2018-10-08
By: Advocate Brokerage
According to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments in the US respond to an average of 1 fire every 86 seconds. Home fires cause an average of seven deaths per DAY and cause an estimated $6.7 billion in damage. That is why for one week each year the NFPA calls the public’s attention to the importance of fire prevention and safety. This year the focus is on Look, Listen & Learn and it is the perfect backdrop for us to talk about keeping you and your world, protected from the damage a fire could bring.
LOOK
Be aware of your surroundings. That is the advice of Lorraine Carli, Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy for the NFPA. She says “People take safety for granted and are not aware of the risk of fire, paying attention to your surroundings, looking for available exits in the event of a fire or other emergency, and taking the smoke alarm seriously if it sounds can make a potentially life-saving difference in a fire or other emergency situation.”
While fires can and do happen everywhere, they are much more likely to happen at home. In fact, each year 4 out of 5 fire deaths occur at home.
Things to LOOK for to keep your home fire free:
LISTEN
40% of fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke detectors! It is so important to be sure that every home is equipped with smoke detectors. Be sure to test them each month and replace the battery each year. Allow October and fire protection month to serve as a great reminder to take care of these two important tasks.
A few more ways to make LISTENING for smoke detectors easier:
The safety of your family is our number one priority at Advocate Brokerage. We cannot state strongly enough that the most important precaution you can take is to have a Central Station Fire Alarm installed in your home. Having a central station fire alarm installed in your home can be the difference in saving your family’s life and can save your house. Insurance companies provide a significant discount for the proper installation of a central station fire and burglar alarm system. Feel free to call us, we would be happy to talk you through our recommendations and any discounts that may apply.
LEARN
If a fire should break out, typically you have about 2 minutes to get yourself and your family out of the house. That is why you and each member of your family need to make sure they have Two Ways Out. We want you to be prepared and that means coming up with an escape plan that includes two ways out of every room in your home.
Follow our step by step guide to LEARN your two ways out:
A Final Note From Advocate Brokerage
Last year we did our best to try to spread the message of Close and Contain. It is so important that we feel it bears repeating. What we mean is that if you find yourself in a structure that is on fire, when you leave, be sure to Close and Contain by closing the door behind you in order to contain the fire. The reason this works is that a closed door limits the fire’s oxygen supply and can help to contain the fire. The closed-door slows down or stops the spread of flames, reduces the temperature and reduces the emission of deadly Carbon Monoxide. It is a good habit to cultivate, one that could save a life!
For Advocate’s full Close and Contain blog, click here.