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AFTER A FIRE
- Give first aid where appropriate.
Seriously injured or burned victims should be transported to professional
medical help immediately.
- Stay out of damage buildings.
Return home only when local fire authorities say it is safe.
- Look for structural damage.
- Discard food that has been
exposed to heat, smoke, or soot.
- Contact insurance agent.
- Don't discard damaged goods
until after an inventory has been taken. Save receipts for money relating
to fire loss.
Heating Devices
- Heating devices such as
portable heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces demand safe operation.
- Do not use portable liquid
fuel (kerosene, alcohol or coleman) heaters indoors. They are illegal
for use in Massachusetts homes.
- Have chimneys and wood stoves
cleaned annually.
- Buy only approved heaters
and follow the manufacturers' directions.
Smoke Detectors
- Smoke detectors more than
double the chance of surviving a fire.
- Smoke detectors sense abnormal
amounts of smoke or invisible combustion gases in the air.
- They can detect both smoldering
and burning fires.
- At least one smoke detector
should be installed on every level of a structure.
- Test the smoke detectors
each month and replace the batteries at least twice a year. A good way
to remember the battery changes is to change them on the days that daylight
savings time begins and ends.
- Purchase smoke detectors
labeled by the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM).
For additional advice and you
live in Peabody, please contact the Peabody Fire Prevention Bureau at 531-2200
or your local fire department if you live elsewhere. |