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The Times Advocate, 2004-10-06, Page 27Wednesday, October 6, 2004 Exeter Times—Advocate 27 BE PREPARED... PLAN AHEAD! • Practise evacuating the building blindfolded. In a real fire situation, the amount of smoke generated by a fire most likely will make it difficult to see. • Practise staying low to the ground when escaping. • Feel all doors before opening them. If a door is hot, get out another way. • Learn to stop, drop to the ground, roll if clothes catch fire. S A FIRE VritY GENERAL FIRE SAFETY AND PROTECTION TIPS! • Make sure all family members know what to do in the event of a fire. Draw a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping every room. Make a drawing for each floor. Dimensions do not need to be correct. Make sure the plan shows important details: stairs, hallways and windows that can be used as fire escape routes. • Test windows and doors do they open easy enough? Are they wide enough. Or tall enough?• Choose a safe meeting place outside the house. • Practice alerting other members. It is a good idea to keep a bell and flashlight in each bedroom. Smoke Detectors (Smoke is responsible for three out of four deaths) • Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and outside of sleeping areas. • Test every detector at least once a month. (See your instruction book for the location of the test button.) • Keep smoke detectors dust free. Replace batteries with new ones at least once a year, or sooner if the detector makes a chirping sound. • If you have a smoke detector direct- ly wired into your electrical system, be sure that the little signal light is blink- ing periodically. This tells you that the alarm is active. • Inexpensive smoke detectors are available for the hearing impaired. Fire Extinguishers (They remain your best bet if you're on the spot when a fire begins) • Fire extinguishers should be mounted in the kitchen, garage, and workshop. • Purchase an ABC type extinguisher for extinguishing all types of fires. • Learn how to use your fire extin- guisher before there is an emergency. • Remember, use an extinguisher on small fires only. If there is a large fire, get out immediately and call 911 from another location. Thinking Ahead: Your Exit Plan (As with other things, the best motto is,"Be Prepared.") • Prepare a floor plan of your home showing at least two ways out of each room. • Sleep with your bedroom door closed. In the event of fire, it helps to hold back heat and smoke. But if a door feels hot, do not open it; escape through another door or window. • Easy-to-use window escape ladders are available through many catalogues and outlet stores. For instance, First Alert sells one for around $90. • Agree on a fixed location out-of- doors where family members are to gather for a head count. • Stay together away from the fire. Call 911 from another location. Make certain that no one goes back inside the burning building. • Check corridors and stairways to make sure they are free of obstructions and combustibles. Matches and Lighters: Where does a three-year-old find a lighter? Every year in Ontario, young children are injured or die in fires that they mop start themselves. So where does a three-year-old find a lighter? Probably on the kitchen table. Matches and lighters can be lethal weapons in the hands of children. Young children are naturally curious about fire, so adults must keep all fire - starting materials out of their sight and reach. If you smoke, have only one lighter or matchbook and keep it with you at all times. Cooking Safety: Stand by your pan! Did you know that cooking is the number one cause of home fires in Ontario? Many of these fires start because pots and pans are left unat- tended on the stove. So next time you cook, your fire department encourages you to STAND BY YOUR PAN. If you must leave the kitchen when you're cooking, turn off the stove and remove the pot from the burner espe- cially if you are using oil or high tem- peratures. A cooking fire can start in a flash, so keep an eye on your fries and STAND BY YOUR PAN! Candle Safety Candle fires are on the rise There's nothing cozier than the warm glow of candlelight, but did you know that candles are one of the lead- ing causes of fire? Your fire depart- ment asks you to please take care when using candles in your home. Keep lit candles in sturdy holders on level surfaces and if possible, place a glass chimney over it. Candles can eas- ily be knocked over, so keep them out of the reach of children and pets, and away from anything that can burn. Be sure you snuff out candles before leav- ing the room or going to bed. Heating Equipment: Time for a checkup Fall is here and it's time to ask your- self, is your heating system healthy? Your furnace, fireplace or woodstove need yearly checkups to ensure they operate safely and efficiently. Heating appliances should be cleaned and inspected annually to prevent fires and deadly carbon monoxide gas in your home. It's time for a check-up! Contact a qualified service technician to clean and inspect your furnace, fireplace or woodstove. Remember a healthy heat- ing system is a safe heating system. THESE IMPORTANT MESSAGES BROUGHT TO YOU IN THE INTEREST OF FIRE PREVENTION BY ADVERTISERS CHRYSLER Dodge Jeep Exeter Chrysler Jeep Sales, Service Leasing & Daily Rentals 136 Main St. N., Exeter, Ontario 235-1525 Fax 235-2143 Toll Free 1-866-435-5553 LEARN TO STOP, DROP TO THE GROUND, ROLL IF CLOTHES ARE ON FIRE RAND (END �ANIITATJON • Septic & Holding Tanks Cleaned • New Tanks & Weeping Beds • Portable Toilet Rentals • Drain Cleaning • Video Camera Inspection Tel: (519) 238-2291 Fax: (519) 237-3807 P.O. Box 1294 Grand Bend NOM 1TO CHOOSE A SAFE MEETING PLACE OUTSIDE THE HOUSE N. C. Jones & Sons Ltd. • Shop 235-2489 • Bob 878-3834 • Office 235-0925 • Todd 870-5546 THAMES RD. E., EXETER USE ONLY FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS WHICH BEAR THE LABELS OF NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION AND TESTING AGENCIES. EXETER DECOR CENTRE G The Imperial Home Dell roup(Canada)ULC' 15 Gidley St. E., Exeter 235-1010 WORK OUT TWO ESCAPE ROUTES FROM EACH ROOM AND MARK THEM CLEARLY ON YOUR FIRE ESCAPE SKETCH. CASEY'S LAWN CARE •Fall Aeration •Fertilizing •Snow Removal 176 Francis St. Exeter 235-1885 EXTINGUISHERS SHOULD BE MOUNTED IN THE KITCHEN, GARAGE & WORKSHOP K.L. ELECTRIC a ScTRlc.aL RESIDENTIAL - COMMERCIAL - INDUSTRIAL i KENLATTA 227-1059 A COOKING FIRE CAN START IN A FLASH SO STAND BY YOUR PAN! cr rstle building centres Langford Lumber & Builders Supplies Limited P.O. Box 370, Lucan, Ontario NOM 2J0 227-4416 TEST WINDOWS AND DOORS - DO THEY OPEN EASY ENOUGH? Mike's OVER 20 YEARS PERSONALIZED SERVICE • Hand lettering • Computer Graphics • Truck Lettering • Billboards & Banners • Sandblasted Signs 93 Andrew St S. Exeter 235-0287 NEVER RUN AN EXTENSION CORD UNDER A RUG OR BEHIND CURTAINS. FUNERAL HOME 118 Main St. Dashwood Ont. (519) 237-3532 Fax: 237-3191 Email: hoffmans@hay.net www.hoffmanfuneralhome.com MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A SAFE FIRE ESCAPE METHOD FOR ALL SITUATIONS GORDAN DANN Pump Sales and Service Limited R.R. #2 Denfield, Ont. Water Pump Specialist Water Treatment Specialists 225-2234 1-800-328-0392 BE CAREFUL OF HALOGEN LIGHTS. DON'T PLACE NEAR FLAMMABLE MATERIAL MUNICIPALITY OF The Exeter Fire Department would like to extend our appreciation to our firefighters for a job well done. To all the stations serving the South Huron Area; Exeter, Huron Park, Dashwood and Grand Bend, Thank You.