The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Stop! Are You Helping Protect Your Family From Fire?

A Review On Fire Safety Tips

by Hal Jern, Oquawka Fire Chief

This year, the National Fire Prevention Week for 2011 is Sunday, October 9th to Saturday, October 15th and the theme is "PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM FIRE!"

During Fire Prevention Week the Oquawka Volunteer Fire Rescue will be at West Central Elementary School, Wednesday, October 12th, at 10:00 a.m. to talk to students about the dangers of fires and about protecting themselves and offering safety tips.

It is important for each family member to educate themselves in fire safety tips, because a fire can arise so quickly and usually unexpectedly and can end in a tragic loss of a family member.

To help, here is a good "Fire Safety Checklist for Parents and Guardians".

Fire can be very dangerous, so its important to do all you can to prevent them and to know what to do in case they occur.

Use the Fire Safety Checklist below to help you keep your home free of fire hazards. If there is any thing you cannot check off yet, correct it so that you keep your family as safe as possible from fires.

• Keep all lighters and matches in a locked or high cabinet and teach children not to play with them.
• Educate children to stay away from hot things on the stove or outside grill. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove top.
• Use outlets safely. Do not overload them or plug more than one extension core into each. If you have very young children, place childproof plugs in any unused sockets.
• Replace all frayed, cracked or broken electric cords.
• Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Let children know that they shouldn't touch or play near them.
• Unplug small appliances when not in use.
• Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and near each bedroom. Let children help you test them monthly.
• Place fire extinguishers on every level of your home, especially in the kitchen, basement and garage. Keep out of children's reach.
• Have a fire escape plan, with two ways out of each room, and a meeting place for everyone to go to. Practice your escape plan with your family often.
• Make sure all exits from rooms have nothing blocking them.
• Know what task each family member has in a fire escape plan.
• List emergency numbers near each phone. Teach children to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. (f your area has a different emergency number, have your children learn it.)
• Teach children to Stop, Drop and Roll if their clothes catch on fire.

Call Chief Hal Jern for a demonstration. The service is free to all who ask.

Join us for FPW 2011 and learn to save lives in your community!

Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire, October 8-9, 1871 - the two-day blaze that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 more homeless, and destroyed more than 17,000 buildings.

The tragedy inspired reform across America, spurring new fire safety codes and public awareness campaigns.

Each October, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sponsors a fire prevention campaign to highlight the importance of fire safety education.

This year's theme focuses on how to protect your family from fire by planning ahead and integrating simple behaviors into your everyday life.

Be equipping your home with fire prevention and protection systems and paying attention to potential fire hazard in your home you can make a difference that will last a lifetime and reduce fire injuries, deaths, and property loss.