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Not all Smoke Detectors are the Same

Not All Smoke Detector Are the Same

By Chief David Downie

 

For many years, the motto of America’s Fire Service has been, “Smoke alarms save lives”. Smoke alarms do save lives, but the smoke alarm you have is critically important as not all smoke alarms are the same.

 

Current smoke alarms use two types of smoke alarm technologies: photoelectric and ionization.

 

Ionization smoke alarms are found in an estimated 93% of U.S homes and cost between $5.00 and $10.00. Ionization type detects changes in a local ionization field within the detection chamber resulting in the presence of smoke. This type of alarm responds faster to flaming fires.

 

Photoelectric smoke alarms cost between $10.00 and $15.00. The photoelectric type has a light source and detects the scattering or obscuration caused by smoke particles. This type of alarms responds faster to smoldering fires such as those ignited by cigarettes in upholstered furniture.

 

Duel sensor smoke detector (containing both ionization and photo electric technology) usually cost between $18.00 and $30.00 each.

 

A 2004 study conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology indicated that fire in today’s homes smolder longer and burn hotter and faster than what was typical when smoke detectors were first introduced a number of years ago. The NIST study also concluded that because fires could be more aggressive, the time needed to escape some type of fires has been reduced significantly from approximately seventeen (17) minutes at the time of the original study in the 1970’s to as little as three (3) minutes under certain conditions today.

 

Since it cannot be predicted what type of fire will start in the home, it is important that both smoldering and flaming fires are detected as quickly as possible. The best protection is to have dual sensor technology smoke alarms that incorporate both ionization/photoelectric sensors.

 

Working smoke alarms need should be installed on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms

 

Photoelectric smoke detectors usually have the word PHOTOELECTIC right on them. You might also see a big “P” or a blue symbol. If you don’t see any symbols chances are, it’s probably an ionization smoke detector. These alarms are sometime marked with a letter I or other symbols.

 

9News Investigation: How Well Does Your Smoke Detector Protect You?

 

 

 

Dangers and Challenges of Firefighting

This is a short film that visually demonstrates the dangers and challenges faced by firefighters during a structure fire.

 

This film serves to educate recruit firefighters, elected officials, and the public in fire department operations.

 

It demonstrates the need for a safe aggressive interior attack coupled with adequate resources in order to save lives and reduce property loss.

 

Firefighting Video

 

 

Prevent Cooking Fires

State Fire Marshal Encourages Ohioans To Prevent Cooking Fires

 

(Columbus) – State Fire Marshal Stephen K. Woltz today reminded Ohioans about the dangers of cooking fires, most of which result from unattended cooking. This reminder comes just ahead of National Fire Prevention Week, October 8 – 14, 2006. This year’s theme, Prevent Cooking Fires: Watch What You Heat, aims to educate citizens on how to prevent cooking fires from starting in the first place.

 

“Cooking fires are the leading cause of residential fires in Ohio,” said Marshal Woltz. “It takes only a few minutes of unattended cooking to result in a devastating blaze and, sadly, most are preventable.”

 

According to the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. One out of three home fires begins in the kitchen—more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries. In Ohio, cooking fires have accounted for 25% of the state’s 126,347 residential fires and 10% of the 909 fire-related deaths since 2000.

 

Marshal Woltz emphasizes the following kitchen safety reminders:

  • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling or boiling food.
  • If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
  • When you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home and use a timer to remind you.
  • If you have young children, use the stove’s back burners whenever possible. Have a safety zone and keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
  • When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.
  • Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop.
  • Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.
  • Always have a fire extinguisher available.

 

In addition to using caution in the kitchen, citizens are urged to have a working smoke detector installed on every level of the home and inside each bedroom or sleeping area. Smoke detectors should be tested every month and the batteries should be replaced twice a year. An easy way to remember to change your batteries is when you turn your clock back in the fall and again when you move the clock forward in the spring. Smoke detectors also should be replaced every 10 years. Each member of the household should know the fire escape plan and practice it twice a year.

 

This year, six Ohio residents will be awarded the Smoke Detector on Guard award (Smoke D.O.G.) during or immediately following fire prevention week. The Smoke D.O.G. Award recognizes individuals who save their lives and the lives of others by responding to the warning sound of a smoke detector.

 

“The facts speak clearly: working smoke detectors save lives and also double individuals’ chances of escaping a nighttime fire,” said Marshal Woltz. “I encourage all Ohioans to make sure their smoke detectors are properly placed, regularly tested and maintained.”

 

 

 

 

Driving Safety Tips

 

  Driving at Night - Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day, according to the National Safety Council. The National Safety Council recommends the following:

·        Prepare your car for night driving. Clean headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows (inside and out) once a week, more often if necessary.

·        Have your headlights properly aimed. Misaimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.

·        Don't drink and drive. Not only does alcohol severely impair your driving ability, it also acts as a depressant. Just one drink can induce fatigue.

·        Avoid smoking when you drive. Smoke's nicotine and carbon monoxide hamper night vision.
If there is any doubt, turn your headlights on. Lights will not help you see better in early twilight, but they'll make it easier for other drivers to see you. Being seen is as important as seeing.

·        Reduce your speed and increase your following distances. It is more difficult to judge other vehicle's speeds and distances at night.

·        Don't overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If you're not, you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.

·        When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don't blind the driver ahead of you.

·        If an oncoming vehicle doesn't lower beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.

·        Make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you're too tired to drive, stop and get some rest.

·        If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible. Warn approaching traffic at once by setting up reflecting triangles near your vehicle and 300 feet behind it. Turn on flashers and the dome light. Stay off the roadway and get passengers away from the area.

  FOG: It is best not to drive in foggy conditions. However, if you must drive in the fog, take the following precautions:

·        Slow down - and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. Remember - going too slow can be hazardous. If you see approaching headlights or taillights, slow down even more. A driver may be driving in the center of the roadway or may be stopped or barely moving.

·        Drive with your headlights set on dim, or use fog lights if available. High beams will reflect back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more.

·        Do not overdrive your headlights. Stay within the limits of your vision. You may
have to stop suddenly. If the fog is too dense, pull off the roadway and stop.

·        Use your turn signal long before you turn and brake early when you approach a stop
to warn other drivers.

·        Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide.

·        Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic.

  RAIN: When rain begins to fall lightly, water, dust, oil and leaves cause the roadway to become slippery. When this happens, increase your following distance. Take special care on curves and turns and while braking.

·        Your headlights must be on when operating your wipers. Parking lights are not acceptable.

·        When rain begins to fall heavily, your tires may "hydroplane." This means the tires are riding on a layer of water and not on the road-way. Avoid hydroplaning by slowing down and keeping your tires properly maintained.

  HIGH WINDS: Wind can be a difficult problem for all drivers. In high winds, you should reduce your speed and make steering corrections when you go from a protected area to an open area and when meeting large vehicles such as trucks and buses. Heavy rain or sleet often accompanies high winds. You should be alert to wet or slippery areas and plan for those conditions.

 

 

 

What To Do If…..
Your Car Catches on Fire

 

 

A fire in one's car or other motor vehicle is a frightening situation which can quickly involve great personal danger to vehicle occupants and bystanders. Although every vehicle fire incident will have certain unique factors present at the time, the National Safety Council offers the following step-by-step general suggestions on what to do if your car (or other motor vehicle) catches on fire.

While you are moving on a roadway:

1.           Signal your intentions and move to the right lane.

2.           Get onto the shoulder or breakdown lane.

3.           Stop immediately.

4.           Shut off the engine.

5.           Get yourself and all other persons out of the vehicle.

6.           Get far away from the vehicle and stay away from it. Keep onlookers and others away.

7.           Warn oncoming traffic.

8.           Notify the fire department.

9.           Don't attempt to try to put out the fire yourself. (The unseen danger is the possible ignition of fuel in the vehicle's tank.)

While the vehicle is stopped in traffic or parked:

1.           Shut off the engine.

2.           Get far away from the vehicle.

3.           Warn pedestrians and other vehicles to stay away.

4.           Notify the fire department.

5.           (See No. 9 above).

In all vehicle fire situations, the first thing to think about is personal safety; any vehicle can be replaced—humans cannot. Think and act quickly, in the safest way possible.

Thank you to the National Safety Council
http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/carfire.htm

 

 

 


 National Safety Council Safety Tips
 

 

Fact Sheet Library

 

 

 

Summer Safety Tips

With summer fast approaching, more and more people in the Fairfield Township area will be enjoying the outdoors.  Unfortunately, sun, heat and fair-weather activities such as swimming, biking, picnicking and lawn mowing also present their share of hazards. To help  ensure everyone in the community enjoys a safe summer, the members of Fairfield Township Fire Department offer the following tips

Summer Safety Tips

 

 

 

Christmas Tree Safety

 

Selecting a Christmas Tree

Make sure the tree is fresh, not dry and losing it's needles.  A tree should not lose green needles when you tap it on the ground.

If buying a pre-cut tree, make a new cut approximately one inch above the old cut to facilitate water movement through the cells.

Leave the tree outside until you are ready to decorate it.

Trees that are cut early are a greater danger than trees cut relatively close to Christmas.

For Christmas trees to be displayed in commercial and office building or stores, the trees must be treated with a Fire Marshal approved flame retardant.

The stand should hold at least one (1) gallon of water.  A 6-foot tree will use approxcimately one (1) gallon of water every two days.

Be sure to check the water level every day.

Tree Decorating

Before using lights on the tree make sure that they are UL listed. Never use more than three strings of lights on one circuit.

Make sure that all connections are tight and the bulbs and cords are in good condition, not loose or frayed as to cause a short.

Replace older style, light bulb type lights.  These light bulbs produce too much heat and can cause various problems. 

When buying new lights, buy low-heat mini-lights.  These lights are much safer.

Remember: If any of your lights are too hot to handle, you run the risk of someone (especially a child) touching the lights and burning their hands.  

Be able to turn off the lights without having to crawl under the tree.

Artificial trees should be made of flame resistant materials, and lights should never be used on trees with metal frames.

Never leave the lights on when leaving the house or when going to bed.

Keep candles away from Christmas trees. Never use candles as Christmas tree decorations.

When shopping for Christmas tree ornaments, attempt to find ones which are flame resistant.

If purchasing special electrical or battery powered ornaments, such as special smoke detector ornaments, make sure they are approved for home use.

Selecting a Location

When selecting a location to setup your tree, attempt to locate it in a cool location.

Avoid placing it in an area close to heating appliances or the fireplace. This will not only dry the tree out prematurely, but can also increase the chance of accidental ignition.

Keep the tree out of high traffic areas, and away from stairways and doors.

Secure the tree so that it cannot be knocked over by pets or a small child.

When to Remove a Tree

The Fire Department recommends that a tree be removed from the home in the event that it becomes dry and begins shedding needles. DON'T TAKE A CHANCE.

Remove the tree as soon as possible after Christmas. Dispose of all papers and boxes at once, do not allow them to accumulate.

Never burn a tree in a fireplace. Dry Christmas trees burn very hot and extremely quick. The fire may rapidly leave the fireplace and move into your room. Also, a Christmas tree is very oily and may damage your fireplace.

 

Please Have a Merry and Safe Christmas!