Whitehouse Fire Company # 1, Inc.

"22 Fire"

Now tally up your totals.  For each answer you provided give the suggested points.

A - 1 points        B - 2 points        C - 3 points        D - 4 points

If your point totals are

                11 - 22

 You have some learning to do.  Go over our responses below and think about what you need to properly safeguard your family and your home.

                23 - 34

You pretty much know the basics, but read our responses below.  You may benefit some day with our helpful hints.

                35 - 44

Congratulations!  You've done excellent.  However, there are some very interesting suggestions within our responses below.  So read on...

Here are our responses to all of our questions.  

The Correct answer is D - you should test your smoke detectors every week.

How often do you change the batteries in your smoke detector?

    The Correct answer is D - you should change the batteries in your smoke detectors once every six months.

How many smoke detectors do you have in your home?

     The Correct answer is D - you should have one smoke detector in each room in your house and on every floor.  Potential hazards are everywhere, including inside your walls!  

If a smoke detector suddenly goes off in another room in your house, and the door to that room is closed, what would you do?

  The Correct answer is D - All of the above.  You should never open a door to a room with the smoke detector going off.  Always observe for smoke and feel for heat,  and if you suspect a fire, get out, then dial 911.

How many fire extinguishers do you have in your home?

  The Correct answer is D -  You should have an accessible fire extinguisher no matter where you are in your home.

How many types of fire extinguishers are there?

  The Correct answer is D -  There are four types of fire extinguishers.  Dry Chem, which is an A-B-C type, CO2 Carbon Dioxide, which is an A-B type, Water and Halon which is also an A-B.  However, you really only need one type for your home and that's the Dry Chem, A-B-C, fire extinguisher which will work for all kinds of fires.

When was the last time you had your chimney cleaned?

    There really is no correct answer for this question, just a subtle reminder.

How often should you have your chimney swept?

    Actually all of these answers are correct for different types of chimneys and fires.  They say you should clean your furnace chimney every 3 years.  If you have a fireplace, that should be cleaned every year.  Wood burning stoves may build up more creosote and may need to be cleaned as much as every month.  And yes, if you have a chimney fire, you should have your chimney cleaned before burning any more fires.

Do you have an escape plan in case of a fire in your home?

If yes, do you also have an alternate plan?

    We'll address these next two questions together.  Obviously every family should have an updated escape plan and an alternate plan.  If you can't get out using the first plan, you need to have an alternate plan.  And don't forget the meeting place!  It's very important that you all meet at the same place so you know where everyone is.

How often should you go over your escape plans in case of a fire?

    There is no exact science for this question.  That depends on your family and your home.  Obviously if your plan doesn't work anymore, you need to devise a new one.  But maybe you remodeled or rearranged furniture,  not even thinking about your escape plan.   If you have young children, it's good to go over it more often, so they don't forget.  It's also a good idea to have actual fire drills in your home for school aged children.   Make it fun, but make sure that they know it's serious.

We hope that you enjoyed this short quiz and that you learned a few things about fire prevention and safety.   There's a world of information out there, don't ignore it.

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