FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill Harrison
804-780-2256 (O)
804-396-0162. (cell)
House Fires Can Happen to Anyone
The winter months always bring an increase in house fires, but the Greater Richmond and Tri-cities areas have seen a dramatic increase within the last two months. The Southside Area Chapter in Petersburg has already spent 78 percent of their annual disaster budget with several more months of winter weather to come.
“Every three hours in the United States a home fire claims a life and every thirty minutes someone is injured in a home fire,” shared Reggie Gordon, CEO of the American Red Cross, Greater Richmond Regional Chapter. Most people do not realize that fires are the biggest threat in the country, ahead of floods and hurricanes. The Red Cross responds to as many as 63,000 home fires every year. That’s 170 fires a day- or one every eight minutes.
“Losing one’s home is always devastating,” continued Gordon, “And it can be especially difficult for the elderly who may have lived in a home for many years or for children who cannot comprehend the damage.”
There are measures that businesses, schools and families can put into place that arm people with lifesaving skills in the event of a fire or other emergency.
American Red Cross recommendations:
Install smoke alarms
Install an alarm on every floor of the home, even in the basement and outside every sleeping area. Test the alarms monthly. Change the batteries at least twice a year.
Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do if they hear- get out and crawl under the smoke.
Having a smoke alarm cuts the risk of dying in a home fire in half. More than three out of five fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or with nonworking alarms.
Precautions
Keep all potential sources fuel like paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves or fireplaces.
Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface such as ceramic floor tiles, not on rugs, or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
When buying a space heater, look for models that shut off automatically if the heater falls over as another safety measure.
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough t catch sparks and rolling logs.
Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and furnaces professionally inspected and cleaned once a year.
Get out of the burning house
In a fire get out and stay out. Don’t pause to get belongings.
Teach children not to hide, but to get out immediately.
Escape first, then call for help.
Never go back into a burning house for any reason. Going back can be deadly. The heat can scorch your lungs and melt your skin. Breathing even small amounts of smoke can make you confused or pass out.
Have an escape route
Plan and practice escape routes. Have a location that all family members will meet after leaving the building.
The American Red Cross will conduct free fire safety seminars for communities of faith, civic organizations or schools. Contact the chapter through the web site www.virginiacapitalredcross.org or by calling 804-780-2250.
Posted by wcoates 
