety tips:

• Install smoke detectors in all areas of your home. Most serious injuries and deaths occur when there are no working smoke detectors to alert the family in case of a fire.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries each year to ensure they are in good working condition.
• Keep fire extinguishers in every room of the home. Ensure that the fire extinguisher in the kitchen is rated for grease fires. Don’t throw water on a grease fire, as this will only spread it. If you’re unsure of your extinguisher’s rating, take it to your nearby department for additional firefighter safety tips.
• Make a family fire safety plan. This includes talking with your family about what to do in case of an emergency. If the entire community participates in a plan, you have each contributed to community fire safety.
• Map your exits. When a fire occurs, the electricity goes out and the home can be dark and filled with thick smoke. This makes escape difficult. Know where the exits are and which ones to use if there is a fire.
• Practice your escape. As a family, practice by conducting your own fire drill. Set a specific place away from the home to meet, such as in front of a particular tree. Designate a relative to call in case anyone gets separated.
• Don’t keep flammable items in the home. Dispose of products such as gasoline and turpentine properly.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children. These items can quickly cause severe burns and can also start a fire. These are one of the most important firefighter safety tips that children will learn in school, but talk about it continuously—even before they begin grade school.
• Don’t overuse electrical sockets and extension cords. Overloading sockets and extension cords can lead to fire. Make sure extension cords have been UL tested for safety.
• Wear flame retardant sleepwear. If there is a fire, pajamas that aren’t treated can catch on fire and cause severe skin burns when material fuses to skin.
• Take care when using space heaters. Don’t use kerosene space heaters indoors and never use space heaters near bedding or curtains that can catch on fire.
• If your home is on fire, don’t exit immediately. Before opening any doors, feel them first. If they are extremely hot, do not open them. When exiting the home, stay low to the ground where the smoke is less thick. Hold a wet towel over your mouth and nose to help filter the smoke. Wrap yourself in a fire blanket before leaving.
• When using the fireplace, make sure that the fire is completely out before going to bed. Don’t leave lit candles burning without supervision.
• Never go back into a burning home for any reason. Many people have lost their lives by returning to their home for pets or valuables.

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