Fire Prevention Week in Stamford Means "Have Two Ways Out"

The following is a release from the City of Stamford:

If you woke up to a fire in your home, how much time do you think you would have to get to safety? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one-third of Americans households thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life threatening.

Unfortunately, the time available is often less.

That’s why the City of Stamford’s Fire Departments are teaming up with the NFPA during Fire Prevention Week, (October 7-13, 2012), to urge residents to “Have Two Ways Out!” This year’s theme focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice.

In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage.

According to NFPA one home structure fire was reported every 85 seconds in 2010. Fire is unpredictable and moves faster than most people realize. Having a tried and true escape plan with two ways out is essential to ensuring your family’s safety should fire break out in your home.”

The Fire Departments for the City of Stamford recommend the following tips for planning your family’s escape:

• Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room.
• Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they’ve escaped.
• Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan. Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your escape plan.
• Sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan with everyone living in your home.
• Keep your escape plan on the refrigerator and have your family practice the plan at least twice a year or whenever anyone in your home celebrates a birthday.

The Fire Departments for the City of Stamford cannot stress enough the importance of having properly installed working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors within your residence. Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quick.

This year during Fire Prevention Week the City’s Fire Departments are providing fire safety talks to various groups including school children, senior groups and community organizations.

Firefighters will also be conducting a Doorknob Flyer program concentrating on one and two family dwellings emphasizing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and having two ways out in the event of fire.

To learn more about “Have Two Ways Out!” visit NFPA’s Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org.