The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

8 FIRE PREVENTION, Friday October 17, 2008 Be Prepared for Fire Know exactly what to do and where to go if there is a fire. Plan your escape! Make a home escape plan or refer to your building's fire safety plan. Smoke alarms protect everyone Have a smoke alarm installed on every level of your home especially near sleeping areas. Every month, test the alarms by using a broom handle or cane to gently push the alarm test button. Make sure everyone can hear the smoke alarms all areas of your home. If you smoke Use large, deep ashtrays and always make sure your cigarette butts are out. Never smoke when you are lying down, if you are drowsy, or in bed. Don't reach for danger! Wear tight fitting or rolled up sleeves when cooking and don't reach over a hot burner. If a pot catches fire, cover it with a lid and turn off the burner. Never leave your cooking unattended. If your clothing catches fire Lower yourself to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll over and over to put out the flames. If you can't do this, grab a towel or blan- ket and smother the flames. Crawl low under smoke Most fire victims die from smoke, not flames. Smoke always rises, so you must get down on the floor where the air is cleaner. Crawl on your hands and knees to safety, Give space heaters space Keep them at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from everything including you. A slight brush against a heater could set your clothing on fire. Need Assistance? If you would like help to test your smoke alarms or to prepare a fire safety plan, talk to your friends, family or home support worker. There is help avail- able within your community. If you have any questions about fire safety, your fire department will be pleased to assist. Fire Protection & Prevention Services Purchase a A-B-C rated fire extinguisher and teach all responsible family members how to use it. However, the Red Cross strongly recommends that you visit your local fire department to practise using a fire extinguisher properly. You need to practise to ensure you will remember how to respond when you are forced to react quickly. Also please remember that most house- hold fire extinguishers are designed to put out very small fires only. Attempting to put out large fires with a house- hold extinguisher can be dangerous. An experienced fire professional will be able to explain the safest, most effec- tive way to use your extinguisher. Remember, fire extin- guishers are for small fires only. When using one, stand back 10 feet from the fire, keep your back to an exit and remember the PASS Sequence. Pull the pin out Aim the extinguisher Squeeze or press the handle Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire. Using a Fire Extinguisher There are still a large number of fatal fires occurring in the province of Ontario, with an increase in fatalities this year up significantly from this time last year. The majority of these fatalities could have easily been prevented with the presence of a working smoke alarm. Sadly it appears that even with all the recent media stories, new laws and efforts of fire depart- ments throughout the province the general public does not seem to be tak- ing this issue seri- ously until it is too late. The Ontario Fire Code clearly states that it is the Owners responsi- bility to ensure that a smoke alarm is provided and main- tained in working order, and further- more that No per- son shall disable a smoke alarm. It is time peo- ple start to take some personal responsibility when it comes to fire safety. Fire fighter Paul Sargeant says If every building owner was as diligent and cooperative as Mr. & Mrs. Strauss then our community would be a safer place. He also states Every week we encounter numerous buildings, apart- ments etc. where there are still no working smoke alarms. After the fire is too late! This month is Fire Prevention Month. Do you have a working smoke alarm in your home? Working Smoke Alarms is Everyones Responsibility Local homeowner & Landlord, Aundene Strauss demon- strates the impor- tance of installing and maintaining smoke alarms in your home and apartment suites.