Live Safe Foundation » Fire Prevention Week

Smoke Alarms: Up, Down and All Around

Guest — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:16:42 +0000

Smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. Statistics show that smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire nearly in half, but only if they are working properly.

Data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicates that many installed smoke detectors aren’t working, usually because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from fires with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Working smoke alarms should be used in every home, on every level (including the basement), outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. And, if a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it should be replaced. In addition, the right type of smoke alarm should be used. Which is the right type?

Find out at the upcoming Fire Prevention Week Open House, on October 3rd, 2010, in Dublin, Ohio. Fire Marshal Alan Perkins will be offering presentations at Station 92 (4497 Hard Road) to demonstrate how the two main smoke alarms types work and under what conditions they are most likely to be activated, so you are made aware of the deadly smoke or fire before it overcomes you.

Having a working smoke alarm in your home is not a guarantee that it will sound. I can show you why and how to increase the likelihood of it responding. In addition to smoke alarm presentations, our open house event will feature several family-oriented activities and demonstrations at each of our four fire stations.

So join us in celebrating this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme: “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With,” by learning more about smoke alarms and fire safety on October 3rd from 1-4 p.m.

Keep your smoke alarms working by:

•   Testing them at least once a month using the test button, and making sure everyone in your home knows their sound.
•   Replacing the battery immediately if you hear it “chirping,” an indicator that the battery is low.
•   Replacing them when they are 10 years old or sooner (if they don’t respond properly when tested). This includes hard-wired alarms also.
•   Never removing or disabling them.

Article Credits: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, is a 32-year veteran of the fire service. A Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the National Fire Protection Association and a member of several similar safety organizations. Perkins is the Fire Marshal for the Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

Join Washington Township Fire Department this weekend for an Open House & Fish with a Firefighter!

Guest — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:29:55 +0000

Join Washington Township Fire Department this weekend for an Open House!

In addition, Washington Township Fire Department welcomes you to their fall open house. Be sure to stop by the station nearest you from 1 to 4 p.m. For complete details visit http://www.wtwp.com/fire/.

Or enroll in “Fish With a Firefighter”, Sunday, Oct. 10 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. Youth ages 7 11 can learn fishing basics under the expertise and guidance of W.T.F.D. staff. Register for program #424200.01. Participants must bring pole, line and hook, bait is provided.

•   Wear   full   firefighter   protective   gear   and   fight   a   live   fire;
•   Climb   our   100-foot   ladder   truck;
•   Practice   using   a   fire   extinguisher;
•   Use   the   “jaws   of   life”   and   other   tools   in   a   mock   auto   extrication;
•   Rappel   off   the   third   story   of   our   fire   training   tower.

To register, call 614-652-3920 by October 13, 2010. This program is offered at no charge to those who reside or work in Washington Township or Dublin, Ohio. Must be at least 18 years old to participate.

Saturday October 16
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Held at the Washington Township Fire Training Center
6200 Eiterman Road, Dublin, Ohio

Be sure to check out the Fire Department’s new YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/WashingtonTwpOhio.

Fire Prevention Week 2010: “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!”

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:27:04 +0000

Plan now for Fire Prevention Week!

This year’s official theme for Fire Prevention Week (FPW), was just announced by the NFPA: “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!”, held this coming October 3-9, 2010.

This year’s campaign is designed to educate people about the importance of smoke alarms and encourages everyone to take the steps necessary to update and maintain their home smoke alarm protection.

Fire service: All the materials you need for your campaign

Teachers: Lesson plans and letters to send home

Kids and families: Learning about fire safety can be fun

Article Credits: www.nfpa.org

Be sure to follow the Live Safe Foundation for the latest on local events related to fire safety. Live Safe is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

SFPE provides boost to OSU Burn Center at Charity Golf Outing

Jill — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:40:13 +0000

Fires consumes millions of dollars of property each year in the United States. These fires kill more than 5,000 people with 1,100 of them being children. Countless numbers, including firefighters, are injured in fires and struggle with painful burn injuries. The saddest fact of all is that it can be prevented by installing early warning devices (such as smoke detectors) and automatic fire suppression systems.

Fire Protection industry supporters (OSU Medical Center Burn Center and Central Ohio Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers), have come together to educate the public as to the extensive damage fire causes and how they can be a part of the solution to the problem by requiring properly designed automatic fire suppression systems not only where they work, but where they live, play, shop, go to school and worship. Together we are making things happen!

Through the support of the SFPE COC community, The Ohio State University Medical Center’s Burn Center received a major boost through their annual charity golf event on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at The Lakes Golf and Country Club. Since 1998 (traditionally kicked off during Fire Prevention Week) the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and its members have generously contributed $212,500 to the Burn Center at Ohio State University Medical Center. These funds have allowed the Ohio State Burn Center to continue to be actively involved in providing education on burn prevention and fire safety both to the community and the students on campus, as well as helping patients obtain special items or assistance such as compression garments which are not covered under insurance. The fund also provides direct support and assistance to patients, their families and advanced education to burn care nurses.

As a member of the SFPE planning Board, Live Safe Foundation Founder, Jill Marcinick, volunteered and assisted in event planning for the 20th Annual SFPE/OSU Burn Center Golf Outing. The event featured over 120 participants, all supporting the OSU Burn Center. Participants enjoyed a beautiful Autumn day on the golf course along with OSU Alumni President and 2 time Heisman Trophy Winner Archie Griffin who participated in the event. Archie Griffin attended the event to help support the cause and raise awareness for the OSU Burn Center.

SFPE Golf participant & Archie Griffin

Post golf festivities included a terrific Silent Auction, Raffle, Course Games, and a Check Ceremony providing a $20,000 check to Dr. Sidney Miller of the OSU Burn Center. A highlight of the evening was a heartfelt testimony from Guest Keynote Speaker, Firefighter Pat Malone, who shared his story of recovery from a tragic burn incident resulting from a Flashover that occurred last October 31, 2008. He expressed his sincere appreciation for the excellent care and therapy he received from the team of doctors at the OSU Burn Center.

Funds raised from the event are allocated to enhance education and prevention programs, as well as patient care.

Education:

Community Outreach provides Burn and Fire Prevention programs at Fire Stations and schools.
On-Campus Community Outreach activities provide education and literature to students as they arrive or return to campus.
Ohio State’s Burn Center also participates in Burn Prevention Week, Fire Prevention Week and Homecoming activities to increase awareness of fire safety and prevention on-campus.
Provider Education is conducted through programs such as ABLS education to burn care givers, the Fire Fighter for a Day program, as well as, providing education to staff through conferences and seminars.

Patient Care:

Burn Discharge Dressing Kits have been provided to patients being discharged from care and are able to maintain care for their wounds at home.
Buckeye Burn Support Group provides professional support and guidance to burn survivors and their families to help survivors resume functional, productive lives.
Special items such as pressure garments, wigs, and equipment are purchased for patients who are otherwise unable to obtain these items.
Additional assistance is provided to help patients with special needs in obtaining housing and clothing.

Fire sprinklers and extinguishers can make a difference, and you can too. Let’s fight this burning issue together!

For more information contact SFPE Member: Jill Marcinick, Founder of Live Safe. (If you have additional questions regarding Ohio State’s Burn Center education and programs, please contact Chris Casavant (OSU Burn Program Manager) at (614) 336-8374.)