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The purpose of the information provided below is to help insure your safety by providing you with information that lets you know exactly what to do should an emergency situation occur.
Study each section thoroughly and relate the information provided with the layout, exits and safe locations within your home.
Precautions
Fire Prevention and Protection
Nothing is more devastating or deadly than a home fire. Too frequently, fires occur at night when a prompt
escape is delayed due to sleep. Obviously, the best way to protect you and your family from a fire is to prevent a fire. Here is a good
fire prevention checklist to use in your home:
- No open flames around oxygen delivery system
- No smoking in bed
- Fire extinguisher in the kitchen and in workshop
- Electrical system safe and not overloaded
- Stove area kept free of grease or other flammable materials
- Rubbish and flammable materials kept in covered metal cans until disposal
- Candles used for atmosphere or other purposes, carefully extinguished
- Gas or electric room heaters turned off before retiring
- Strike anywhere (kitchen) matches kept in a box or other container
- Woodwork, within 18 inches of a furnace, stove, or heater, protected by an insulating shield
- Stoves or heaters a safe distance from curtains or drapes
Smoke Detectors
Installation
The advent of the smoke detector ushered in a new level of fire protection for the home. Smoke detectors are simple
devices, that are easy to install, check, and maintain.
Install smoke detectors on ceilings or high on walls in two main areas; in any room, such as the kitchen, where a fire may originate, and secondly, in a hallway
preferably at the head of a stairway near enough to bedrooms to be heard.
Batery Checks
Check each smoke detector (usually by pressing a button) every six months to insure it is operational. If weakened or disabled, have
a friend or relative perform this check for you.
Should the detector commence intermittent beeps or provide other indications of a weak battery, replace the
battery immediately.
Escaping a fire
Guidelines
Escaping a home fire is not always easy, even for family members who are not weak or incapacitated. Many victims are
untouched by flames, but are choked by smoke or gases. The only way to be reasonably sure of escaping a fire is to have a
plan of escape.
The National Safety Council has established these guidelines, but naturally, you must develop your own escape plan
because every home situation is somewhat different.
- Draw a floor plan of your home. On the plan, lay out an escape route for each room on each floor.
Have alternate routes where possible, especially for bedrooms, should the planned escape route
be blocked by smoke or fire.
- Bedrooms of semi- or totally incapacitated individuals should have access to more than one exit route...a ground level window or easy access to that room from a roof.
- Devise a way to awaken other family members. A whistle by each bed is an excellent emergency alarm.
- Devise a plan to assist weak or disabled family members.
- Do not waste precious time gathering valuables or getting dressed. Simply get out!
- Keep bedroom doors closed at night to delay the spread of both flames and deadly smoke and gases.
- Test for fire by touching the door knob. If it is warm or hot, leave the door closed and escape using another route.
- If unable to exit room, stuff wet towels or clothing into door cracks. Stay near a slightly opened window.
In a room filled with smoke, cover nose and mouth with a damp towel and get as low to the floor as possible.
Violent Storms
In many parts of the country the threat of violent storms is present, at least during certain times of the year. Coastal
areas are faced with high winds and rain associated with hurricanes; tornados are widespread throughout much of the United States.
In the case of hurricanes, lengthly warnings are usually provided; tornados can strike rapidly with little or no warning.
Protection from severe storms usually means getting to a protective shelter, either in the basement or in some cases an external underground
structure. But finding adequate shelter in a relatively short period of time can be a new impossible task for the non- or semi-
ambulatory patient.
The following provides standard precautionary steps followed by special action the patient can take with or without assistance.
- Move in toward the center of the building away from both doors and windows.
- Turn on a portable radio (in case electricity is disrupted) to a station providing you emergency information.
- Provide yourself with a blanket and pillow if readily available.
- If time permits, draw a supply of drinking water, taking a container of water with you to your shelter location.
- Place a chair or move your wheelchair into a protective area such as a large closet.
- Find shelter, if necessary, under beds or heavy tables, again away from windows or doors.
- One alternative if a good protective area is not available: sit in a dry bathtub and get down low. (Not advisable with glass
shower doors.)
© HealthCom Services, Denver, Colorado.
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