AMERICAN RED CROSS STRESSES PREPAREDNESS DURING FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, OCT. 8-14
4 out of 5 Americans Unaware that Home Fires are the Most Common Disaster Threat
Dayton, Ohio, October 6, 2006 – The Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross urges families to prepare for a home fire during Fire Prevention Week, October 8-14. According to a recent poll by the Red Cross, four out of five Americans are unaware that home fires are the most common disaster in the United States, and only 26 percent of families have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Since fires kill more Americans each year than all natural disasters combined, the Red Cross urges families to use Red Cross resources to develop a fire escape plan and to take steps toward fire prevention and safety.
The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is "Prevent Cooking Fires – Watch What You Heat." According to the NFPA, home fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room of the home, and the leading cause of home cooking fires is unattended cooking.
To prevent kitchen fires, the Red Cross recommends that you keep all potential fuel sources, including potholders and food wrappers, at least three feet away from heat sources while cooking. In addition, stoves and ranges should be turned off if the responsible adult leaves the kitchen.
“Preparing for a home fire doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment or training, and Fire Prevention Week is a great time for families to plan for a potential fire,” said Fran O’Shaughnessy, Chief Emergency Services Officer for the Dayton Area Chapter. “In addition to smoke alarms, one of the easiest ways you can prepare is to develop and practice a home fire escape plan so that every family member can escape quickly and safely.”
The Red Cross suggests that a fire escape plan include at least two escape routes for every room in the home, and a convenient meeting place at a safe distance from the fire. Families are encouraged to pay particular attention to developing and regularly practicing escape plans for children and the elderly because of their increased risk of injury or death from fire. According to the NFPA, children and adults 65 and older are twice as likely to die in a home fire as the American population at large.
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