SAFETY PLAN YOUR ESCAPE BEDROOM SAFETY & Planning, Prevention, Practice Every household should have an escape ESCAPE PROCEDURES These are the three keys to plan and every member of the family Residents must know how to safely not only at work and school, but at should be familiar with it. Special exit their bedroom when the home. Each year there are approximate- escape plans should be made for seniors, detector sounds. Bedroom safety ly 4,000 fire deaths in the United States. children, or disabled residents. This fire includes the following tips: 83% of these fire deaths and 77% of the escape plan should be practiced at least Install a smoke detector in every 13,700 fire injuries occur in the home, a once annually. room where someone sleeps. place where most people feel safe and IMPORTANCE OF Have two exits out of every room secure. SMOKE DETECTORS Every room in the house in which where someone sleeps. A significant factor contributing to the Smoke detectors are the leading lifesaving people sleep should have two exits. Roll out of bed and crawl low cause and spread of fire is human device in home fire safety. Most fatal Occupants must know how to unlock under smoke. failure. Recognizing hazards and home occur at night while people are and open the doors and windows. performing adequate preparation and asleep. Smoke detectors can alert sleeping Residents should not stop to collect preventative measures will drastically residents before they become fire victims. personal belongings when there is a fire. reduce loss of life and property. Protect By installing and maintaining smoke Once outside all family members should your family by following the safety detectors in your home you can reduce go to the designated family meeting procedures listed in this brochure. your chances of dying in a fire by 50%. place. Call the from a neighbor’s. NEVER go back inside a THE EFFECTS OF Smoke detectors should be installed on burning structure! DEADLY SMOKE AND every level of the home and in every room POISONOUS GASES where someone sleeps. Smoke detectors Feel the door with the back of your The peak time for home fires is between should be tested monthly and the batteries hand. If the door is cool, open 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most people are should be replaced at least yearly, better slowly and exit if the area is clear. If asleep. Fire victims are usually over- yet, when you change your clock in the the door is hot, use a secondary exit. come while they sleep and they die from spring and fall, change your detector Second floor bedrooms should exit smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide battery. Never borrow the battery from onto a safe roof area or have an poisoning not from burns. Studies have your smoke detector. escape ladder. shown that from the time a fire starts a Once outside, go to a designated person has an average of less than 4 96% of U.S. homes have smoke detectors. meeting place in front of your home. minutes and sometimes as little as 1 mi- However 23% of the smoke detectors do If you are trapped hang a blanket nute to escape the disabling effects of not work because of dead or missing out the window to signal . smoke and poisonous gases. It is those batteries. Smoke detectors provide early Stay by the window, never hide in same gases that dull your senses while warning to a fire. If this time is used the closet or under the bed. you sleep making a safe escape even properly it can save your life. But don’t Call 9-1-1 from a neighbor’s house. more difficult. wait until your smoke detector sounds to develop an escape plan. KITCHEN SAFETY MISCELLANEOUS EDUCATIONAL & PUBLIC The kitchen is the most dangerous room in SAFETY TIPS SERVICE PROGRAMS the house. Each year in the U.S. there are Dial 9-1-1 to get help in any emergency. Strongsville Fire & Emergency Services A GUIDE TO approximately 17 million kitchen fires, House numbers should be a minimum offers a variety of programs and services HOME FIRE many of which are minor and go unreport- of four inches tall and easily visible to meet the needs of the community. ed. Cooking fires kill nearly 400 from the street.  Home safety inspections SAFETY victims a year. The kitchen can be kept If your house number is posted on the CPR and first aid training accident free by following these tips: mailbox, make sure it is on both sides. Learn how to use a . Juvenile fire setter counseling Never leave cooking unattended. Fire extinguisher training Never fight a large fire; call the fire Avoid loose fitting clothing when Safety town instruction department. They have the experience, cooking. Fire safety education for all Turn pot handles in so that pots can’t training, and equipment. Kindergarten thru third graders be knocked or pulled down by small Burn injuries should be treated by Career day presentations and shadowing children. applying cool water to the burn and Station tours Keep the stove and oven clean. calling for help. Educational programs for schools, businesses, or community groups Unplug small appliances when not in Provide baby-sitters with details about

use. your plans, the children’s needs and the

Extinguish a grease fire by putting a home escape plan. Be extra careful when using flammable lid on the pan and turning the burner liquids. off. A PUBLIC SERVICE BROCHURE Inspect electrical cords, avoid using Keep combustible materials created and distributed by extension cords, and don’t overload three feet from heat sources. electrical outlets. Never pour water on a STRONGSVILLE FIRE AND Learn CPR and basic first aid. They grease fire! EMERGENCY SERVICES can make the difference between life Install a 5 lb. Dry Chemical 440-238-6575 and death. [email protected] fire extinguisher near the Don’t smoke in bed or when tired. kitchen exit. Always use microwave safe OHIO STATISTICS dishes in microwaves. 57,531 fires occurred with 157 deaths. SMOKE CAN ENGULF A HOME Thomas P. Perciak Lift lids slowly to prevent 14,826 residential fires caused 137 IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. Mayor

steam burns. deaths (80% of fire deaths) and 1,513 A FIRE DOUBLES IN SIZE If your clothes catch on fire serious injuries. EVERY MINUTE. Robert Moody immediately cover your face with The leading causes of fires in Ohio are: your hands fall onto the ground and A FIRE KILLS SOMEONE cooking, heating, arson, appliances, IN THE U.S. EVERY 97 MINUTES. STOP, DROP and ROLL children playing with matches or - to smother flames. ers, and smoking.