Description: Residential fire losses substantially dominate the total fire losses in the U.S. accounting for 83% of the 2855 deaths, 78% or the 16,500 injuries, and 58% of the estimated $ 12.5 billion in property loss. (Karter, M.J., Fire Losses in the United States in 2012, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, September 2013)
The objective of this class is to reduce fire deaths and injuries and teach residents what to do in an emergency. Cooking is the number one cause of fires in America today, and smoking is the number one cause of fire fatalities.
We will cover:
• Unattended cooking, watch what you heat. Always remain close to all cooking processes. “Stand by your pan”.
• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors are life-saving devices that will give you an early warning to a potential life-threatening incident. Smoke detectors on every level of a home reduce fire fatalities by 50%.
• Safe use of long-term medical oxygen. In Denver, it is not allowed to smoke inside your residence (not even on your balcony) if there is medical oxygen and equipment, including concentrators, present in the home. Smoking causes 23% of civilian fire deaths.
• Residential sprinkler facts. A sprinkler head will activate when the temperature at the head reaches 135° or higher at the ceiling, initiating the flow of water. Unlike in the movies, only the one sprinkler head activates and will flow water. Additional heads will only activate when the temperature reaches 135°. According to the National Fire Protection Association, civilian fire fatalities are 81% lower in homes with sprinklers. When sprinklers were present, fires were kept to the room of origin 97% of the time.
Residents should be able to:
- Describe the emergency procedures for their home in case of fire, tornado, medical emergency, etc.
- Identify common fire hazards in the home, and how to prevent them. • Describe the evacuation process, including having two ways out of every room, and a meeting place outside. “Once out, stay out.”
- Identify special situations or individuals in the building that may require an emergency response different than the standard response (i.e. evacuating instructions for people with a disability or other need for assistance).
- Describe the basic operation of building fire and life safety systems as they relate to the emergency evaluation process (this is obviously different for a townhome and a high-rise building).
- Are there special situations in your home that you need to be aware of in case of a fire emergency? Describe any special situation that would require a response other than that generally described (individuals who are non-ambulatory, what to do if someone can’t get out, etc.).
Target Audience: Our priorities are high-rise buildings and any other occupancy that has many occupants, but all requests will be considered as staffing allows.
Availability: Weekdays between 9:00 to 3:00. Other times may be available per a case-by-case basis and may involve additional fees. We may not be able to accommodate all event requests due to limited staffing and other scheduling conflicts. Class is structured to be 2 hours long but can be shortened depending upon the needs of the host.
Fee: $175, invoiced after the class
Requirements:
You provide:
- A meeting room with adequate seating for students, a table to put the instructor’s laptop on, a screen or light-colored wall to show a movie on, an electrical outlet within 15 feet, and your building’s fire and life safety emergency plan. It is helpful for the building engineer or other qualified person to be present to review the building’s safety systems with the instructor prior to the class.
DFD provides:
- The instructor will bring the laptop, movie, projector, etc.
There is no limit to the number of students, if the host provides a microphone for groups larger than 60 students.