In honor of October being fire prevention month, an expert from West Virginia University’s Fire Service Extension is reminding the community that taking steps in fire prevention is easy.

West Virginia’s fire fatality rate is 3.3 times higher than the national average, according to the United States Fire Association.

“Preparation is essential in the event that a fire does actually break out in your home,” said Lanny Adkins, WVU Fire Service Extension program coordinator.

The first step to make your home fire ready is to install smoke detectors. With two-thirds of all fire related deaths occurring in homes without functioning smoke detectors, Adkins says it’s important.

“Smoke detectors are only beneficial if they’re working,” Adkins said. “One of the biggest mistakes we see is that people tend to remove the batteries from alarms that repeatedly go off, like those in the kitchen.”

Adkins advises that for those areas, try a smoke detector with a hush feature. This prevents the dangerous scenario of thinking a detector is working when it really isn’t. He also advises testing all detectors once a month and replacing them once every 10 years.

When installing, remember that smoke rises, so place the detector high on a wall or on the ceiling if possible. Every level of your home should have at least one smoke detector, and you should aim to place one in each bedroom and one outside or around each sleeping area.

The next step is to have a rehearsed escape plan in case of a home fire. Make sure that all members of the family are aware of the specific details of the plan. Designate a meeting area outside of the home and practice evacuation in both a day and night setting.

Another useful tool to have is a fire extinguisher, though Adkins warns that they have limitations.

“Fire extinguishers are not universal,” he said. “They are designed to fight contained fires in smaller areas and it’s up to the person to practice common sense when it comes to determining if a fire is too large to attempt to fight it.”

Adkins said that fire extinguishers are meant to be used from six to eight feet away, and if the flames are too hot or large to fight from that distance, it’s better to just evacuate to safety.

If it is safe to use a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym “P.A.S.S.” First, pull the pin and aim at the base of the fire. Begin to squeeze the trigger slowly, but firmly as you sweep the nozzle side to side.

For general information and tips on fire safety, contact WVU Fire Service Extension at 304-269-0875 or visit fireservice.ext.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

zl/10/23/13

CONTACT: Cassie Waugh, WVU Extension Service
Office: 304.293.8735, Cassie.Waugh@mail.wvu.edu

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