October is Fire Safety Month: Are You Ready?

Capt. Tommy Rutledge of Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services spoke to a group of neighborhood leaders in Lilburn a couple weeks ago. The information he shared can save lives many times over:

Every year more than 4000 people die, including hundreds of children, and 20,000 people are injured in fires, according to the United States Fire Administration.

Every person will experience a serious fire at some time in their life. It is important for every family to conduct fire drills at least twice yearly and to have equipment, such as escape ladders available for second story bedrooms.  Designate a meeting place outside the house to rejoin the family. Once out of the burning building, do not return to retrieve anything. Notify fire personnel if someone else is still inside the building.

Wiring and chimney checks should be done regularly, as well as checking fire alarms yearly. Fire alarms should be on every level of the house and outside every sleeping area. according to the Georgia Office of Insurance and Fire Safety. They recommend that alarms should be tested monthly, and have batteries replaced twice yearly (when the time changes). In addition, the entire unit should be replaced every 10 years. In most instances, in the U.S., fires are ruled as accidental; in other countries, they are described as being caused by negligence.