St. Lucie County Fire District participates in Fire Prevention Week
Urges residents to Prevent Home Fires

 St. Lucie County – It’s time for Fire Prevention Week, and from October 5-11 the St. Lucie County Fire District is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind local residents to help prevent home fires. 

During this year's fire safety campaign, firefighters and safety advocates will spread the word about the dangers of home fires and will teach local residents how to plan and practice escape from a home in case a fire occurs. 

According to the latest NFPA research, fire in the U.S. killed one person every two and a half hours – or 3,430 civilian fire deaths in 2007.  Being alerted to a fire through smoke alarms and knowing what to do to escape from a fire are extremely important, yet only 23 percent of households have planned and practiced a home fire escape plan.

"Many times when we speak to residents who have experienced a fire in their home, they recall becoming confused and disoriented by the conditions and severity of the situation – but they realized they needed to get out fast,” said SLCFD Fire Chief Ron Parrish. "Sometimes there are only seconds to escape, but there’s no question that having a plan in place that has been practiced saves precious time and makes survival more likely. We hope that Fire Prevention Week will prompt folks in our community to plan and practice their escape.”

Are you prepared for a fire? Although it’s difficult to prepare for the unexpected, reviewing the information below and taking action based on it to plan for a fire is strongly recommended… and don’t forget to practice your escape plan during Fire Prevention Week!  

1. Install working smoke alarms on every level; and inside each bedroom and outside of each sleeping area.
2. Develop a fire escape plan that identifies two ways out of each room and a family meeting place outside.
3. Make sure your plan allows for any specific needs in your household. If everyone knows what to do, everyone can get out quickly.
4. Practice your plan, at least twice a year. 
5. Some studies have shown that some children and adults may not awaken to the sound of a smoke alarm; they may need help waking up.  
6. If the smoke alarm sounds: Go to the closest exit, and if there is smoke on your way out, turn and use your second way out. If you must exit through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Don’t take time to pick up belongings; just get out and help others get out. Move fast but stay calm.
7. Once you are out of the house – stay out.  Don’t go back into the burning house. 

Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. For 85 years fire departments have observed Fire Prevention Week, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record. 

For more information, contact:
Catherine Whitaker Chaney
Public Information Officer
St. Lucie County Fire District
772-621-3333
cwitaker@slcfd.org