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By Fire Chief David Peterson,
Plainfield Charter Township Fire Department
The firefighters at the Plainfield Fire Department spend many hours
training and preparing for firefighting so that they can react wisely
even in the most dangerous situations. One of the reasons for this
extensive training is because studies show that people often make poor
decisions when faced with fire. This shouldn't be too surprising, since
the carbon monoxide that all fires give off takes its toll on our
bodies, making us disoriented and confused. Studies indicate that when
smoke is present, about 60 percent of the people attempted to move
through the smoke. The more the smoke spreads, the more likely people
were to use an exit other than the normal one. Depending on where the
nearest exit is located, this behavior can be either good or bad.
However, in many cases, poor judgment because of a lack of knowledge
caused individuals to attempt to fight the fire as a first option.
Studies found three types of reactions to a fire situation. In the
following order, people's primary concerns were: Evacuating the building
(a good choice!), fighting or confining the fire, and alerting others.
Although some of these behaviors are proper in many circumstances, the
study also found that many people feel they should reenter the burning
building, delaying fire department notification. Untrained people
reentering burning buildings without the personal protection equipment
that firefighters wear is almost certain to be a poor choice.
In terms of priorities, females were found much more likely to warn
others about the fire situation, followed by leaving the building,
requesting assistance, and evacuating their families. Males were
inclined to stay and fight the fire, followed by taking actions to
minimize the risk, such as closing doors. The males then ranked leaving
the building and evacuating others next on the list, followed by calling
for assistance as their last choice. Although many of us can understand
the desire for a person to protect their home from the worst, it is not
worth the risk.
The more frequently people received fire training or instruction on what
to do in a fire, the more likely those folks were to raise the alarm or
organize evacuation as a first action. This is where the Plainfield Fire
Department comes in. Since the beginning of 2006 to the time this
article was posted, the Plainfield Fire Department has spent 514 hours
educating 14,675 citizens of Plainfield Township about the importance of
fire safety and emergency evacuation plans.
One kindergarten class in the township was challenged by a firefighter
to come up with an emergency evacuation plan for their family. When the
drawings were turned in, it was apparent that the families spent time
discussing their plan together and many had decided on a meeting place
outside of the house following the evacuation. What a fabulous activity
to prepare your family for the unexpected!
Recently there was another situation in the township where a carbon
monoxide detector went off in a daycare facility. Due to the diligent
planning of this caretaker and the weekly practices with fire drills,
the children immediately lined up and filed out the door chanting “Call
911.” Great Job!
When a fire occurs or fire alarm sounds, the proper action is to take
your family and exit the building. Once outside, citizens should call
the fire department to inform them of the emergency. Adults need to be
proactive, planning ahead and quizzing their families concerning the
proper reaction to a fire occurring while out to dinner, riding in the
car or at a sporting event. If a child or young person has no idea what
to do in a fire, the probability of devastating results is higher. It is
of extreme importance for citizens and families to be prepared for an
evacuation in the event of a fire; it could literally save your life.
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