Fire Prevention Week 2009
October 4-10, 2009 is Fire Prevention Week. This year's theme is "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned!" You can help keep your home fire-safe by following simple prevention tips.
A new online video available through CDC-TV, "A Time to Act", explores one of the most common causes of unintentional injury deaths in the United States.
During Fire Prevention Week, learn how you can make your home a safer place for you and your family. You can prevent home fires.
The Risk is Real
The risk of injury and death from home fires is real. Consider that:
- In 2008, fire departments across the country responded to 403,000 home fires.
- These fires claimed the lives of 2,755 people and injured another 13,560.
- Nearly four out of five fire deaths happened in people's homes.
- Almost all homes have at least one smoke alarm. Yet, during 2003-2006:
- Smoke alarms were present in only two-thirds of home fires and operated just under half of the time.
- In nearly 1 out of 4 home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound.
- No smoke alarms were present in 4 out of 10 home fire deaths.
- The main reason smoke alarms fail to operate during home fires is missing or disconnected batteries
Protect the Ones You Love
In an effort to raise parents' awareness about the leading causes of child injury—including burns— in the United States and how they can be prevented, CDC has launched the "Protect the Ones You Love" initiative. Parents can play a life-saving role in protecting children from injuries. Information is available in English and Spanish. Learn more.
You Can Keep Your Home Fire Safe
Your home should be a safe and comfortable place—and you can help keep it fire-safe by following these prevention tips.
Cook with care. When you cook, never leave cooking food unattended on the stove. Keep anything that can catch on fire, like potholders and towels, away from the cooking area. Avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves that can catch on fire. Also, keep pot handles turned in.
If you smoke, attempt to quit. Don't smoke inside your home. If you do smoke in your home, never smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended. It is unsafe to smoke while drowsy or under the influence of alcohol or medications. Also, don't empty burning or hot ashes in a trash can, and keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
Stay warm—safely. If and when you use a space heater, keep it more than three feet away from anything that can catch on fire, like draperies.
Be alarmed. Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home, including the basement, and make sure you have smoke alarms near all sleeping rooms. For better protection, install smoke alarms in sleeping rooms, especially if they are occupied by a smoker. Test all smoke alarms once a month using the test button.
Make and practice an escape plan. Create a home fire escape plan. Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible, and have a meeting place outside. Practice your escape plan twice a year with everyone living in your home.
For more tips on protecting children from burns, visit CDC's Protect the Ones You Love initiative Web site.
A Time to Act
A new online video available through CDC-TV, "A Time to Act", chronicles the experience of a family that escaped during a home fire after being alerted by recently installed smoke alarms. The video also reviews the main risk factors for home fires and steps viewers can take to reduce the risk of fire-related injury and death. These steps include installing and regularly testing smoke alarms and practicing a fire escape plan at least twice a year.
"A Time to Act" is available for viewing through a number of channels including mobile phone, or as a podcast, or for download (see "Download this Video" instructions on the CDC-TV page) thus allowing organizations to utilize our online video in any number of ways including as an instructional tool for parents, healthcare providers or teachers. Providing short, high-quality videos is part of CDC's goal to increase people's access to the information necessary to help prevent illness, injury and to protect their health and that of their families.
More Information
CDC Resources
- CDC Fire Deaths and Injuries Fact Sheet
- Protect the Ones You Love: Burns
- Fire Spokesperson's Pocket Media Guide
- Listen to Podcasts on Fire and Burn Prevention:
- Send an E-card on Fire and Burn Prevention:
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