If there is one good thing about September 11, it is that it brought firefighters back into the national consciousness. For too long, fire safety has been something that kids learn about in school and promptly forget about. Despite all the fire safety posters, videos, presentations, and lectures, families rarely practice it. According to some studies, a vast majority of households has had inadequate fire preparations and precautions. They may be lacking in fire extinguishers, have outdated or nonfunctional fire detectors, or even not be up to fire code.
The difficulty with public safety issues is that they never go away. There are a lot of problems out there that you can solve and then forget about, but fire safety is not one of them. The challenge for people who are involved in fire prevention and safety jobs is to find ways to keep people thinking about this crucial, if fundamentally uninteresting problem. After all, who can really be bothered on a day-to-day basis to check their home and prepare for worst-case scenarios. In a country where many people don't even stock first aid kits, how can we make sure that homes are fire safe?
The obvious answer is that we can't. Into the foreseeable future, the best solution will always be a fast response by fire trucks. Nonetheless, some communities have really been doing more than others to improve fire safety and preparedness. Word-of-mouth can do amazing things if you think about it. For example, in school districts where they have a fire & safety week every year, houses are more likely to keep fire extinguishers, have fire detectors or smoke detectors that work, and make sure that all exits are open and accessible in case of fire. Although most of these homes never actually have to use their fire safety equipment, the few that do are always happy for the extra time they have taken to prepare.
The best thing to do is really to sit down with your family and prepare for emergency situations. Fire safety is important, of course, but it is not the only contingency you have to worry about. Some areas have to worry about earthquakes, others have to worry about tornadoes or hurricanes, and almost everyone has to be prepared for a medical emergency. Not only are these preparations necessary in case the worst happens, but they also give you peace of mind.
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