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The Huron Expositor, 1997-10-08, Page 811► -Thi NU O* NhPOOTTOII, Oot.., IN MT PIZZA TRAIN 527-0180 MAPLEWOOD MANOR 527-1440 McGAVII4 FARM SUPPLY & EQUIPMENT 527-0245 Bee's Ladies' & Men's Fashions 527-0278 Anna's Dress Shoppe Ltd. 527-0489 WILSON AUTO SERVICE 527-1200 L. McGRATH PLUMBING & HEATING 522-0493 SPAR KY'S PLACE FAMILY DINING 527-1964 BOX & SMITH FUNERAL CHAPEL 527-1142 SILLS HOME HARDWARE •For Smoke Detectors •New Fire Extinguishers & Recharging Depot •Replacement Batteries 'Fire Escape Ladders 527-1620 Fire Prevention Week - October 5-11 Fire deaths in Ontario could have been prevented Last year in Ontario, 126 people lost their lives to fire. Most of these deaths could have been prevented, if the victims had installed working smoke alarms and practiced a fire escape plan. When a fire occurs, there is no time to plan. You must react -quickly and appropriately. That is the message behind this year's Fire Prevention Week theme: "Know When to Go -React Fast to Fire!" Fire Prevention Week is an annual event that commemo- rates the great Chicago fire of 1871. During the week of October 5-11, fire depart- ments in communities all across North America will devote their time and energy to raising public awareness about the importance of fire safety. Home Fire Safety Kitchen Remove pans of cooking fats and oils from the stove when not in use - it is easy to turn on the wrong burner. Unplug kettles, toasters, fry- ing pans and other appliances when not in use. Do not hang clothes above the stove to dry- they may fall on the burner. Keep matches out of the reach of children. Use only safety matches. Have a ULC (Underwriter's Laboratory of Canada) approved fire extinguisher handy for grease fires. Living Room Provide.frre screen for fire- places as flying brands or sparks can easily start a fire. Do not use extension cords in place of permanent wiring. Provide sufficient electrical outlets for your needs. Provide deep, substantial ash trays for smokers and ensure that the contents are placed in a metal container or toilet each evening before retiring. Bedrooms Never smoke in bed. Many people are killed in fires as a result of bedding becoming ignited from a cigarette in the hands of a sleepy person. Basement and Attic Remove all unnecessary combustibles from the base- ment and attic areas. They will add considerable fuel to a fire and make it easier for one to start. Have a service man check all furnace safety controls, the chimney and flue connections for leaks and clean the furnace and chimney once a year. Remove flammable liquids from the house, check your electrical panel for oversized fuses. A 15 ampere fuse is required for regular domestic circuits and if in doubt, con- sult an electrician. Home Evacuation Most fire deaths occur in the homes where there are no working smoke alarms. You need a working smoke alarm to wake you up at night when most fatal fires occur. When asleep your sense of smell doesn't work and poisonous gases of a fire will put you into a coma. It's your smoke alarm that will give you the precious time needed to escape. You must have a fire safety escape plan. Sit down with all members of the family and draw the rooms of the house. Know two ways out of every room and have a pre- arranged meeting place out- side. Once out, stay out and call the fire department form the neighbour's home. Practice this plan at least once a year with all family members. FIRE PREVENTION "Never Try To Fight A Fire Alone" ALWAYS KEEP A FRESH BATTERY SMOKE DETECTOR youR .• IR HOME For more information on Fire Safety call the following... ID VD REMEMBER TO HAVE THEM CHECKED! CHIEF George Garrick 527-0873 DEP. CHIEF Tom Philips 522-0921 CAPTAIN Jim Sills 527.1248 CAPTAIN Rene Dupuis 527-1804 F 1 RE E NUMBER Y527-1100 Seaforth & Area Fire Dept. PHOTO BY DAVID SCOTT DONATION FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY : Dave Garrick, right, president of the Seaforth Fire Fighters Association, and Jim Sills, left, treasurer, present TracySimpson, district coordinator with the M.D. Association's London office, with a cheque for $3858.95 that was collected In Seaforth from motorists who deposited money in a fireman's boot. The total donations to M.D. from Seaforth since 1988 total $30,028.35, not including this year's. More safety tips for home Mark Escape Routes On A Floor Plan Draw a plan of your entire home. Show all possi- ble exits from each room. Know TWO ways out of every room, especially bed- rooms. If you live in a multi- storey apartment building, map out as many routes as possible to exit stairways on your floor and other floors of the building. If one of your escape routes in a second or third storey window, consider investing in a safety ladder. Check your local hardware store or major department stores. If you live in a high rise building, plan to use the stairways, NEVER the eleva- tors to escape fire. Elevators, may become trapped between floors or take you directly to the fire. Practice With A Home Fire Drill, Once you've sketched out your escape plan and dis- cussed it with your family and neighbours, PRACTICE! Involve every member of the household. Start your home fire drill with everyone in their beds, doors closed. One person sounds the alarm. Each per- son touches their door. Pretend the door is cool and practice your escape route from the room. Pretend the door is hot and practice the alternate escape. Meet out- doors at the assigned spot. Discuss The Escape Plan With Your Family It's important to go over your fire escape plan with your family, or with your landlord and neighbours. Make sure everyone in your family knows the telephone number of the fire depart- ment. Carefully explain the following procedures: 1. Sleep with your bedroom doors CLOSED at night. A closed door will help slow the spread of deadly fire, smoke and heat. When fol- lowing you escape route, be sure to close doors behind you. 2. The Smoke alarm will sound to wake you and your family. You can also develop a special signal that all family members will understand to mean "danger." You might use a whistle or bang on the wall. Use this signal ONLY ARCHIE'S SERVICE CENTRE 527-0881 in emergencies. 3. When you hear the alarm, roll out of bed to the floor. Get down on your hands and knees, crawl to your door and touch it. Don't stop for clothes, documents or jewelry, etc. 4. If your door feels hot when you touch it, DO NOT OPEN IT! Don't panic. Stop and think before you start. Escape out the window or use your alternate exit. 5. If you can't leave your room or apartment, seal the cracks around the door and ` vents as best you can, using wet towels if possible. Open a window at both the top and the bottom. Stay low by the window to breathe the fresh air. If there's a phone, call the fire department - and tell them exactly where you are in the building. Shout for help and signal your position by waving a bright cloth, towel or sheet. 6. If your' clothes catch fire, STOP where you are, DROP to the ground and ROLL over and over to put the flame out. DO NOT RUN. Running will only increase the flames. 7. Teach small children never to hide under beds or in closets. Take your children to the Fire Department to see the equipment and protective gear fire fighters use, so they won't be frightened of fire fighters during a rescue. 8, Gather at the pre -deter- mined meeting place outside ' your home, well away from the building, and take a head count. Once outside, STAY OUT. After you've all met, send someone to go to a neighbour's house and phone the fire department. Meet the fire trucks and tell the fire fighters whether everyone is out of the hottse. Learn How To Prevent Fires By planning and practicing your home fire escape plan, you can protect yourself and your family from a home fire. But the best protection is pre- vention. 8 Key Fire Safety Behaviors for Preschool Children 1. Stay away from hot things that can hurt. 2. Tell a grown-up when FLOWER MAGIC 527-1110 you find matches or lighters. 3. Stop, Drop and Roll if your clothes catch fire, 4. Cool a bum. 5. Crawl low under the smoke.. , 6. Know the sound of the smoke detector. 7. Practice an escape plan - know 2 ways out of every room. 8. Recognize the fire fighter as a helper. 22 Key Fire Safety Behaviors for Elementary Children Priority 1. Protection ( When Fires Occur): 1. Responds correctly dur- ing fire and smoke drills at school. 2. Uses a home escape plan. 3. Identifies exit signs and knows two ways out in pub- lic places. 4. Performs to crawl -low -in -smoke procedure. 5. Reports fire and smoke immediately. 6. Performs the Stop, Drop and Roll procedure. 7. Initiates first aid prac- tices for burns. Priority 2. Prevention (Before Fires Occur): 1. Uses matches and lighters safely. 2. Practices kitchen safety. 3. Practices fire safety around heating sources. ' 4. Practices fire safety with flammable liquids. 5. Practices outdoor fire safety. • 6. Practices fire safety with small electrical appliances. 7. Participates in home haz- ard inspections.' 8. Practices Holiday fire safety. 9. Follows fire safety proce- dures when baby-sitting. 10. Practices scald and con- tact bum prevention. Priority 3. Persuasion: 1. Encourages fire safety habits 2. Installs and maintains smoke detectors 3. Practices outdoor electri- cal safety 4. Recognizes the fire department as a partner in community services • 5. Recognizes the dangers of false alarms JIM ETUE INSURANCE 527-0720