New York, NY - October 3, 2017 - In observance of both National Fire Prevention Month and National Fire Prevention Week, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) is asking New Yorkers to remember and re-learn basic fire safety rules that can help save lives. October is Fire Prevention Month, and October 8-14 is Fire Prevention Week.
This year’s theme, as highlighted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” is an effort to teach people how to be prepared and equipped for emergencies in the home.
Most fatal fires happen between midnight and 8AM, and fires become deadly fast. Once your alarm sounds, you may have less than two minutes to get to safety. Exit Drills in the Home (EDITH) encourages creating and practicing a home escape plan in order to ensure that each resident is as prepared as possible.
“FASNY encourages fire prevention strategies all year round, but October is a time to check in and revamp your preparedness for emergencies. This year, our focus is on building a home escape plan, which is essential to keeping residents safe and happy. Draw a floor plan, find two or more escape options, inspect your home, and run a drill. Our volunteer firefighters are only a call away, but these measures can help each of us avoid emergencies in our homes,” said FASNY President Ken Pienkowski.
Every second counts during a fire; here are a few tips for making sure you and your family are safe and secure.
- Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
- Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
- Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
- Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
- Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
- Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.
Source: NFPA
About FASNY
Founded in 1872, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) represents the interests of the approximately 110,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York State. For more information, visit www.fasny.com.
About Fire Prevention Week: Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871. For more information visit www.NFPA.org.