GBA 2023 - Spring Update

SAFETY

Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.

By Andrew Hurlbut, Chair, Boating, Safety, and Emergencies Committee

L ast year, 133 Ontarians died in house fires. That’s a number not seen in more than two decades. Ontario hovered between 75 and 100 fire fatalities from 2010 to 2019, but saw those numbers increase to 115 fire fatalities in 2020, to 133 in 2022. "The number-one problem I think is complacency. Too many people assume it won’t happen to them, but it does," says Perth Fire Prevention Officer, James Marshall. In Canada, house fires are most likely to occur between December and March when heating equipment like portable space heaters are the leading cause of home fires. Most home fires happen when an open flame or heat source are left unsupervised, most commonly when people leave a hot stove or burning

Have a Plan. The key to staying safe is having`an emergency plan in place. Make sure everyone knows and practices your evacuation plan. The more household members you involve in making the plan, the better everyone will understand and remember it so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds – especially kids. And make sure you have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them!

Prevent Fires: ≥`Keep flammable items at least one metre from heat sources such as space heaters, fireplaces, and the stove. ≥`Never smoke in bed. ≥`Never leave candles unattended.` ≥`Stay in the kitchen when using the stove top. If you must leave the room, turn off the stove. ≥`Talk to children about the dangers of fire and keep lighters and matches out of reach. ≥`Clean chimneys annually. In Case of Fire: ≥`Get out and STAY OUT – never return to a burning building. ≥`In a room filled with flames, the temperature at eye-level can be dangerously hot, which is why it’s so important to stay at floor level. ≥`Learn fire safety techniques and teach them to your family regularly. ≥`Make sure everyone is familiar with the technique “STOP, DROP, AND ROLL” in case clothing catches on fire.

Fire escape planning ≥`Making the plan:

bit.ly/NFPA_Fire_escape ≥`Get kids to help with the plan: bit.ly/NFPA_Fireminute ≥`The science of fire for kids: bit.ly/NFPA_ScienceFire

candles unattended or fail to put out a cigarette. In as little as 30 seconds, a small flame can grow into a dangerous fire, filling an entire home with black smoke and large flames within minutes. This past fall, the National Fire Protection Association’s campaign for Fire Prevention Week was “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.” This simple yet effective theme works to underline important actions you can take to keep you and those around you safe from home fires. Act Fast. Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning. Everyone is at risk in a fire, making it important for every member of your family to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

Use Smoke Alarms and Fire Extinguishers. Smoke alarms sense smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger. Smoke alarms need to be in every bedroom, outside of the sleeping areas (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of your home. For the best protection, use combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are interconnected throughout the home so you can hear the alarm no matter where the alarm originates. Test alarms every month and replace batteries twice a year, at daylight savings time (March and November).`Replace the devices as per manufacturer's instructions – usually at 10 years.` Make sure everyone knows where the fire extinguishers are kept and how to properly use them. Check the manufacturer information to ensure they are not out of date.

This article is intended for general information purposes only. For advice regarding your insurance needs or liability insurance coverage, please contact your insurance broker. While we have attempted to provide information that is helpful for our readers, GBA accepts no legal liability for the contents of this article. Ensure you check original sources of information on fire prevention and response for further details and updates. Check details of the general liability provisions of your insurance coverage if you are involved in providing or supporting firefighting equipment, planning or advice.

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GBA UPDATE Spring 2023

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