Make a plan to escape from a fire.

September is National Preparedness Month

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) started sponsoring this commemoration to remind people to plan for the unpredictable.

At SERVPRO® of Mission Valley East, we’ve seen serious property damage from fires, and we know how quickly fires can spread. We also know that the most valuable parts of any home or the people. That’s why we’re bringing you these tips from the NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association).

Prepare to Escape a Fire

Remember that fires grow quickly; plan to be out of the house within two minutes.

• Work with the family to design a plan. Young children can draw pictures of their rooms and help count steps from one part of the house to another.
• If you have fire-escape ladders, make sure that everyone knows how to use them.
• Make sure that all doors and windows open easily.
• Plan at least two different ways of escaping every room.
• Smoke rises, so practice crawling (as if beneath the smoke) to safety.
• When you leave a room, close the doors and windows to prevent flames from spreading.
• Practice the plan at least twice a year.
• Do not stop to pick up valuables. You can replace objects.
• Make sure your plan includes a place to meet that is a safe distance from the home.
• Teach children to never go back into a burning building.

Fire Safety Mascots

The NFPA has videos and posters of Sparky the fire dog. Sparky is a good teaching tool for reaching young children. Decades ago, Sparky was a stern figure (“gruff”?), but he’s lightened up over the years, and has fans of all ages.

Smokey the Bear has been the mascot of the U.S. Forest Service since 1944. Like Sparky, Smokey has become a more relaxed spokes-mammal over the years, but his message is a serious one.

Cumbria, in Britain, has Welephant the Elephant, to teach fire safety. A schoolgirl designed Welephant in a competition for ways to teach children how to use fire alarms. He is bright red, and looks charming – odd, but charming.

There’s a cartoon Koala in Australia. The cartoon is almost as cuddly looking as the real animal.

Dalmatians are everywhere as firehouse mascots. They aren’t just in the U.S., but are also in parts of Australia, U.S. Military forces all over the world, Britain, Singapore, Eastern Europe, and will probably be featured on space stations.

Another British mascot is Blaze Bear. Blaze appears in several different fire-safety messages, including one where he/she has bandages.

SERVPRO of Mission Valley East

If disaster does happen, we’ll be grateful you practiced the plan so everyone is safe. If you need us, remember our emergency services are available 24 hours/day every day.

Call us at 619-303-3599.