Fire
When you are speaking to a group of babysitters, what do you believe are the most important items of information they should know?
When speaking to a group of babysitters, the most important things for them to know are the escape plan in the event of a fire, emergency contacts, medication and food allergies, the parent's cellphone number, poison control's number, when the parents will return, and the location of a fire extinguisher and first aid kit. Thank you.
When speaking to a community group about kitchen fires, what precautions would you give them to prevent kitchen fires?
When speaking to a community group about kitchen fires, I would tell them to take precautions to help prevent kitchen fires such as turning in pot handles, never leaving cooking unattended, never wearing dangly clothes or jewelry when cooking, and if they must leave the stove unattended to carry a timer or spoon in their pocket so they do not forget their cooking. It is also important to have a fire extinguisher nearby your kitchen. Thank you.
Explain the importance of the 10 year smoke alarm law introduced by the state and what the new law will require for the consumer/retail market to the state?
The 10 year smoke alarm law is important because it requires the replacement of smoke alarms when they are ten years old which is necessary to prevent the use of smoke alarms that are non-functional. This can be life saving and is an extremely important law. The law will require for the consumer and retail market to...
We know residential sprinklers save lives and property. How would you promote their use? What was the first county in Maryland to have succesful laws passed for sprinklers?
I would promote the use of residential sprinklers by educating people such as my family, friends, and the public on how they give firefighters time to get in, and civilians more time to get out before the building is engulfed. Carroll county was the first county in Maryland to have successful laws passed for sprinklers. Thank you.
What are the dangers of turning in a false alarm? Explain the penalties for this crime.
Turning in a false alarm can put the lives of first responders in danger and take away resources and time that could be used in a real emergency. The penalties of this crime include a fine of up to $5,000, or 5 years in prison. Thank you.
Explain the proper use of a fire extinguisher and when it should or shouldn't you use one.
The proper use of a fire extinguisher can be remembered with the acronym PASS. This stands for pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze, and then sweep. You should use a fire extinguisher when the fire is smaller than a regular sized kitchen trash can. Thank you.
Where should smoke alarms be placed in the home, and how often should they be tested?
Smoke alarms should be placed on every level of the home including attics and basements, inside or around sleeping areas and inside kitchens. Smoke alarms also should be tested once per month. Thank you.
Please explain the Fire Tetrahedron?
The Fire Tetrahedron is a four-sided model that represents the essential components required for fire to ignite and continue burning. It includes Oxygen, Heat, Fuel, and a Chemical Chain Reaction. Removing any one of these elements will extinguish the fire. This makes the fire tetrahedron a critical concept in fire prevention and firefighting. Knowing what keeps a fire burning and what you can take away to discontinue the fire can save a life. Thank you.
What are the 5 classes of fire extinguishers and what class of fire would you use them for?
The 5 types of fire extinguishers and their uses are, Class A: for plastic, wood, and paper fires. Class B: for flammable liquids such as gas, oil, and alcohol. Class C: for electrical fires. Class D: flammable metal fires such as lithium, magnesium, and sodium. And lastly Class K: grease fires. Thank you.
What fire safety procedures should be employed with fireplaces, stoves, and portable space heaters?
Fireplaces should have a door covering them, a fire retardant mat in front of them, and should be cleaned atleast once a year. When using stoves, pot handles should be turned in, and you should never wear dangling clothing or jewelry or leave your stove unattended. Portable space heaters must be placed on a flat surface, not on carpet, on a fire retardant mat, and they should be safety approved by Underwriters Laboratory. Kids and pets should also be kept 3 feet away from the heat and any curtains, furniture, or flammable objects. Thank you.
What is the importance of educating people of all ages in fire safety?
It is important to educate people of all ages in fire safety because fires can affect a person of any age. It is important for everyone to know what to do in the event of a fire, for example, children may learn this information for the first time, young adults may be having new experiences such as becoming homeowners and need to learn how to prevent fires in their home, and elderly people may have memory issues and need to be reminded about fire safety. All ages can benefit from the knowledge of fire safety. Thank you.
What is the proper procedure for storing flammable liquids and what danger will occur when flammable liquids are misused?
Flammable liquids should be stored in a locked, cool, dark, and dry location. They also should be out of reach from kids and pets. If flammable liquids are misused, loss of life or property or severe injuries may occur. Thank you.
What hazards are caused by smoking materials and how can they be prevented?
Smoking materials cause hazards such as the loss of life and property. To prevent these hazards, smoking materials should be put out completely and in a deep ash tray. Never smoke indoors or while in bed. Additionally, never smoke when you are tired. Thank you.
When you enter a public place or stay at a hotel, what are the things you should note in the event of a fire?
When you enter a public place or stay at a hotel, it is important in the event of a fire to recognize fire exits, your emergency escape plan posted on the back of your door, never to use an elevator in a fire, and the location of a fire extinguisher. You also should count the doorways from your location to help yourself remember how close you are to a fire exit. Thank you.
What precautions should be used around fireworks and sparklers and what items are illegal in Maryland? - There are two counties that do not allow fireworks for sale to the comsumers. Name the two counties.
It is important that fireworks you purchase are legal and that you read and follow the directions. You should make yourself aware of any special effects such as launch sparks, spinning, or loud sounds. Only gold labled sparklers and novelty items are legal in Maryland. Examples of this are party poppers, snap pops, snakes, and ground based sparkler devices. An adult should be with minors at all times when fireworks are being used. Do not light fireworks near structures such as homes, under trees, or near vehicles. It is helpful to keep pets put away so they are not frightened by the noises. Finally, the two counties that do not allow fireworks for sale are Montgomery county and Prince George's County. Thank you.
Describe an electrical octopus hazard and explain how electrical appliances can be safely used in the home?
An electrical octopus hazard occurs when too many appliances are plugged into one extension cord. Electrical appliances can safely be used in the home by using different outlets for appliances and unplugging things you are not using. It is also important to unplug appliances when leaving for vacation or when you won't be home for a while. Thank you.
When using outdoor cooking devices, (gas or charcoal grills) when should you use these grills and what precautions should you take with them?
When using outdoor cooking devices, make sure they are outside and don't use them on a day with inclement weather and use them 10 feet from any structure, that there are no low-hanging branches, and that you stay 3 feet from the heat. Thank you.
Why are planned escape routes and fire drills so important?
Planned escape routes and fire drills are extremely important because in the event of a fire, you may feel panicked and a plan of where to go and what to do will help ease your nerves, and will help you get out safely. Thank you.
There are two styles of smoke alarms that are currently on the market for use by the consumer: Photoelectric and Ionization. Please explain the difference in the two.
Photoelectric smoke alarms are generally more responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering, or smoldering fires. Photoelectric-type alarms aim a light source into a sensing chamber at an angle away from the sensor. Smoke enters the chamber, reflecting light onto the light sensor; triggering the alarm. Ionization smoke alarms are generally more responsive to flaming fires. Ionization-type smoke alarms have a small amount of radioactive material between two electrically charged plates, which ionizes the air and causes current to flow between the plates. When smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions, thus reducing the flow of current and activating the alarm. Thank you.
In Maryland, in which area of the home do most fires occur and what measures can be taken to reduce this statistic?
Most fires in the home in Maryland occur in the kitchen. To reduce this statistic, measures such as turning in pot handles, never leaving cooking unattended, never wearing dangly clothes or jewelry when cooking, and if they must leave the stove unattended to carry a timer or spoon in their pocket so they do not forget their cooking. Thank you.
We know the importance of smoke alarms in the home, how can a hearing impaired smoke alarm be obtained? What styles are being offered by the state?
A hearing-impaired smoke alarm can be obtained on the fabscom website or from your local fire station. Hearing-impaired smoke alarms come in packs with a bed shaker and a strobe. The bed shaker should be placed at your sleeping area. The strobe should be placed where it is visible and should be on the wall, within 12 inches of your ceiling. Thank you.
Explain the proper placement/install location for a Carbon Monoxide Alarm, and how often should they be tested? What circumstances would not require a home to have a CO Alarm installed?
Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on each level of your home and near sleeping areas. They should be near attached garages, and between 25 and 15 feet from fuel-burning appliances and fireplaces. It is not necessary to own a carbon monoxide detector if you do not have gas appliances in your home, but it is still highly recommended. Testing should be done once a month. Thank you.