HOME & GARDEN Safety program stresses drills EVERY YEAR hundreds of Ca- nadians die needlessly in house fires. Needlessly, because they had not planned an escape route until it was too late! To promote fire safety in the home, the District of North Van- couver Fire Department takes the * fire safety house to elementary scheois to emphasize the impar- tance of conducting fire drills at home. When we ask the children if any of their families practice home fire drills on @ regular basis, the answer generally is ‘‘no!’’ Approximately 3% cf famitics practice fire drills regularly. We then ask: ‘“*Why do we have children practice regular fire drilis at school, but not at home?" As a rule there is no reply. We ask: “Are the lives at school more im- portant than the lives at home?’’ The reply is a resounding ‘‘no!"" Then why do we not conduct fire drills at home? The answer is simple —- in most cases the impor- tance of practising home fire drills was not taught to the heads of the household — usually mom and dad. Education is the key. If the parents were never instructed in fire safety, how can chey pass the information on to their children? Canada has an alarrning fire re- cord —- we have mare fires per capita uhgn any other country in the world. Why? Because of our complacent attitude and lack of education toward fire. We grow up thinking that fires ‘thappen’’ to others, but not to us. But fires do “happen’’ to us, so let’s prepare for the worst. Then, if the worst never happens, fine. To begin, draw a floor plan of your complete home showing ail possible exits. Devise two ways out of every room, especially bedrooms. If one escape route is a window on the second floor or higher, invest in a safety ladder. If you live in a highrise, know HOT TIPS North Vancouver District Fire Department and practise two ways out of the budding. [f you cannot escape out of your apartment, seal the door out to the hallway with duct tape, damp towels or bedding to help keep the smoke out. Go to the window or balcony and wave or hang a brightly colored cloth from it to signal for help. Also, phone the fire department and notify them of your situation and loca- tion. Remember that elevators are never to be used as part of an escape route because they may become trapped between floors or stop directly on the fire Moor. Sleep with bedroom doors clos- ed. A closed door is a barrier that slows the spread of fire, smoke and heat. When practising escape plans, teach everyone (o close doors behind them as ihey leave. When a smoke alarm sounds, roll out of bed and onto the Moor. Do not stand up or stop for clothes, papers of jewelry. Crawi (the lower the better as cleaner air is nearer the ground) to the door and if it isn’t warm-hot, open in carefully while checking for heat and smoke. Even if the dvor is cool, there might still be danger lurking on the other side. If it is safe to do so, continue crawling away from the smoke. If the door is hot, do not open it, Escape through a window or secondary exit. Meet at a pre- arranged meeting place (lamppost, fencepost, tree, cic.) away from the building. Once out, say out. Do not go back in for any reason! After everyone is accounted for, call the fire department from the home of a neighbor. When the firefighters arrive, tell them whether everyone is out of the house. WINDOW COVERINGS from HunterDouglas Celebrity | 40% or off Regular Price Custom made draperies. Fabric Shades, Valences, hard window covering (mini, micro, vertical & pleated blinds). Bedspreads and drapery tracks. Free-in home estimates. 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