This month, officials at the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) are reminding people to Hear the beep where you sleep as part of National Fire Prevention Month.
Spanning October, this month-long safety campaign is focused on educating the public about how they can reduce their risk of a home fire and what to do to keep their families safe in the event a fire breaks out at home.
This year’s campaign is also specifically focused on reminding people that about half of all home fires break out between 11 pm and 6 am, during the hours when most people are home sleeping.
Why Home Fire Prevention Is So Important: The Statistics on Home Fires in the U.S.
With October being National Fire Prevention Month, here’s what people can do to prevent home fires & stay safe, a Denver personal injury lawyer points out.
To underscore how important this safety campaign is, below are a few notable statistics from the NFPA regarding the incidence and impacts of home fires in the U.S. According to the NFPA, in 2014:
- One home fire was reported to authorities every 85 seconds or so.
- U.S. fire departments responded to home fire reports every 24 seconds or so.
- There were a total of about 494,000 home fires in the nation.
- Home fires caused at least 3,275 fatalities and injured more than 15,700 others.
- The property damage caused by home fires totaled nearly $10 billion.
Tips for Preventing Home Fires: What You Can Do
- Install smoke detectors in your home and, ideally, in and outside of every bedroom and on every level of the home, including in basements.
- Regularly check the smoke detectors to be sure they are in proper working order.
- Regularly check the electrical and gas appliances in your home to be sure they are in proper working order and that they are not creating a fire hazard – Specifically, check for frayed cords or wires, overloaded outlets or particularly hot appliances. Repair as needed.
- Keep lamps, candles and nightlights away from fabrics or anything they could ignite.
- Unplug heating appliances, such as electric blankets and space heaters, when they are not in use.
- Keep a fire extinguisher at home and make sure that you (and any other adults who live in the home) know how to use it.
- Develop an emergency evacuation plan for you and your family so that everyone knows how to vacate the home ASAP if a fire breaks out.
Contact a Denver Personal Injury Lawyer at Cederberg Law
If you or a loved one has been injured in a home fire – or in any incident that may have been caused by a defective product or unsafe premises, contact a Denver personal injury lawyer at Cederberg Law to find out more about your best options for financial recovery.
To meet with us at no cost or obligation to you, call us at 303-499-0449 or email us using the form at the side of the screen.
In addition to offering free initial consults and contingency fee options, our lawyers make hospital visits to ensure that you have access to the legal support you need – whenever you need it.
