SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum - View Single Post - If you haven't already

timwilky · 26-03-06, 06:41 AM

I've had smoke detectors for about 15 years, change batterys every year and test them whenever the wife cooks

. I suppose I really should upgrade them to linked and mains powered. Most important is the testing and a vac out.

Interesting though is the way kids think. My eldest was about 7 when I installed them and she went hysterical. Demanding they were taken down, wouldn't sleep. Eventually we understood why. In her logic, we were installing the detectors because we were going to have a fire, not in case of a fire.

Also people plan your escape route, know from which bedrooms etc you can escape and how. If you have to (god forbid) jump, drop out as much bedding/cushioning and don't jump. Remember the reach of most adults is about 6ft. Use it to your advantage and lower yourself as far as possible and drop onto the cushioning, roll as soon as you land. First one adult and then lower your kids, the person on the ground being able to support the child as they are lowered.

As many fires tend to be electrical in origin you may find yourself without light. Also the smoke will be so dense as you can't see even if the power is still on. So keep a torch in your bedside cabinet. If you have to rescue your kids, keep yoursef as low as possible whilst moving betweeen rooms. Remember get out call fire brigade and stay out no matter how tempting it may be to try to rescue valubles or fight the fire yourself. If stuck in a room use a damp towel if available to seal the underneath of the door to prevent smoke entering.

The above info given to me by a fire officer many years ago, may not be current practice so please do not take as gospel.

I also keep a fire blanket in the kitchen and small extinguisher (You never know with Lynnes cooking) plus two large CO2 extinguishers (Pinched from work when they closed the factory, with permission of the works fire officer) in the garage.

Incidently the only time I have needed to use an extingisher was 20 years ago. My father, brother and I were working in the garage at home and heard screams from my mother that the kitchen was on fire. We grabbed the extinguishers and banged the levers as we entered the kitchen. Bloody powder everywhere, what a mess they make. Turns out she had put the trays in to heat up for the yorkshire puds, and forgot about them, the fat got so hot that as she opened the oven door and the air got in. whoosh, tray of fire. which she threw in panic. Personally I think it was a ploy to get a new kitchen

26-03-06, 06:41 AM	#9
timwilky Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Not in Yorkshire. (Thank God) Posts: 4,116	I've had smoke detectors for about 15 years, change batterys every year and test them whenever the wife cooks . I suppose I really should upgrade them to linked and mains powered. Most important is the testing and a vac out. Interesting though is the way kids think. My eldest was about 7 when I installed them and she went hysterical. Demanding they were taken down, wouldn't sleep. Eventually we understood why. In her logic, we were installing the detectors because we were going to have a fire, not in case of a fire. Also people plan your escape route, know from which bedrooms etc you can escape and how. If you have to (god forbid) jump, drop out as much bedding/cushioning and don't jump. Remember the reach of most adults is about 6ft. Use it to your advantage and lower yourself as far as possible and drop onto the cushioning, roll as soon as you land. First one adult and then lower your kids, the person on the ground being able to support the child as they are lowered. As many fires tend to be electrical in origin you may find yourself without light. Also the smoke will be so dense as you can't see even if the power is still on. So keep a torch in your bedside cabinet. If you have to rescue your kids, keep yoursef as low as possible whilst moving betweeen rooms. Remember get out call fire brigade and stay out no matter how tempting it may be to try to rescue valubles or fight the fire yourself. If stuck in a room use a damp towel if available to seal the underneath of the door to prevent smoke entering. The above info given to me by a fire officer many years ago, may not be current practice so please do not take as gospel. I also keep a fire blanket in the kitchen and small extinguisher (You never know with Lynnes cooking) plus two large CO2 extinguishers (Pinched from work when they closed the factory, with permission of the works fire officer) in the garage. Incidently the only time I have needed to use an extingisher was 20 years ago. My father, brother and I were working in the garage at home and heard screams from my mother that the kitchen was on fire. We grabbed the extinguishers and banged the levers as we entered the kitchen. Bloody powder everywhere, what a mess they make. Turns out she had put the trays in to heat up for the yorkshire puds, and forgot about them, the fat got so hot that as she opened the oven door and the air got in. whoosh, tray of fire. which she threw in panic. Personally I think it was a ploy to get a new kitchen __________________ Not Grumpy, opinionated.