STATE OF VERMONT
DIVISION OF FIRE SAFETY

INFORMATIONAL PRESS RELEASE
FIRE SAFETY EDITORIAL

This information is being provided in an effort to promote fire prevention and to enhance the public safety of all Vermonters. This fire safety editorial is part of the Division of Fire Safety's continued commitment to our mission to protect the public and the fire service with coordinated efforts in Code Enforcement, Fire Service Training, Public Education, Hazardous Materials and Incident Investigation.

Please share this information with your readers and audiences because, knowledge is the best fire protection.

Some New Year’s Resolutions Can Save Your Life

About this time ever year people feel obliged to make resolutions. The state of Vermont division of fire safety suggests some resolutions that could save your life. More than 6,000 Americans will die in home fires during the New Year, Most of them because they didn’t act to prevent or survive a Fire. Don’t become one of this year’s statistics.

Make and practice a fire escape plan for your home. Be sure each family member knows two different ways to escape in case one way is blocked by fire. And set a meeting place so you’ll know everyone is out safely. Never go back inside once you’re safely out – not for any reason.

The nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), reports that 96 percent of American households have at least one smoke alarm, NFPA found that roughly half of the home fire deaths occur in that tiny share of homes with no alarms. And, NFPA says that about one fifth of all smoke alarms aren't working - mostly due to dead or missing batteries.

Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself from deadly fire with the help of home smoke alarms:

• Install smoke alarms on every level.
• Place alarms outside and inside each sleeping area.
• Replace batteries every year, including back-up batteries in electrical alarms; if alarms chirp, replace batteries immediately.
• Test alarms at least once a month.
• Install new alarms when the devices are over 10 years old.

Never disconnect a smoke alarm or remove a battery in response to nuisance alarms. If steam from the bathroom or cooking fumes cause the smoke alarm to signal, fan the air near the alarm until the signal stops. Later, if you can relocate a smoke alarm farther away from the kitchen and bath, you may be able to prevent future nuisance alarms. Try dusting or vacuuming the alarm, or if it is an older unit consider replacing it.

Check your home for common fire hazards.