Please make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. Change the batteries if you can’t remember when you last changed them.
If you have small children, please take the time to go over an escape plan and practice it monthly. Telling children once or twice what they should do may not be enough. Go over it often so they don’t even have to think about what to do in case of a fire. If you have grandchildren or friends with small children, please remind them to make and practice an emergency escape route. We sometimes get so busy that we forget to do something like this.
Our little town suffered a terrible tragedy last night. I don’t know a lot of the details, and I’m not sure smoke alarms or a fire escape plan would have made a difference . . the family may have done everything possible to avoid such a tragedy; they may have had working smoke alarms and they may have practiced escape plans, but last night, it all failed and two children died. I know the grandmother and I can’t image the pain and grief the family is suffering.
Several years ago I had a grease fire. I know without even thinking about it that you never throw water on a grease fire but when I saw the flames, my brain didn’t kick into gear before I grabbed a pitcher and threw water on the fire. Thank goodness it was a very small fire or I would have had a huge fire after the water spread it everywhere. So, no matter how much we preach to our children about an escape route, until they actually do it . . step by step . . to get them out of the house and to a safe meeting area, knowing it in your head but being able to carry it out during a time of pressure are two different things.
Pat says
I”m sorry to hear of the tragedy in your town. That kind of thing is absolutely terrible at any time of the year, but to lose two children right at holiday time is especially heartbreaking. Your advice is good advice and I hope all will listen to what you are saying and pass the word along.
Eve says
Oh, Judy, I am so sorry. My heart just aches for their family.
And thank you for the reminders. Maybe they will make a difference to someone who hadn’t thought about it for a while. {{{{HUGS }}}} for you and their Grandma. Eve
Linda H says
How awful, Judy! I’m so sorry to hear about this tragedy.
Thank you for the reminders. This time of year is so bad for housefires with the increased candle, spaceheater, fireplace usage.
By the way, on my breadbaking progress…first batch was so-so…second batch was bad. I consulted my old King Arthur’s Flour baking book –an excellent book– and then tweaked the Artisan recipe a bit. This batch of dough is looking and feeling better. I’ll be sliding it into the oven in a couple minutes. We’ll see! Smells good. 🙂
Mary says
That’s a terrible tragedy Judy. I was always fearful in the apartment of being able to get out – esp. in the middle of the night with the dog. I probably have a false sense of security here in the townhouse but I feel like it would be easier to get out.
Evelyn says
My husband was rolling his eyes last month when I came home with yet another detector – this time a carbon monixide detector. Just in our kitchen alone I have a smoke alarm, carbon monixide detector and a propane leak detector (because we have a gas stove and I want to know if it is leaking!), plus a fire extinguisher. When planning an OUTDOOR meeting place with your kids – take into account that in case of an emergency, the fire trucks will be pulling in/out at the curb – so keep your meeting place away from where the traffic will be. Sorry to hear of the tragedy in your town; that is so sad.
-Evelyn
Kris Bair says
What a terrible tragedy – my heart goes out to the family. My husband is a volunteer firefighter, so we have fire drills every so often. And since our kids’ rooms (age 5 and 9) are at the opposite end of our ranch style house – he took some old windows from the house and taught them how to break the windows (as the littler one cannot open his window) with what they have in their room several times. That way the kids have the training to get out and to the meeting spot, which hopefully some of it will kick in and they will remember. He has even done fire drills at 11:00 on a Saturday night once the kids are sleeping good – as it’s totally different in the dark and the middle of the night. Thanks for reminding everyone to do these important safety measures!
Tina C. says
That is just heartbreaking. You know, we’ve moved in the past year to a much bigger house and the children are in bedrooms on the second floor. But we also have a walk-out basement so technically they are three stories high. I think we’ve discussed this with them, but now I’m not sure. It is frightening to think about. Thanks for the reminder.