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| FIRE PREVENTION |
| CHECK ROLLA RURAL EMAIL © Copyright 2008 Rolla Rural Fire Protection District 1575 Lions Club Drive Rolla, Missouri 65401 |
Each year, firefighters from the Rolla Rural Fire Protection District visit with hundreds of children in schools, day cares, and
families in an effort to educate them on fire prevention and safety. Each October, the department participates in "Fire
Prevention Week", sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association. During this week, children from the nearby Truman
Elementary School pay a visit to Station 1 where they discuss escape routes, stop-drop-and roll, 911, smoke detectors, and
much much more. They also get to see what firefighters look like when fully equipped and ready for action. Seeing and
touching the gear and equipment often fascinates the children, and a level of comfort is established. The visit wraps up by
getting a turn to spray water from a real fire hose that is pulled from a fire truck.
Fire prevention education is held all through the year. If you would like information about having a crew visit your group or
family, feel free to contact Battalion Chief Geoff Heavin to arrange a time and location that fits your needs. This of course is
held free of charge.
Also held during Fire Prevention Week, is the department Open House. Held at Station 1, the event brings crowds to tour fire
trucks, ambulances, medical helicopters, and more. A live extrication demonstration is also held for the public to witness how
quick crews can operate tools to gain access to patients in case of a vehicle accident. Door prizes are also given away.
families in an effort to educate them on fire prevention and safety. Each October, the department participates in "Fire
Prevention Week", sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association. During this week, children from the nearby Truman
Elementary School pay a visit to Station 1 where they discuss escape routes, stop-drop-and roll, 911, smoke detectors, and
much much more. They also get to see what firefighters look like when fully equipped and ready for action. Seeing and
touching the gear and equipment often fascinates the children, and a level of comfort is established. The visit wraps up by
getting a turn to spray water from a real fire hose that is pulled from a fire truck.
Fire prevention education is held all through the year. If you would like information about having a crew visit your group or
family, feel free to contact Battalion Chief Geoff Heavin to arrange a time and location that fits your needs. This of course is
held free of charge.
Also held during Fire Prevention Week, is the department Open House. Held at Station 1, the event brings crowds to tour fire
trucks, ambulances, medical helicopters, and more. A live extrication demonstration is also held for the public to witness how
quick crews can operate tools to gain access to patients in case of a vehicle accident. Door prizes are also given away.
INSTALL AND TEST SMOKE ALARMS
Because fire can grow and spread so quickly, having working smoke alarms in your home can mean the difference between life
and death. But these life-saving devices are only effective when they're working properly. Smoke alarms with batteries that are
dead, disconnected, or missing can't alert you to the dangers of smoke and fire. Follow these tips to ensure that your smoke
alarms are installed correctly and tested regularly.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, making sure that there is an alarm outside every
separate sleeping area. New homes are required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must be
interconnected.
- Hard-wired smoke alarms operate on your household electrical current. They can be interconnected so that every alarm
sounds regardless of the fire's location. This is an advantage in early warning, because it gives occupants extra time to escape
if they are in one part of the home and a fire breaks out in another part. Alarms that are hard-wired should have battery
backups in case of a power outage, and should be installed by a qualified electrician.
- If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have a qualified electrician install interconnected smoke alarms in each room so that
when one alarm sounds, they all sound.
- If you, or someone in your home is deaf or hard of hearing, consider installing an alarm that combines flashing lights, vibration
and/or sound.
- Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Ceiling mounted alarms should be installed at least
four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
- If you have ceilings that are pitched, install the alarm near the ceiling's highest point.
- Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
- Never paint smoke alarms. Paint, stickers, or other decorations could keep the alarms from working.
Because fire can grow and spread so quickly, having working smoke alarms in your home can mean the difference between life
and death. But these life-saving devices are only effective when they're working properly. Smoke alarms with batteries that are
dead, disconnected, or missing can't alert you to the dangers of smoke and fire. Follow these tips to ensure that your smoke
alarms are installed correctly and tested regularly.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, making sure that there is an alarm outside every
separate sleeping area. New homes are required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must be
interconnected.
- Hard-wired smoke alarms operate on your household electrical current. They can be interconnected so that every alarm
sounds regardless of the fire's location. This is an advantage in early warning, because it gives occupants extra time to escape
if they are in one part of the home and a fire breaks out in another part. Alarms that are hard-wired should have battery
backups in case of a power outage, and should be installed by a qualified electrician.
- If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have a qualified electrician install interconnected smoke alarms in each room so that
when one alarm sounds, they all sound.
- If you, or someone in your home is deaf or hard of hearing, consider installing an alarm that combines flashing lights, vibration
and/or sound.
- Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Ceiling mounted alarms should be installed at least
four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
- If you have ceilings that are pitched, install the alarm near the ceiling's highest point.
- Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
- Never paint smoke alarms. Paint, stickers, or other decorations could keep the alarms from working.
A LIFE-SAVING TEST: CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARMS REGULARLY!
- Test your smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year, or as soon as the alarm "chirps" warning that the battery is low. Hint:
schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clocks from daylight savings time to standard time in the fall.
- Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms can't warn you of fire if their batteries are missing or have been
disconnected.
- Don't disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding "nuisance alarms," try relocating it farther from
kitchens or bathrooms, where cooking fumes and steam can cause the alarm to sound.
- Regularly vacuuming or dusting your smoke alarms, following the manufacturer's instructions, can keep them working properly.
- Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace yours once every 10 years. If you can't remember how old the alarm is, then it's
probably time for a new one.
- Consider installing smoke alarms with "long-life" (10-year) batteries.
- Plan regular fire drills to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Hold a drill at night to
make sure that sleeping family members awaken at the sound of the alarm. Some studies have shown that some children may
not awaken to the sound of the smoke alarm. Know what your child will do before a fire occurs.
- If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home, consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system.
Sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut your risk of dying in a home fire 82 percent relative to having neither – a savings of
thousands of lives a year.
- Test your smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year, or as soon as the alarm "chirps" warning that the battery is low. Hint:
schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clocks from daylight savings time to standard time in the fall.
- Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms can't warn you of fire if their batteries are missing or have been
disconnected.
- Don't disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding "nuisance alarms," try relocating it farther from
kitchens or bathrooms, where cooking fumes and steam can cause the alarm to sound.
- Regularly vacuuming or dusting your smoke alarms, following the manufacturer's instructions, can keep them working properly.
- Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace yours once every 10 years. If you can't remember how old the alarm is, then it's
probably time for a new one.
- Consider installing smoke alarms with "long-life" (10-year) batteries.
- Plan regular fire drills to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Hold a drill at night to
make sure that sleeping family members awaken at the sound of the alarm. Some studies have shown that some children may
not awaken to the sound of the smoke alarm. Know what your child will do before a fire occurs.
- If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home, consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system.
Sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut your risk of dying in a home fire 82 percent relative to having neither – a savings of
thousands of lives a year.