Fire Death and Injury Prevention Tips
According to the CDC, Fire Deaths are the fifth most common cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States. On average in the United States, someone dies in a fire about every 162 minutes, and someone is injured every 32 minutes. Most fire deaths occur from smoke inhalation or toxic gases and not from burns. The primary cause of residential fires is carelessness while cooking.
It is important for people to take preventive measures to keep from being a fire statistic.
* Never leave food unattended on a stove.
* Keep cooking areas free of flammable objects (such as, potholders and towels).
* Avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves when cooking.
* Never smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended.
* Do not empty smoldering ashes in a trash can, and keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
* Never place portable space heaters near flammable materials (such as, drapery).
* Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children.
* Install smoke alarms on every floor of the home and particularly near rooms in which people sleep.
* Test all smoke alarms every month to ensure they work properly.
* Devise a family fire escape plan and practice it every 6 months.
* If possible, install or retrofit fire sprinklers into home
Fire injuries are some of the worst injuries we see as lawyers. Our Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Personal Injury Law Firm compassionately represents individuals burned in fires and families of lost loved ones recover against homeowners insurance for deaths occurring from a fire.
Related Web Resources:
United States Fire Administration
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - Public Education
