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April 21, 2008
Shelley Szafraniec, APR
Community Information Specialist

VOLUSIA COUNTY FIRE SERVICES ENCOURAGES TOY LIGHTER SAFETY; ARSON AWARENESS WEEK May 4 - 10

It's time for Arson Awareness Week, May 4 - 10, and Volusia County Fire Services is joining forces with the U.S. Fire Administration to spread the word about the dangers of toylike or novelty lighters in the hands of children. Mistaking lighters for toys has been responsible for injuries, deaths and accidents across the nation. In 2007, two young Arkansas children died after setting fire to their apartment with a motorcycle-shaped lighter.

"Children are attracted to these novelty lighters because they look like toys,” said Volusia County Fire Services Deputy Chief Kathy Weaver. “Parents can sometimes mistake them for toys as well, inadvertently buying them for their young children.”

Data collected by the U.S. Fire Administration shows that most child-playing fires are started with lighters or matches. And some studies show that lighters tend to be the preferred ignition source. The median age of children who start reported fires by playing is 5, compared to a median age of 4 years old for fatal victims, and a median age in the late teens for nonfatal injuries.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2002 there were an estimated 13,900 child-playing structure fires reported in the United States, with associated loss of 210 deaths, 1,250 injuries and $339 million in direct damage.

During Arson Awareness Week and year round, Volusia County Fire Services encourages fire safety, especially when it comes to children. As part of their ongoing fire prevention program, the agency visits schools and neighborhoods, has a Safety House to teach children how to exit a structure safely in the event of a fire, and teaches Exit Drills In The Home (EDITH).

Although it’s difficult to prepare for the unexpected, the following are tips to help families prepare and plan for a fire in their home.

• Install working smoke alarms on every level of the home, to include inside each bedroom and outside of each sleeping area.

• Develop a fire escape plan that identifies two ways out of each room and a family meeting place outside.

• Make sure your plan allows for special needs persons in your household, such as small children and elderly occupants. If everyone knows what to do, everyone can get out quickly.

• Practice your plan at least twice a year.

• Studies have shown that children and adults may not awaken to the sound of a smoke alarm. When practicing your plan, test to see if everyone awakens to the alarm. If some family members sleep through the alarm, develop a buddy system for waking each other up and meeting outside.

• If the smoke alarm sounds, go to your closest exit. If there is smoke blocking your way, turn and use your second way out. If you must exit through smoke, get low and go under the smoke. Don’t take time to pick up belongings; just get out and help others get out. Move fast, but stay calm.

For more information about fire prevention, please call (386) 736-5940.

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