|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wayne
Pike Chapter
1111 Main Street Honesdale, PA 18431 |
Press Release |
Contact: Dan Potter Disaster
Services Manager Phone:
(570) 253-2310 Dpotter911@aol.com |
National
Fire Protection Association 1
Batterymarch Park Contact: Phone:
(617) 840-4180 lcarli@nfpa.org |
SURVEY FINDS
Concerns about ECONOMY
Fire
Prevention Week Survey Shows Nearly Half of Americans Planning to Use
Alternative Heating Sources this Winter
Honesdale, PA October 9, 2008—The
American Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released
results of a survey showing the majority (79%) of Americans are concerned about
the rising cost of heating their homes, and many will use an alternative
heating source to reduce their bills this winter. The survey identified additional behaviors
related to appliance maintenance and cooking that could also present home fire
hazards this winter.
“As
we head into, what by all accounts is likely to be a very costly heating
season, these survey results and Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11) provide a
critical opportunity for us to remind people about the things they can do to
prevent home fires and keep their families safe and warm this winter,” said
NFPA President James. M. Shannon. “If people use alternative heat sources to
reduce energy costs, it is critical they use devices that are new or in good
working order, and they turn off units when they go to bed or leave the room.”
“We
hope this survey will encourage more people to take the simple steps necessary
to protect their families and homes from fire,” said Gail J. McGovern,
President and CEO of the American Red Cross.
Last year the Wayne Pike
Chapter assisted forty one community residents from local home fires, providing
comfort, shelter and aid to help families pick up the pieces.
“Home fires can be just as
devastating as any other type of disaster,” said Disaster Services Manager Dan Potter of the Wayne Pike Chapter American Red Cross. “The Red Cross is here to
help anyone affected by a home fire, but also to provide information that helps
people prevent and stay safer in a home fire.”
Heating and Cooking Fires:
According to NFPA reports,
cooking and heating are the leading causes of home fires. The survey revealed the
majority of Americans are concerned about the rising cost of heating their
homes (79%), and that 48% of households will use an alternative heating source
to reduce their bills this winter. Alternative heating sources include portable
space heaters, stoves, ovens and fireplaces. A third (36%) of people with
fireplaces reported they never cleaned or inspected their chimneys. The survey
also found 23% of respondents did not consider it essential to make sure
someone is home when food is cooking on the stove.
Smoke Alarms and Fire Escape Plans:
Respondents also revealed another
unsafe behavior, which is disabling (37%) smoke alarms when they go off in a
non-testing situation. More than half (53%) of the households surveyed have not
taken any of three common actions in most home fire escape plans, which
includes discussing with family members how to get out of the home, deciding on
an outdoor meeting place and practicing the plan.
NFPA and the American Red Cross offer these and other safety tips:
- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food.
If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
- Give space heaters space by keeping them at least 3 feet from anything
that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and
outside sleeping areas.
For additional fire safety tips visit www.firepreventionweek.org or www.redcross.org/homefires.
This year, Fire Prevention Week is October 5 – 11 and
the theme is It’s Fire Prevention Week: Prevent Home Fires.
