In case of emergency

Fire Department works through
children to bring the message
of fire safety home

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Is there anything scarier than hearing the wail of a fire siren near your home? And when you're not home, do you worry that you might have left the coffeepot on or forgotten to shut off the iron?

If you're like most people, this is about the time you make a promise: If it isn't your house on fire, the first thing you'll do is unload that overloaded outlet, throw away that old toaster and check your smoke alarm.

October is Fire Safety Month, which coincides this year with the release of the firefighter film "Ladder 49." Honolulu fire officials believe it's a good time to get the message of fire safety out, with an emphasis on encouraging keiki safety.

The Honolulu Fire Department is issuing 150,000 copies of the 2005 Hawaii Fire Fighters Safety & Health Guide to Oahu students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

The 20-year-old guide has been updated in layout and design, set up a bit like a school lesson plan, with information on home smoke detectors, a home fire escape plan and how to call 911 in an emergency. To make the lesson fun, there are also some new contests and prizes.

The 2005 guide contains quizzes and puzzles about fire, water and, for the first time, bicycle safety. Answers are spread throughout the 10-page booklet. Students have until Oct. 31 to complete the guide and return it to their teachers as a contest entry. Winners will be eligible for such prizes as interisland round-trip tickets on Hawaiian Airlines, Happy Meal parties at McDonald's, Atlantis Cruises and Fuji cameras.

"Kids are excellent messengers," says HFD's Capt. Emmit Kane. "If this guide comes home as an assignment, we're confident that Mom and Dad will help their child fill it out.

"That means the whole family helps develop an escape plan and checks the smoke detector. The kids are an impetus to do things like checking smoke detectors, since most adults install them, then forget about it."

How important are smoke detectors?

"Statistically, a properly installed and maintained smoke detector increases a person's survival chances in a fire by 50 percent," Kane said. "Smoke detectors also lead to early detection, which means early notification of the fire department, and that reduces dollar loss."

Fire officials recommend positioning smoke detectors between living and sleeping areas, with one per floor at a minimum, sited away from air vents. It's also a good idea to learn to recognize the sound of the smoke alarm. Kane recommends regularly vacuuming the grill of your smoke detector and testing it every month.

As for an escape plan, Kane says families should develop two for every room, then practice the escape. "Everyone should know exactly what to do to escape from your home," he said.

When fires occur, time is a person's biggest enemy, so get out of the burning building before calling for help. In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house before it becomes engulfed in flames.

If you wake up to a fire, you might be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around the home you've lived in for years. Practice feeling your way out on your hands and knees with your eyes closed. Never stand up in a fire because smoke and heat rise, leaving air pockets and cooler temperatures closer to the ground. Stay low and try to keep your mouth covered. Never return to a burning building for any reason; it could cost you your life.

THE most common cause of fires on Oahu is unattended cooking, but there has been an increase in candle-caused fires.

Electrical problems are also a major cause of house fires. Preventive measures include replacing frayed or cracked cords, and keeping cords from running under carpeting or furniture.

Avoid overloading extension cords. Read the label on UL- or FM-approved cords for proper electrical rating.

Replace or repair appliances that do not operate properly. Plug in portable appliances only when in use. Do not cut the third prong off your appliance plug -- it's there to prevent electric shock.

And be kitchen smart. Cooking fires not only are the leading cause of fires in the home, but the second most frequent cause of death among seniors, according to national statistics.

Don't leave cooking unattended. Turn off the burner if you leave the house, even if it's only for a few minutes. Place a lid over pots or pans to smother fires that flare up while cooking, and never throw water or flour into a burning pot or pan. Water will spread the flames, and flour could actually explode.

If a fire starts in your oven, turn off the heat and leave the door closed.

Each year, more than 4,000 Americans die and about 25,000 are injured in fires. The cause of death is often not burning, but smoke inhalation. Breathing even small amounts of smoke and toxic gases can make you drowsy and disoriented. The odorless, colorless fumes can lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door.

Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and 600 degrees-plus at eye level, Kane said. Inhaling the super-hot air scorches the lungs. The heat can melt clothes to skin. In five minutes a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once, a process called "flashover."

Many house fires occur when people are asleep, Kane said.

"When you wake up to a fire, you won't have time to grab valuables because fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick," he said. "There is only time to escape, so know your plan."