FIREFIGHTERS TO STRESS SAFETY DURING FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

Mrs. O'Leary's infamous cow, the one allegedly responsible for The Great Chicago Fire of October 1871, sparked more than a disaster when she kicked over a lantern.

The resulting fire made Americans notice how inferno prone their great cities were. Eventually, they established Fire Prevention Week to mark the occasion and keep history from repeating itself.

During Oct. 9-15, Public Education Coordinator Michael Morgan and other Cape Girardeau Fire Department personnel will keep busy fighting fires before they begin.

This year's theme is "Test Your Detectors for Life," but other fire safety issues will be featured, too.

Different programs appeal to various age groups, from pre-schoolers to senior citizens. Education starts early, because children are known for their fascination with flames. Often, when a fire engulfs their home, they hide in closets or under beds. Instead of being protected, children are killed when parents or firefighters can't locate them.

"Firefighters dressed in all their gear may be frightening to children," Morgan~ said. "We show them a firefighter putting the gear on, piece by piece, and explain what everything is. He may look like a monster, but he is a friendly monster, we tell them. That way they know what we are going to look and sound like."

Through the Juvenile Fire Setter Program, parents who catch children playing with matches or lighters can receive educational assistance from the fire department.

The teaching is simple. Almost every young person knows about "stop, drop and roll" or "stay low and go," both methods to keep from burns and smoke inhalation.

Sometimes parents need the education. While their children learn fire prevention at school, many mothers and fathers fail to keep fresh batteries in their smoke detectors or won't install smoke detectors at all. They won't take time to establish two escape plans in case of fire or a meeting place once the family is out of their burning home.

Chief Robert Ridgeway, a 33-year veteran of firefighting, said he doesn't understand parents with that attitude, especially when smoke detectors cost around $10. Those without money can call the fire department and have a unit installed for free.

Ridgeway's 11-year-old son carries a portable smoke detector when he stays with friends.

"Some people think nothing of paying hundreds for a security system for their automobile but won't pay to have a sprinkler system installed in their home," Ridgeway said. "That is where their loved ones live."

Other parents work around home electrical problems instead of looking into them or stack combustible materials around the water heater, both very dangerous habits.

While fire education is a 365-day-a-year job, Ridgeway said Fire Prevention Week is a good time for area residents to look into their own habits, weeding out the dangerous ones.

Smoke detector tips

This year's Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9-15 carries the theme "Test Your Detectors for Life" In conjunction with that theme, the Cape Girardeau Area SAFE KIDS Coalition released guidelines for smoke detector installation and maintenance.

-- Place a smoke detector in each bedroom or sleeping area. People sleeping have the greatest risk of dying in fires.

-- Place a smoke detector on each level of the home near the stairs. One on each level provides up to three minutes to escape in most situations.

-- Position smoke detectors high on ceilings or walls. Smoke rises, so detectors should be placed as high and close to the middle of the room or hallway as possible.

-- Do not place the smoke detector on an outer wall if living in a poorly-insulated or mobile home. The temperature of the wall may vary depending on the season and cause the detector to malfunction.

-- Position the detector away from cooking or furnace fumes, fireplace smoke and dust. This will reduce unwanted alarms. The best location is at least 3 feet away from an air vent since they can inhibit the detector's ability to sense smoke.

-- Test detectors once a month. Most models have built-in test buttons, but others may be tested following the manufacturer's guidelines.

-- Clean the detector regularly. Dirt can confuse the detector.

-- Replace the batteries at least once a year. Even if the alarm has never sounded, they should be replaced.