April 25, 2017

FDNY’s Top Fire Safety Rules

By Jonathan Damashek

Posted in Personal Injury

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Fires occur all of the time in New York, damaging residences, offices, and shops, injuring innocent people, and forcing the city’s firefighters to rush around the city trying to battle blazes.

The Fire Department of the City of New York has published what it considers the top fire safety rules for avoiding fires, and we thought the list was worth sharing:

  1. Never use an extension cord with large appliances such as a space heater, air conditioner or refrigerator. They can overheat and overload the outlet, causing a fire.
  2. Do not smoke while lying down, if drowsy, medicated or under the influence of alcohol. Smokers are seven times more likely than nonsmokers to have a fire incident in their homes. Make sure a cigarette is completely out before discarding.
  3. Never leave cooking food unattended, and if possible, wear short or tight fitting sleeves.

Unattended cooking accounts for 33 percent of home fires.

  1. Having a well-functioning smoke alarm will reduce by half your chances of dying in a fire. Alarms should be installed on every floor and in bedrooms for extra protection. Seventy percent of fire deaths occur in homes with an inoperable smoke alarm or no smoke alarm available. Children and older adults have higher chances of dying in a fire.
  2. Plan a fire escape plan. Do not attempt to fight the fire yourself. Leave immediately, and close the door. You may have less than three minutes to get to safety. Call 911 from a safe location.
  3. Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Toddler fire deaths are most often due to children playing with matches or lighters.
  4. Leaving burning candles unattended is extremely dangerous.

If you or a family member is injured in a fire, contact us immediately for a free consultation. We are here to help.