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According to the National Fire Protection Association:
- Every 18 seconds a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the nation
- A residential fire occurs every 78 seconds
- About every 2 hours, someone dies in a fire
- In 1997, 3,360 deaths occurred as a result of residential fires
PER CAPITA, THE US HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST FIRE DEATH RATES IN THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD
Where do fires occur in the home?
- Kitchen 29%
- Bedroom 13%
- Living Room/Den 8%
- Chimney 8%
- Laundry Area 4%
Most residential fires occur during the winter months (Dec-Feb.)Households without working smoke alarms are approximately two and a half times more likely to have a fire than those with working smoke alarms.
Who is at greatest risk to be killed in a fire?
- Children living in rural areas have a dramatically higher risk of dying in a residential fire (2.5 times higher than rates in large cities and 3 times higher than rates in large towns and small cities)
- Children younger than 5 and adults older than 65 years
What can you do to prevent a fire in your home?
- Never leave food cooking on a stove or in an oven unattended.
- Keep matches and lighters away from children's reach.
- Never smoke in bed. Keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
- Never leave burning candles unattended.
- Safely store flammable substances used around the home.
- Make sure there are working smoke detectors on every level and in every sleeping area. Test them once a month, replace batteries once a year, and replace the alarm every ten years.
What should you do if your house catches fire?
- Get out as fast as possible and go to your family's pre-designated meeting place. Do not re-enter the burning house.
- Call the fire or rescue department from a neighbor's house.
- If you cannot escape, place moist towels or fabric around doors to block off smoke, crawl to a window, and open it. Yell out the window for help and wave a sheet or clothe for attention. If there is a phone in the room, call for help.
References:
1. Karter, MJ. Fire loss in the United States during 1997. Quincy (MA): National Fire Protection Association, 1998.
2. Hall, JR. The US fire problem and overview report. Leading causes and other patterns and trends. Quincy (MA): National Fire Protection Association. Fire Analysis and Research Division, 1998.
3. National SAFE KIDS Campaign. Washington (DC), 1998.
4. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Unintentional Injuries. Atlanta (GA): Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1997.
5. U.S. Fire Administration. Washington (DC).
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