Cops, Courts and Fire, Neighbors, Non-profits

Event Will Teach Families What Do In Case Of A Fire

October 14, 2016

Provided by the Safe Kids Bucks County Coalition:

Home fires have proven to be one of the largest disaster threats facing American families today, resulting more than eight in 10 fire-related deaths. To raise awareness about this issue and encourage families to be prepared, Safe Kids Bucks County Coalition will be joining Safe Kids Worldwide, Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen program and other experts for Home Fire Drill Day on Saturday, October 15 at the William Penn Fire Company Station 77 on Oxford Valley Road, Levittown, in coordination with National Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15).

“Creating a fire escape plan with your family and practicing it is a smart thing for every family to do,” said Kimberly Everett, Safe Kids Bucks County Coalition. “In the event of an emergency, a child could feel overwhelmed or worried. Practicing on Home Fire Drill Day can help teach your children how to be prepared in case of a home fire .”

“We are launching Home Fire Drill Day with our expert partners to encourage families across the country to take a pledge that they will practice home fire drills on October 15. We want every family member to know exactly what to do in the event of a home fire,” says Mike Boyd, Nationwide. “We all practice fire drills at work and children do the same at school – we should do them at home, as well, where fires are happening every day.”

This marks the first time that these organizations from the public and private sector are collaborating on this single, life-saving call to action. The group of partners are also working together to share simple tips and tools for families to use on this new observance day. Home Fire Drill Day tips include:

Pick a family safety spot outside that’s near your home and a safe distance away.
Test your smoke alarms with your kids so they know what the beep sounds like.
For children under six, assign an adult to help them.
Use a timer to ensure everyone can get out to the safety spot in two minutes or less, this is how much time a family has to safely exit the house in the event of a fire.
Prepare for the practice by drawing out a plan based on the exits around the home.