In line with the RCY - SISC's ultimate goal to spread awareness with regards to various health-related conditions, illness, and news to individuals through the usage of social media platforms to restore a positive attitude towards all aspects of health and well-being, 3 groups from RCY have written short medical articles regarding the topics of following: Alzheimer’s Disease, Fire Prevention Month, and Endometriosis.
Do you smell the brownies from the house next door? They smell delectable! But wait, they smell kind of …. burned. Quick – a fire broke out in your neighbor’s house! Do you know what to do? Well, maybe you do, and maybe you don’t. When people are put in a demanding situation – one that is uncalled for, they mostly panic and do not know the first thing to do in the face of an emergency.
In the U.S. alone, cooking accounts for 30.3% of residential building fires while unintentional causes are responsible for about 19.7% of fatal fire incidents. With all these grounds at hand, fire safety can be deemed as one of the most important components of any establishment’s safety. With the fast approaching season that is summer, the country is even more susceptible to fires, which makes it our common goal as a society to design safety programs aimed at reducing equipment damage, human suffering, and exposure to hazardous environments.
Background
The Fire Prevention Month is an annual event that was proclaimed by virtue of the Presidential Proclamation No. 115-A. This event that seeks to raise awareness was specifically proclaimed to be celebrated in March due to the alarming rate of fire incidents that transpire across the country during the said period. In countries such as the U.S. though, Fire Prevention Week is celebrated in the month of October – specifically on the 9th to commemorate the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire.
The main objective of this occasion is to simply raise awareness about the do’s and don’ts in the event of a fire outbreak. Moreover, it also aids to ensure that your home and family are altogether protected. To spearhead the activities to be conducted during this event is the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). With this year’s theme of “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog Hindi ka Nag-iisa”, BFP hopes to reduce the occurrence of fires by 80% through disseminating valuable information to local citizens. In brief, this governmental body encourages us all to take part and be cautious in mitigating unwanted fire incidents by means of awareness and vigilance.
How The Fire Prevention Month Is Celebrated
Fire Prevention Month is a yearly national observance in March. During this month, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), local governments, firefighting agencies, and educational institutions all collaborate to carry out various fire prevention activities. The Bureau of Fire Protection, as the government agency tasked with preventing and suppressing all types of destructive fires, investigating their causes, enforcing fire-related laws, and providing emergency medical and rescue services, shall anchor all Fire Prevention Month activities towards fire safety at home by introducing innovative programs and activities aimed at motivating the public to consider fire safety as an all-encompassing concern. Therefore, it is advised that you participate in any Fire Prevention drills and activities going on around your work, school, or local area in honor of this observance, because it always pays to be prepared.
In many western countries, the NFPA provides a wide range of community engagement materials and ideas, including educational brochures, stickers, fire hats, coloring books, sheet pads, posters, and much more to raise awareness about Fire Safety. Other resources for promoting the campaign can be found on the Fire Prevention Week website. In the Philippines, particularly, fire prevention programs aim to prevent loss of life, property damage, and downtime in the use of a building. According to the BFP, they are well-prepared for Fire Prevention Month, with services already furnished in Metro Manila and other major cities across the country. The BFP has stated that it is their goal to promote volunteer fire departments throughout the country, as these community-based organizations are critical in raising awareness about basic fire safety and prevention practices. This year's Fire Prevention Month coincides with what appears to be a return to normalcy, as the number of coronavirus illnesses has decreased dramatically. As factories, shopping malls, retail businesses, and corporate offices resume operations that were halted or slowed during the pandemic, the risk of fires may increase. As a result, increased awareness of dangers should be observed. Meanwhile, local fire departments assist police in maintaining order during major public events, such as the pre-pandemic All Saints Day celebration, when large crowds visit cemeteries and memorial parks.
Fire Safety Regulations
Whenever you hear a vehicle’s siren, it would either be from an ambulance, from a parade, or most likely – from a firetruck. Imagine this scenario: you hear a continuous, alarming sound of a fire truck's siren – it gets louder and louder as if it is approaching your house. What would you feel? Yes, you may go panicking and get worried. If the fire truck goes directly to your house, would you know how to respond?
Fire actually brings light and heat, two of the many things which can be beneficial to us. However, it can also be a harmful element when it comes in contact with houses, objects, and air. The worst part is: fire can destroy anything in an instant! Let’s take a common scenario: on a normal afternoon in your life, a fire breaks into your house. Instead of panicking, what could be the best way to do it? That question proves the importance of being well-versed with safety and precautionary measures.
But how do we really prevent fire, and if there already is, how do we respond to it? Well, first of all, take a look at this general reminder first:
As mentioned in the photo above, fire prevention is everybody’s responsibility. With one’s negligence, several homes can be destroyed – and to go against this is one of the goals of this month, which is the fire prevention season.
But what if the fire is already there? Of course, prevention is not the best option anymore. Take a good and careful look at these pictures to clearly show how you should act when fire is already breaking out.
With all the safety and precautionary measures illustrated in the photos, the Bureau of Fire Protection also spearheads and facilitates activities that aim to lessen fire incidents in the country. Through these activities, the Bureau of Fire Protection hopes for an 80% fire reduction this March.
Even though the country is facing COVID-19, the Bureau will not stop being consistently present and active in promoting safety from fire. And to whoever is reading this, hoping that the responsibility of keeping others safe from harm, starts with you.
Why We Need Fire Prevention Month
A fire prevention program such as this annual event is a vital precursor to the eradication of fire occurrences. Through the proper maintenance and control of potential ignition sources, we are looking at higher chances of reducing fires this March and the next months (or years) to come. This educational milestone will also aid in the proper execution of extinguishing methods, speedy identification of evacuation routes, and the proper application of first aid skills in any case that unfortunate circumstances transpire.
In this regard, business owners are highly encouraged or in short – required – to schedule regular inspections and tests with certified fire protection personnel. This way, their business and staff are adjacently protected from any fire hazards. Now that Fire Prevention Month is here, you must call your trusted fire protection supplier to ensure that your equipment is up to date and pose no risks to any surrounding populace. All in all, this educational program, Fire Prevention Month, is a vital aspect of universal community knowledge in order to guarantee the safety of the people. While it does not provide a solid pillar that ascertains the complete dismantlement of fires taking place, it is every citizen’s job to take part in safety mechanisms and preventive measures. After all, it’s not like you are fireproof!
References
BFP, well prepared for Fire Prevention Month. (2022, March 2). WhatALife! Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://www.whatalife.ph/fire-prevention-month-march-2022/
Department of The Interior and Local Government. (2021). Fire Prevention Month. DILG. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://dilg.gov.ph/events/Fire-Prevention-Month/633
FacilitiesNet. (2019, October 23). Essentials of Successful Fire Protection. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.facilitiesnet.com/firesafety/article/Essentials-of-Successful-Fire-Protection--18676
Fire Prevention Week theme announced: ‘Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.’ (2021, June 26). FireRescue1. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://www.firerescue1.com/fire-prevention-week/articles/fire-prevention-week-theme-announced-learn-the-sounds-of-fire-safety-4MHpUCn3awLC4tmH/
Londo, G. (2020, June 7). The Importance of Fire Prevention Month. Frontier Fire Protection. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.frontierfireprotection.com/importance-fire-prevention-month/
National Fire Protection Association. (2020). Fire Prevention Week (FPW). NFPA. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://www.nfpa.org/Events/Events/Fire-Prevention-Week/About#:%7E:text=Fire%20Prevention%20Week%20is%20observed,1871%2C%20and%20caused%20devastating%20damage.
Tupas, E. (2022). BFP all set for Fire Prevention Month. PhilStar. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/02/27/2163615/bfp-all-set-fire-prevention-month
U.S. Fire Administration. (2019). U.S. fire statistics. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/
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