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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUBI 2012 SEPT— Keeping Your Community Safe with Home Fire Escape Drills — NFPA • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 • www.nfpa.org/education Talking Points Use these talking points as a guide to help you stay on message when talking with local media outlets and making presentations tocommunity groups.It’s too late to start developing a home fire escape plan when fire strikes. Everyone in the home needs to be prepared in advance, so that they can snap into action when the smoke alarm sounds.Smoke alarms provide the minutes needed to escape a fire safely. Home fire escape planning and practice ensure that everyone knows how to use that time effectively. A home escape plan includes: • two exits from every room in the home (usually a door and a window); According to an NFPA survey: • one of every three American households (32%) have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. • one-third thought they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. In reality, the time available is often less. • only 8% of U.S. households said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out. • properly installed, working smoke alarms throughout the home; • a meeting place outside in front of the home where everyone will meet immediately upon exiting; and • the local emergency phone number, or 911.All exits should be unblocked and open easily.Security bars on windows should have quick release devices, which unlock the bars from inside the home, and allow access to the window. Home fire escape plans should be practiced regularly, at least twice a year. Get out and stay out! Never go back in a burning building to save someone or retrieve other items. If a person or pet is trapped inside, alert the fire department immediately. Fire spreads rapidly. In some instances, you and your household may have as little as two minutes from the time the smoke alarm sounds to escape safely. Talking Pointshome fire escape planning and drills are basic, but essential elements of fire safety. — Keeping Your Community Safe with Home Fire Escape Drills — NFPA • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 • www.nfpa.org/education Talking Points Use these talking points as a guide to help you stay on message when talking with local media outlets and making presentations tocommunity groups.It’s too late to start developing a home fire escape plan when fire strikes. Everyone in the home needs to be prepared in advance, so that they can snap into action when the smoke alarm sounds.Smoke alarms provide the minutes needed to escape a fire safely. Home fire escape planning and practice ensure that everyone knows how to use that time effectively. A home escape plan includes: • two exits from every room in the home (usually a door and a window); According to an NFPA survey: • one of every three American households (32%) have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. • one-third thought they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. In reality, the time available is often less. • only 8% of U.S. households said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out. • properly installed, working smoke alarms throughout the home; • a meeting place outside in front of the home where everyone will meet immediately upon exiting; and • the local emergency phone number, or 911.All exits should be unblocked and open easily.Security bars on windows should have quick release devices, which unlock the bars from inside the home, and allow access to the window. Home fire escape plans should be practiced regularly, at least twice a year. Get out and stay out! Never go back in a burning building to save someone or retrieve other items. If a person or pet is trapped inside, alert the fire department immediately. Fire spreads rapidly. In some instances, you and your household may have as little as two minutes from the time the smoke alarm sounds to escape safely. Talking Pointshome fire escape planning and drills are basic, but essential elements of fire safety. CITY OF COLLEGE STATION College Station Fire Department recommends the following when developing your family’s escape plan in the event of an emergency: • Be sure to have a working smoke alarm on every level in your home and inside every bedroom. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month. • Create an escape plan. Make a map of your home and mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room. If possible, know at least two ways out of every room. • Have an outside meeting place, at a safe distance from your home, where everyone in the family should meet once they escape. • Sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan with everyone living in your home at least twice a year. Practice using different ways out. • Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them. To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and tips, contact College Station Fire Department at 979-764-3712 or visit firepreventionweek.org. Inside College Station * * * * * * * City of College Station * Home of Texas A&M University® * College Station, Texas * * * * * * * I f you woke up to a house fire, how much time do you think it would take for you to escape? According to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one-third of American households estimate that it would take at least six minutes for a fire to become life threatening. The reality is that any home could be engulfed in smoke and flames in just a few minutes. In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths and $6.9 billion in direct damage. Almost 62 percent of reported home fire deaths resulted from homes with no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms. That’s why the College Station Fire Department is teaming up with NFPA for Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7-13, to urge residents to have two ways out. This year’s theme focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice. Fire is unpredictable and moves faster than most people realize. Having a tried and true escape plan with two ways out is essential to ensuring your family’s safety should a fire break out in your home. September 2012 QUICK LINKS >>> FIRE PREVENTION TIPS firepreventionweek.org FIRE DEPARTMENT INFO cstx.gov/fire NFPA Public Education Division • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 www.nfpa.org/education Your Source for SAFETY Information • According to an NFPA survey, only one of every three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. • While 71% of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, only 45% of those have practiced it. • One-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out! FACTS EscapeEscape Plan Ahead! If a fire breaks out in your home, you may have only a few minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Everyone needs to know what to do and where to go if there is a fire. SAFETY TIPS KKK MAKE a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.KKK KNoW at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily. KKK HAvE an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.KKK PrAcTicE your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.KKK PrAcTicE using different ways out.KKK TEAcH children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.KKK closE doors behind you as you leave. IF THE ALARM SOUNDS... KKK if the smoke alarm sounds, gET ouT AND sTAy ouT. Never go back inside for people or pets.KKK if you have to escape through smoke, gET loW AND go under the smoke to your way out. KKK cAll the fire department from outside your home. ! ! PlanningPlanning WINDOW WINDOW WINDOW W I NDO W WIN D O W WI N D OW WI N D OW WIN D O W WINDOW DOOR MeetingPlace DOOR WINDOW ! NFPA Public Education Division • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 www.nfpa.org/education Your Source for SAFETY Information • According to an NFPA survey, only one of every three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. • While 71% of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, only 45% of those have practiced it. • One-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out!FACTSEscapeEscapePlan Ahead! If a fire breaks out in your home, you may have only a few minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Everyone needs to know what to do and where to go if there is a fire.SAFETY TIPS KKK MAKE a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.KKK KNoW at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.KKK HAvE an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.KKK PrAcTicE your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.KKK PrAcTicE using different ways out.KKK TEAcH children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.KKK closE doors behind you as you leave.IF THE ALARM SOUNDS... KKK if the smoke alarm sounds, gET ouT AND sTAy ouT. Never go back inside for people or pets. KKK if you have to escape through smoke, gET loW AND go under the smoke to your way out. KKK cAll the fire department from outside your home. !!PlanningPlanning W IN D O W WI N D O W WI N D O W W I N D O W W I N D O W W I N D O W W I N D O W W I N D O W W I ND O W D O O R Meeting Place D OO R W I ND O W ! Images by:National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169www.nfpa.org/education Have Two Ways Out! Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7-13 NOW AVAILABLE Parks & Recreation Fall Guide cstx.gov/parks and Lick Creek Wastewater Treatment Plants. Each of these plants is designed to remove organic matter, trash and disease- causing microorganisms before the treated wastewater is safely discharged into the environment to be used over and over again. All water leaving College Station’s wastewater treatment facilities meets regulations set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There are no holidays for the wastewater treatment. College Station wastewater treatment plants operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to meet clean water standards on a continuous basis. Wastewater rates fund ongoing operation and maintenance of the system, as well as debt service and capital costs to expand, upgrade or replace parts of the wastewater system. Wastewater treatment is a complex process, and adequate funding is vital to maintaining the network of infrastructure that collects and treats wastewater while preserving our environment. For more information, visit cstx.gov/water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Warrant Amnesty & Roundup Oct. 15 - Nov. 9 Got a warrant? Be sure to pay it off during the warrant amnesty period that is scheduled for Oct. 15-26. Warrant Amnesty allows citizens with outstanding warrants to avoid paying the $50 per case warrant fee if fines are paid in full. Those who do not pay their fines will be arrested during the warrant roundup, Oct. 29-Nov. 9. To determine if you have an unpaid citation, visit cstx.gov/warrants. For more information, call 979.764.3683. CITY OF COLLEGE STATION Crime Prevention Month National Night Out, Oct. 2 Join the College Station Police Department and other Brazos County law enforcement agencies in recognizing October as Crime Prevention Month. In particular, mark your calendars for Crime Prevention Month’s premiere event called National Night Out on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 2. The goal of National Night Out is to heighten awareness of crime prevention, to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. It should also send a message to criminals that the neighborhoods are organized and fighting back against crime. All residents are encouraged to step outside to mingle with their neighbors and to visit with local law enforcement officers, who will be stopping at neighborhood block parties throughout the evening. If you are interested in organizing a neighborhood block party, contact Sgt. Calder Lively at clively@cstx.gov or 979.764.3624. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Where Does the Water Go? Wastewater Treatment We often take for granted that clean, safe drinking water always flows from the faucet, and the toilet always flushes away used water. Do you know where your water goes after you flush the toilet or empty the sink, and how it safely finds its way back into the environment? Wastewater drains into College Station’s sanitary sewer system, a network of lift stations, manholes and over 300 miles of pipe that leads to the Carter Creek Inside College Station September 2012 {PAGE 2} events coming in October Oct. 9 – Last day to register to vote for the Nov. 6 election cstx.gov/elections Oct. 11 & 25 – City Council Meetings | Workshop at 6 p.m. & Regular at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 – SENIOR FALL FEST 4-7 p.m. | American Pavilion in Veterans Park R.S.V.P. 979.764.6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov Oct. 17 – EXPLORING HISTORY LUNCH LECTURE Hidden Treasures of Cushing Library by Dr. Mary Manning Aldersgate United Methodist Church | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. $5 per person | RSVP by Oct. 12 | call 979.764.6351 or email kkelbly@cstx.gov Oct. 25 – LRC’s ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL | 5:30–8 p.m. cstx.gov/lincolncenter Oct. 27 - WIENER FEST at Wolf Pen Creek brazosanimalshelter.org/ wienerfest.html eBill sign up for electronic utility bills Receive a paperless bill in your email account. Learn more at cstx.gov/ebill.