Fire Safety Month 2022
October is Fire Safety Month and ACS is encouraging employers and workers to stay alert for potential fire hazards. No one expects to experience a fire at work or home, but they happen every day.
Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) celebrates National Fire Safety Month in October. During this month, fire departments and fire marshal's offices nationwide play a key role in bringing Fire Safety Month to life in their communities each year and spreading basic but critical fire safety messages, encouraging everyone to practice fire safety at home and in the workplace.
About Fire Prevention Week
President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Fire Protection Day in 1820. In 1922, NFPA began the observance of Fire Prevention Week in October. And, in 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance. This October marks the 100-year anniversary of Fire Protection Week, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. NFPA now celebrates October as National Fire Safety Month.
Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage covering an area of about 4 miles long by approximately .75 miles wide.
Plan & Practice Your Escape
You may have as little as 2 minutes to get out from the time the smoke alarms sound. That’s why NFPA’s theme for Fire Prevention Week 2022 is “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.” Today, buildings and homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a structure fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a structure during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.
It is important to plan and practice a fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance, so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every structure is different, every fire escape plan will also be different. Frequently practicing fire drills forces individuals to memorize their fire escape path, allowing them to move throughout the building during a fire by muscle memory and instinct. Consider obstructing one escape route or conducting nighttime fire drills to require people to think on their feet and use an alternative path.
Purchase, Install & Test Alarms
Smoke alarms sense smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger. Smoke alarms should be installed and tested to make sure they are properly working. Choose an alarm that is listed with a testing laboratory, meaning it has met certain standards for protection.
For the best protection, use combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are interconnected throughout the building. These can be installed by a qualified electrician, so that when one sounds, they all sound. This ensures you can hear the alarm no matter where the alarm originates.
Don’t forget about portable fire extinguishers. Inspect portable fire extinguishers regularly (monthly in the workplace) to ensure they are fully charged. If the building has a fire sprinkler system, a good rule of thumb is to check it every six months when smoke alarms are tested.
Stay Informed
To learn more about Fire Safety Month and Fire Prevention Week, visit www.nfpa.org/fpw. If you need help with OSHA compliance, contact us.