This week is fire prevention week!

Tomorrow, members of the Goodwill Fire Company will be going to Centreville Elementary School to teach the Pre-K - 2nd graders what to do to prevent fires and also, what to do when one does occur. The learning doesnt end at school though! When the students get home, go over safety and prevention with them; it could save lives. Here are a few topics to get started.

-Do not play with matches or lighters.
-Do not attempt to cook without adult supervision.
-Be careful of hot pots and pans already cooking.
-Do not overload an electric outlet. Use a surge protector.
-Smoking in the house is dangerous and is a frequent cause of fires.

Before a fire ever occurs, it is important to have a fire safety plan for the whole family. This includes exit routes(including windows if the fire blocks the way to any door), a spot to meet when you get out(usually a neighbors house or a mailbox or tree). Having a meeting place allows you to account for everyone in the house and will let the fire department know that someone is missing or everyone is out. Have fire drills. There is a reason schools hold fire drills; so that the kids have done it before and know what to do in the event of a real fire.

What to do if there is a fire:
-Call 9-1-1!!
-Stop, Drop and Roll for clothes on fire.
-Stay Low and Go!(Heat rises so crawl as low to the ground as you can to get outside or to a safe area and shut the door)
-Confine the fire by shutting any doors possible between the fire and your exits. Closing a door gives you time and significantly slows fire spread to that area. This could be the difference between making it out or not.
-Do not attempt to put it out as you could be overcome by smoke and do not go back inside after you made it out.
-If you live in an apartment complex, there should be a pull station near all exits. Activate one to notify the rest of the building.
-One smoke detector per floor at least. The more the better.
-If you haven’t already, upgrade your smoke detectors to the 10 Year Sealed battery style smoke detector.(This is actually a state law)

These are just a few tips and teaching points to prevent fires and what to do in the event of one. If you have any questions comment here or give us a call!
Be safe and happy Fire Prevention week!