SHELTON
– During this upcoming vacation season, the Shelton Fire Prevention
Bureau reminds everyone to consider fire safety when
traveling.
According to Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief – Fire Prevention, concern for fire safety should not be left home as the risk of injury or death from fire remains wherever we go.
Following are a few safety tips to
assist you in preparing for fire safe traveling:
Choose
a place to stay that is protected by both smoke alarms and a fire
sprinkler system. A quick and easy way to find a hotel or motel that
you can be confident will have these safety
features is to log onto the United States Fire Administration website at
www.usfa.fema.gov
and look under the “Hotel-Motel List” tab.
Simply enter a property
name, city, or state for a quick search. Facilities meeting requirements
of the Hotel and Motel Fire Safety
Act of 1990 are listed on this site.
This Act was passed into law by
Congress to save lives and protect property by promoting fire and life
safety in hotels, motels and other places of public accommodation.
The
law mandates that federal employees on travel
must stay in public accommodations that adhere to the life safety
requirements in the legislation guidelines. It also states that
federally funded meetings and conferences cannot be held in properties
that do not comply with the law.
Facilities that meet
the requirements of this law are equipped with smoke detection and
sprinklers. It’s smart for any individual, family, or business to follow
this same practice.
- Take a flashlight.
- Read
the fire evacuation plan of the facility you are staying in carefully.
Often it is posted on the inside of your room door. If one is not
posted in your room, request one from the front
desk.
- Locate two exits from your room, floor, and building. Take a quick walk and get familiar with the layout.
Make sure the exits are unlocked and unobstructed. If they are locked or obstructed, report it to management immediately.
- Count the number of doors between your room and the exits. This will assist you in the need of an emergency evacuation.
- Locate
the fire alarms on your floor. When you check in, ask the front desk
what the fire alarm sounds like. If the alarm sounds, evacuate
immediately. Use the stairs — never use elevators
during a fire.
- Many
lodging facilities now have kitchens or cooking areas, the most common
area where fires occur. Therefore, follow the same fire safety rules as
at home: pay attention at all times and
use heating devices properly.
For information, contact the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau, 203-924-1555 or under"Public Safety" at www.cityofshelton.org.
This post is taken from a press release from Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief - Fire Prevention.
