Fire Prevention Week

National Fire Prevention Week is October 6–12, 2019. Unfortunately, SERVPRO of Annapolis/Severna Park performs fire damage remediation and sees too many properties and lives go up in smoke. We urge you to take some time now to prepare.

The National Fire Protection Week 2019 campaign is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” There are four planning tips to incorporate in your fire plan:

1. Draw a map of your home and identify two ways to escape from every room.
2. Test your fire alarms.
3. Establish a safe meeting place outside.
4. Post the plan in your home.

In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. For more information on Fire Prevention Week, visit www.nfpa.org.

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for children. Teenagers, adults and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

A wide variety of emergencies, both man-made and natural, may require a workplace to be evacuated. These emergencies include - fires, explosions, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, toxic material releases, radiological and biological accidents, civil disturbances and workplace violence.

To ensure the fastest emergency action plan, consider the following:

• Similar to a home fire drill, start your fire evacuation plan with a map. These maps should include locations of exits, assembly points, and equipment (such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, spill kits) that may be needed in an emergency.
• Many employers designate individuals as evacuation wardens to help move employees from danger to safe areas during an emergency. Generally, one warden for every 20 employees should be adequate, and the appropriate number of wardens should be available at all times during working hours.
• Certain equipment and processes must be shut down in stages or over time. Establish a method for accounting for non-employees such as suppliers and customers.

For more information on workplace evacuation plans and procedures, visit www.osha.gov.

Emergency situations are an unfortunate reality in workplaces and homes. If you’re prepared for these events, your employees and families are more likely to be protected.

SERVPRO of Annapolis/Severna Park is a woman-owned independent franchise. For more information, call 410-647-8181.