Today kicks off Fire Prevention Week which runs until Saturday October, 13. In accordance with this year’s theme, Fire Prevention Week encourages everyone to develop the following fire safety habits:
- Look around your home and identify any potential fire hazards.
- Listen and respond immediately anytime you hear the smoke alarm go off.
- Learn at least two ways you could potentially escape from every room in your home if a fire actually broke out there.
What’s the Goal of Fire Prevention Week?
The goal of this week is to promote fire safety education, as well as provide lifesaving educational tools to everyone from small children and teens, to adults and seniors.
Another incentive is to increase awareness of how someone’s education level, socio-economic status, and geographic location can factor into them potentially being injured in a fire. Currently, children under 5 and seniors over 65 have the highest risk for being injured or killed in a fire.
What's the History Behind Fire Prevention Week?
Fire Prevention Week is the longest-running public health-related observance in the history of the United States.
Since 1922, this event has been sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge decided that Fire Prevention Week should be observed on a national level.
Traditionally this week is held during the week of October 9 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Legend holds that the blaze started when a family’s cow knocked over a lighted lantern; however, the family denies it and the true cause of the fire has never been determined.
The fire, which began on October 8 and continued for two days, killed 250 people, left 100,000 people homeless, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.
How Can I Help Promote Fire Prevention Week?
Some of the ways you can promote fire safety in your home include:
- Installing a smoke alarm on every level of your home.
- Checking each smoke alarm in your home to make sure they’re working properly.
- Make sure everyone in your home is aware of potential escape routes should a fire break out.
- Offer to help install a smoke alarm in the home of anyone you know who lives alone, especially if that person is a senior and/or has a disability.
Where Can I Enroll in a Firefighter Program?
If you've considered becoming a firefighter, perhaps you should enroll in Hocking College’s Firefighter Certificate program. In only one semester, students can graduate with their Occupational Certificate in Firefighter Certificate and be able to utilize the following skills and knowledge:
- Basic life support/CPR
- Emergency vehicle defensive driving techniques
- Proper firefighter uniform protocol
For more information about the Fire program, contact the Fire Sciences Program Manager Rick Best by email at bestr35625@hocking.edu or by phone at (740) 753-6493.
