Fire prevention week underway

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Each year, roughly 3,000 people die as a result of home fires and burns in the United States alone. More than 200,000 individuals are seen in the nation's emergency rooms for burn injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

In recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 4-10, the base fire department has a variety of events planned to arm base members with the knowledge they need to prevent fires and protect themselves should they fall victim to a fire.

This year's campaign, themed "Stay fire smart! Don't get burned!," focuses on ways to keep homes fire-safe and prevent painful burns, said Bryant Nicodemus, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron fire prevention assistant chief.

"Every year, thousands of buildings are destroyed and thousands of people are killed or injured as a result of fire," said Mr. Nicodemus. "We all have a responsibility to live our lives safely and to protect our loved ones and ourselves from the dangers of fire. This week is a great time for all of us to check our homes, work centers and places of entertainment for fire hazards and to correct those we find."

The fire prevention expert added that it is especially important for base members to know their entire residential address and how to report a fire or any type of emergency in Italy.

"There are four important emergency numbers to know," he said.

112 - Carabinieri (local Italian police)
115 - Fire Department
118 - Medical
911 - On-base emergencies (0434-30-8911 if from a commercial line)

"I can't stress the importance of memorizing these numbers enough," he added. "In an emergency situation, every second is critical. You don't want to be in an emergency and not know how to call for help."

Mr. Nicodemus and the rest of the fire emergency services flight kicked off Fire Prevention Week a little early this year, visiting base children at the school and library Sept. 20 to Oct. 1. The focus was on teaching them about fire safety in the home, cooking burns and evacuation procedures. Children also met with "Sparky" the fire dog and had a first-hand look at a fire truck.

Fire prevention officials, to include Sparky and a fire truck, will also be outside the base exchange Oct. 6 and 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to continue to promote fire prevention and safety.

Mr. Nicodemus added that base personnel, especially those with children, can follow just a few simple steps to ensure they too "stay fire smart" and "don't get burned."

Recommended tips include:

· Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over.
· Have a 3-foot "kid-free" zone around the stove.
· Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
· Be careful when using things that get hot such as curling irons, oven, irons, lamps, heaters.
· Install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent a child from sticking an object in the outlet.
· Never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove, or where a hot appliance might be in use.
· Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
· Set your hot water temperature no higher than 120 degrees.
· Install anti-scald valves on shower heads and faucets.

"People need to remember that the base populace is not immune to fires," said Mr. Nicodemus. "We have had our share of building damage on base and to our off-base living quarters as a result of fire. These were fires that could have been prevented. All of us must think fire safety and be fire smart all the time."

For additional fire prevention tips or for more information on upcoming observance events, call the fire prevention office at 632-7530.