Bulletins

Fire Prevention 1999 Tips

October 9^th marks the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire (in 1871) that killed 250 people, destroyed over 17,000 structures, burned 2124 acres and left 98,500 people homeless. Below are Fire Safety Tips for both work and home. Take some time to reflect, review - and be safe!

Plan Ahead

Know the exit routes from your office, floor, and building. Study these in advance. It is easy to get disoriented during an actual emergency.

Know the location of fire extinguishers and how to use them. Read the directions before an emergency. Report missing extinguishers to the MATC Safety Office immediately.

Make sure that emergency numbers are posted on your telephone. If these numbers are not posted on your phone, contact the Safety Office.

Did You Know...?

Every 55 seconds there is a home fire (more than 1,500 each day).

Most people experience two kitchen fire in their lifetime.

Most deaths associated with fires are caused by smoke inhalation, not fire.

12,000 Americans die every year due to fire and smoke.

Most fire fatalities occur at night.

DO'S and DON'TS

DO

Report a fire--don't assume someone else will call.

Close doors--they will slow the spread of fire.

Use stairs to vacate the building. Assemble outside away from the building.

Plan ahead by knowing where the nearest exits, extinguishers, fire pull stations and phones are.

DON'T

Use elevators—elevators can be very dangerous in a fire, even when they appear safe. Always use the stairs instead of an elevator.

Arbitrarily break windows—falling glass is a serious threat to both pedestrians and fire fighting personnel.

Exit until you have felt the top of the exit door and the door knob. If either are hot, or if excessive smoke prevents your exit, keep the door closed. Fire of the other side will blast through the slightest opening with tremendous force.

Go back for any things if you are ordered to leave.

Congregate in stairways—keep to the right and keep moving toward an exit. Always move down and out.

Overload electrical outlets – electric adapters used to obtain more outlets can overload the circuit and cause fires. (This is why extension cords are not permitted.)

Panic--remain calm. Help is on the way

Surviving a Fire

Crawl if there is smoke. Cleaner and cooler air is near the floor.

Feel doors before opening. If the door feels hot, do NOT open it. If it is cool, slowly crack the door to see if there is smoke or fire.

Go to the nearest exit. Never use an elevator.

Close the door as you leave to help confine the fire.

Only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is small and you know how to use it safely. Make sure the Fire Department is notified - even if you think the fire is out.

If trapped in a room

Place cloth material around or under door to prevent smoke from entering.
Retreat and close as many doors as possible between you and the fire.
Be prepared to signal from window but do not break glass unless absolutely necessary (outside smoke may be drawn in).

If clothing catches fire

Stop...Drop...and Roll. This will smother the fire on your clothing. Apply cool tap water on burns immediately.

What goes into maintaining a fire safe building?

Thanks to the Facilities Maintenance Department staff:

District fire extinguishers are visibly checked monthly (with annual, six year internal, and 12 year hydro inspections).

The sprinkler system is inspected at monthly, quarterly and annual intervals.

The smoke detectors are tested and cleaned on a semi-annual schedule; tamper valves are tested; pressure valves are checked and fire alarms systems are tested weekly or monthly.

Just to mention a few! Thank you Maintenance Staff!

Now take a minute to think -

Where are fire extinguishers at home?

Do you know how to use one, immediately (without reading the instructions)?

Would the extinguisher work? Do you know how often they should be inspected?

What about smoke alarms? Have they been tested recently? Would they work?

Here is a Home Safety Checklist^*you can use to help ensure your home is fire safe.

Smoke Detectors:

Have at least one detector per floor of the house. (Additional detectors increase your chance of early detection – Some recommend one detector in each bedroom, hallway and heavily occupied areas.)

Test each detector MONTHLY. (A smoke detector is the best early fire detection device to the average homeowner. How many times have we heard of tragedies when smoke alarms were found inoperable?)

Replace the battery at least once a year on a schedule (like every Christmas or New Years).

Dust and vacuum smoke detectors at least twice a year to keep them dust-free.

NEVER disable the detector (I did this once because of burned toast then days later I realized I forgot to enable it).

Know what to do after a detector sounds off.

Fire Extinguishers:

Have a multipurpose ABC fire extinguisher on each level of your home.

Keep them serviced and ready to use.

Visually inspect them monthly to check for service needs.

Know the locations and know how to operate them properly.

Emergencies:

Establish escape routes for each room (two routes, if possible) and a meeting place outside.

PRACTICE fire drills with all members of the family.

Make sure family members know how to escape by crawling low in smoke and to STOP, DROP & ROLL should their clothing catch on fire.

Keep emergency numbers clearly posted near all telephone.

Make sure your home address is clearly marked. (Remember that the emergency may be yours. Letters should be at least 4” tall near the front entrance or easily visible location from the street.)

Hazard Prevention:

Inspect and clean chimneys and flues regularly.

Have your heating equipment checked yearly by service personnel.

Keep burnable materials away from heat sources such as stoves, furnaces, chimneys, water heaters, radiators, etc.

Gasoline and other flammable liquids should be stored in safety cans (not makeshift containers).

Never overload circuits and make sure all appliances carry the seal of a testing laboratory (e.g., Underwriters’ Laboratory).

Fire Extinguisher Use

Fire extinguishers can be used on small (waste-basket-size) fires and only if it is safe to do so.
Be sure you are using the proper extinguisher for the type of fire you are fighting.
Read extinguisher instructions - do so now, prior to needing to use one.
Locate the closest fire extinguisher for your location (work/home)
Remember PASS:

P - Pull safety pin from handle

A - Aim (nozzle, cone, horn) at base of fire

S - Squeeze the trigger handle.

S - Sweep from side to side (watch for re-flash).

You might think a fire extinguisher is any easy thing to use. Looks easy. But, unless you use one, feel the weight of all the chemical inside, feel the pressure of the flames burning that you are suppose to be putting out, and yes, the pressure of others that are watching (like in class)…you can't be sure. And you don't want to take that chance.

I have experienced first hand that under stress, a fire can quickly get out of hand unless a confident, quick response is given. If you have a chance, take an opportunity to review your skills at the fire extinguisher training.

^* More info on Work/Home Safety is available by contacting the District Environmental Health and Safety Office (608)246-6291 or environmentalhealth&safety@matcmadison.edu.

If you have any questions or training needs, contact the Environmental Health & Safety Office at (608) 246-6291 or via email


	Home \| A-Z Index \| About MATC \| Campuses \| Calendar of Events \| Directories \| Libraries \| Search Courses Madison Area Technical College, 3550 Anderson Street, Madison, WI 53704 - (608) 246-6100 or (800) 322-6282, Fax (608) 246-6880. Deaf/hard of hearing, please call through relay at 711. Emergency & Building Closing Hotline - (608) 246-6606.