Take steps to protect your family

By Staff
Our opinion
A central Alabama family was killed last week when fire broke out at their home. The fire, which officials are blaming on faulty wiring, claimed the lives of Edwin Lunsford, 40; his wife, Heather, 27; and her daughter, Brianna, 18 months.
They are just the latest victims of a home blaze, three more statistics to add to the growing number. Their names will be added to the list that includes three Hartselle residents killed several months ago when their apartment building caught fire.
Stories such as these are always tragic, but there are ways we can help protect ourselves and our families in the event of fire.
National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-11. This year's theme,"Get Out! Stay Out!" is designed to draw attention to two simple but important life-saving lessons.
"Fire can grow and spread so quickly that you have as little as two minutes to escape safely," Amanda Calhoun, project manager for the Alabama Smoke Alarm Initiative at the Alabama Department of Public Health, said. "Advance Planning is essential."
The most important step in fire safety installing smoke alarms and testing them regularly. Nationally, 70-80 percent of people killed in home fires do not have working smoke alarms.
Smoke alarms are an affordable way to keep your family safe, but keep the following in mind:
Families should also develop and practice home fire drills. Only 25 percent of American families have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.
That's an important step, however. Knowing and practicing your escape route will reduce confusion in the event of a fire and possibly save lives.
When you're developing your home escape plan, make sure you:
These simple steps can help keep your family safe in the event of a fire and that's a goal worth working for.