September 29th, 2011
Maryland and Nevada recently updated their school bus fire safety standards, so why is the rest of the nation still relying on regulations from the 1960’s to protect their children? Well, CFFSI is hoping to change that, state by state, in the fall session.
With more than 1.5 Million children riding school buses in the US each day, it is shocking that national fire safety standards have not kept pace with the evolution of modern technology. Maryland and Nevada recognized the need to protect big yellows from the dangers of fast spreading flames and codified standards to set a maximum burn rate for the seats and engine components.
For more information view:
Citizens for Fire Safety
Nevada and Maryland Drive School Bus Fire Safety for our Kids with New Law
Tags: burn awareness week, fire escape plan, fire extinguisher, fire preparedness, fire prevention, fire safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety for All, school bus fire safety
Posted in Children & Fire Safety, Fire & Smoke Alarms, Fire Saefty Awards, Fire Safety & Electronics, Fire Safety Conferences & Events, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved, Uncategorized
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April 5th, 2011
Looking for safety tips that can help prevent fires, fire-related deaths and injuries? You’ve come to the right place. This blog is dedicated to helping families stay safe from fire related accidents.
This information is brought to you by Albemarle, a global leader in specialty chemicals and the leading supplier of flame-retardants and fire safety solutions. Our fire safety technology saves thousands of lives every year around the globe. We invest millions of dollars in research and development so that consumer products like electronics and automobiles have the highest performing fire safety solutions and eco-friendly technology to prevent deadly fires and keep you safe.
Help us save lives by learning more about fire safety.
Interested in green business ideas? Check out Our Green Lab or find us on LinkedIn.
Work with chemicals and want to learn more about eco-friendly fire safety solutions? View Earthwise Fire Safety.
Tags: Albemarle, Earthwise, fire preparedness, fire prevention, fire safety, fire safety checklist, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, kids fire safety
Posted in Children & Fire Safety, Fire Safety & Electronics, Fire Safety Devices, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Get Involved
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March 21st, 2011
Not many people know the importance of clothes dryer fire prevention. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are an estimated annual 15,500 fires, 10 deaths and 10 injuries due to clothes dryer fires. Several hundred people a year are also subjected to carbon monoxide poisoning from improper dryer vent setups. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, causing excessive heat build-up, and could result in a fire. It is important for everyone to be aware of this issue, and to clean their dryer filter screen after each load of laundry. Also remember to clean the outside vents twice a year and to occasionally vacuum the motor area of the dryer.
Other ways to help prevent dryer fires:
- Make sure the dryer duct is made of solid metallic material.
- Avoid kinking or crushing the dryer duct
- Clean and inspect the dryer duct on a regular basis
- Use a spin dryer. These uses an extremely fast spin speed to extract water from the clothes
- Never leave the house while your clothes are in the dryer
For more fire safety tips, view:
Stay Safe With the Earthwise Fire Safety Checklist.
Tags: Albemarle, Earthwise, electronic fire safety, fire preparedness, fire prevention, fire safety, Fire Safety Education
Posted in Burns, Children & Fire Safety, Fire & Smoke Alarms, Fire Safety Devices, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips
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January 12th, 2011
Does your family have a plan for what to do in case of a fire emergency? A prepared and drawn out fire drill plan that is put into practice a few times a year will keep your family safe rather than sorry.
First, work together as a family and locate two ways out of each room, even if one of the exit routes is out of a window. Draw a map and mark where all of the doors and window are, mark where the smoke alarms are located and mark a place where everyone will meet outside. Next to every phone, place emergency contact numbers so that your children have an easier time remembering 9-1-1, the home phone number and street address. All of your smoke alarms should be working properly and checked frequently.
Next, walk through your fire drill evacuation plan with every member of your family by following these steps:
- When the smoke alarm goes off crawl on the floor over to the closest door. Feel around the door a lightly touch the doorknob to feel for heat. If everything feels cool, evacuate the house and meet at the marked meeting place. If anything feels warm, escape through the secondary exit route.
- Remind your children that smoke rises and that it is safer to crawl low to the floor because the air will be cleaner and easier to breathe.
- Close all the doors behind you to prevent the fire from spreading further.
- Once outside, pretend to call 9-1-1.
- Talk about the drill and ask your children if they have any questions.
- Place your fire drill escape plan on your refrigerator.
And remember, practice makes perfect!
Tags: fire escape plan, fire evacuation plan, fire extinguisher, fire preparedness, fire prevention, fire safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, home fire safety, smoke alarm
Posted in Children & Fire Safety, Fire & Smoke Alarms, Fire Safety Devices, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips, Uncategorized
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September 9th, 2010
Keep Your Child Safe from Fire at School
With schoolchildren heading back to class, it’s appropriate to think about their safety. Indeed, statistics from the United States Fire Administration show that 90% of fires at schools occur during the week, when students are in attendance.
Fortunately, states and municipalities regulate fire safety standards, including sprinklers in school buildings and fire drills. Here are several tips so you can help ensure the safety of your child.
1. Teach your daughter or son to pay attention to other adults and authorities. When there is a fire, only a few minutes will make the difference between life and injury or death. Your child must listen to the teacher, firefighter or other adult and follow instructions to safely evacuate a building.
2. Keep your youngster away from fire. Fire prevention guidelines state that younger students should not handle matches and flammable materials. Older students may use matches, in science labs, under adult supervision.
3. Urge your son or daughter to participate mindfully in Fire Drills. Schools are mandated to perform fire drills several times a year. Remind your youngster that his or her safety depends on paying attention to the teacher or adult. Every child should follow the straight and orderly line of students exiting the building and keep quiet until it is safe to return to the classroom. Some schools have a buddy system so that all students are accounted for and no one is left behind.
4. Help your child contact you. In the event of a fire, your daughter or son may be taken to a location away from the school. The teachers and school officials may not have the students’ emergency contact numbers to notify you of this situation while you are at work. Have your child memorize a home, work or cellphone number to contact you. For young children, re-write the lyrics of a familiar song, using the phone number. For example, Frere Jacques/Are Your Sleeping is a simple melody that can accept the insertion of a phone number. Practice it with your youngster several times a day at first, and then once a day and finally once a week, so the child learns, memorizes and remembers the phone number.
When your child is in the care of teachers and other responsible adults, you trust her or him to stay with the group and follow instructions. Calmly discuss the possibility of a fire, review the need to keep away from dangerous flammable materials and help your daughter or son learn a phone number where you can be reached. This forethought will give you peace of mind that your child will be safe and will be able to contact you in the event of a fire or other emergency at school.
Tags: emergency planning, fire preparedness, fire safety, fire safety for kids, Fire Safety Tips, kids fire safety, school fire safety
Posted in Children & Fire Safety, Fire Safety Education
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August 17th, 2010
Smoke detectors can save your life by providing an early warning of fire in your home. Do you know how to check and ensure your smoke detectors are performing up to snuff and will protect you when it matters?
The Burn Institute provides these tips:
- Maintain units by testing batteries monthly and immediately replacing weak ones with new and tested batteries. Replace all batteries at least once a year. If your alarm begins making a “chirping” sound, replace the battery immediately. When in doubt, replace a detector.
- Vacuum the grillwork of your detector at least once a year. Cobwebs and dust can impair a detector’s sensitivity.
- Never paint a smoke detector.
- If you sleep with your bedroom doors closed, it is a good idea to also install an alarm inside the bedroom.
- Smoke rises, so mount the alarm high on a wall or on the ceiling.
- Adults who are deaf or hard of hearing should purchase a smoke detector with strobe lights. Flashing or vibrating smoke alarms should also be tested every month.
Spend a few minutes now to protect the safety of your entire family. The Burn Institute has a few more tips, including how to choose your smoke detectors. To make sure your entire home is safe, check out our home fire safety checklist.
Tags: Burn Institute, fire preparedness, fire prevention, Fire Safety for All, Fire Safety Tips, smoke alarm, smoke detector, smoke detectors
Posted in Fire & Smoke Alarms, Fire Safety Devices, Fire Safety Tips
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August 16th, 2010
In the sweltering heat of summer, the hot, dry weather creates a significant danger of wildfires. These huge fires are a force of nature, but that doesn’t mean you’re helpless to protect your home or family. Here are some tips from the Burn Institute to make sure your family stays safe, and to give you recommendations to moderate potential damage to your property.
Access and visibility
- Make sure the roadway approaching your home is wide enough to accommodate an evacuating car and an entering fire truck at the same time. Trim over-hanging branches to allow enough clearance for large emergency vehicles.
- Streets and roads must be marked with clearly visible street signs. Missing or difficult-to-read street signs can delay emergency response.
- Your address should be easy to see from the street. If necessary, post it at your driveway entrance as well as on your home. The numbers should be at least four inches tall on a contrasting background. Periodically check to make certain that new plant growth has not covered any part of your address.
Plan for evacuation
- Plan in advance to pack up and evacuate if your home is in the path of a wildfire.
- Make a list of important items to take with you, including valuables, family photographs and videos, and vital documents, such as insurance papers, birth certificates, and other legal papers.
- Be ready to take prescription medication, eyeglasses, and other health needs.
- Set up a plan for family members to reunite if separated.
- If you have family pets and livestock, include them in your plan. Have a supply of food and water ready, as well as leashes, carriers and trailers if needed. Shot records and other animal medical documents will be helpful if you cannot return home and need to board the animals.
For more safety information, please also review our step-by-step instructions on fire escape drill and wildfire safety tips and visit the Burn Institute.
If you’ve lived through a wildfire, we’d love to hear your story. You can reach us by email or in the comments below.
Tags: Burn Institute, fire escape plan, fire evacuation plan, fire preparedness, fire safety, home fire safety, wall of flames, wildfire preparedness, wildfire prevention
Posted in Fire Safety Education, Wildfires
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July 13th, 2010
Fire safety tips for the road, from the Burn Institute
You’ve gone through our home fire safety checklist, and you’re confident you know what to do in case of a fire at home. But do you know how to be safe when you’re traveling on business or with your family?
The Burn Institute gives some tips on what to do if there is a fire in your hotel:
- Check the hall. If it’s clear, walk to the fire exit and get out and away from the building. If there is smoke in the hall, crawl to the exit and get out. If there is smoke in the hall, crawl to the exit and get out. If there is fire and thick smoke at lower levels go back into your room.
- Knock loudly on other doors as you pass them to alert others who may not be aware of the danger.
- Never attempt to go to the roof of a building using the stairs because the exit to the roof may be locked.
Burn Institute gives a lot more tips in their factsheet, including what to do to prepare for your trip. Go check it out and tell us what tips you think are the most helpful.
Have you ever had a fire scare when you were on vacation? Post a comment telling us how you felt or what you learned.
Tags: Burn Institute, fire preparedness, fire safety, Fire Safety Tips, hotel, hotel fire safety, travel fire safety
Posted in Children & Fire Safety, Fire Safety Education, Fire Safety Tips
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