| Have you ever been through a test fire drill while | | | | and if the fire extinguisher you happen to have in |
| at work and dismissed it as a waste of time or | | | | your hand is the correct one to put that fire out? |
| even completely ignored it along with any other | | | | If you believe this is Fire-fighters stuff only, please |
| fire safety related notion? I admit I have, until I | | | | do not wait until you have to pull that trigger to |
| was caught in a fire emergency and had to know | | | | find out you are wrong. |
| what to do to survive in order to be able to help | | | | Another life saving device I used to totally ignore |
| others and, at the same time, minimize the risk of | | | | is the humble Smoke Alarm. This simple device is |
| others endangering their lives or even die trying | | | | a real life saver and there should definitely be one |
| to get me out of trouble because of my | | | | installed in each room of your home, no |
| incompetence. That was a lot of literally vital stuff | | | | exceptions. It can be easily sourced, even at your |
| I had to make the right decisions on with very | | | | local supermarket, comes with great designs to |
| little time to spare. | | | | suit the style of your home and is worth the |
| I have since realized that fire safety drills and | | | | small investment thousands of times over if you |
| periodical training and procedures are mostly | | | | think only for a nanosecond what it is in fact |
| designed to help you draw a mental map of the | | | | designed to do. In case of fire, an early wake up |
| steps you should take to protect yours and | | | | call will mean the difference between life and |
| others lives in case of a real fire emergency. It is | | | | death. |
| imperative that we all pay much more attention | | | | All you have to do now is place your smoke |
| to this subject not only in the working | | | | alarms strategically on the walls or ceilings of all |
| environment, but most importantly at home | | | | your rooms and make sure you periodically |
| where we are totally responsible for the safety | | | | maintain them which mean performing a |
| of our loved ones in case of such an emergency. | | | | functionality test according to the device |
| It is easy to realize that because of our busy | | | | maintenance schedule which comes with each |
| lives we have virtually no time at all to get up to | | | | device and eventually change the batteries if |
| speed with many vital emergency procedures like | | | | needed. |
| fire safety. I could have used some more | | | | Basically if you can change a light bulb you can |
| knowledge when I was suddenly put on the spot | | | | install and maintain a life saving smoke detecting |
| and I bet the vast majority of people that | | | | device and alarm, it is that simple and you will not |
| survived such an ordeal would agree. Therefore | | | | regret it. |
| finding ways to draw attention to simple, | | | | And if you are interested in fire safety as you |
| accessible and useful information on the subject | | | | should, a "Fire Prevention Week" is now being held |
| has almost become a mission for me after that | | | | every year, especially to educate the public and |
| experience. | | | | raise awareness on fire safety in order to |
| For example, one of the fire safety tools I was | | | | prevent or at least decrease the impact that fire |
| totally ignorant about even though I could see | | | | disasters have on people lives and properties |
| them virtually everywhere was the fire | | | | every day as much as possible. I urgently invite |
| extinguisher, there is one even in my car. But do | | | | you to find out more, get fire safety trained and |
| you know how to operate it correctly? Have you | | | | ultimately get personally involved in promoting fire |
| ever asked yourself if you would be able to | | | | safety awareness and education. |
| quickly establish what kind of fire you are fighting | | | | |