From Your USFA

Smoke Alarms:  On-call 24/7 Only When Properly Maintained

Summertime means cookouts, vacations and family time, but as you are well aware, the risk of fire is always present and does not discriminate based on day, time, place, or person.  If conditions are right for a fire, it will happen.  Are residents in your community prepared with properly installed and maintained smoke alarms?

A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert, scanning the air for fire and smoke.
The USFA now recommends that every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with:

• both ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR
• dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.

Address the importance of having properly installed and working smoke alarms by including the website to USFA’s Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign in your newsletters, on your fire department’s website and at community meetings.  Ask residents to go to www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms (English) or www.usfa.dhs.gov/detectoresdehumo (Spanish).  Residents can read more information about smoke alarm installation and maintenance as well as find facts about residential fire sprinklers.

If your smoke alarm was installed before June 2000, it needs to be replaced.

An important part of maintaining a smoke alarm includes replacing it after 10 years of service.  It’s a fact: all hardwired or battery- operated smoke alarms, installed before June 2000 should be replaced now…June 2010!  Be sure to tell everyone you know that the few minutes it takes to replace a smoke alarm can save the lives of roommates, family members, neighbors and yes….the men and women of the Fire Service.

Does your fire department or company have a website? The USFA invites you to add this free  smoke alarm installation widget to your website. The widget is a convenient, automatic and effortless way to remind your audience to change smoke alarms that are older than 10-years-old.  Go to www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/smokealarms/widget.shtm to download the widget.  Once you’ve added the widget to your website, please send a quick e-mail listing the website that is displaying the widget to quickresponse@hagersharp.com.

USFA Focus on Fire Safety: Fireworks

Every year in the United States, we celebrate the Fourth of July with community parades, picnics, barbecues, and fireworks - the things of which happy memories are made. But sadly, Independence Day also includes tragic events resulting from the use of fireworks. The safest way to enjoy them is through public displays conducted by professional pyrotechnicians hired by communities. Learning fireworks safety tips can help ensure that everyone has a happy and safe summer holiday.

By the Numbers: Fireworks

• 30,100 Estimated number of fires caused by fireworks each year
• 7,000 Estimated number of injuries caused by fireworks in 2008
• 7 Fireworks-related deaths occurred in 2008
• $34 million Amount of direct property loss caused by fireworks

Sources: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Who is at Most Risk?

In 2008, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 7,000 people for fireworks-related injuries. Seventy percent (70%) of these injuries occurred between June 20 - July 20. Of these:

• 46% of injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head.
• 56% were burns, while 21% were contusions and lacerations.
• Two of 5 people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15.
• 62% of injuries were to males; 38% were to females.
• Devices such as sparklers, fountains, roman candles, and novelties accounted for 40% of injuries; firecrackers caused 18% of injuries.

How and Why Do These Injuries Occur?

• Availability: In spite of federal regulations and varying state prohibitions, many types of fireworks are still accessible to the public. Distributors often sell fireworks near state borders, where laws prohibiting sales on either side of the border may differ.
• Fireworks type: Among the various types of fireworks, some of which are sold legally in some states, bottle rockets can fly into peoples' faces and cause eye injuries; sparklers can ignite clothing (sparklers burn at more than 1,000°F); and firecrackers can injure the hands or face if they explode at close range.
• Being too close: Injuries may result from being too close to fireworks when they explode; for example, when someone leans over to look more closely at a firework that has been ignited, or when a misguided bottle rocket hits a nearby person.
• Lack of physical coordination: Younger children often lack the physical coordination to handle fireworks safely.
• Curiosity: Children are often excited and curious around fireworks, which can increase their chances of being injured (for example, when they re-examine a firecracker dud that initially fails to ignite).
• Experimentation: Homemade fireworks (for example, ones made of the powder from several firecrackers) can lead to dangerous and unpredictable explosions.

What Can I Do?

• The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home — period. Attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals.
• Kids should never play with fireworks. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot enough to melt gold.
• Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.
• Don't allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
• Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they'll run loose or get injured.

For more information go to: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/focus/fireworks.shtm