COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 2019 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” effectively serves to remind us that we need to take personal steps to increase our safety from fire.
Columbus Air Force Base is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting our installation. Fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and homes are the locations where people are at greatest risk from fire.
Families who have planned and practiced a home fire escape plan are more prepared and will therefore be more likely to survive a fire. You should make a home escape plan, drawing a map of each level of the home, showing all doors and windows, and practice that plan at least twice per year, during the day and at night. We recommend teaching children to escape on their own in case adults can’t help them and how to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from a cell phone.
According to a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) survey, only one of every three American households have developed and practiced a home escape plan. While 71% of Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, only 47% of those have practiced it. A closed bedroom door when sleeping may slow the spread of heat, smoke, and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home. Test your alarms monthly.
Getting out safely and quickly could depend on working smoke alarms. According to the NFPA; fire escape planning and exit drills in the home are critical to surviving.
For easy planning, download NFPA’s free escape planning grid (https://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/safety-in-the-home/escape-planning). This is a great way to get children involved in fire safety planning in a non-threatening way.
Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbors house, a light post, or tree). Get outside immediately and stay out. Never go back inside!
If you have a two/three-story home, you might consider purchasing an approved escape ladder that can be hung from the window ledge or you can tie bedsheets together with knots every few feet.
Upon arrival, direct firefighters to where the fire is located, if it is not obvious, and report any missing family members or friends immediately. Firefighters have skills and equipment to perform search & rescue.
Oct. 5
9-10 a.m. – Parade through housing
10 a.m.-noon – Open House at the Fire Department. There will be plenty of family activities, such as a bouncy house, hose bowling, fire bunker gear station, fire truck display, Keiser Sled, face painting, aircraft live-fire demo, smoke house trailer, opportunity to meet Sparky, fire safety booth, and FOOD (burger, hotdogs, chips and drinks) will be provided.
Oct. 7
9-10 a.m. – CDC Reading with Sparky & Fire Truck Tour
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Public Education Demo @ the Clinic (Bldg 1100)
Oct. 8
9-10 a.m. – CDC Reading with Sparky & Fire Truck Tour
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Public Education Demo @ the MSG (Bldg 730)
Oct. 9
9-10 a.m. – CDC Reading with Sparky & Fire Truck Tour
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Public Education Demo @ the Fitness Center
4-6 p.m. – Public Education Demo @ BX/Commissary
4-5:30 p.m. – Smoke Trailer @ Youth Center
Oct. 10
9-10 a.m. – CDC Reading with Sparky & Fire Truck Tour
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Public Education Demo @ the Commons (Bldg 715)
2-3:30 p.m. – Smoke Trailer @ Hunt Housing Community Center
Oct. 11
9-10 a.m. – CDC Reading with Sparky & Fire Truck Tour
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Public Education Demo @ the Event Center (Bldg 944)