How Not to Die in a Fire this Winter

By Anne Morrey

What can you do now to prevent a fire in your home this winter? Or even worse, a death from a fire? Experts in fire prevention recommend installing smoke alarms. Smoke alarms may be hard-wired or battery-operated. If you have hard-wired smoke alarms, install battery-operated smoke alarms on every floor in case of power failure.  I would suggest you test your batteries in your battery-operated smoke alarm once a month. Just push the test button and listen for the alarm.

Note: When purchasing a smoke alarm, make sure that it has been tested to the CAN/UCL 5531-M STANDARD or by an approved testing agency.

Most fires usually occur between midnight and morning and fires are the most common disasters a family will face. A large percentage of these fires are caused by poor electrical wiring, faulty fuse boxes or careless behavior. According to the health report in the May 17, 2005 issue of the "Family Circle," more than four thousand people die because of fires every year in the United States. In comparison, Canada's annual death rate from fires works out to be 362 people, which is based on a ten-year average. This figure comes from the Council of Canadian Marshals and Fire Commissioner's Annual Report 2002.

Why are we losing so many lives to fires? Is it because some people don't have smoke alarms? Or is it because some people remove the batteries when they find the noise annoying? That kind of thinking is irresponsible, especially since they sometimes forget to put the batteries back. A friend of mine had this problem with her renter-from-hell. He needed batteries, so what did he do? He took the batteries out of her smoke alarm. He not only stole her batteries, he endangered the lives of everyone in the building, plus he went against all the rules of my friend's home insurance policy.

I have done quite a bit of research on the subject  of fires and I believe that most people don't realize just how dangerous a fire is. In my research, I ran across an old Sunbeam instruction booklet called "Smoke Sensor." I was frankly disturbed when I read the fatal facts about fire. Here is a quote from the Sunbeam booklet. "Flames are not the most frequent killer.... SMOKE IS! Smoke is really a mixture of many poisonous gases including deadly carbon monoxide. Just two or three inhalations of these superheated gases can knock a person unconscious. Many gases have not odour, others can anesthetize the sense of smell. Even a small amount breathed in may disorient and confuse to the point where victims are unable to make rational decisions. This accounts for the fact that many bodies are found unmarked by flames just a few feet from safe exits. Upstairs is especially dangerous. As heat intensifies, it surges upwards like a chimney. When it hits the top, it mushrooms and may quickly engulf the upper floor with dense smoke and searing heat. Doors can save... or kill. Flinging doors open before making sure that the fire is not walled up behind them is a common, often fatal mistake. Doors should be tested with hands first... if they feel warm, don't open, find an alternative route of escape."

Don't let anything stop you from protecting yourself and your family. If you are nervous around smoke alarms, and some people are, please feel free to phone your local fire department. They will gladly help you with your concerns: By the way, one important step you must make is to explain to children how important it is to wake their parents when they hear the smoke alarm. Don't expect children to know what to do unless you tell them. Please teach them to phone 911 in case they see a fire. Have a 911 phone number taped to your phone. Try also to have two escape routes in case there is a fire. Realize how dark it will be if there is a fire in the night. Small children usually hide under their beds when they are scared. It is up to you to have regular fire drills so that every member of your family gets out. If you are trapped inside by smoke, stay close to the floor. Make sure you are under the smoke and cover your mouth with a wet cloth and take short breaths.

Fire prevention week is October 9-15; this year's theme is "Protect Your Family From Fire."