Safety Equipment
Once you know and understand the many different ways fire hazards begin, it's important to be prepared for those hazards. This is done by having the proper safety equipment.
Smoke Detector
Smoke detectors that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing injury and death from fire. Smoke often spreads before flames. With proper smoke detectors, they can help give you the time needed to get out of your home during a fire. Smoke detectors save lives.
Important Info
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With the speed at which fire can travel, it is important to have smoke detectors.
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Smoke detectors leave you with about one or two minutes to safely exit the building so it is important to know what to do when you hear one.
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Smoke detectors should be installed above every door in every bedroom and on every floor of your home.
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Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.
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Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.
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Test your smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
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Today’s smoke alarms will be more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions, yet mitigate false alarms.
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When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside.
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Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years.
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Change your clocks, change your batteries - This saying helps people remember to change the batteries in their smoke detectors. It is important to make sure your detectors have good batteries.
Smoke Detector Information
Smoke detectors can give you early detection of fire and allow you and your loved ones to exit your home safety incase of a fire. Smoke detector safety sheet provided by the NFPA.
Sprinkler System
Sprinkler systems have been around for many many years, and they are available for homes not just commercial buildings. They can help reduce heat, flames, and smoke produced but fire and can help save lives.
Two types:
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Standalone - have separate pipes that serve just the sprinklers
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Combined - uses the same pipes to serve your plumbing to serve your sprinklers.
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Each sprinkler head contains a bulb that bursts at 155-165 degrees
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The sprinkler closes to where the heat is will activate
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Sprinkler System Information
Sprinkler systems are a type of fire protection that are available for homes a long with commercial buildings. A downloadable tips sheet on sprinkler systems provided by the NFPA, can be found here.
Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher can be used to put out small fires in order to keep them from becoming large fires. Fire extinguishers are not required in homes but it is highly recommended to add to your fire preparedness. They should be placed in areas of easy access like in normal paths of travel and should be made visible or have some sort of indication that there is a fire extinguisher.
Remember the word PASS:
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Pull the pin
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Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you, and release the locking mechanism.
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Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
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Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
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Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.
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For the home, select a multi-purpose extinguisher (can be used on all types of home fires) that is large enough to put out a small fire, but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle.
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Choose a fire extinguisher that carries the label of an independent testing laboratory.
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Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out. Local fire departments or fire equipment distributors often offer hands-on fire extinguisher trainings.
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Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.
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Know when to go. Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape. Every household should have a home fire escape plan and working smoke alarms.
Fire Extinguisher Information
A fire extinguisher is a handy tool to have around the house incase of a fire. It can stop a fire quickly in its tracks before it can spread. A downloadable tips sheet, provided by the NFPA, can be found here.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon Monoxie (CO) detectors are a key assest for homeowners safety preparedness. They are becoming more popular in homes, but not everyone knows what they are and how they work. The following section gives you an outline as to what CO detectors are, how they work, and how you can benefit from them.
What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide is often known as the invisible killer. It is a colorless and odorless gas that comes from fuels not burning completely. Some of these fuels are gasoline, coal, oil, propane, wood, and methane. Heating and cooking elements are often sources of carbon monoxide. Another source of CO is running generators or vehicles in garages with the door closed. People can be poisoned by a large amount of CO in a short amount of time or a small amount over a long period of time. The dangers of exposure depend on many aspects including a person’s health.
Carbon Monoxide Detector Information
Carbon Monoxide is considered a silent killer. You cannot smell is and if you do not have a detector you will have no idea its there. A downloadable tips sheet provided by the NFPA, can be found here.
Emergency House Numbers
It is important that during an emergency, you are able to be found. You need to make sure your home is properly labeled, it is visible from the road and from other direction. The last thing you want during an emergency is to not be able to be found.
Emergency House Number Program
Essex County has designed a sign program to allow people who may not be able to afford an emergency house number to have access to them.