Protect your family from fire Published Oct. 4, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Scott Edgmond Civil Engineering Squadron NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Nellis, Creech and the Nevada Test and Training Range will be celebrating National Fire Prevention Week Oct. 10-14, 2011. This year's slogan "Protect Your Family from Fire," encourages service members to sit down with their family and go over steps to take in case a fire emergency occurs. One of the most important things is ensuring family members know what to do in case of a fire. If a fire is found in the home, immediately notify everyone in the house that a fire has started. Unlike in commercial facilities, which have a manual activation for the alarm system, the first person in a house who notices a fire should yell "Fire, Fire, Fire." The person should yell loud enough for everyone to hear. After making sure everyone evacuates, call 9-1-1 to notify the fire department. Knowing how to contact the 9-1-1 center is very important, especially when having to contact the center from a cell phone. If you live on Nellis Air Force Base and need to contact 9-1-1 from a cell phone, the call will connect to the Clark County dispatch center. Immediately inform the dispatch center that you live on Nellis AFB, and the dispatch center will connect you to the Nellis Fire Alarm Control Center. Family members should make sure to have a primary meeting area in case a fire should occur. An alternate meeting area also should be discussed in case the primary is inaccessible. When choosing a meeting point, ensure the area is at least 75 feet away from the house or building to guarantee everyone's safety in case the fire begins to spread. Service members with younger children should have regular fire drills to gain the necessary experience in case a fire starts. When an emergency occurs, a rush of adrenaline and panic can quickly take over an individual's better judgment. This holds true for children, who are more vulnerable, as well as for adults. Having some training to fall back on is exactly what is needed to keep family members safe. For more information on how to better prepare for a fire emergency, the Nellis Fire Department is inviting all installation members and their families to the Nellis Fire Muster beginning at 6:45 a.m. Oct. 14, 2011, at Freedom Park on Nellis AFB. The fire department is encouraging each individual to come out and learn how to effectively "Protect Your Family from Fire."
