By Rebecca Sponsler
Advocate News Staff
Fire prevention week is just around the corner. This is a great time of year to talk to your friends and loved ones about what to do in the event of a fire. Having a plan is critical to getting everyone out safely, and practicing these plans will help even more.
Create a plan
Have a plan in place. Have a designated meeting area away from your house so that in the event of a fire. Remind your family that if the house is on fire they should crawl on the ground to avoid smoke inhalation. If you come to a closed door always feel with the back of your hand, to see if the door is hot.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, a closed can slow the spread of fire and smoke. Once you are sure a room is clear of people and pets, close the door if possible.
Get everyone in your house together and go through it to make sure that everyone knows where the exits are, also label the exits clearly.
Smoke detectors
A functioning smoke detector is critical to alerting you to a fire, especially at night when people are asleep. Make sure that you have working smoke detectors in your house at all times. According to the Red Cross, you should test the batteries in your smoke detector every month.
Burn Bans
When the weather is dry a county might issue a burn ban meaning that no controlled burning can take place. If you were planning on having a bonfire or doing any other type of burning make sure you check to see if there is a burn ban.
As mentioned earlier, you need to practice your plan, especially if you have little kids in your house. Situations like theses are frightening, but if you have an effective plan you can prevent the worst from happening.
Of course if there is a fire call 911 as soon as possible and for more safety tips talk to your local fire department.
Greenville Fire Protection District: 618-664-4265.
