Minisink Valley's important community connections with the fire companies covering the Slate Hill and Otisville campuses were again demonstrated in October with these fire agencies' visits to the schools to teach and reinforce important fire safety and prevention tips.
"Our firefighters play an important and critical role in our communities," said Superintendent Brian Monahan. "We're grateful for all they do to support the district, particularly during October when they visit our youngest students to talk about fire safety and prevention."
The New York State Department of State (NYDOS) reported that in 2022, there were an estimated 1.5 million fires in the U.S. causing more than 13,250 injuries and more than 3,800 deaths. In New York State, 164 people died as a result of fires between 2015 to 2019, ranking third in the U.S.
Here's some important fire safety tips tips to protect your home and family:
Smoke Alarms
Make sure your home has working smoke alarms.
Place a smoke alarm on every level including inside each sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Interconnect the alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.
Install smoke alarms and alert devices to assist family members who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Alert devices, such as strobe lights, flash when the smoke alarm sounds. Pillow or bed shakers may be useful to wake a person who is sleeping. The shakers are triggered by the sound of the smoke alarm and shake people awake to warn them of a fire.
Test your alarms at least once a month. Press each test button to make sure it is working.
Home Escape Plan
Plan your home escape; including two ways out of each room. Share the escape plan with everyone in the family and guests.
The plan should include two ways out of every room and an outside family meeting place.
Practice your fire drill.
Make sure children, older adults, and people with disabilities have assistance.
Make sure your home has bright lighting in stairways to prevent falls.
Remove clutter to prevent trips and falls to allow for a quick escape.
Install handrails along the full length of both sides of the stairs.
If you live in an apartment, know the location of all available exit stairs on your floor in case the nearest one is blocked by fire or smoke and use the stairs to get out, never use the elevator unless directed by the fire department.
Fire Response
If there is a fire, get outside quickly and stay outside. Then call 911.
If you can’t get outside call 911. Let the fire department know you can’t get outside. Wave a light-colored cloth or a flashlight near the window, but don’t open the window.
If there is smoke, use your second way out. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke.
To view more photos of firefighter visits to the Elementary School and Otisville Elementary visit the district's Facebook page.
For additional fire safety resources, visit the National Fire Protection Association.