We all know how important it is for everyone to work together in order for things to get done. It takes a whole village for a community to be safe. When we are talking about fire protection and prevention, everyone has a part to play. Firefighters must be prepared to do their job, business owners must make sure their locations are safe for the public, and even we at Certified Flameproofing must be up to the task of protecting our communities. However, the general public also can play an important part in the village approach to fire safety.
According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), there are some important things that the everyday person can do while they’re out and about in New York City. Here are some recommendations that they offer:
First, according to the NFPA, it’s important to visually scan the building you’ll be visiting. What is the condition like? Does it seem to be in good repair? Does there appear to be adequate entrances and exits, especially if large crowds are present? Do the pathways out of the building seem to be clear or are there things blocking the way in case of an emergency? These are all things that you should take note of before going inside.
The next thing the NFPA advises is that you should have an emergency plan set up before you even attend an event or go to a certain location. If there were an emergency there, do you know how you and your group would handle it? By the time a crisis occurs, it’s too late to form a plan; this needs to be in place ahead of time. It is advisable that you and your group talk about where you would meet if you got separated in an emergency and who you would need to call.
The NFPA also recommends that once you’re inside the building, scout out where all the emergency and fire exits are. This should be in addition to the main entrance that you came through. Make sure that you look for alternate ways to exit in case there’s an emergency. In all likelihood, the main exits will be jammed with people in a panic trying to leave, so it’s a good idea to have another escape route lined up. And also make sure that nothing is blocking the path for egress as well. That includes people, furniture, boxes, etc.
Lastly, the NFPA advises the general public to be looking for potentially hazardous situations. Are candles lit on the premises? Are pyrotechnics being used? Fireworks? Do they allow smoking on site? Any of these dangers could be a potential fire starter. If these things are taking place in the building, automatic fire sprinklers are a must (even though they are required by law as well).
While it’s true that the business owner is primarily responsible for the safety of his site, you as a member of the community can also play a part. If you see something that is not safe, the NFPA encourages you to speak to the business owner. If the business owner fails to address your concerns, it's advisable for you to leave the premises at once. While he may not address your issues at the moment, at least you’ve spoken up and put them in the front of his awareness, and hopefully, that will make a difference in the future.
It truly does take a village, everyone in the neighborhood, to keep our communities safe. We all have an important role to play when it comes to fire prevention and safety. Just by natural odds, we know fires will occur, but by working together, we decrease their chances by a large margin. Here at Certified Flameproofing, we consider it an honor to play our role in keeping our city and neighborhoods safe from fire. Our flameproofing treatments are one of the first lines of defense should a fire break out. This greatly limits the spread and severity of a fire. If you are a business owner and have questions or if you were needing flameproofing treatments, please call us today. Certified Flameproofing is happy to help and serve your business: 1-800-590-5530.