National Fire Prevention Week Begins October 8, Practicing Home Fire Safety Regularly Can Help Save Lives

Waldwick, NJ (PRWEB) October 11, 2006

Members of The New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board are urging families to take time during National Fire Prevention Week –October 8-14 – to review the dangers of fire with their loved ones.

“We believe that if everyone takes a few moments to review fire safety techniques and protocols with their loved ones, lives will be saved,” says Vincent Fichera, Executive Director of the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. “Now and throughout the year, our hope is that by promoting the importance of home fire safety education and the use and maintenance of fire prevention systems – including fire alarms, fire sprinklers and other fire resistant resources – that future tragedies can be avoided.”

Below are some fire safety tips recommended by the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board to keep your family safe:

•      Check smoke detectors to ensure they are working properly and have full battery power. It’s recommended that you check the batteries in your smoke alarms when its time to turn the clocks forward or backward.
•      Keep an up-to-date list of emergency fire, police and medical phone numbers near your telephone. Show every member of your family where this information is kept and teach all children how to call for help in case of an emergency.
•      Develop an escape plan with your family from multiple rooms within your home, both upstairs and downstairs. Take time to review the escape plan with your family, including a practice fire drill.
•      Consider researching and investing in residential fire sprinklers to protect your family and property. To date, there has never been a multiple loss of life in a structure that had a fully-installed and well-maintained fire sprinkler system.

•      Consider updating older surge protectors and investing in high-quality and high-performance power filters, such as those offered by Zero Surge, which utilize non-degrading components and are designed for high-end electronics and computers. Although you may have surge protectors in place, the technology at the heart of an average surge protector can wear out over time and can present a dangerous fire hazard.

•      Make sure windows of children’s rooms are well marked to indicate them to firefighters.
•      Keep flammable liquids free from heating sources, and store them in a cool location. Also, keep them separate from other stored items such as paper products and cloth materials.
•      Keep a watchful eye on space heaters, and make sure there is at least 3 feet of clear space around them when in operation. Do not leave a space heater on unattended.

The New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NJFSAB) is a cooperative partnership advocating installation and proper care of fire sprinkler systems as a highly effective means of helping save lives and property. Working alongside fire and government authorities in the state of NJ, the Advisory Board supports educational programs and legislative measures to increase consideration, promote proper usage and enhance/enforce building codes for fire sprinklers in new and renovated properties. Headquartered in Waldwick, NJ, the Board is comprised of local leaders, contractors, businesses and unionized personnel representing fire sprinkler construction, production, distribution and installation industries.

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