Mother, 5 Year Old Daughter Killed In Early Morning Fire

Tragedy can occur at any time and to anyone. But that doesn’t mean that we should let it happen. We can take responsible action to help prevent it.

A recent fire that started in the attic of a Kenner, LA house ultimately claimed the lives of a mother and her 5-year-old daughter after they and others were hospitalized.

Did you know that in most homes, the furnace and air-conditioning system is installed in the attic? No smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors appear to have been found in the home — Can you imagine this happening to your family? Could this tragedy have been prevented by a properly installed and working warning system consisting of smoke & carbon monoxide detectors? When was the last time you checked your warning system to make sure it worked correctly? Do you have a well-rehearsed evacuation plan for your family? When was the last time you had an EPA certified HVAC-technician perform an inspection on your home’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning system to ensure that it is running safe and efficiently? A clean, efficiently-burning gas furnace produces very small amounts of carbon monoxide, while a dirty, inefficiently-burning one can produce deadly amounts plus increases the risk of a fire!

Because of this recent tragedy, please continue reading to learn what EVERYONE should know about keeping their homes and loved ones safe, plus look over our suggested evacuation plan for your family!

The National Electrical Codes and local Inspectors now require the following life safety equipment in all new home construction, to keep families safe.

Here’s what you should know:

Smoke Detectors

• Over 50% of fires occur during normal sleeping hours
• It requires 75db of sound to wake an average person (the equivalent of a vacuum cleaner just 3 feet from your head)
• You have just 3 minutes to escape a flaming fire (according to Nat’l Institute of Safety and Technology)
• The correct number and placement of smoke detectors, and ensuring that all detectors are working properly, is critically important. Without a working smoke detector, your chances of dying in a fire increase by 50%
• After 10 years your detector is likely to have corroded contacts or otherwise faulty electronics. Replacement is recommended every 10 years.
• The National Codes Require Smoke Detectors in:
• All Bedrooms
• Next to Sleeping Areas
• Minimum of One per Floor!
• All Hallways

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection

• Carbon Monoxide can come from your furnace or any flame device
• CO is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and deadly
• The Centers for Disease Control recommend at least one CO detector outside all sleeping areas

 

Your Family’s Fire Evacuation Plan

1. Plan an escape route with your family present.
2. When planning your escape, identify more than one potential exit for each room and each level. Create several different escape plans, in case one or more are blocked by fire or smoke.
3. Be sure your escape plan takes into account the particular characteristics of each member of your family including age, physical conditions, sleeping habits, hearing ability, etc.
4. Young children often panic in fires, hiding in closets or under beds. Teach them not to hide – GET OUT OF A BURNING HOUSE IMMEDIATELY
5. Practice the escape plan at least twice a year, making sure that everyone is involved – from kids to grandparents.
6. Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice holding a fire drill at night when they are sleeping.
7. It is recommended that you hold a fire drill while family members are sleeping in order to determine their response to the sound of the smoke alarm while sleeping and to determine whether they may need assistance in the event of an emergency.
8. Practice fire drills and your escape plan with the alarm sounding. This will teach children to associate the alarm signal with the need to escape.
9. Designate a meeting place outside of the home for the entire family – do a head count to be sure you have accounted for everyone.
10. When practicing an escape plan, be sure that all family members know and properly understand the following, especially children.

• Feel the door before opening – if it’s hot, don’t open it. Use another escape route. If you can use the door, close it behind you. A closed door may help stall a fire.
• Stay low! Smoke and heat rise. Crawl on the floor where there is less smoke and less severe heat.
• Never return to a burning building for any reason including toys or pets.
• If your clothes should catch fire, don’t run! STOP! Where you are, cover your face, DROP to the ground, then ROLL over and over to smother the flames!

 

Call Trinity Home Services today and get your HVAC Inspection to
make sure that your home’s furnace and air-conditioning systems are running efficiently and safely BEFORE tragedy has the chance to strike!

Call TODAY!!! 504-287-4829