"Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org . ©2008 NFPA."

Fire Prevention Week October 5-11, 2008

Since 1922, the second week of October has been designated as Fire Prevention Week.  This week coincides with the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire (October 8-9, 1871) and is intended to teach people about fire prevention and safety.  At Duke, we have a number of activities planned for the week, and additional activities planned for the month.  We hope you'll join us for some of these events to learn about fire safety practices that you can use both at work and at home. 

This year's theme is "Practice Your Escape Plan!".  While a recent NFPA poll showed that the majority of Americans have a home escape plan in case of fire, many haven't practiced it.  A fire can rapidly spread through your home in less than 2 minutes, so having a practiced escape plan can be crucial to your survival.

Did you know*:

• there were over 395,000 reported home fires and over 3100 civilian fire deaths in the U.S. (2004 statistic)
• older adults (65 and over) are twice as likely to be killed or injured by fires compared to the general population.  
• you should always use the stairs to escape, never an elevator. If someone in your home or work area has difficulty using stairs, incorporate a contingency for this in your escape plan.  
• cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S.  
• security bars on windows, while protecting you from crime, may hinder your ability to get out safely and quickly in the event of a fire.  All security bars should be equipped with emergency release devices on the inside.  
• items such as furniture, equipment and storage, can keep you from escaping quickly if they are blocking doors, windows or are just in the hallways creating a tripping hazard.  
• the majority of home fire deaths occur late at night. 

Having an escape plan is an important part of fire safety, but if you don't practice it or are not familiar with the details, the plan will not do you much good in an emergency.  For more information on home escape planning, visit the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Web site.  For information on your workplace site-specific fire plans at Duke, visit the OESO Fire Safety Web site. 

The Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) Fire Safety Division has a number of Duke and community activities planned during October to promote the fire prevention message.  We'll be revising program details and adding more to this site as we include more activities, so be sure to check back!

*NFPA statistics