September is National Preparedness Month (NPM) and Umatilla County Fire District #1 is reminding people to plan ahead of time to prepare for disasters
The 2021 theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”
UCFD#1 offers the following tips to help you and your family stay prepared for a fire in your home:
- Choose interconnected smoke alarms, so when one sounds, they all sound.
- Put smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area. Put alarms on every level of the home.
- Smoke alarms do not last forever. Get new smoke alarms every 10 years.
- When you hear a smoke alarm, you may have less than 2 minutes to get everyone outside and safe.
- Make a fire escape plan. Draw a map of each level of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the map with everyone who lives with you.
- Plan two ways out of every room. Choose an outside meeting place in front of your home.
- If there is a fire in your home, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.
- Practice your fire escape plan by having a home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the home.
