Fire Prevention Week Oct. 5-11 in Du Quoin

It's time for Fire Prevention Week, and from October 5-11, the Du Quoin Fire Department is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind local residents that "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!" During this year's fire safety campaign, firefighters and safety advocates will be spreading the word about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home and testing them monthly.

According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.

Captain Adam Hill of the Du Quoin Fire Department makes four very important points to begin the observance:

1. Have a home fire escape plan, this includes having two ways out of every room in your home, Practice escape plans every monthly. Designate a safe meeting location away from home. Immediately leave your home when a fire occurs. Never open doors that are hot to the touch. Once you are out, stay out.

2. Smoke detectors. Having working smoke detectors in your hone is the law. Change your batteries when you change your clock, Replace your detectors every 10 years or go by the manufacturer's advice.

3. Carbon Monoxide. Is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned. Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, fainting and at higher levels it can cause unconsciousness or even death. If you have gas appliances or an attached garage in your home it is a state law that you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on where to place the unit in your home. if you suspect CO exposure or you CO detector goes off, get out o the house and get fresh air. Call the fire department from a neighbor's hoe. If you have symptoms seek medical help immediately.

4. Fire Safety in the Kitchen. Always stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on what you are cooking. Don't wear loose-fitting clothing that could catch fire. Watch children closely in the kitchen and around hot surfaces. Turn pot and pan handles inward to prevent food spills and burns. If you have a cooking fire always call your fire department first. Slide a pan lid over the flames of a grease or oil fire and turn off the heating source.

Never try to carry the pan outside because this could spread the fire. Extinguish a food fire with baking soda. Never use flour. In the event of an oven or broiler fire keep the door shut and turn off the heat to smother it.

Du Quoin Fire Department Services

• Fire extinguisher classes for businesses and different organizations in the community.

• Home fire safety inspections.

• Help in instilling smoke detectors.

• Planning your business to better serve the fire department in the event of a fire to help minimize the damage.

• Fire safety talks to groups and organizations.

For questions, call the Du Quoin Fire Department at (618) 542-5600.