(BPT) – With the pandemic causing upheaval in all of our lives, the holidays will feel different this year, across every dimension, including financially. With money worries on the rise this year for many, navigating this time while still participating…
(BPT) – As colder weather arrives, many homeowners will be in search of creative ideas to make socially distanced gatherings possible. The challenge is making their outdoor spaces more comfortable so people are inspired to linger.Don’t let winter tempe…
(BPT) – Daylight saving time is coming to an end, but Headlight Savings Time is just starting.Headlight Savings Time is an annual campaign sponsored by Sylvania, a leading aftermarket automotive brand with more than 100 years of industry experience, to…
(BPT) – COVID-19 restrictions mean the 2020 holiday season will be different this year, but that doesn’t mean you have to become a Grinch. Although extensive travel, large group gatherings and many traditional activities can’t happen, you can find imag…
(BPT) – Nearly every business has been disrupted by COVID-19 in some way, which makes this year’s holiday shopping season more important than ever for many small businesses. Small business owners have demonstrated incredible resilience and creativity t…
(BPT) – Traditionally, the holiday season is a time to gather with family and friends to reminiscence and celebrate all that has happened throughout the year. But with an ongoing pandemic, many are left looking for new and unique ways to enjoy those ti…
(BPT) – Holiday decorations bring a smile to everyone’s face, and this year, we could all use that now more than ever. Crafting seasonal décor instead of shopping for it gives you and your family something to occupy your extra time at home and helps yo…
(BPT) – Home may be where the heart is, but the higher energy bills from staying home 24/7 are causing households across the country a hefty case of heartburn. The hot summer months were tough enough, but as we head into the cold winter months, we’re i…
(BPT) – Once a house fire starts, you have three minutes or less to escape. UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FSRI) is encouraging everyone to take three critical steps to help protect themselves and their loved ones should a house fire occur.
According to a recent survey from UL FSRI, more than a quarter (27%) of people estimated they would have more than three minutes to safely exit their home in the event of a home fire. Although a majority of people understand that they need to quickly exit their home, 47.8% of people believe they would have enough time to gather what’s important to them and safely exit their home.
‘What we see from our annual safety survey is that many people still underestimate the danger of a home fire,’ said Steve Kerber, vice president of research at UL FSRI. ‘During a fire, rooms can quickly be filled with toxic smoke. What is particularly concerning is that people think they will have time to gather what’s important to them, ignoring the likelihood that smoke will have reduced visibility and can cause harm quickly.’
UL FSRI’s new video shows how a room becomes unlivable in just three minutes, underscoring the need to get out quickly. Here are three simple, potentially life-saving fire safety behaviors people can adopt to give them more time to respond and escape in the event of a fire:
1. Check Your Smoke Alarms
Have working smoke alarms on every floor of your home, including inside and outside every sleeping area. Check your smoke alarms monthly and replace them every 10 years. Smoke alarms give you and your loved ones the earliest possible warning that there is a fire.
2. Create an Escape Plan
Have an escape plan and practice it; know two ways to get out if there is a fire. If smoke blocks a door or first way out, use your second way out. Also, if your first way out is blocked, get a closed door between you and the fire to buy time to use your second way out, especially if that requires escaping out a window.
61.8% of respondents indicated they have a fire escape plan, but more than half (56%) only review that plan once per year or less often. Nearly 40% of people have no escape plan at all.
A closed door can be an effective barrier against deadly levels of carbon monoxide, smoke and flames, and may give you more time to respond to the smoke alarm. In fact, there can be a 900-degree Fahrenheit difference in room temperature between a room with an open door and one with a closed door, with the open-door room reaching temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit or more. In 2018, UL FSRI released its ‘Dramatic Difference‘ video demonstrating this comparison.
The annual fire safety survey conducted in September 2020 shows that many misconceptions still exist around fire safety. Only 35% of people always sleep with their door closed, up from 26% in 2019. And while more than half of the responses (58%) indicated that they would be alerted to a home fire by their smoke alarm, one-third (33%) of respondents hold the belief that they would be alerted by the smell of smoke, while another 9% believed they would be alerted by other factors such as temperature or a family pet.
‘While some people think they will be alerted to a home fire by the smell of smoke, if someone is asleep, they would likely be incapacitated by the smoke before they could ever smell it,’ Kerber continued. ‘Our new video drives home the point that fire moves fast, and people should be prepared now with smoke alarms, escape plans and by closing their bedroom doors at night.’
For information on the research behind these life-saving initiatives and more fire-safety tips, visit CloseYourDoor.org.
(BPT) – Be responsible and keep everyone safe. That’s the meaning behind B.R.A.K.E.S., a nonprofit teen driving curriculum whose mission is to prevent injuries and save lives by training and educating teenage drivers and their parents about the importance of safe and responsible driving. When legendary professional drag racer Doug Herbert lost his sons Jon and James in a tragic car crash in 2008, he transformed his grief into a resolve to create a driving program which would help to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak. To accelerate the education of teen drivers and reinforce safe driving practices among their parents, Kia Motors America has partnered with B.R.A.K.E.S., and provides a fleet of vehicles to help facilitate and increase the number of B.R.A.K.E.S. classes that can be offered. For more information you can visit www.putonthebrakes.org.