Mangano Reminds Residents Of Fire Safety Tips

National Fire Prevention Week, October 9th to 15th

In observance of National Fire Prevention Week, which is the week of October 9th to the 15th, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today urged residents to take a few simple steps to protect themselves and their family from fires and other emergencies. The best way for county residents to protect their families from fire is to be ahead of the game, and take steps now to reduce fire danger in the home.

“Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere,” said County Executive Mangano. “While firefighters and first responders are critical in fighting and responding to fires, our best tool for preventing fires is to educate the community. By taking a few simple steps now to get prepared, like making sure smoke alarms are working properly and placed throughout your home, you can keep your family safe.”

According to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than 362,500 home fires were reported in the United States in 2009. These fires caused 12,650 civilian injuries, 2,565 civilian deaths, and $7.6 billion in direct damage. Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by taking a few simple precautions like having working smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan, keeping things that can burn away from the stove and always turning off space heaters before going to bed.

County Executive Mangano offers the following tips for protecting your home and family from fire:

• Develop and practice a home fire escape plan with your family. Make a map of your home and mark at least two doors and windows that can be used to get out of every room.
• Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home where everyone can meet once they’ve escaped.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.
• If you smoke, smoke outside.
• Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table.
• Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
• Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms in the home so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Test all smoke alarms monthly and replace them immediately if they do not respond when tested.
• Make sure everyone in your home knows how to respond if the smoke alarm sounds.
• If you are building or remodeling your home, consider installing home fire sprinklers.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week, please visit: www.nfpa.org