Basic Fire Prevention According to the estimates of USFA in the year 2004 alone the number of fires that took place in the United States was 1.5 million. The estimated loss in dollars stood at staggering 9.8 billion dollars. More horrific figures reveal loss of death of about 3,900 approximately and about 18,000 injuries the same year. The USFA also said that during the same year the fatalities due to fires surpassed fatalities due to all sources combined. And the USFA also adds that even this number could be small in actuality as many small fires are not reported. The statistics also reveals that more than eighty three percent of all fatalities and eighty percent of the total injuries due to fires took place in homes. These figures come as a bitter surprise as most of the fires are pretty much preventable if adequate precautions are taken. Following certain basic fire safety guidelines could greatly reduce the chances of fires and protect the homes and people from this disaster from striking. One of the best ways to prevent home fires is to install smoke detectors at every floor of the home and also fire alarms. But, installing the smoke detectors alone would not serve the purpose. Some people think that "once installed forever installed" after installing smoke detectors. But, the fact is many a time the smoke detectors don't work and do not detect smoke due to mere negligence on behalf of the house owner. The smoke detectors batteries should be tested and checked on a regular basis and in fact the smoke detector should also be tested in whole. Make it a point to replace the battery every year. Do not smoke at home. It is one of the biggest causes of home fires. The next big cause is electrical short circuit. Use properly rated wires for house wiring and so does other components. Also when plugging in electrical gadgets check the voltage rating to avoid shot circuits. Also, keep cords at a distance from rugs and carpet. Disconnect any appliance when done using. Replace old appliances or fix them before they become an electrical fire hazard. Also, use circuit breakers in the house wiring and also for plugging outlets to prevent fires due to overloading. In recent years a lot of fires have been experienced due to electrical heaters to supplement home heating. Care should be taken to keep portable heaters at a distance from combustible materials to prevent fires. Also, go for heaters that have auto shutoff in case of overloading or overheating. Fire places are also one of the biggest fire hazards in houses with fireplaces. Use screens to prevent fire spark from flying off to the outside of the fireplace. Keep combustible material at a distance from the fireplace to prevent them from catching fire. Also, do not overload the fireplace with excessive wood, which may cause sudden outburst of fire within few seconds and unexpectedly. Clean the chimneys periodically to help smoke escape freely into the air and also to clean bird nests which can catch fire. Have an escape plan ready for the home. It is a good idea to be also prepared for a fire. Practicing an escape from time to time also increases response during the times of actual fire. Have a plan for every room in the house. Educating the house inmates especially children would make evacuation plan easier in the event of an emergency. Children are especially fascinated about fires and like to create fires, about a hundred thousand fires a year are started by children while playing. People have a negligent attitude towards fire safety especially during the holidays. They relax every rule just for fun and end up paying huge price for that. Care should be taken even while selecting a Christmas tree, see that it's not too big so as to make it difficult to manage and which can catch fire easily. Decorations which are non-flammable in nature should be used to decorate homes. Few Easy Steps to Prevent Fire in Your House Building a home is the dream of every individual and it is this dream, which pushes you to work harder everyday to achieve your goal. Every member of our family is important to us and safety is a major concern when we live together. But there are certain things that we need to take care of while living in a home. With the passage of time our homes go through the normal wear and tear, it can be taken care off. However there are a few points which we need to know about home safety and which should be kept in mind while living in the home. We invest a lot of money on building our home and we would not damage our lovely homes intentionally. Many times disaster strikes and we are left in shock with the loss of our belongings and at times our loved ones. At such times we are helpless, but we can be prepared and must consider every aspect of safety in our home. Although people often overlook the possibility of danger in their own homes it can actually cause a great amount of trouble and can even leave them homeless. One such aspect is the dangers that can be caused due to a fire. There are many reasons for which a house can catch a fire and the cause of fire cannot be ascertained immediately. Most of the times a house catch fires because of the negligence of one or more people living in that house or due to a natural disaster. Let's visualize that you are in the kitchen, using a gas stove to cook your delicious turkey but as soon as your turn that gas stove valve on, the phone rings. You drop what you were doing and go to attend to the phone call. It was your friend so you have a long chat with her and you plan for the evening to meet at a nearby pub. Now after you put down the phone and go to the kitchen you do not think about the valve, which you switched on, and light a match, there it goes. Not knowing about the gas leakage you turn the match and it catches a huge fire. This is not just a scene from a Hollywood movie but in fact it has happened a lot of times. The first and most important in any kind of safety is presence of mind and its importance cannot be stressed enough. There is always a need to keep a check on different things in the house, which can spark a chain reaction or a house fire. There are many things around you that can cause such a reaction and consequently become the root cause for a house fire. Let's talk about certain measures that can be taken to prevent the home you live in from catching fire. What's needed is that you check on certain things in the home every time you are in the house and you need to make sure that everything is at its proper place. Only after you keep this check you can have a sound sleep. These are the following things that need to be checked for preventing the house from a fire: Kitchen and gas appliances: these are normally the biggest threat that we can have in our homes and are the most common cause to trigger a house fire. You need to check your all house appliances that are concerned with the kitchen and those running on the gas. Gas heaters or gas stoves are a few of them. You should make sure that the connection is turned off after the use. Electric appliances: a lot of people do not believe that electric appliances cause a fire but in reality electric appliances can trigger a house fire. This is especially in the case of a short circuit. For that reason we should avoid or rather never put an unnecessary load on a single switch. Burning candles: candles which are kept for the purpose of decoration or for other use are to be handled with care and you need to make sure that they are not kept close to the curtains or other material which can catch fie easily. Besides these there are other smaller concerns that you will observe after spending a while in your home. These possible threats should be taken care of as soon as you can since safety comes first. The Best Tips to Fight Fire Fires casts fear which every single individual have; they have a great strength of fear for every single one of us. Their terror is immense, and it is normally the terror that makes you feel so unstable at the time of a fire. When a fire breaks out most of us do not understand what to do and there is chaos all around. Everyone is running from one corner to the other looking to save his or her life. It is more like a scene from a World War 2 movie. However, in reality the fires really are dangerous and there are certain things, which should be kept in your head while tackling a blaze. Remember that a fire can break out anywhere and especially when you least expect it to. Especially, while in the house and the office always be very careful about the fire and try to look for anything which you assume will add to the hazards or chances of triggering a fire. There are certain useful tips which you need to remember when trying to get hold over a fire breakout in your office or at home. These tips should be remembered in order to fight or get control of a blaze in your home or at office. First all we need to be known about the most important factor while a fire breaks out. First of all, you should know whether to gain control of the blaze or to leave the blaze as it is. This should be a split second decision, and you will probably never have time to consider about it. Therefore, you need to work like the leader of a crashing plane and need to make an executive decision. You should quickly look at the fire and see if you can control it or not. This should be decided quickly. Once you have decided this then you should move to the next part of the proposal. If you decide to gain control of the blaze then you should look for the proper equipment that is needed to gain control of the blaze. You should look for the equipment, which is needed in order to wipe out the fire. This is normally the fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher is a very handy fire tool that can be carried along with you. Nevertheless, there are different sizes of the fire extinguishers, and therefore you need to look for the best suitable solution according to the state. If you cannot find out for a fire extinguisher then you should look for an alternative like a bucket of water and other things. If you cannot find out anything you do not have to be the hero, and you need to get out of there as soon as possible. You need to remember that there are people who want you more than anything and these costly things are not important than your loved ones. Therefore, you do not have to risk your life and get out of there immediately. This was in the case if you decide to fight the fire. Even so, if you believe that the flame has already spread out and there is no way that you can acquire control of it. Then you should quickly find for another option, and therefore you should quickly look for an escape root. Try to look for the ladder if you are on the top floor of a building. Ladders or emergency exits are present in every building, and thereof you need to look for them in order to escape from there. Never waste your time and try to get out of there as soon as possible. There are many other fire tools that can help you in case of a fire breakout. There are fire blankets or fire suites which are easily available in the market. They can be of great help. They can keep you safe from the fire and can also make you able to walk through a flame unharmed. Safety in Preparing a Fire Plan House fires have become a common matter in daily lives of individuals, yet today people ignore the possibilities of a fire and aloof of imminent fire risks. This is one of the worst and pathetic things ever that could happen to a homeowner. No one would like to undergo the experience of his or her home catching a fire. There are a lot of reasons, which could lead to a house fire. The causes cannot be eliminated but we can at least play our role in providing safety to our loved ones and to the home we live in. This is the maximum that we could do. This would at least prevent and inevitable invitation to the fire in house. A lot of people overlook the importance of the fire and do not understand what great danger a house fire can possess to their lives. A house fire will not only damage your property but it can at large claim lives of the people living in home. Many times we come across news headlines on the front page of a newspaper that certain number of people died in a house fire or a whole family burnt alive in a house fire. Obviously we do not intend the same for ourselves and we will never like our loved ones to get hurt. Therefore we need to look at certain safety measures, which are deemed as the most important ones in terms of the house fires. One of the most amazing things that we can ever see in and around us is that most of the homes in America or any other part of the world do not have any fire fighting equipment at hand. Although we do not expect someone to have a fire engine parked in the garage but at least there should be fire extinguishers present in the house, which should serve their purpose at a time when they are needed to. In case of an emergency filing the water bucket from the washroom downstairs and taking it all the way up stairs will never be a wise idea. Most of the people do not think about the importance for having the fire fighting gadgets or safety measure. Once again, there are a number of safety measures that need to be taken care off. They must be carried out in the right order to fight a fire in your home when you least expect it. There should be a proper fire safety plan, which should be known to every single individual living in the home. Homeowners do not realize the need for having such plans but they have to be informed about them. It is the duty of government and the homeowners themselves to comply with the safety regulation while building the home. There should be safety passages like the emergency ladders or other similar equipment like that, which should be present in the home in case of a fire. House fires normally occur when you least expect them and therefore you need to be prepared at any time. Fire alarms would be placed all over the house and should be in each room. They play a a vital role in warning the residents of a home incase of a fire. Fire alarms should never be turned off. Many times it happens that a smoker living in the house will turn off the smoke alarm. This could lead to a great disaster. Also there should be lesser load of the electronic appliances on single circuit and you should also be very concerned about any such thing. You should be regularly checking for the gas appliances and other things, which you think, will trigger a fire in the house. If these steps are taken then a fire will be kept at a far greater distance from yourself and you may be able to save your house. Remember that when a fire breaks out, the confusion and the chaos is the main reason for not being able to make a decision. Safety Precautions To Be Taken While Cooking Every year at least seven thousand people are injured in kitchen fires. Two-third of domestic fires are due to carelessness done while cooking. The kitchen is on the top among the causes of household fires. The sad thing is that the reasons for kitchen fires are always similar, across the country. The identification of these causes is a must as that will decrease the chances of fire in kitchen greatly. Firstly the surroundings of the kitchen must be made safe to cook in. Things must be organized on the kitchen countertop and shouldn't be scattered. Things such as microwave, blender, food processor, cooker, and many other electrical instruments are arranged on the countertop. Firstly, the electrical leads must be kept away from the electrical appliances and from trailing over. Also water should be kept away from the electrical lead as that can lead to electric sparks. Plant pots are also a common sight in kitchens. They should far away from the electrical instruments. In fact, anything wet must not be place near the electrical appliances. Cloths and tea towels shouldn't be hung on the cooker or kept on the microwave. The hob, grill and the oven must be kept cleaned. The build up of food bits and fat are very vulnerable to catch fire. No metallic crockery must be placed inside the microwave because if by mistake they get heated up, they can start a fire. Some people even try to dry clothes in microwave, which is a very dangerous act. Sometimes there is a chance of placing the toaster near the curtains. This is also very risky. Free flowing curtains are a bad idea in the kitchen. The toaster must also be cleaned regularly. The sockets must not be overloaded. The thumb rule is to have only one plug per socket. This rule is firm in case of electrical appliances which take high power to function. Extensions running across the kitchen floor can wear out with respect to time, so they are better avoided. Electrical appliances which are used regularly and which run on high speeds should be serviced regularly, at least once a year. There can be chances of leaking in blender, food processor and electrical kettle. This is very serious and must be repaired immediately. All the appliances should be turned off when leaving the kitchen. They shouldn't be left running at night, like washing machine or dishwasher. If you receive a call while cooking, remove the pan from the burner and then attend the phone because they are the easiest things to forget. This is the reason why many people worry about burning pans and running machines after leaving home. So it is better to handle the situation at the right time. No distraction must be encouraged while in kitchen. The saucepan handles must not stick out, otherwise anybody walking near by can tip off the pan along with its hot contents. The pan must not be full more than one-third. When using deep fat fryer it is good to use thermostatically. Chip pan fires are the reason of one-fifth of fire accidents. Every day nearly twenty people are injured or killed to deep fat fry cooking. If the kitchen is equipped with gas cooker, ample ventilation must be provided. The ventilation must be working properly and must not be blocked. This can be helpful in case of gas leak. Also, fitting a smoke alarm, which has a hush button, can be very helpful in case of fire emergencies. The hush button can be pressed to silence the instrument incase of false alarm. If the hush button is missing, many people are tempted to take the battery out of the smoke alarm in case of false alarm and will forget to put it back. If the alarm keeps on going off again and again, place it a little away from the stove. Another good investments are fire extinguisher and fire blanket. They should be placed strategically so that they are easily reachable. Precautions To Be Taken While Burning Candles Candles are no longer just source of fragrance or illumination, but they have become more of home decor item. Candles are designed in order to elevate certain moods and trends. The designs and fragrance are meant to match the home decor. Candles are used to make an atmosphere special at times of special occasions. As the love of candles is increases so is the risk associated with it. Statistics states that candles are becoming the growing fire cause. Just because of carelessness while handling candles is leading to injury and even death of innumerous people every year. Candles are bringing fire inside the homes of people. Therefore, it is very important to take extra precautions when handling burning candles. Not burning candles is not a precaution, although it might seem perfect but not practical. The best thing to do is to put the candle in a heat resistance environment. You need to be extra careful while handling tea lights and night lights because they prone to get very hot, hot enough to heat and melt plastic. Usually television is considered as the best candle stand. But the truth is that the material out of which television is made is not fire resistance. Therefore, it is important to have a proper candle holder. The candle holder must be designed such that it doesn't fall over and must be stable. It should hold the candle upright firmly. Another point which people mostly miss out and which is the major reason of fire due to candles is presence of curtains or loose fabric of a furniture or clothing. Curtains and loose fabric fly around the place and have a high probability of catching fire. Also the candle shouldn't be in a reachable distance so that if a person leans over he may tip the candle over. This could be dangerous as it could put the clothes or hair on fire. A very important point is to keep the burning candle out of the reach of pets and children. They could tip the candle over while playing. It is a good idea to never put a burning candle under shelves. That is a very easy place to forget. Because of the high amount of heat generated it is very easy for the surface above it to catch fire. Putting the burning candle under any other surface is also not recommended. There should be a distance of at least one meter or three feet between the burning candle and the surface above it. If not a greater damage, close by surface can get deposited by candle smoke. Two burning candles should also be kept at apart at a distance of at least ten centimeters of four inches. Scented and votive candles change their state to liquid in order to release the fragrance. Therefore, these scented and votive candles must be placed in a metal or glass holder cup so the melted liquid is captured in the cup. Also, care must be taken that nothing should fall into the hot wax such as a match stick. The candles shouldn't be moved while they are burning. Before being moved the candles must be extinguished as there can be chance of the burning candle being dropped. Instead of blowing the candle out a spoon can be used to put the flame off. Because blowing can send hot wax and sparks flying, which can result in a fire. Burning candles should never be left unattended. They should be extinguished before the room is left. Never sleep while the candles are still burning. And oil burner or burning candle should never be left in a kid's bedroom. Double check candles whether they are extinguished or not. Sometimes the candle which have been put out can be smoldering which can also start a fire. So the candles should be put off completely. Candles can make an occasion extra special but if proper care isn't taken they can make the special event into a disaster. How Do Fire Alarms Actually Work? Not too long ago fire alarm systems were considered luxuries and not a necessity. Now the times have evolved and in order to protect and secure the home fire alarm systems are highly recommended. It also adds value to your property in terms of selling/buying options. What the primary role of the fire alarm system is to detect the happening of a fire, and signal you before the fire spreads, allowing you time to secure your safety. They do this by way of heat sensors and/or smoke detectors that have the ability to track smoke or fire in the home. Most of the time these devices are positioned all throughout the home, and they are operated by a central fire alarm control panel. Once the detector senses a fire indicant such as smoke or extreme heat, the fire alarm system is activated. Then the sensors transport a message to the administrator panel, and the control panel sounds the alarm. Most of these alarm systems are also programmed to alert the local fire department of the danger as well. Also some of these fire alarm system indicators are connected to the sprinkler system, which automatically starts to run once the alarm sounds off. Now before today's time it was a big investment to purchase a fire alarm system. Majority of the time only the upper class or rich society was able to purchase one. But nowadays you can have a good quality fire alarm system installed in your home for less than $1,500. Keep in mind if you are looking to have your system monitored on a regular basis there may be an additional monthly fee incurred. If your house was to burn down one day from a blaze you could suffer a lot of losses which is an inconvenience that could be avoided by installing a trustworthy fire alarm system. House fires are very devastating experiences, both physically, financially as well as psychologically and emotionally. So it would be wise to have a fire alarm system installed upon move in. The extra fees that will be required should not hinder you from having it installed, since the amount of money you could lose is much greater than those small installation fees. Now if money is the big issue, then try other ways to save money such as combining the fire alarm and burglar alarm system. In most cases these systems are able to share the same control panel and should be able to use the same alarms inside the house. The only thing that would be fairly different is the police department will be alerted if the alarm is activated due to a burglary. By collaborating these two alarm systems it will double the amount of protection provided to you and your family. There are some individuals who are led to believe that they do everything that they are supposed to, including regular checks to the electrical wiring of the home, practicing fire safety with the family, etc. Although there are many precautions that you can take when it comes to the dangers of a fire, there are no precautions that can protect as much as a fire alarm system can. Fires can take place in the home at anytime; whether someone is home at the time or not. So, even the most wary homeowner is not immune to a house fire. The best thing to do is be prepared just in case a fire does break out. That way if and when the time comes your home will be adequately equipped with maximum protection. Choosing a Fire Extinguisher for your Home When it comes to the correct steps in battling against house fires, having a fire extinguisher handy is the first rule of thumb to follow. This will be your number one line of defense before the fire officials arrive. It is a good idea to have at least two fire extinguishers in your home. There are five elements that are present when a fire occurs: oxygen, heat, fuel, and some type of chemical reaction. All of these five elements form what is known as the fire triangle. Once the fire triangle is identified then the fire can be eradicated by either taking away or isolating any one of those elements of the triangle from all the rest of the elements in order to prevent a house fire. Today's market offers various types of fire extinguishers. It is very important that you use the accurate fire extinguisher when trying to put out a fire. If you use the incorrect type of fire extinguisher there may be a problem trying to diminish the fire therefore making the extinguisher ineffective. As a matter of fact using the wrong type of conformity can cause the fire to reignite after seemingly putting out the fire. Make sure you do your research before purchasing a fire extinguisher, since most suppliers are ignorant to the suitable types of fire extinguishers for your home; it is diplomatic to do a thorough check on your extinguishers in your home. When classifying the types of fires there are three categories they fall up under. The first class is called a Class A fire; these fires are mostly caused by burning wood, paper, cloth, plastics etc. The second class of fires is called Class K fires. These types of fires normally originate in the kitchen; they involve cooking oil, vegetable fats and animal fats. The last class of fires is called Class C fires; these fires occur with electrical equipment such as motors, transformers and other appliances. The recommended fire extinguisher for homes is called a Dry chemical extinguisher. It works efficiently on Class A as well as Class C fires. The way it extinguishes the fire is simply by doing away with the chemical reaction part of the Fire triangle. This extinguisher creates a barricade in between the oxygen and the combustible elements of a Class A fire. Another type of fire extinguisher available on the market is a Water mist extinguisher which is mainly for wood, paper, or cloth fires; however it is also effective as well as safer for use on Class C fires. It eliminates the heat portion of the triangle. Next there is a Cartridge operated dry chemical extinguisher. These types of extinguisher are very pocket-friendly for small to mid-size fires in the home. Nonetheless there are other types available that can only be used for specific fires. These models include water and foam extinguishers; these are only effective when used on a Class A fire. It should never be used on Class C fires which involve electrical equipment and cause someone to be electrocuted. Also Carbon dioxide extinguishers, which can be used for Class C fires (i.e. electrical).These are just a few of the many products offered to protect your home. Remember a fire extinguisher should be preserved in accordance with the relevant local rules. Fire Safety in the Home: An Effective Escape Plan In accordance with the USFA (U.S. Fire Administration) thousands of deaths and injuries were caused by house fires. It is a good idea to come up with an escape plan just in case a fire breaks out in your home. This way everyone will know what to do in case a fire breaks loose in your home. You and your family should discuss and design and easy to remember plan that is informative, efficient, and speedy. Remember, fires spread quickly so you and your family should also plan to move just as quick. Some of the topics that should be brought up when discussing a fire escape should include what every individual responsibilities will be assigned to each family member, what the two most safe escape routes are in your home (every room), as well as where to meet up once everyone is outside and safe from the fire. It would be wise to let every family member know that there will be no time to save anything, also that if possible, try to alert others by screaming loudly "Fire!" or something to let everyone know there is an emergency. Once everyone has been alerted individuals should crawl quickly to a safe exit. Remember if you live in an apartment or some other type of residential building that houses more than one family there are alternate ways to escape. It would be a good thing to get to know where the fire exits in the building are located, to ensure everyone in the building is safe during a fire. The owner of the building or property manager should let tenants know where these escapes are located upon move in. Knowing these types of things will assist you in coming up with an effective escape plan with your family. Escape plans are not something that can be told once and it is "down packed" immediately. You and your family should practice the escape plan at least once a month to ensure that everyone is refreshed on what to do in case of a fire. Also include in the escape plan a way to alert the local fire department once outside the burning home. Most of the time a neighbor will contact the fire department; but it is always good to have a backup plan to cover all tracks. You should include a couple of close by neighbors in the plan so they will know that if a fire breaks out they will be one of your safety resources. Keep in mind though, you should first make sure everyone escapes safely, then alert the fire brigade, do not try to stop and make a phone call during a fire because every second counts, time will be your biggest enemy during fires so it is not wise to use time unnecessarily. One way to make an informative and easy accessible plan is to draw out a floor design. Include all rooms, doors, as well as windows in your home. Mark all escape routes and smoke alarms in the residence with vibrant colors to make certain that the family knows how, and where to escape if the fire does break out. Keep in mind that a fire may break out when just the kids are home, so it is good to discuss what they should do in case this happens. Leave telephone numbers for emergency contacts, give them detailed but understandable directions on exactly what to do, also make sure if you know that only the children will be home that there is always someone you trust there to keep a check on them just in case there is an emergency. Educating and preparing you and your family on fire safety or any other type of safety during an emergency, will lower your chances of any deaths or injuries during that fire. It may also help reduce the amount of fires that occur in your home. Fire Safety Equipment When it comes to the safety of our homes or the offices in which we work in, from the threat of fire, we look up to certain equipment or tools which are helpful in providing us with the maximum safety. House fires have become a common subject and every year many homes all around the world fall prey to the ruthless house fires which huff and puff and blow the homes down like the evil fox from the infamous story. They have now become the centre of discussion for many people and these people are constantly looking forward to find better ways to fight against such kinds of house fires. These methods of prevention need to be very effective and also, very efficient. If you look at recent studies, you will see that in the United States of America alone, homes worth millions of dollars are burnt as a result of house fires. This house fires leave the individual owners completely helpless. Let's imagine an individual who works a nine till five job everyday and let's say he is working in order to be able to build his dream home. He has been working for the last 30 years without a break and has been doing so in order to provide his family with the perfect home. After sometime, he finally succeeds in getting his dream home, by re-arranging the finances that he got as a result of different pension schemes and other retirement benefits. Just as he started enjoying the sweet success and the amazing home that he built, one day a tragedy took place which changed everything overnight. While he and his loved ones were sleeping, a fire broke out in the house and not one of the family members woke up or realized. This is because he didn't have a fire alarm. As a result of this disaster, the house was burnt and turned to ash in just a few small hours. His beloved daughter was caught up in the fire and unfortunately she could not be rescued. The firefighters informed the family after a considerable delay, that she had become a victim to the ruthless fire. This is not an imaginary story but a story that you will hear about on the news or in the newspapers in every city around the world. With disasters such as these that are widely known about, you would think that home owners would spend more time and money in fire-proofing their house, and ensuring alarm systems were built, not only to protect their homes, but to protect themselves and their families as well! Therefore, there has always never been a better time to ensure that you have the best equipment for fighting fire in order to make yourself and your loved ones more secure and safe. You need to have the best equipment in the house available so at a time of an unexpected fire, you can at least rescue your family and get them out of the house as soon as possible. There are many things that are used for the safety of an unexpected fire within your home. We all know about the different things, which can save us in times of a firebreak out in the house. Let's talk about fire extinguishers. They are the greatest fire fighting tool that has been ever created by humans and it is the best thing that we can have in our homes in order to extinguish a fire or at least try to have some sort of control over it. Fire extinguishers can be easily found in many stores and shops and there should be at least a couple of them in your home. They should be hanging on the walls instead of being dumped in the storerooms or cellars! They should be somewhere where they can be easily found and used. After fire extinguishers, another thing that can help us in taking control over the house fire is the fire alarm. It is the best equipment and a very useful thing that can easily tell us about the fire. There should be a large quantity of fire alarms in your home. There should be a single fire alarm in every room of the house and in the washrooms also. They should be everywhere as to provide you with the maximum levels of safety. These are just two of the most important pieces of fire equipment which can be used in the house in order to ensure you can not only tell when there is a fire in your home, but also so that you can attempt to put it out, circumstances allowing. You should make sure that this is the minimum level of fire safety equipment that you have in your house to be able to keep you and your loved ones safe! Fire Safety Checklist for Home Handling a tough situation needs some practice before hand, if it is to be handled properly. Similarly handling fire in home also requires some homework. Some inspection and practice is requires which will take not more than twenty minutes everyday. Firstly, a checklist should be made which requires questions to be answered to after thoroughly inspecting every corner of the home. The very first room of the house which is pose extreme fire threat to house is the kitchen. The checklist for the kitchen is: 1) Is the kitchen occupied by grown ups when food is being cooked on the stove? 2) Are the counters and stove tops uncluttered and clean? 3) Are the pot holders in reachable distance of the stove? 4) When cooking, are the handles of the pots turned inwards so that nobody bumps into them? 5) Are curtains and other loose fabric away from the stove? 6) Is there an area of three feet surrounding the stove which is a kids free zone when adults are cooking? 7) Are the electrical appliances in the kitchen, such as toaster oven, blenders, food processors, coffee makers, and microwave plugged into different receptacle outlets? The second threat to the house is the heating system. The checklist for the heating system is: 1) When there is no one at home or when adults go to sleep are the heaters turned off always? 2) Are the heaters placed at a distance of one meter away from everything such as furniture, people, and pets, especially material which can burn easily? 3) Is the fireplace equipped with a sturdy screen in order to catch the sparks? 4) Is the chimney been cleaned and inspected every year? 5) Is the furnace been cleaned and inspected every year? 6) Are the propane tanks and fuels stored outside the house? 7) Has the family practiced the home fire drill in the past six months? 8) Does everyone in the household has knowledge about the fire department's emergency phone number, which needs to be dialed from the neighbor's phone since everyone has to evacuate the house in case of fire? Electrical gadgets and electric circuits are also dangerous if not handled properly. To check them, here is the check list: 1) Are the extension cords laid safely and not across the doorways or under the carpet? 2) Are the electrical cords in excellent condition and not worn out, cracked or frayed? 3) Do the grown ups of the house unplugs electrical appliances, even such as lamps, after using them? Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers must be installed on every floor of the house. The check list for this purpose is: 1) Are there smoke alarms installed on every level of the house, including the attic or basement and also outside every sleeping area? 2) Are the smoke alarm batteries working in all of them? 3) Are the smoke alarms tested by pressing the test button by a grown up? 4) Are there more than one exit in the house? 5) Are all the home exits clear of furniture, clutter, and toys? 6) Is there home fire escape plan which also includes two exits? The two exits can consist of door and windows? 7) Is the decision being made about an outside safe place to meet after exiting the home? If all the questions of every checklist are answered as yes then the house and the family members are ready to face fire accidents. If the answer is yes to fifteen to twenty questions then few adjustments are needed to be made to ensure safety in case of fire emergencies. And only ten to fourteen questions are answered as yes, then the family members need to double up and put in extra effort in order to be hit a fire safety home run. If less than ten questions are answered as yes, then the whole house needs to be revamped in order to make it a safe place to live in. Not only do the adults of the house need to get trained but also the children. If there is a pet in the house, it also needs to be included in the plan. Fire Safety at Work Everyday millions of people from all around the world go to offices in order to earn their bread and butter and for a better living. They work on long shifts under different circumstances in order to survive in the world and in order to make both ends meet. There are numerous offices that can be found near you. If you try to take a look around you, you will find numerous offices around you. There are certain issues related with every individual and these issues cannot be overlooked. There are things which need to be done in order to make sure that the person working at a specific place is safe. Safety is the main and the most foremost priority of every organization. Hen a number of people are working in an organization than it is the basic duty of that organization to provide maximum safety to the individuals and to comply with the international safety regulations and standards. There are many things related to this and one should be very clear about the different duties that an organization possesses to its working individuals, it is this duty, which makes them more liable to the persons working under them. There are a lot of things, which need to be taken care of while working in an office, and these things should never be overlooked. These things should be taken care of when you are looking to start your job and career in a reputed organization. The organization needs to take care of the different responsibilities and of the different things, which will provide the safety to the individuals working in it. Workplace safety is one of the most important and the most discussed topic in the world today. It is not only the concern of the organization but at the same time it is also the concern of every individual who is working in the organization. Everyone needs to be responsible on his part and therefore every one needs to take care of the business. There has to be a lot of things, which needs to be taken care of. And every single person in the company working should be concerned about the safety. The duties of the person working in the company are: He should make sure that there is no fault on his part. When in the office he should be careful with the things. He should never act carelessly and do anything, which can lead to a great disaster. He should not do anything deliberately or otherwise, which will hurt the other colleagues. He should always be open-minded and should always be alert about something that can harm him or the property of the company or organization. Most important of all h should look out for anything that might trigger a chain reaction like a fire breakout. The duties of the company towards itself and the individuals working in it are: The duties of the companies are numerous and of great importance. The company should provide the individuals with the maximum safety and should do all the required things in order t make sure the safety f the individuals is foolproof. This should be done in regards to all the things which posses great danger to the lives of the people working there. There should e emergency exits provided in the building and the building should be designed by keeping in mind the safety of the individuals and should comply with the international standards. Another important ting that the organization needs to remember is about the fire. Fire is a great threat to the whole company. It can cause severe damage to the company. It can cause a lot of problems to the company. Not only can it claim the lives of individuals working in the company but it can also cause an unwanted damage to the property of the company. These are the issue related to workplace safety.
Types Of Fires Which Can Arise From Kitchen Time is money in today's world. And because of this it is a common to see people rushing from one place to another. In this rush, jobs are usually left incomplete, especially things are forgotten on a burning stove. Only when smoke begins to arise or a fire starts, attention is grabbed. If there is someone present in the house at the very moment, he will react instantaneously. But suppose if no one is at home and the pan is still burning on the stove, it is only when you return home will you find out about the incidence. If you are lucky, the neighbors will notice the smoke or the fire coming out of the house and will report to the fire department. There are different kind of fires which can start in the kitchen and each one needs a different approach to handle it. Out of all, the most common type of fire which can start in kitchen is dry cooking fire. This type of fire starts from the residue of the liquid that boils out of pan. Food residue that dry out on the stove top catches fire and begins to smoke. Dry cooking fire isn't dangerous but the heat produced by it can damage the area around it and the smoke can leave a bad odor and a tough residue. Cleaning the stove top regularly is a good habit to prevent this kind of fire. When greasy or oily foods are ignited then grease fire occurs. This type of fire is very dangerous. The flames of grease fire can rise and reach out to the cabinets or the surrounding combustible items. And if this fire isn't taken care of within a given time period, it can grow into a big house fire. It will not only burn the entire kitchen, but the neighboring rooms as well as the attic of the house. Grease fire can be big threat to the life of the people present in the house at the time of fire. If the fire is small, different techniques can be used to put out the fire. First is to cut the supply of oxygen by covering the fire with a lid. Pouring huge amount of baking soda is another good idea. Baking soda also acts a good fire extinguisher. When the fire stops, it is very important to turn off the stove, in order to avoid any further damage. But if the fire is too high, it is better to seek for help. Because if you try to handle the fire yourself, you can face the risk of getting burned. Another important point to remember is never to use water to put out grease fire. This will cause the grease to splatter, increase the fire size. This also increases the risk of getting burned. Fires arising from the oven are called as oven fires. Many a times this kind of fire isn't very serious. Oven fires starts in oven, which is constructed in such a way to deal with high heat. Since the supply of air is insufficient in the oven, the oven fire gets easily extinguished because of lack of sufficient oxygen. These are the different types of fires which can start in the kitchen. The first step to be taken in case of any fire is to evacuate the place as soon as possible. Everyone should be asked to leave the place and children especially should be escorted out of that place. The next important step is to call the fire department and report about the fire. If the fire is small, a fire extinguisher can be used to put out the fire. Therefore, it is necessary to keep a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket in the kitchen. But if the fire is spreading rapidly and is getting out of control, it is better to get out and wait for help. A stitch in time saves nine. So it is always better to clean the stove top regularly and to cook greasy and oily food on a low flame. Always keep distance from the burner and avoid wearing loose and synthetic clothes. The Importance of a Fire Alarm's Design in Large Buildings When a building is designed, fire alarms should be one of the main things that are included in the buildings' layout. They are designated to ensure the protection of the individuals inside the facility. If the alarms are installed correctly, preferably by a professional they should work one behind the other, as a coordinated compound network designed to determine the existence of danger in the shape of smoke and fire. Just as the alarm itself is important, the way they are installed is also important. In order to guarantee the maximum amount of safety and efficiency, a licensed professional by preference should create a complete fire alarm design that is going to work well for the particular building. As we all know a smoke alarm is patterned to alert us when there is a danger caused by either smoke or fire. Their ability is capable of letting us know that we are at risk and gives us enough time to vacate the premises and ensure our safety. When a fire alarm is designed, the engineer should take into account the composition of the building; Including how many levels it has, where it gets its heating sources from, as well as where the exits are located in the building and how many. They should also keep in mind the degree of complexity that is required for each separate building. For example, a one family home requires a far less difficult design when it comes to fire alarm systems than a 4-story hotel building would. When securing large public buildings, supplementary fire safety features are essential. Things that maybe included are sprinkler systems in the ceiling as well as intricate communication devices. Once again these features would not be a necessity for a private or single family property. All of these things should be taken into consideration when an engineer designs the alarm; They make it their goal to survey the specifications on each dimension of the property as well as specify where the fire alarms should be located in order to provide maximum efficiency and ensure the best safety features possible. Most of the time an outline of the building is created, pin-pointing the exits as well as the projected locations of smoke and fire alarms. Also any electrical needs or wiring that is required for installation may be included. On the contrary, when looking at a public building which is much larger engineers and alarm technicians collaborate with licensed electricians, which manage the wiring making sure it is up to code. Having the building wired correctly is a crucial point to ensuring the safety of its occupants. Most likely the fire alarm unit is going to be connected directly to the local fire officials who monitor alarm activity. This will provide a guarantee that help is on the way as soon as possible, which also increases the safety measures provided to all inside the building. If the alarm systems are assembled correctly as well as properly placed in the building; provided that the engineer has devised a reliable enough plan to in time safeguard the building as well as the people inside. Good advice to most large companies is to pay attention to quality and not necessarily the amount spent, because it is well worth the time and money to have the system correctly installed. Fire Safety and Mattresses One of the last thoughts that come in the mind when we go to sleep in that soft pampering mattress is the fire safety. In fact how many times in life did we ever think about fire safety when going to bed? The answer is probably never. According to statistics from CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) about 365 people die every year from mattress related fires every year i.e. about one death a day due attributed to mattress related fires. After reading this statistics you might be compelled to rethink about the present sleeping arrangements and have a look at the insurance policies. Mattress manufacturers per federal requirements are required to comply with a fire repellant regulation that saves many lives. The new regulation will make it more stringent for the manufacturers to make mattresses which are more fire proof to fires that take place due to lighters, matches, candles etc. While the regulations dealing with mattress fires do not completely eliminate the chances of fires but these regulations may give that extra little time to save them from fire. As many of us know that it's only a matter of few seconds for fire to surround a mattress. But the mattresses that are manufactured keeping in mind the above regulation burns much slower thus giving more time for the victims to escape fire and save from injury or death. Fires caused due to mattresses are one of the leading causes of death for kids, one of the reasons why it's so important to take safety precautions of highest order. Some of them are discussed as follows. First thing to be careful about is not to smoke in bed, according to many statistics, smoking in bed is one of the biggest causes of mattress fires. Smoking in bed has led to many unintentional fatal fires in many homes. It should be noted that if the mattress is manufactured after the year of 1973, it must resist cigarette ignition, so always look for this important factor. The new regulation of July, 2007 would also require manufacturers to make mattresses to resist against open flame also. The next thing to take care of is the candles. Everybody likes to decorate their homes with beautiful and aromatic candles but would they every want to turn their house into an ugly burnt house with the same candles? Nobody would ever want to do that. So, always be watchful when lighting candles and put them off as when done. Also, do not ever leave the candles to burn and go to bed, this can be a potential fire hazard which can engulf whole house into flames within minutes. Also, teach the children to not to play with matches or lighters or candles. Children are always fascinated by something that burns, so always keep a watchful eye even if you have taught them not to light them. An important step towards the safety of every inmates of the house is to install fire and smoke alarms in every bedroom of the house. But, do not forget to check the alarm batteries regularly; failing to do so could result in alarm failing when actually needed. Make it a point to replace the batteries of the alarms yearly. The CPSC estimates say that more than 1,330 injuries and 365 deaths will be prevented every year due to the new regulation brought into ordinance in July, 2007. While it's very hard to predict a fire for anyone but there are always ways to prepare just in case if one occurs. Apart from taking precautionary measures we must also make sure that we have home insurance or renter's insurance to cover monetary and life damages. Insurance pays for the unexpected and it is not unusual for unexpected to happen. We may not be able to eliminate the chances of unexpected but we can definitely prepare for it and insurance is one of the best ways to prepare for the unexpected. Fire Safety and Kids If you are looking for ways to teach your children fire safety in the home, it is not always necessary to find the information on the internet or in the local library. When it comes to fire safety there are no actual rules that apply. It is more like the commonsense steps to take to ensure the safety of your home and children during a fire. Child outgrowth education includes formulating some sort of plan. It is important that your house is well equipped with working smoke alarms. You should develop a plan that will inform the whole family, yet keep in mind it should be simple enough for children under the age of 12 to understand. Children have the tendency to be very curious so it would be good to beat them to the punch of finding out the hard way. Educate them about lighters and matches and the hazards that they cause. Try to make sure that they fully understand the use of these items and that they are not to be looked at as toys. If possible try to keep these things out of their reach. Also make sure to emphasize that fires are not always caused by children, as a matter of fact adults are more likely to set off a fire than children. For example the kitchen is one of the main spots that house fires begin. Food and other flammable products such as oil left on the stove at a high temperature are one of the many reasons that fires that tend to begin in the kitchen. It is a god idea to keep children away from the kitchen when you are cooking. Another thing to stress to kids when discussing fire safety is the steps to take if they ever catch on fire or in case of heavy smoke. The main steps to remember if you or your clothes catch fire are to drop down to the ground and proceed to roll around until the fire dies out. Also notify them that in case a heavy smoke arises you will wrap the children in a wet blanket and instruct them to creep low, below the smoke. It is also good to keep in mind the parents are the ones who the children will depend on to keep them safe; so don't panic, it will only make matters worse. Child fire safety education is never ending process; most of the responsibility is placed on the parents. You may be confident that your house is fully child-proof and safe but never assume a house is completely safe; there are always dangers hanging around somewhere. Therefore make sure that the gadgets that are installed in your home are effective. Try vocal smoke alarms which are cogent alternatives to the traditional smoke alarm. It allows you to use your own voice to configure the alert; you can even record instructions on what to do, which will be great for younger children as well as elders. For the sake of their safety remember to keep them up to date on what to do in case of a fire emergency or any other danger constantly. Always remember that your child's safety lies in your hand so it is also critical that you are aware of the safety information as well. Fire Safety and Insurance Insurance is one of the things which is thought about until when asked for. If you own a house, the whole responsibility is on you. But if you are living in an rented apartment, and there is fire due to a burning pan left by your neighbor unattended, it will be your responsibility again because you didn't buy a renter's insurance. Therefore, everyone is prone to danger, no matter if the fire is due to human err of a natural disaster. Renter's insurance dose not cost more than a pizza deliver in a month. Majority of the renter's insurance plans cover fire damages too. Discussions can be made with the insurance agents and insurance plans can be selected which covers the needs. Some insurance plans even cover really valuable objects such as your wedding rings. When buying a fire insurance policy it is necessary to think more than the house value. Suppose if the cost of the house is $200,000 and the insurance only covers the structure cost, then it would easily take more than this amount to rebuild the house in case of any disaster. This estimate included everything from rebuilding the house to possessions like jewelry to flatware. It is important that owners and renters make an inventories of the objects they posses in their homes. It would be very smart to take pictures of the contents of your home and store it in a sage or a lock box in order to achieve peace of mind. When you go through the process of claims, many questions such as "How many dishes were there in the flatware?" will arise, which will be very difficult to answer then. Insurance companies will reduce the periodical premium to be paid if there are no bushes or flammable materials surrounding the house. In case of fire, the bushes or the flammable materials engulf the house and burns it down earlier than otherwise. Clearing these materials also helps to create defensible space for the firefighters. Although bushes provides a beautiful view, they also risks the life the inhabitants of the house. If the insurance is claimed in case of accident, on one hand it will help to restore the damages but on the other hand this process will increase the periodical premium. So in every case, prevention is better than cure. Firstly install smoke detectors in the house, especially in kitchen and rooms in which the family sleeps. They should be checked every month and must be replaced if they are older than ten years. The oil burner should be checked periodically by a professional. Do not leave electric appliances such as dishwashers, washing machine, heaters on when not at home or when you go to bed. Every floor of the home must be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher. House should have two exits so that if one of them is blocked, the other one can be used. It is better to have a fire safety plan before hand and let the whole family know about it. If there is a pet in the house, the plan should also include the pet. Be careful while burning candles because they produce lots of soot which can damage the ceilings, floors and walls. It can also damage the personal belongings. They should be burned in a safe place away from curtains, loose furniture fabric, people, children and pets. According to a research done by the Consumer Product Safety Commissions in 2001, fires caused by candles were due to existence of a combustible substance within close proximity of the candle. Another major reason for candle fire is tipping of candle by pets or children or knocking over by the wind. Extra care must be taken when burning gel candles as they burn longer than the wax candles, thus increasing the risk. People usually are seen wondering whether they turned off the stove burner or not. People should make it a habit to double check electrical appliances and other instruments which can lead to fire, before leaving the house or before going to sleep. Fire Safety and Evacuation According to an estimate, in the United Kingdom alone, more than 100,000 accidental fires occurred in colonized buildings causing more than 600 human deaths. But a lot of people have been led to believe that these figures are not acceptable and that they are also avoidable. There are many things that can be done in order to save more lives. When it comes to fire safety and the law, there has been lots of extra legal focus placed on it in the 2006 Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order. These new laws include the necessary requirements for employers to carry out a fire risk assessment and act accordingly to what it finds. When it comes to the changes that can be made to an organizations facility in order to make it safer and more efficient, carrying out a fire risk assessment is the best way to identify these things. If you are equipped with the time and proficiency to carry out this process yourself then that's all fine and dandy but it is best to leave this up to the professionals. Keep in mind that companies offering this service should only employ assessors that have at the least 10 years of experience with the fire brigade, as well as knowledge and efficiency to complete the assessment within a day. If they state that it will take longer than that then it would probably be best to choose another company to complete the task. Another good point is that by using outside companies to do the work for you, is a very cost efficient decision as well as security that they will comply with the required fire safety laws. Once the assessment is completed you should be provided with an easy to comprehend report that describes and explains time saving testing tips as well as procedures that can be carried out in order to keep your facility and employees safe from unexpected fires. Now fire safety risk assessments are not put in place to hinder the company, yet it is just there to fit into the time constraints and culture of the company to provide the best services possible; most legitimate have this as their main objective. Another important thing to remember is that the HSE and Fire Service will carry out random spot inspections on companies. If the company is found to have 5 or more employees that have not completed the fire risk assessment it would be considered breaking the law and the necessary actions will be taken to correct it. Most companies do not have the building insured if they have not completed a fire risk assessment, which is a necessity for all organizations therefore putting the occupants as well as the facility in danger; this can also cause the entire company to be shut down for good. There are lots of ways that you can help yourself, your company, as well as your employees in the midst of a fire. In a real fire setting the way people react and the help and instructions given to them can make a big difference in the amount of fatalities caused by the fire. Facts state that you are more likely to be severely injured from the smoke than the actual fire. However if all individuals are correctly informed on what to do when a fire occurs as well as given an efficient yet simple smoke filtering device, then there would be lees fatalities present. Fire Place Safetyy Fire places are root causes of many fires every year. It is not that they are directly responsible for this, but it is for up to us to take precautions that will prevent fires from breaking up due to fire places. There are certain precautions and in fact some instructions to be safe from fires due to fire place. Compliancy to these simple instructions prevents you and your family from the hazards of fire. The first step to take is to get rid of all the junk near the fire place because than can facilitate fire to catch and spread. Who doesn't love the warmth provided by the fire place but neglecting certain things which has potential to cause fires is not a good idea either. A fire place can quickly become a fire hazard if proper care is not taken. Proper care should be taken to keep things like paper (mainly newspapers), kindles and firewood at a distance from embers which are burning. Protecting the fir place with a screen is a great way to stop the embers from flying off and outside the fire place. When installing a protective screen, make sure that it does not have big holes allowing ambers to still come out. One of the most neglected components of a fire place is the chimney. Home owners rarely look back at the chimney once installed. But this is not a good sign and is a potential danger in causing fire hazards. One should make it a routine to clean chimneys on a regular basis, say at least once a year. It is a common sight to see birds making nests in the chimneys during the spring and summer seasons. However, this usually goes unnoticed and home owners take this lightly which could prove to be a costly proposition in terms of both life and money. What these nests do is they not only block the chimneys causing smoke to return to the fire place but also could catch fire themselves which could turn into a big fire. Also, it is noticed that over a period of time, if the fire chimneys are not cleaned regularly a combustible substance called creosote is formed in the chimney which is once again a big fire hazard. For all of the reasons mentioned above it is a good idea to clean the chimneys every year. One should also be mindful about how much wood one is burning. It is not a good idea to burn lot of wood at once in the fire place. A small fire can exaggerate into a big fire within few seconds if the wood is dry which can be beyond the control. That is why it is wise to burn few logs at a time rather than overloading the fireplace. Also, keep in mind not to burn anything else in the fire place apart from regular wood or a fire log especially manufactured for fire places. One may be tempted to put newspapers or even trash in the fireplace, but they can light up a big fire pretty easily. So, think smart and act smart when it comes to fire place. As always, fire extinguishers are life savers and having them handy would prevent many small fires from turning into a big blaze, no one has time to search for it when a fire occurs, so always keep it handy. Not to forget, fire smoke alarms are a must when you have a fire place. They can be life savers too. But, one should also take care of the fire smoke alarms as they do with their fire places. The fire smoke alarm batteries should be regularly changed to make sure that fire smoke alarm works when needed. The ideal scenario would be a smoke alarm which is electrically wired into home wiring and is always on. One more important thing to remember is to keep children away from both the fire place and also fire in case if one breaks out. Also it is not a good practice to leave the fire marooned. Make sure that the fire has completely seized in the fire place before retiring to bed. Thus, following these simple precautions ensures a safe and warm experience with fire places. Fire Alarm Pull Stations Fire alarm stations are most of the time located in the corridors of hospitals, schools or office buildings; they are usually mounted on the wall next to the fire exits. Majority of big buildings have these fire alarm stations equipped. These are placed there just in case you are walking in the corridors and you happen to notice a thick smoke or dangers coming from one of the rooms, then you will have a quick and convenient way to call for help. It helps if you don't know the address or location of the building you are in or if you cannot get to a phone in time enough. So a surefire way of alerting the fire officials is by utilizing one of these fire stations. These stations are or should be located on every floor of the building; they are easy to use, simply pull on the activation handle. The pull station is conveniently connected to the fire department will automatically be alerted of your location so that they can dispatch to your home with no hesitations. These days they have many different types of fire alarm pull stations. The most common ones are the stations with traditional pull down lever. The newer models offer many variations of the fire station and how to activate those push buttons, and voice activated phones. Nonetheless, however it is activated; the fire department is immediately notified so that help can be sent your way. Although they are very easy to use and an easy to set off accidentally, it is wise to take necessary precautions to prevent this from happening. Majority of the time you will see these fire alarms covered in a glass casing to prevent accidental activation. They are also placed high enough so that they are out of reach of children that way they will have no opportunity to play with the levers and accidentally trigger. Now although these fire stations are connected to the fire department directly, it is still separate from the entire fire alarm system in the building. Therefore although you pull down the lever on the fire alarm station it will only alert the fire officials it will not set off the sirens or sirens in the building. So even if you pull these levers the building and its occupants are still in danger. A fire pull station that is operating properly is of dire importance when trying to create a fire safe environment. Other things that are vital to remember is that the maintenance, location and proper placement all play a big part in a properly operating pull station. Most of the time these fire pull stations will be located where it is clearly accessible. No one should be incapable of noticing the fire pull stations upon every given quick scan around the room or corridor. If a fire alarm station is not in plain sight and easy accessibility of the individual who notices or falls upon the danger then the station is considered totally useless. It is also necessary that the fire stations be inspected regularly to check for any glitches or damaged parts. It is advised to have routine fire drills since they will give clear indication of the levers functionality as well as provide a survey of the individual reactions and reaction times Therefore if there are any defects with the machine or lever itself the repairs will be completed at the time of discovery. Fire Alarm Monitoring If your company is looking to provide top quality security and safety to employees, you may want to look into contracting with one of the many fire alarm monitoring companies. There are lots of different reasons why this type of service may be beneficial to your company. First of all if you have a system that is perpetually involved in fire alarm monitoring, it allows you to keep track of when your internal system is functioning inappropriately within the standards of your local fire code. Majority of the alarm monitoring companies offer monthly upkeep as part of the contract, which allows your employees to concentrate on producing top quality products and services to consumers, instead of having to monitor and inspect these systems themselves. These fire alarm monitoring companies also offer services that involve keeping you alert to any advances or upgrades that can be added to your existing system to maximize its functionality. By evaluating any new developments as well as determining whether they will heighten your fire alarm system, it allows them to keep your system as up to date as possible. Their services also include notifying the police as well as the local fire department. Since the monitoring company is tapped directly into the fire alarm system they will automatically know when the alarms go off in any sector of your facility. They can take the initiative and set up contacts to the local fire department, giving them the position as well as any other information relevant to the location of the building on fire. Likewise they can also alert the police department in your area in order for them to respond and assist in keeping individuals from entering the building while fire officials are trying to contain the fire. These services once again allows you and your employees to focus on how to exit the building correctly, quickly, and safely; making it a goal to follow the exit strategy that you and your company have in place. When searching for companies that provide fire alarm monitoring it is imperative that you obtain quotes as well as specifics of the coverage from every company you are considering; price is but one factor that should be evaluated when searching for any type of company providing a service or product. It is also wise to make sure that whatever company you decide on for representing your business, provides all tasks and services needed for the particular situation. A good thing to do is ask for references which can give you a front line look at how their services work and how good they are. If the company refuses to give out references then it is advised to look into another company. Keep in mind that you want a company that will not only do what you need it to do but one that also has an evident track record with existing customers. Nonetheless, a company with the lowest price is not always the best company to go with because there may be a lot of additional services needed by your company that are not included in your service package. A company that responds quickly and gives a good performance record is much more important than saving a few bucks. It is a very serious business decision to make when thinking of purchasing services from a fire alarm monitoring company. It is also best for your company to leave that job of monitoring the fire alarm systems, to the monitoring companies; it will ensure you and your employees' safety during an unexpected fire. Outdoor Fire Safety When fire proofing your home the inside is a very big part of the inspection indeed but do not forget that the outside is also a safe haven for fires. You should keep in mind that the outside is also part of your home, so do not neglect to check the patio, the backyard, the roof as well as the garden. Minimizing the hazards in these areas is just as important as the dangers indoors. One example of a fire hazard that exists outdoors is storing of wood. When warehousing wood in your backyard it is imperative that you follow the basic preliminary fire prevention rules in order to diminish the chance of wood catching fire which can cause much larger scale disaster. That is why it is important to maintain your wood in safe manner, in order to reduce the occurrence of the fires as well as the strength and size of the fire. One of the first steps to take when making sure that the fire is stored safely is to make at least a 30 feet safety perimeter around the area that the wood is being stored. An example of a good safety clearance is a green lawn that is free of any types of fire hazards such as flammable debris, toys or lawn ornaments. Now when it comes to plants and fire, there are a lot of plants that are fire resistant; some more than others, it is good to plant these in the area designated as the safety zone. Even though these plants may be fire resistant, it is imperative that you get rid of any dry leaves, dead limbs, twigs, and rubble that surround the plant(s); preventing these things from fueling a small fire that can escalate into a larger much more intense fire. Also take time to survey the roofing material on your home. In previous years many roofs on homes were built with many risky, combustible materials causing a large amount of homeowners to lose their homes; these losses were directly linked to the roof catching fire. Nowadays there are new and improved roofing materials offered to promote fire safety. When having your home built or either when choosing a home, it would be wise to choose a home that uses non-combustible roofing materials. There are many non-combustible roofing materials available, including: Class A Shingles, Metal or Terra Cotta. If your roof has already been built and it doesn't need to be replaced, then you do have the option of treating your roof with fire retardant procedures to reduce the flammability of the roof until it can be replaced. One last thing to pay attention to when fire proofing the outdoor is barbecue grills. Barbecue grills involve a lot of upkeep. You should clean your grill regularly, and make sure to keep it free of dirt and dust buildup. It would be much easier on you to maintain if you made it your goal to clean the grill after every use paying close attention to dust and cobwebs that may have accumulated. Also make it a habit to check all water hoses in the yard for cracks and to make sure it is in good condition; these are also fire hazards. Last but not least if you use propane tanks, check to see if it is damaged in any way. It is very dangerous to use damaged propane tanks. They are very combustible and can cause major damage. Outdoor Fireplace Safety Although not as popular as indoor fireplaces, outdoor fireplaces have their own audience and they come in various sizes, shapes and fashions. There are fireplaces that cater to different tastes of people like certain specific styles or designs or meeting certain budget criteria. Although quite particular about these criterion people often forget the underlying safety concerns related to outdoor fireplaces. However it is not to discourage people from buying them but to impress upon them the importance of safety specifications. It is not just about personal safety, but about the safety of the family and friends and also the property. Some of the important points that should be kept in mind while selecting a fire place and how to use them are discussed in brief in this article. Many experts recommend people to buy outdoor fireplaces with chimneys compared to fireplaces with fire pits or elevated fire pits for reasons like comfort and safety. The fireplaces with chimneys maintain better airflow which ensures a smokeless experience compared to other types. Fireplaces with fire pits have an inbuilt risk of getting tipped over to either side. One more important thing to remember is to never be careless about the combustible material lying around. Try not to get carried away in the fun and completely forget the fireplace. Outdoor fireplaces can be dangerous during a windy day, so pay special attention during those days. It is noted that powerful gusts of wind can cause outdoor fireplace to tip over and make the fire even bigger which can also get out of control if not dealt with on time. It is better to have a defensive approach as always dealing with fire related stuff. So, try not to blow it unnecessarily. Start with a small fire which is easily manageable and slowly increase the quantity of wood to make it bigger, but again within controllable proportions. Do not overload the fireplace with lot of wood which can cause a sudden big and uncontrollable blaze which is uncalled for. It is also advisable not to start a fire when the wind is even moderately strong, this may cause fire sparks onto you and also to the property and may cause damage. Also, always be prepared for a fire outbreak and be ready to extinguish the fire. Generally fires go uncontrollable without a warning. So have a fire extinguisher handy in case of an emergency. Also make sure that everyone around knows how to use the extinguisher in the event that a fire outbreak occurs. Also do not leave the fire marooned at any time and do not forget to put out the fire completely after getting done. Also wear protective gloves while starting the fire or putting logs in the fireplace. One can also use fireplace screens specially made for outdoor fireplaces to protect oneself and others from sparks arising from the fire. Make sure that the outdoor fireplace is kept in wide open space and clear from any other stuff like plants, trees, overhanging branches or vines in its vicinity to avoid them from catching fire. Also, for personal safety stay away at least three feet from the fire when operating. A very important thing to remember is to never to use the outdoor fireplaces inside the home which is only meant for use outdoors with respect to safety. Fire Safety and RV's RVs which stand for Recreational Vehicles, the name itself tells the whole thing i.e. RVs are meant for recreational purposes. But have we ever thought about things that deal with the safety of the RVs. Most RVs whether it be small or big, or any type are pretty sophisticated when it comes to safety devices and are equipped with state of the art devices to ensure the safety of the passengers. So, every owner of the RV should know what they are and how to use them in case of an emergency. Some of them are for fire safety too. There are 4 common types of fire safety devices or extinguishers available i.e. A, B, C & D. Every alphabet represents an extinguisher for specific kind of a fire. But it is not unusual to find an extinguisher which as ratings like AB or BC or even ABC. What this signifies is that one kind of extinguisher can be used to extinguish the fires of other types. The NFPA requires that all RV's have a BC rated extinguisher near the key exit. These types of extinguishers are primarily used to extinguish fires that are caused by liquids which are combustive in nature and also gases like oil, gasoline and grease. A BC type can also be used to extinguish electrical fires. Most fires that breakout in the RVs are type A which are mainly caused due to combustive materials like paper for instance which means it would need a extinguisher of Type A to extinguish the fire. But, it wouldn't be a bad idea if you have more than one kind of fire extinguisher in the RV, preferably a BC type. Also, it would be a nice idea to keep the extinguisher as handy as possible so that if a fire breaks out it is very easy to find. Also, if one is towing a trailer it is a good idea to have a BC type extinguisher handy. But, would keeping these extinguishers in the RV alone serve the purpose? The answer is no. Unless and until one doesn't have the correct knowledge of which extinguisher is used for which type of fire they serve no purpose. So, one should for what type of fire a particular type of extinguisher is used and also let everyone know in the RV about it. It is a good idea to have an orientation before starting the journey to let everybody know about its usage and location in case of an emergency. Labeling the extinguishers A or B or C or D is outdated and one should have a picture showing what kind of fire it may be used for. If is used to extinguish multiple kinds of fires then it should have the pictures for all types. It should also have a picture with a diagonal line indicating for which kind of fire it shouldn't be used. After everybody learns about various kinds of extinguishers they should be trained to use the extinguisher properly. Although there are many kinds of extinguishers, they more or less work in the same fashion. The most important thing is to remember "PASS" which is an abbreviation of Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep. Pull means, you have to pull the pin that is located right extinguisher's top. Aim means, to aim extinguisher's nozzle on fire's base. The next command Squeeze means, squeezing the handle standing about eight feet away from the blaze. One should free the handle if one wants to stop. The last command, Sweep, is to extinguish the fire by sweeping the extinguisher across the fire until it is extinguished. Remember to wait and see to make sure that it doesn't get reignited again. Also, the foremost thing to remember is the self safety and other's safety and it shouldn't be risked in the course of extinguishing a fire. The wisest thing would be to take everyone out and away from fire. Then the immediate step to take is to call 911 at the earliest. Updated Fire Safety The fire safety order of 2005 laws give detailed descriptions of the responsibilities of both employers and others when it comes to a fire and keeping those around you safe. At the present moment there are many fire safety laws that have undergone numerous provisions which in turn make it difficult for people to know what applies to them and their companies in respect of complying with the laws. As part of the government's commitment to limit the amount of deaths, and injuries caused by fires, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has enforced changes in the fire safety laws. The previous fire safety law will be repealed and substituted with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order of 2005. These changes have since been approved by the Parliamentary and went into effect as of April 2006. This Regulatory Reform Order is basically a fire risk assessment in which the person who is responsible for the premises are expected to come up with ways to address whatever risks are present, all while meeting the specific fire safety requirements of the location you are in. By taking on a fire risk judgment, the person(s) will need to look at how to prevent fire from happening in the first place. The way that this can be done is by taking away or cutting back on the hazards and risks present in the facility. Also the person in charge should take into account the necessary precautions that will need to be taken in order to ensure the safety of the individuals inside the facility in case a fire breaks out. Nonetheless the main goal of the changes to the law is to head towards fire prevention. This assessment must also include the effects that a fire may have on the people on the premises or surrounding the premises as well as the neighboring facilities. The building fire risk judgment should also be reviewed on a regular basis. This Regulatory Reform Order literally applies to all non-domestic properties; these properties include voluntary organizations as well. These dimensions will be subject to monitoring as well as the appropriate enforcement by the Local Authority Fire Service (LAFS) hence something is not up to par with the regulations. In general the Regulatory Reform is in place to be less of a burden and much clearer, so that the person(s) that are obligated to abide by it are able to understand it. All other previous fire laws will be done away with, including The Fire Precautions Act of 1971 as well as the rectified Fire Precaution Regulations of 1997. Also 100 other fire safety laws and legislation will be included in this particular revocation. Likewise all fire certificated will be abolished and won't be issued anymore. Responsible parties, most of the time the facility owner or co-owner will be held accountable for the fire safety of the facility and all individuals associated with the premises; they will basically take on full corporate liability. The responsible party is also has to worry about property safety, fire-fighter safety as well as the safety of the environment. The RRFSO has now place a lot of emphasis on business continuity and prevention of small fires spreading into larger ones. Therefore protection and security from fires will be explicitly extended to all occupants in the building, including employees, visitors, passers-by, contractors and any other individuals directly connected with the premises.
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