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 During the month of June, the NSC and OSFM are asking the public
to focus on six key areas: fire safety (the number one priority for
OSFM), prescription drug abuse, slips and falls, safety in public
places, driving safety and summer safety.
“First and foremost, I want to remind Illinois residents to have
smoke alarms installed and ensure they are in the right places and
functioning properly,” said State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis. “It
takes all of us to keep our environment safe and to ensure, that in
the event of a fire, all family members are prepared to make a safe
escape.”
Smoke alarms should be tested monthly to ensure they are in proper
working order.
The public should become familiar with fire safety procedures and
know how to act in case of other life threatening emergencies in the
work place, in schools, hospitals, day care centers, senior centers
and other public facilities.
In 2013, Illinois fire departments reported responding to nearly 2
million incidents. Approximately 50,000 of those incidents were fire
related, 794,018 involved emergency medical services, and 352,910
were neither fire nor EMS related.
The following is a list of basic tips to put into practice on a
daily basis:
- Properly dispose of unused and expired medications and keep
them away from children.
- Get trained in first aid, CPR and AED. Training is available
on line, in a classroom or contact your local fire department to
find locations in the community.
- Don’t text and drive and do not talk on a cell phone while
driving.
- Obey state traffic laws including stop signs and speed
limits, especially in school and work zones.
- Wear seat belts and keep small children properly secured in
car seats.
The following is a list of tips to prevent falls or personal
injuries:
- Secure electrical and phone cords out of walking areas.
- Remove small throw rugs or use non-skid mats to keep from
slipping.
- Remove tripping hazards (paper, boxes, toys, clothes, shoes)
from stairs and walkways.
- Periodically check the condition of walkways and steps, and
repair damages immediately.
- Never stand on a chair, table or other surface on wheels.
- Clean up all spills immediately.
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OSFM recommends the following tips for fire prevention:
- Install smoke alarms on each floor of your home and within
15 feet of sleeping quarters. Regularly check batteries and test
your alarms.
- Compile a home safety kit (emergency preparedness kit) for
your family. Include things like flashlights with extra
batteries, blankets, food, water and a battery-powered weather
radio. Keep the kit in an easily-accessible place, so you can
quickly grab it in case of an emergency.
- Make a plan in case of an emergency (like a fire, tornado or
earthquake). For fires, have an escape plan. In case of
inclement weather, make sure everyone knows the safest place in
your home to go to. Practice the plans often.
- Keep a first aid kit stocked in your home at all times. You
never know when an accident can happen.
- Know emergency phone numbers, such as the Police, Fire
Department and local Poison Control Center.
- Keep matches, lighters and burning candles out of the reach
of children.
- Check on senior citizens who live alone to make sure they
are also living in a safe environment.
For more information about fire prevention and fire safety please
visit OSFM’s webpage at
www.sfm.illinois.gov
[Text received; FROM THE OFFICE OF
THE ILLINOIS STATE FIRE MARSHAL]
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