Fire Safety and
Prevention: Hereford Fire
Department regularly hosts fire safety and prevention activities for the
community. Teaching fire safety to local school children is an important
part of our service to the community. Every year classes from all over the
school district tour the fire department, learn about creating fire escape
plans for their homes, STOP, DROP and ROLL and meet a fireman in full gear
so they are not afraid if they ever have to meet a fireman at a fire or
accident.
 Smoke Detectors Save Lives!
Statistics show that most fatal fires
occur at night when people are sleeping. Before the flames of a fire
actually
reach you, the smoke and poisonous gases can kill you . The normal level of
oxygen in the air is 21%. In a fire this level will start dropping; below
17% clear thinking and muscle control become difficult; and between 6-10%
breathing will stop. After 4-6 minutes without oxygen, brain death occurs.
The heat in a fire can easily exceed 1000 Fahrenheit, which will severely
burn exposed tissue and can also cause unconsciousness in a very short time.
According to the Standard on Household Warning Equipment (NFPA 74),
minimum protection requires smoke detectors outside each bedroom and on each
additional level of the house including the basement. For extra protection
it is recommended that you also install detectors inside each bedroom, the
dining room, furnace room, utility room and hallways. Since smoke rises
smoke detectors need to be mounted high on a wall or on a ceiling. It is
extremely important to test and clean detectors regularly. An easy way to
remember to do this is; Change your Clock, Change your Battery!
Smoke detectors can give you warning; but it is up to
you to get yourself and your family out of danger. Every family should
have a fire escape plan with at least two ways to escape in case of a fire
and you should practice this plan often enough that young children will not
forget. When using your escape plan remember to crawl low, under the
smoke, and keep your mouth covered. Feel closed doors with the back of
your hand. If it is hot, use another exit. If not open the door
slowly and check for smoke and fire. If your clothes happen to catch
fire, STOP, DROP and ROLL. Cover your face with your hands to protect
it from the flames. If someone else catches fire, smother the flames
with a blanket or coat and roll them on the ground. Meet at the
designated meeting place once outside, and then call for help - never return
to a burning building.
Fire Extinguishers:
Types:
Type A - is a fire which burns paper, cloth, wood, rubber and other
common combustibles.
Type B - is a fire that burns flammable liquids, such as gasoline,
oils and solvents.
Type C - are electrical fires
Have extinguishers checked at least once a year or after each use.
A good way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher
is the PASS system. First call the fire department and then:
- Pull the safety pin out
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
- Squeeze or press the handle
- Sweep rapidly from side to side until the fire
goes out
 Carbon
Monoxide:
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless,
odorless, deadly gas. Because you can't see, taste, or smell it,
carbon monoxide can kill you before you know it's there. Carbon
monoxide replaces oxygen in the bloodstream eventually causing
suffocation. Mild carbon monoxide poisoning feels like the flu, but
more serious poisoning leads to difficulty breathing and even death.
Just how sick people get from carbon monoxide exposure varies greatly from
person to person, depending on age, overall health and the concentration
of the exposure and the length of exposure.
Household carbon monoxide detectors
measure how much carbon monoxide (CO) has accumulated. Currently CO
detectors sound an alarm when the concentration of CO in the air
corresponds to 10% COHb level in the blood. Since 10% COHb is at the
very low end of CO poisoning the alarm may sound before people feel
particularly sick.
 The
Cost of Fire Insurance:
The Insurance Service Office (ISO)
rates each city in Texas. This organization is owned by the
insurance companies and exists to give a proficiency rating to the cities
measuring their capability for fire suppression and prevention. On-site visits are made and the capability of each city is determined by a
very thorough inspection of its capability of fire suppression. The city's
fire department is also graded. The city's water system
is graded for its ability to deliver the necessary amount of water for
fire suppression within the city. The building, zone and fire codes
are also evaluated as well as the enforcement of them. ISO takes all
of this information and develops a rating for each city. The ratings
may vary from 10-1 with 1 being the best. The City of Hereford's
rating is 3, which is an exceptional rating for a city the size of
Hereford and having a volunteer fire department. The lower the ISO
ranking, the lower the fire insurance is for the property owners in the
city.
STORM READY
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
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