As a testament to our mission statement of “putting people first,” Heritage Properties is dedicated to the safety and well-being of our residents and their homes. This month is National Fire Prevention Month, which raises awareness about ways you can help prevent fires in your home, and what to do in the case of an emergency.
Fire Prevention Week is on record as the longest running public health observance. First started by Calvin Coolidge in 1925 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, Fire Prevention Week has since become a month-long event maintained by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) with the purpose of educating communities on the importance of practicing fire safety throughout the year.
This year, the NFPA’s theme is “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape,” which reinforces the importance of developing a home escape plan if a fire were ever to occur. We encourage you to spend some time with the members of your household to recognize the quickest exit points out of your apartment and building. In a fire, every second counts, so it is vitally important to establish a plan that meets the needs of all household members and make a habit of practicing it throughout the year. This includes keeping exit points clutter-free and agreeing on a meeting place that is a safe distance from your apartment building.
Additionally, Heritage Properties encourages all residents to refer to the checklist below to help prevent fires and be better prepared in case of an emergency:
Keep smoke detectors in working condition: This includes monthly testing of all smoke detectors in your home by pressing the test button, and if you find one to be defective, contacting our team to replace it. If your smoke detector is making a chirping noise, this means the batteries will need to be replaced. If you are unable to do so yourself, please contact a member of our team for assistance. Lastly – do not tamper with or remove smoke detectors from your walls, this eliminates your first line of defense from smoke and carbon monoxide.
No smoking: Smoking cigarettes are one of the leading causes of fires, which is why all Heritage Properties buildings are smoke-free communities.
Learn about your fire extinguishers: Know where all the fire extinguishers are located in your apartment and familiarize yourself with how to use them. You can find an instructional video here.
Work together: When you see a fire in any building, contact 911 immediately. Once emergency responders determine that the area is safe, our team will do our best to help get residents back into their homes as quickly as possible.
Fire emergencies can happen. However, with your help, we can make sure our communities are prepared.
For more information on fire safety tips and prevention, please visit www.nfpa.org.
Comments