It's not something a person wants to think about, but what if an emergency were to occur at your house and the police, an ambulance, or a fire truck needed to get to you in a hurry? Unfortunately, there are many homes in Poland that do not have their street numbers clearly posted for emergency responders. Please help emergency responders by ensuring that your house number can be easily seen from BOTH SIDES of the road DAY or NIGHT. Often, even when numbers are posted, they are simply to small to read at a distance or do not contrast enough with their backgrounds in low light conditions. Here are a few tips for ensuring that your house number can be easily seen: - Numbers should be at least 4 inches high - Use reflective or lighted numbers for best night visibility - Make sure that colors of numbers contrast with their backgrounds - Numbers should be placed so that they are visible on both sides of the road - Make sure the material you use will not fade or wear easily from weather Thank you!

(Source: NFPA.ORG) Because fire can grow and spread so quickly, having working smoke alarms in your home can mean the difference between life and death. But these life-saving devices are only effective when they're working properly. Smoke alarms with batteries that are dead, disconnected, or missing can't alert you to the dangers of smoke and fire. Follow these tips to ensure that your smoke alarms are installed correctly and tested regularly. Once the alarm sounds, you may have as few as two minutes to escape. By learning how to effectively use the smoke alarm's early warning to get out safely, you'll reduce your risk of dying in a home fire. The right way to install smoke alarms Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires and photoelectric smoke detection is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. Both types of technologies have improved home fire safety. NFPA has convened a task group to consider a range of issues including false alarms and the speed of detector response for both types of alarms. In the interim it is recommended that both types of detection be installed in homes. Hard-wired smoke alarms operate on your household electrical current. They can be interconnected so that every alarm sounds regardless of the fire's location. This is an advantage in early warning, because it gives occupants extra time to escape if they are in one part of the home and a fire breaks out in another part. Alarms that are hard-wired should have battery backups in case of a power outage, and should be installed by a qualified electrician. If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have a qualified electrician install interconnected smoke alarms in each room so that when one alarm sounds, they all sound. If you, or someone in your home is deaf or hard of hearing, consider installing an alarm that combines flashing lights, vibration and/or sound. Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Ceiling mounted alarms should be installed at least four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling. If you have ceilings that are pitched, install the alarm near the ceiling's highest point. Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation. Never paint smoke alarms. Paint, stickers, or other decorations could keep the alarms from working. Check your smoke alarms regularly Test your smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year, or as soon as the alarm "chirps" warning that the battery is low. Hint: schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clocks from daylight savings time to standard time in the fall. Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms can't warn you of fire if their batteries are missing or have been disconnected. Don't disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding "nuisance alarms," try relocating it farther from kitchens or bathrooms, where cooking fumes and steam can cause the alarm to sound. Regularly vacuuming or dusting your smoke alarms, following the manufacturer's instructions, can keep them working properly. Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace yours once every 10 years. If you can't remember how old the alarm is, then it's probably time for a new one. Consider installing smoke alarms with "long-life" (10-year) batteries. Plan regular fire drills to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Hold a drill at night to make sure that sleeping family members awaken at the sound of the alarm. Some studies have shown that some children may not awaken to the sound of the smoke alarm. Know what your child will do before a fire occurs. If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home, consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system. Sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut your risk of dying in a home fire 82 percent relative to having neither – a savings of thousands of lives a year. Tips for people with disabilities Smoke alarms with flashing lights People who are deaf or hard of hearing should use smoke alarms with strobe (flashing) lights. Make sure that the alarm you are using has been tested by an independent testing laboratory. The alarms for sleeping areas with strobe lights are required to be of a special high intensity that can wake a sleeping person. Most major smoke alarm companies offer alarms with strobe lights. For information on availability and pricing, go to the manufacturers' Web site. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of smoke alarms that meet U.L. standard 1971 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing include: Ace Hardware Corporation, BRK Electronics, Gentex Corporation, Kidde Fire Safety, and Menards, Inc. Smoke alarms with 10- year batteries Alarms with a 10-year lithium battery eliminate the problem of having to change batteries. The battery is supposed to last the life of an alarm, which is 10 years. Ten-year battery alarms still need to be tested in accordance with manufacturers' instructions at least once a month. Features that make testing the alarm easier Some alarms are equipped with large, easy to push test buttons. Alarms that can be tested by using a flashlight or television remote are particularly helpful for people with mobility disabilities, people who are blind or have low vision, or for older adults. Avoiding nuisance alarms Alarms that go off because of burnt toast, steam, or other non-threatening sources can be a real nuisance and can discourage people from using smoke alarms. Use alarms with a silencing feature that can be pressed to delay the alarm for a short period time. If the smoke does not clear in a certain amount of time the alarm will sound again. Installation and maintenance Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires and photoelectric smoke detection is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. Both types of technologies have improved home fire safety. NFPA has convened a task group to consider a range of issues including false alarms and the speed of detector response for both types of alarms. In the interim it is recommended that both types of detection be installed in homes. Escape Include everyone in your home and make a home escape plan (PDF, 634 KB) making provisions for anyone who has a disability. Practice your plan at least twice a year.

Click on the headline above, and then follow the "helpful link" for fun and educational fire safety activities for kids on NFPA's "Sparky" web page.

NFPA report shows 73% of home heating fire deaths attributed to space heaters As temperatures drop outdoors and people take steps to warm their homes, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urges the public to be mindful of the risks associated with home heating which is second only to cooking when it comes to causes of home fires. Along with the colder temperatures that accompany winter, there is an elevated risk of dying from fire during this season with December, January and February generally being the deadliest months for fires. NFPA suggests the following for safe heating: * Maintain a 3 feet (or 1 meter) separation between things that can burn and heating equipment. * When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory and is legal for use in your community. (Some communities do not permit portable kerosene heaters, for example.) * Install your stationary (fixed) space heater according to manufacturer’s instructions or applicable codes or better yet, have it installed by a professional. * Plug your electric-powered space heater into an outlet with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord. * Use the proper grade of the proper fuel for your liquid-fueled space heater, and never use gasoline in any heater not approved for gasoline use. Refuel only in a well-ventilated area and when the equipment is cool. * In your fireplace or wood stove, use only dry, seasoned wood to avoid the build-up of creosote, an oily deposit that easily catches fire and accounts for most chimney fires and the largest share of home heating fires generally. Use only paper or kindling wood, not a flammable liquid, to start the fire. Do not use artificial logs in wood stoves. * Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Allow fireplace and woodstove ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container, which is kept a safe distance from your home. * Turn off space heaters whenever the room they are in is unoccupied or under circumstances when manufacturer’s instructions say they should be turned off. Portable space heaters are so easy to knock over in the dark that they should be turned off when you go to bed, but make sure your primary heating equipment for bedrooms is sufficient to avoid risks to residents from severe cold. * Do not use your oven to heat your home. * Make sure fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside, that the venting is kept clear and unobstructed, and that the exit point is properly sealed around the vent, all of which is to make sure deadly carbon monoxide does not build up in the home.Inspect all heating equipment annually, and clean as necessary. Test smoke alarms monthly; install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.

Each year the Poland Fire department responds to incidents involving fires caused by the use of candles. These calls have become more common in the last few years as the popularity of candles has risen. We would like to caution everyone with the winter coming and the holiday season approaching to be careful in the use of candles for decoration and lighting. Please observe the following precautions when using candles: -Keep candles away from kids and pets -Make sure the candle is on a sturdy nonflammable -Do not leave candles burning when you are out of the room or going to bed -Do not place candles near curtains or flammable holiday decorations