October is National Fire Prevention Month in Coachella Valley and has the theme of “Fire won’t wait. Plan your Escape.” It’s critically important to have a fire escape plan in place for your home in La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, and Rancho Mirage and surrounding communities for all family members – and practice it regularly.
According to National Fire Protection Association data, home — the place people feel safest from fire — is actually where they are at greatest risk, with three-quarters (74 percent) of all U.S. fire deaths occurring in homes. When a home fire does occur, it’s more likely to be serious; people are more likely to die in a home fire today than they were in 1980.
Unfortunately, homes recently built burn faster and hotter than they did decades past. In fact, you may only have two minutes to escape your home when a fire starts.
The following are key messages behind this year’s October is National Fire Prevention theme – “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape”:
- Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
- Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
- Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
- Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
- Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.
Older Adults are More at Risk
According to National Fire Protection Association data, making a home fire escape plan for yourself and/or the older adults in your household means making plans for your abilities and home environment:
- Remove clutter in the hallways, stairways, and near exits/windows for a clear, safe path out of your home.
- Keep your walker, scooter, cane, or wheelchair by your bed/where you sleep to make sure you can reach it quickly
- Keep your eyeglasses, mobile phone, and a flashlight by your bed/where you sleep to be able to reach them quickly in an emergency.
- If you cannot escape safely, keep your door shut, place a towel or blanket at the bottom of the door and stand near the window for fire service to reach you. Call 911 to let the fire department know you are inside the home.
- If you are deaf, hearing impaired, or have trouble hearing, install a bedside alert such as a bed shaker alarm that works with your smoke alarm to alert you of a fire. Strobe light alarms can be added to your smoke alarms for a visual alert.
- For people who are visually impaired or blind, the sound of the smoke alarm can become disorienting in an emergency. Practice the escape plan with the sound of the alarm to become familiar with, and practice with the extra noise.
- When looking for an apartment or high-rise home, look for one with an automatic sprinkler system
- For people with cognitive disabilities, work with their healthcare providers and local fire department to make a plan that works for their needs.