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Home Fire Safety Protect what you value!
Home Fire Safety
Protect what you value!
4 Home Fire Safety
Introduction
The Tasmania Fire Service responds to over 400 house fires each year. Tasmania has the highest fire fatality rate per capita in Australia.
The advice in this booklet is designed to keep you and your family safe and protect what you value.
Don’t become a statistic. Read this booklet! It could save your life!
Fires are fastWhat makes a house fire so devastating is the combination of fire, smoke and the production of poisonous gases. These things combined have the power to kill quickly and silently.
Three minutes is all it can take to lose your home and family to fire.
That’s why it’s essential you have working smoke alarms installed and a regularly practiced escape plan.
30 secs 60 secs 3 mins
By now, smoke alarms would have detected the fire and alerted your family.
With no warning, the fire goes unchecked. It will quickly take hold, giving off poisonous smoke.
The fire reached in excess of 800 degrees. All of the contents in the room will be on fire and it will have spread to other rooms in the house.
house fire?
3Home Fire Safety
How can you protect yourself and your family?• Smokealarms
• Homefireescapeplan
• Keepingchildrensafe
Where are the danger hot spots? • Kitchen
• Bedroom
• Heating
• Laundry
• Electrical
• Candles,oilburnersandcigarettes
What to do?• Emergencycalls
• Checklist
ResidentialfiredamageinTasmaniacostsmillionsofdollarseveryyear,theemotionalcostismuchmore.
4 Home Fire Safety
Only working smoke alarms save lives!1. Youshould install aphotoelectricsmokealarm
ineachsleepingarea,hallwayandlivingarea.Smoke alarmsshouldbesupportedbyahomefireescapeplan.
2. Testalarmsmonthly.
3. Vacuumdustfromalarmsevery6months.
4. Replacebatteriesonceayear.Somealarmshave10yearlithiumbatteriesthatdonotneedreplacingeveryyear.
5. Mains powered smoke alarmsalsohaveback-upbatteries-checkwiththemanufacturerifyourmodelhasbatteriesthatneedtobereplacedregularly,orwhetherithasare-chargeablebattery.
6. Youngchildrenarelikelytosleep throughthesoundofasmokealarm,soyou must alert themtoafireandhelpthemescapetosafety.
7. Installationofasmokealarmisquickandeasy.Followthemanufacturersinstructions.Generally,becausesmokerises,mountinginthemiddleoftheceilingisrecommended.
8. Maximum protectioncanbegainedfrominterconnectingsmokealarms:Whenonesmokealarmoperates,allconnectedalarmswilloperate.
9. Mostalarmshavealife span of 10 years,afterthistime,theentireunitshouldbereplaced.
Smoke alarms
5Home Fire Safety
10. Smoke alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thesealarmshaveaflashingstrobelightandavibratingpadforplacingunderthepillowthatactivatewhenthesmokealarmsounds.
IfyourequireanalarmfortheDeafandHardofHearingcontactTasdeafTTY: 6231 6501, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.tasdeaf.org.au Ph. 03 6231 6501.
Multi Level Homes
Install smoke alarms in all sleeping areas and on the ceiling at the head of the stairway connecting the levels.
Dining
Kitchen
SleepingArea2
SleepingArea1
SleepingArea3
Study
Hall
Bathroom
&Toilet
LivingRoom
Laundry
Where best to position your smoke alarms
Single Level Homes
You should install a smoke alarm in each bedroom, hallway and living area.
6 Home Fire Safety
Home fire escape plan
Possibly the most important plan you’ll ever make.Designahomefireescapeplantosuityourhomeandtalkaboutitwitheverybodyinthehouse.Ifachildhasbeeninvolvedinplanningandpractisinganescapeplantheyaremorelikelytogetoutaliveinahousefire.
Thesampleoppositeillustratesapossibleplan.Thereisatear-outgriddedsheetprovidedinthebackofthisbookletforyoutodesignyouownescapeplan.
1. Makeahome fire escape planand practiseatleasttwiceayear.
2. Crawl lowifcaughtinsmoke.
3. Use windowsasanalternativemeansofescapeifsafetodoso.
4. Coverbrokenglasswithablanketordoona.
5. Once out, stay outatasafemeetingplaceoutsideyourhome(e.g.nexttoyourletterbox).
6. If clothes catch firestop,putyourhandsoveryourface,gentlydroptothegroundandrockandrollonthegrounduntilyourclothesstopburning.
Rememberitisimportanttoinvolveeveryoneinyourhouseholdindiscussingfiresafety,whattodoandwheretogoinanemergency.
7Home Fire Safety
Dining
Kitchen
SleepingArea2
SleepingArea1
SleepingArea3
Study
Hall
Bathroom&Toilet
LivingRoom
Sample Plan
BackDoor
FrontDoor
SafeMeetingPlacei.e.Letterbox
Laundry
Make sure you can get out of your home quickly if there is a fire.Thebestfireescapeplanisworthlessifyourescaperouteisblocked.Whiledeadlocksandsecuritygrillesmaydeterthieves,theycanbedeadlyinafire.Whenyouareinthehouse:
1. Leave keysinanydeadlock,oronahookclosetothedoororwindow,andoutofreachofintruders.
2. Make surethatwindowsecuritygrillesandscreensopenreadilyfromtheinside.
3. Make surethatallwindowsanddoorsopen easilyforallmembersofyourfamily.
8 Home Fire Safety
What to do in a fire
Do these things to safely escape a fire
Get down, get low, get out–smokeispoisonous,getunderneathitonyourhandsandknees,andcrawltothenearestsafeexit.Shutthedoorsbehindyoutostopthespreadoffire.
Get out and stay out – never go back inside.
ShoutFire! Fire! Fire!towarnothers.
Gatheratyourplannedsafemeetingplace–suchasyourletterbox.
• Calltriplezero‘000’
• AskforFire,PoliceorAmbulance.
• Staycalm,don’tshout,speakslowlyandclearly.
• Whenaskedgivethe:
State you live in Street number Street name Suburb Nearest cross street.
9Home Fire Safety
Fire extinguishers and fire blankets
REMEMBER–Savinglivesthroughaquickescapeisfarmoreimportantthansavingproperty.
Youshouldbetrainedintheuseofanextinguisherorfireblankettousethemsafelyandeffectively.
An emergency is not the time to read instructions.
Ifyoudonotknowhowtouseafireextinguisherorfireblanket:
• Close the doortocontainthefire.
• Ensureeveryone is outofthebuilding.
• Callthefireserviceontriplezero’000’.
• Never go backintothebuildingonceout.
• Gatheratyourplanned safe meeting place.
• Waittomeetthefireservice.
• Inafire,get out, stay outandcalltriplezero‘000’fromamobileoraneighbour’sphone.
• Wait for the Fire Service to arriveandtellthemwherethefireisandifanyoneisstillinside.
10 Home Fire Safety
Keeping children safe
What can you do?Supervise and educate your children:
• Superviseyourchildrenatalltimes,especiallyaroundfire,cookingandheating.
• Teachyourchildrenthatfireisatoolforadults touse,notatoy.
• Don’tletyourchildrenusefire–helpingwithlightingthefireorburningoffmakeschildrenthinkthattheycancontrolfire.
• Teachyourchildrenfactsaboutfiresafetyandtheconsequencesoffire.
Remove the temptation:
• Lockawaymatchesandlighters–justlikeyoulockawaymedicinesandotherdangeroushouseholdsubstances.
• Teachyourchildrentotellyouaboutanyunattendedmatchesorlighterstheyfindandrewardthemfortheirhonesty.
• Ifyouareasmoker,thinkaboutgivingup.Smokersaremorelikelytohavechildrenwholightfires.
Make your home fire safe:
• Leadbyexample–reducetheriskoffirebyusingfire,cooking,heatingandelectricitysafely.
• Haveworkingphotoelectricsmokealarmsinallbedrooms,hallwayandlivingareas.
• Makesureyourchildrenknowwhatanalarmsoundslikeandwhattodoifitgoesoff.Sleepingchildrenareunlikelytowaketoanalarmunlessit’sintheirroomandtheyhavebeentaughtwhatthesoundofthealarmmeans.
Make a plan to get your children out alive:
• Everybodyinthehouseshouldknowwhattodoifthereisafire–haveafamilyescapeplanandpracticeit.
www.tfseducation.com.au
11Home Fire Safety
• TeachyourchildrentoStop, Drop, Rock and Rollincasetheirclothescatchfire:
Stop–putyourhandsoveryourface.
Drop–gentlydroptotheground.
Rock and Roll–rockandrollbackandforthonthegrounduntilyourclothesstopburning.Thiswillsmothertheflameswhileprotectingyourface,mouthandlungsfromtheflames.
Cool a burn:
• Runcoldwateroveranyburnsforat least 20 minutes.
• Do not usebutter,iceorointmentstocoolburns,anddonotcoverburnswithcottonwool.
• Do not takeoffburntclothes.Burntclothesshouldonlyberemovedbymedicalstaff.Iftheburnislargerthana20cpieceseeadoctor.
Emergency numbers:
• Placealistofemergency numbersnearthetelephone.
• Gothroughthenumberswithyourchildrenassoonastheyareoldenoughtounderstand.
• Teachyourchildrentodialtriplezero‘000’inanemergency.
www.tfseducation.com.au
12 Home Fire Safety
Kitchen Fire Safety
Many house fires start in the kitchen and the majority of all kitchen fires begin from cooking that is left unattended on the stove.
1. Neverleavecookingunattended.Turn it off before you turn away!
2. Don’tletfatsandoilsbuilduparoundthestove,theycancatchfire.Heatoilcarefullyanddonotoverfillsaucepan.
3. Neverusewater,flourorsalttoputoutanoilorfatfireonthestove.
4. Usealidorfireblankettosmotherafireinapotorpan.
5. Nevertrytocarryaburningpotorpan.
6. Keeppothandlesturnedinwards.
7. Don’thangobjectsoverovendoorhandleseg.teatowels.
8. Storeflammablematerialsawayfromthestove.
9. Empty thecrumbsfrom yourtoasterregularly,andneverpositionthetoasternearcurtainsorblinds.
10. Wearclothingwithtightfittingsleeveswhencooking.
11. Leaveimmediatelyifyourhomecatchesfire.Stayoutanddialtriplezero‘000’forhelp.
Turn it off before you turn away.
13Home Fire Safety
Bedroom Fire Safety
Electric Blankets1. Leaveyourblanketonthebed,never foldfor
storageasitmaycausedamagetothewiring.
2. Makesureyourblanketisflat and tied firmlytothebed.
3. Never sleepwithyourelectricblanketturnedon.
4. Don’tleaveyourelectricblanketturnedonwhenyouarenotathome.
5. Runyourhandsovertheblanketregularlyandifyoufindany hot spotsturntheblanketoffandhaveitchecked.
6. Do notplaceheavyobjectsonyourelectricblanket.
General1. Don’tsmokeinbed.
2. Programtriplezero‘000’intoyourphoneinthebedroom.
3. Light globes are hot.Fitbedsidelampswithacompactfluorescentbulb.Don’tputmaterialoverthelamp.
Turn off your electric blanket.
14 Home Fire Safety
Heating Fire Safety
1. Don’tplaceclothingtooclosetoheaters–itshouldbeat least two metres(sixfeet)fromanysourceofheat.
2. Neverleaveclothesneartheheaterifleavingthehouseorgoingtobed.
3. Checkclothingregularyifdryingnearaheater.
4. Usefirescreensatalltimeswithopenfires.
5. Don’tsittooclosetotheheaters.
6. Cleanandmaintainchimneysandheaterfluesyearly.
7. Maintainheatersaccordingtomanufacturers’instructions.
8. Don’tleaveyourheaterdooropenorremovescreensonopenfires.
9. Becarefulwiththedisposal of ashesfromthehearthorwoodheater.Ashescantakeuptofivedaystocool.Alwaysplaceashesinametalcontainer.Disposeofasheswellclearofyourhomeandpourwateroverthem.
Two metres from the heater
15Home Fire Safety
Laundry/Electrical Safety
Laundry1. Cleandryerlintfiltersbeforeeveryuse.
2. Ventilatedryersadequately.
3. Allowdryerstocompletetheircooldowncycle.
4. Label flammableliquidsandpoisonsclearlyandkeepincorrectcontainers.
5. Storepoisonsandflammableliquidssafelyawayfromchildren.
Electrical1. Don’toverload power pointsorpowerboards.
2. Replacedamagedplugsandleads.
3. Usepowerboardswithoverloadprotection.
4. Neverhandleelectricalequipmentwithwethands.
5. Switch off and unplug applianceswhennotinuse.
6. Don’tusefaultyelectricalequipmentuntilithasbeenrepaired.
7. Don’tplaceextensionleadsundercarpetsorfurniture.
8. Install anearthleakagecircuitbreaker.
9. Checkelectricalwiringandswitchesregularly,especiallyinolderhomes.Thismustbedonebyanauthorisedtradesperson.
Further InformationForfurtherinformationonelectricalsafetycontact:
• OfficeofElectricalStandards&Safety, Ph:1300 366 322orvisitwww.wst.tas.gov.au• AuroraEnergy,Ph:13 2004orvistwww.auroraenergy.com.au
16 Home Fire Safety
Candles, Oil Burners and CigarettesCandles,oilburnersandcigarettescanallbedangerousfirehazards:
• Do notsmokeinbed.
• Dampencigarettebuttsbeforeputtingthemintherubbish.
• Useachild resistantlighter.
• Butt outinadeep-sidedashtrayormetalcontainerfilledwithsand.
• Store matches and lightersoutofchildren’ssightandoutoftheirreach.
• Make sureyourcandlesareonproperlydesignedcandleholders.
• Don’tgotosleepwhenacandleoroilburnerisalight.
• Do notputcandlesoroilburnersnearwindows;becareful,curtainscancatchfireeasily.
• Do notplacelightedcandleswheretheycanbeknockedoverbychildren,petsoranyoneelse.
• Keepcandlesout of the reachofchildrenandpets.
17Home Fire Safety
Emergency calls
Calltriplezero‘000’
• AskforFire,PoliceorAmbulance.
• Staycalm,don’tshout,speakslowlyandclearly.
• Whenaskedgivethe: State you live in, Street number, Street name, Suburb, Nearest cross street.
Inafire,get out, stay outandcalltriplezero‘000’fromamobileoraneighbour’sphone.
TTY usersDial106fromyourTTY(alsoknownasateletypewriterortextphone).The106emergencyrelayserviceprovidesaccesstofire,policeorambulanceservices.The106emergencyservicecannotbeaccessedbyanordinaryphoneorbytextmessage(SMS)onamobilephone.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, you can contact emergency services through the National Relay Service. Internet relay usersIfyouuseinternetrelay,youcanaskforTriple Zero (000).Yourcallwillbegivenpriorityoverotherinternetrelaycalls.Youwillbeaskedifyouwantpolice,
fireorambulance.
Speak and Listen users (forpeoplewithaspeechimpairmentonly)
ThereisaseparateemergencycallprocedureforSpeakandListencallerswhouseanordinaryphoneormobile,ratherthanaTTY.Dial1800 555 727andthenaskforTripleZero(000).Thesearetoll-freenumbers.CallstothisnumberaregivenpriorityoverotherNRScalls.Youwillbeaskedifyouwantpolice,fireorambulance.Therelayofficerwilldialthecorrectserviceandstayonthelinetohelpyou,ifnecessary,communicatewiththeemergencyservice.
Calls to 106 and 000 are FREE 24 hours a day, every day
18 Home Fire Safety
How prepared are you for a
YES NO
1. Doyouhavesmoke alarmsineachsleepingarea,hallway,livingareaandatthetopofstairways?
2. Doyoutest yoursmokealarms every month?
3. Doyoudust and vacuumyoursmokealarmseverysixmonths?
4. Doyoureplace the batteries annuallyorwhenthelowbatteryalarmactivates?Remember,ChangeYourClock,ChangeYourSmokeAlarmBatteryattheendofdaylightsavingsinApril.
5. Isyourhousenumbereasy to seesoemergencyvehiclescanfindyou?
6. Doyouhavetheemergencyphonenumbertriplezero‘000’keyedintoallyourphones?
7. Doeseveryoneknowhowto–‘CoverYourFaceandStop,Drop,RockandRoll’ifclothescatchfire?
8. Hasyourhouseholdmade and practisedahomefireescapeplan?
9. Haveyouplannedasafe meeting placeoutside?
10. Arethekeys kept in or near exitswithdeadlocksincaseyouneedtoescape?
11. Doyoualwayshaveelectricalrepairs,alterationsorrenovationsdonebyaqualified electrician?
12. Doyouavoidoverloadingpowerpoints?
13. Doyouswitch offapplianceswhennotinuse?
14. Areflammable liquidsstoredawayfromheaters,hotwaterservicepilotlightsandothernakedflames?
15. Isyourelectricblanketswitched offbeforeyougetintobed?
Answer these questions to find out
Home Fire Safety
house fire?
YES NO
16. Do you always use a fire screen with an open fire?
17. Do you keep clothing, furniture and curtains at least 2 metres away from heaters?
18. Are matches and cigarette lighters locked away from children?
19. Do you clean the lint filter of your clothes dryer after each load?
20. Does everyone know the cold water first aid treatment for burns?
Total number of ‘yes’ answers
What did you score? Every ‘Yes’ scores a point. 16 to 20: Well done. You are giving yourself the best chance of protecting your life, your family and your home from a house fire. Keep it up!
10 to 15: Not bad. But there are still several things you can do to decrease the likelihood of fire.
Less than 10: The potential for fire in your household is dangerously high. You need to be far more fire aware and act now to better protect your family and your home.
Possibly the most important plan you’ll ever make.Design your home fire escape plan to suit your home and talk about it with everybody in the house. If a child has been involved in planning and practising an escape plan they are more likely to get out alive in a house fire.
• Make a home fire escape plan and practise at least twice a year.
• Crawl low if caught in smoke.
• Use windows as an alternative means of escape if safe to do so.
• Cover broken glass with a blanket or doona.
• Once out, stay out at a safe meeting place outside your home (e.g. next to your letterbox).
The best fire escape plan is worthless if your escape route is blocked. While deadlocks and security grilles may deter thieves, they can be deadly in a fire. When you are in the house:
• Leave keys in any deadlock, or on a hook (preferably attached to a chain) close to the door or window, and out of reach of intruders.
• Make sure that window security grilles and screens open readily from the inside.
• Make sure that all windows and doors open easily for all members of your family.
• If you have visitors staying over for the first time, show them your esape plan so they know what to do in a fire emergency. Make sure they know where your Safe Meeting Place is located.
Detatch your plan and place on your fridge.
www.fire.tas.gov.au
Home Fire Safety
Our Fire Escape PlanPlan your exit from your home. Draw a plan using the grid below and mark in the exits you could use in a fire emergency. Remember to include two safe ways out of any sleeping areas to your Safe Meeting Place. See page 7 of this booklet for a sample plan. Some suggestions that may assist are printed overleaf.
Whilst the State Fire Commission has made every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in this booklet, the State Fire Commission does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to the viewer’s purpose, of the information contained in this booklet and those viewing it for whatever purpose are advised to verify its accuracy and to obtain appropriate professional advice.
The State Fire Commission, its officers, employees and agents do not accept any liability, however arising, including liability for negligence, for any loss or damage resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the information contained in this booklet.
© Copyright Tasmania Fire Service 2011
120862 V3/2012
for further information on your home fire safety needs Free-call 1800 000 699
or visit www.fire.tas.gov.au
www.tfseducation.com.au
