Neighbors,
It’s Fire Prevention Week and this year’s campaign is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!”
In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.
With resources made available from our neighbors at the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Fire Administration, we put together the below series of suggested posts for you to share on Nextdoor to help your communities understand and reduce their risk of fire.
Poll: Which option best describes the last time you and your family practiced your home escape plan?
For “Photo”: download this PDF and save it as a PNG to post on Nextdoor.
Select “Poll” for the message type
For “Ask a question”: Which option best describes the last time you and your family practiced your home escape plan?
For “Add a poll description”:
In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.
Which option best describes the last time you and your family practiced your home escape plan?
Also, please feel free to leave your tips, experiences, and question below.
For more information, watch this helpful video https://youtu.be/khyHziYGFZg
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Last month
- A few months ago
- Twice a year
- Last year
- Years ago
- We have never practiced
- We don’t have an escape plan
- Because of this post, I/we plan to create and practice an escape plan
- Other (add a comment in the “reply” section below)
Home escape poll recap follow up post
For “Photo”: take a screen capture of the Poll results, be sure to click “view poll results:” first.
First, select “Message” for the message type
For “Subject”: Home escape poll results and what you need to know and do!
For “Message”:
Neighbors,
Thank you to the [Number of poll votes] of you who took time to cast your vote and [Number of replies] of you who replied to my poll about the last time you and your family practiced your home escape plan.
If you voted that you practiced your Fire Escape Plan Last month, a few months ago, or twice a year which was well done! As a reminder, should a smoke detector sound, and you need to escape, first get outside, call 911, and stay outside!
- If there is a fire in your home, you could have less than 2 minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds.
- Make a fire escape plan. Draw a map of each level of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the map with everyone who lives with you.
- Plan two ways out of every room. Choose an outside meeting place in front of your home.
- Make a fire escape plan around your abilities. If you need to use a wheelchair or a cane, make sure you can get to it easily and get out quickly. If you wear hearing aids or eyeglasses, put them next to your bed while you are sleeping.
- Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
- Practice your fire escape plan by having a home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the home.
- If there is a fire in your home, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.
If you have questions or an experience to share with your neighbors about a home escape plan, please do so below as a comment.
Poll: Which option best describes the last time you tested your smoke alarm?
For “Photo”:Download this image
First, select “Poll” for the message type
For “Ask a question”: Which option best describes the last time you tested your smoke alarms?
For “Add a poll description”:
Please pick the option below that best describes the last time you tested your smoke alarm?
Also, please feel free to leave your tips, experiences, and questions below.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Last month
- A few months ago
- Last year
- Years ago
- I have never tested my smoke detector
- I do not have a smoke detector
- Because of this post, I plan to test or purchase a smoke detector
- Other (add a comment in the “reply” section below)
Discussion post: Smoke alarm polls results follow up
For “Photo”: take a screen capture of the Poll results, be sure to click “view poll results:” first.
Select “Message” for the message type
For “Subject”: Smoke alarm poll results and what you need to know and do!
For Message:
Neighbors,
Thank you to the [Number of poll votes] of you who took time to cast your vote and [Number of replies] of you who replied to my poll about the last time you checked your smoke alarms.
If you voted that you checked your smoke alarm in the last month, which was [% of people who voted] of you, well done! All smoke alarms in your home should be tested monthly. We suggest that you add doing so to your calendars right now! To test your alarm, press the test button to be sure the alarm is working properly.
Here are easy to follow instructions on how to test your smoke alarm — https://al.st/2IHs8mn
Should a smoke alarm sound, get outside, call 911, and stay outside!
Smoke alarms that are correctly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries and save lives. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast, and you need Smoke detectors to give you time to get out.
Did you know that:
- Three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms
- Choose interconnected smoke alarms, so when one sounds, they all sound.
- Put smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area. Put alarms on every level of the home.
- Make sure your smoke alarms work. Your family is not safe if they can’t hear the smoke alarms.
- Test smoke alarms every month and replace 9-volt smoke alarm batteries at least once every year.
- Smoke alarms do not last forever. Get new smoke alarms every 10 years.
- When you hear a smoke alarm, you may have less than 2 minutes to get everyone outside and safe
If you have any questions or wish to share an experience, please do so by leaving a comment.
Until then, stay safe, and take care of yourselves and your neighbors!
What should you do if you smell smoke or see fire or smoke?
For “Photo”: Download this photo.
Select “Message” for the message type
For “Subject”: What should you do if you smell or see fire or smoke?
For “Message”:
Neighbors,
The first thing you should do if you smell or see smoke or fire, begin evacuation by pulling an alarm station closing doors behind you to contain the fire. Exit via stairwells only, DO NOT attempt to use elevators.
Then, if it is safe to do so call 911 and give the dispatcher the exact location of the fire and any other information you may have about the fire.
If you get caught in heavy smoke, take short breaths, crouch down or crawl and if the fire or smoke keeps you from exiting the building, go to a room far away from the fire, shut the door, open or break open a window and signal for help.
Once outside a safe distance from the building, return to the building only when instructed to do so by emergency personnel.
