INTRODUCTION

Fire is the third leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States, yet most people ignore it. More than 150 workplace fires occur every day.

Do you know...

• How fires start?
• How to prevent fires?
• How to create an emergency action plan?
• How to evacuate a burning building?
• What to do if trapped in a burning building?
• What to do if someone catches on fire?

How Fires Start

Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of a fuel. It needs three elements to occur:

FUEL - Fuel can be any combustible material - solid, liquid or gas. Most solids and liquids become a vapor or gas before they will burn.

OXYGEN - The air we breathe is about 21 percent oxygen. Fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16 percent oxygen.

HEAT - Heat is the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the fuel to a point where sufficient vapors are given off for ignition to occur.

CHEMICAL REACTION - A chain reaction can occur when the three elements of fire are present in the proper conditions and proportions. Fire occurs when this rapid oxidation, or burning takes place.

Take any one of these factors away, and the fire cannot occur or will be extinguished if it was already burning.




HOW TO PREVENT FIRES FROM OCCURRING

HOW TO USE AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN

HOW TO EVACUATE A BURNING BUILDING

WHAT TO DO IF TRAPPED IN A BURNING BUILDING                       

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE CATCHES ON FIRE

                                       SUMMARY

                KNOWLEDGE - AWARENESS - PREPARATION

 These are your keys to preventing and surviving fires wherever they occur.