Parade kicks off Annual National Fire Prevention Week campaign

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jamie L. Coggan
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Davis-Monthan Fire and Emergency Services Flight hosted its second annual "Fire Prevention Week" parade here Oct. 3, featuring a variety of different fire trucks, to kick off the annual national fire prevention week campaign.

Fire prevention week runs from Oct. 4 to Oct. 10 and is designated by presidential proclamation annually. The Davis-Monthan Fire Department uses fire prevention week to host local activities and events to educate the public and raise awareness of fire safety issues.

The theme for this year's fire prevention week is "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned." During this year's campaign, firefighters and safety advocates spread the word about the dangers associated with home fires.

Fire prevention week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. For 86 years, fire departments have observed it, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments responded to nearly 414,000 home fires in 2007, resulting in 2,865 civilian deaths, 14,000 civilian injuries and $7.5 billion in direct damage.

"The goal of the Davis-Monthan Fire Department is to help local residents focus on fire and life safety issues in the home by educating residents in how to identify and correct fire hazards where we live," said Raymond LeClair, assistant chief of fire prevention. "This year's fire prevention week theme focuses on simple steps people can take to keep their homes fire safe from the leading causes of fires, injuries, and deaths, and also provide vital burn prevention advice. Fire safety is more than education -- it's an attitude which could save the lives of your families."
(Sidebar) Is your home fire and injury safe?
Although it is difficult to prepare for the unexpected, reviewing the information below and following the recommended actions can help save lives. 

Don't Get Burned
· Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over.
· Have a three-foot "kid-free" zone around the stove.
· Never hold a child while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
· Be careful when using things that get hot such as curling irons, oven, irons, lamps, heaters. 

Just Right
· To avoid scalds, set water heater thermostats to no higher than 120 degrees.
· Remember that the skin of young children and older adults burns more easily.
· Test the water before placing a child or yourself in the tub.
· Never leave young children alone in the tub, shower or near a sink.
Cool a Burn
· Treat a burn right away. Put it in cool water for three to five minutes. Cover with a clean, dry cloth.
· If the burn is bigger than a fist or if there are any questions, get medical help right away.
· Remove all clothing, diapers, jewelry and metal from the burned areas. 

Cooking with Caution
· The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
· When cooking, simmering, boiling, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer.
· When leaving the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
· If young children are home, use the stove's back burners whenever possible.
· Open microwaveable food slowly. Hot steam from the container can cause burns. 

The Heat is On
· Use a fireplace screen to keep sparks inside the fireplace.
· Have chimneys cleaned and inspected before each heating season.
· Turn portable space heaters off before going to bed or leave the room.
· Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding, or furniture, at least three feet from heaters.
· Make sure portable space heaters have an auto shut-off so if it is tipped over, it will shut off. 

Stay Grounded
· Keep lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs away from anything that can burn, such as lamp shades, bedding, curtains, and clothing.
· Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords.
· Use extension cords for temporary wiring only. Consider having additional circuits or receptacles added by a qualified electrician.
· If young children are home, use tamper-resistant electrical receptacles. 

Fire-Safety Basics
· Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
· Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
· Make sure everyone can hear the sound of the smoke alarms.
· Have a home fire escape plan. Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible, and a meeting place outside. Practice the escape plan twice a year.
· When the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out.

"We often hear from residents who have experienced a fire in their home, or where a serious injury occurred, and in most cases it could have all be prevented" said Mr. LeClair. "With our busy lives, the safety of our homes and families are sometimes relegated to the back of our minds - an afterthought as we hop in the car to start the day. We hope that fire prevention week will prompt the members of the Davis-Monthan community to prevent home fires and injuries to family members."

This year's D-M fire prevention week events are: 

- Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Davis-Monthan Fire Department fire truck static display at the base Commissary. Blood pressure checks, public information, and fire extinguisher demonstrations.

- Oct.6 from 9 to 11 a.m. Firefighter visit to the Child Development Center (Bldg 2614). Davis-Monthan Fire Department fire truck static display and fire extinguisher demonstrations.

- Oct. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. Firefighter visit to the Child Development Center (Bldg 2612). Davis-Monthan Fire Department fire truck static display and fire extinguisher demonstrations.

- Oct. 7 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Mini-firefighter challenge at Borman Elementary School. Events include the hose crawl, bunker relays, smoke detector drill, and fire vehicle static displays. Sparky the Fire Dog will be in attendance.

- Oct.8 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. - Fire vehicle static displays and Sparky the Fire Dog will visit the Borman Elementary School Kindergarten.

- Oct.9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Child safety car seat courtesy inspection at the Base Exchange parking lot.

- Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Davis-Monthan Fire Department fire truck static display at the Base Exchange. Blood pressure checks, public information, fire extinguisher demonstrations, and fire detection and suppression items sponsored by the Base Exchange.

Contact the Davis-Monthan Fire Prevention office at 228-4333/4757 to get more information or schedule an appointment.

The Davis-Monthan Fire and Emergency Services Flight contributed to this story. 

Click here to view Fire Prevention Week video