Shawswick VFD Share Fire Safety Tips With Shawswick Students

Last updated on Tuesday, May 22, 2018

(BEDFORD) - In a fire, seconds count. Seconds can mean the difference between residents of our community escaping safely from a fire or having their lives end in tragedy.

That's why Shawswick Volunteer Fire Department firefighters visited Shawswick students to share the importance of having an escape plan and know what to do if in a home that catches fire.

Here are some of the tips firefighters shared with students.

Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can't help them.
Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
Close doors behind you as you leave - this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.
Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement.
It is also recommended that you have at least one Carbon Monoxide alarm installed near your sleeping areas. Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is deadly.

Bob Brown, Chief of Shawswick Volunteer Fire Department, stresses that smoke detectors are not enough, every family needs to develop, discuss and practice a home escape plan.

"Establishing a meeting place is an extremely important part of this plan," Brown says. "The meeting place will help families and firefighters to know if all members have been able to escape during a fire."

Students got to experience what a smoke-filled room was like while crawling through the department's smoke house.

Every room in your home should have two ways out, which often includes a window. Family members that sleep in an upstairs bedroom need to include a plan on how to get to ground level.

They also discussed the equipment firefighters use in addition to the fire engines.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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