According to the US Fire Administration, the fire problem in the US is among the worst in the industrial world. In 2007, fire departments responded to 1.6 Million fires. 84% of these were single family residences, where 3,430 people died, and another 17,675 were injured. What does all this mean in $$$? How about $14.6 Billion! And that doesn't include the cost of temporary housing, medical expenses, psycological costs, lost business, death of pets, etc. If you put together the entire losses from floods, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes and all other natural disasters, you still only have a fraction of the cost of the losses incurred each year by fire. In 2006, these fires amounted to a homefire every 80 seconds....
As we enjoy the change of season from summer to fall, remember to reset your smoke alarms...change the battery, test them after you change them, and if your alarm is 8-10 years old, consider replacing it. This very inexpensive device is the single reason less people die in homefires.
It's also a good time to refresh those insurance photos of your home...and buy some plastic storage containers to store those summer items you put away for the winter...and as you decorate for Halloween and Thanksgiving, remember to put those items away in plastic storage containers...also, be careful of candles, fire places, and decorations in windows or near lights. Even a candle in a pumpkin can burn down a house....look for safe alternatives.
Be safe this fall, and be sure to attend a fire safety open house at a fire department near you.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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