HOUSE FIRE POWER OUTAGE During a Fire • If you are outside, stay outside. Do not return for anything. Do not re-enter the building until appropriate authorities have given permission. • If you are inside, get out. Go to the nearest house or building and call 911. Report the address and type of fire. Listen to and follow instructions. Go to the family meeting place. • If you are inside and have time, make sure everyone is out. • If you are in a closed room or office, do not open the door without first feeling it or the door knob. If it is warm or hot, do not open it, but unlock it to help rescue or fire personnel. • If there is smoke, get under the smoke, no matter how low it is, and get out of the building. • If you cannot use the door or other means of escape to exit, and there is smoke, use clothes, sheets, etc. to stop the smoke from coming in. Go to the window and yell or blow a whistle. • If you see someone on fire, use a coat or blanket, but not your bare hands, to smother the flames. • Watch to see that nobody goes back inside to rescue anything or anyone. • If possible, turn off the gas and electricity from outside the house. • In a public building, know two ways out. If you hear a fire alarm, immediately exit the building regardless of what you are doing. Follow the established evacuation instructions. Home Electrical Circuits • Familiarize yourself with the location of the electrical breaker panel. • Turn off breakers for areas of concern. • If in doubt, shut off main breaker. Check your house electrical meter. If it is on your home, there may be a main disconnect breaker next to it. If the meter is on an underground service, it may be in front of your home; but there should be a main breaker where the line enters the home. • Be sure and show others in the family where the breakers are located in case of emergency. • In case of basement flooding: o Think before stepping in any water. oA shock hazard may exist even in an inch of water, o If the electrical panel is upstairs, shut off all circuits, o If the electrical panel is in the basement, determine whether it can be reached on DRY ground. If not, shut off the main breaker. Before a Power Outage • Learn location of fuse box or circuit breaker. • Store candles, flashlights and extra batteries in convenient places. • Have food and water supplies on hand. • Know the locations of all camping equipment: stove, lantern, sleeping bags. Make sure equipment is operational and that you know how to use it. Use camping equipment requiring gasoline, propane, white fuel, Coleman fuel or charcoal briquettes outside only. • Keep refrigerator well defrosted. • Purchase & install approved surge protectors for appliances and electronics. Each year more than 4,000 Americans die and more than 25,000 are injured in fires, many of which could be prevented. Direct property loss due to fire is estimated at $8.6 billion annually. Working smoke alarms decrease your chances of dying in a fire by half. 34- During the Power Outage • Unplug all your electronic equipment if you do not have surge protectors. A power surge could ruin appliances when power is restored. • Turn off all but one light switch. • Open refrigerator door only to take food out, close as quickly as possible. • Use camping equipment outside, six feet away from everything. Use only a fireplace, properly installed wood stove or a new-style kerosene heater in a safe area with fresh outside air coming into area. • Report any downed lines. • Do not allow children to carry lanterns, candles or fuel. 35-