Stop, drop, and roll. How many
times have you heard that? I know I’ve heard it at least 1,000 times. But do
people really think about that? Well, you should think about it. Did you know
that in the
Let’s
start with the living room. NEVER put an extension cord under a rug.
There may be a cut in your cord, leaving the copper wire exposed. If the
exposed wire touches the rug, it can cause an electric shock, which can lead to
fire. Another thing people tend to do is throw cloth over a lamp. Don’t do it.
The heat from the lamp will heat the cloth. There is a very high chance it
might start a fire.
Don’t
touch radiators or heaters. They are very hot, and you can get burned. Ask an
adult to turn them off for you. Don’t stand too close to fireplaces or wood
stoves because you might get burned, or your clothes could catch on fire. It is
the same with matches, lighters, and candles. If they are on, you could get
burned if you are too close.
Now,
let’s move on to the kitchen. One thing that is very important is to never cook
alone without asking an adult. If you were using the toaster oven and left it
on after you were done, then the heat could start a fire. When your parents are using the kitchen, remind them to
turn pot handles toward the center of the stove. They should never hang over
the edge. Someone could bump into them and knock them off the stove.
The last room that I
will be explaining is the bedroom. The first thing is to never smoke in bed. If
you drop the cigarette, it could fall on to the sheets which will most likely
catch fire. Smoke alarms are most important in the bedroom. But that’s not the
only room where you need them. You need smoke detectors in nearly every room in
your house. They are most important in the bedroom. Test them monthly to make
sure they are working, and so you’ll know what it sounds like when it goes off.
If they aren’t working, replace them with a new battery. Do this at least once
a year. A lot of times, it will become very dusty in the corners of people’s
bedrooms. The smoke alarms need to be away from the dust. You can clean the
dust by running the vacuum cleaner attachment over and around the smoke alarm.
Now
that we are done with the rooms, I want to explain escape plans. You should
have at least two ways out of each room. If one way is blocked by fire, you can
get out the other way. The first way out should be the door. Before you open
the door, fell it. If it is hot go the other way. There might be fire behind
the door. But either way you go, you need to stay close to the ground. Smoke
lifts during a fire, so the purest air is down low.
Pick
a safe place outside where you can meet your family after you get out. Once you
get out, stay out. Don’t go back for anything. Remember all these things; it
will help you in the long run.
By: Lindsay Strouse
Grade 6
Mr. Fabrizi
Room 21