MEBANE, N.C., June 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As health
restrictions continue to ease across the country, Americans are
looking forward to summer barbeques and evenings around the fire
pit. However, these celebrations bring an increased need for
safety. According to the National Fire Protection Association, July
is peak time for grill fires, with gas grills being involved in an
average of almost 9,000 home fires per year. In the event of a
fire, proper use of fire safety equipment, such as a fire
extinguisher, is critical. To keep Americans safe this summer,
Kidde is launching a nationwide public safety initiative to raise
awareness of the importance of practicing fire safety outdoors and
ultimately help reduce the amount of injuries caused by grill
fires. Kidde is a part of Carrier Global Corporation
(NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe and
sustainable building and cold chain solutions.
According to a new survey commissioned by Kidde and
conducted online by The Harris Poll among 2,032 U.S. adults aged 18
and older, more than half of Americans (58%) do not know or aren't
sure if they know how to use the PASS (Pull the pin, Aim, Spray,
Sweep) system for discharging a fire extinguisher. The survey also
found that while most grill owners (90%) own a fire extinguisher,
only 59% keep one within reach while grilling. In
addition, almost half of grill owners (44%) do not know that
disposable fire extinguishers need to be replaced every 12 years.
As a committed advocate of fire and carbon monoxide (CO) safety
education, Kidde is providing life-saving tips to help homeowners
safely celebrate the summer season.
"At Kidde, we understand that practicing fire safety goes beyond
just understanding the risks of fire and CO poisoning when grilling
outside or maintaining a fire pit," said Sharon Cooksey, Fire Safety Educator for Kidde.
"Most importantly, people need to understand how to properly use
equipment to protect your home and loved ones. As many Americans
prepare to entertain outdoors – some for the first time in more
than a year – we are proud to share important tips to help them
safely celebrate summer."
Kidde shares the following advice to help protect residents from
the dangers of smoke, fire and CO while entertaining outdoors.
- Fire Extinguisher Safety: Grill owners should always
keep a multipurpose fire extinguisher within easy reach (but don't
place it directly against your grill). When using a fire
extinguisher, remember the PASS method: Pull the tab, Aim low
towards the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep
side-to-side.
- Fire Extinguisher Maintenance: Always ensure the fire
extinguisher gauge is in the green zone and that it has been
replaced within the last 10-12 years.
- Grill Safety: Households should always place grills at
least 10 feet from their home. Not only will this help protect the
home's exterior materials, which could catch fire or melt, but it
will also help prevent CO from entering their living spaces.
Additionally, always make sure young children and pets stay away
from a hot grill. To do this, keep a 3-foot ring of safety around
the grill while you're cooking.
- Carbon Monoxide Safety: Only grill outdoors – never in
your garage (even with the door open). Not only can grilling in
your garage create fire risks, but a gas grill can produce carbon
monoxide (CO), which can move through drywall. Additionally, don't
grill next to an open window, vents, or ducts, since CO could find
its way into your home through those avenues.
- Alarm Maintenance: Working smoke alarms can cut the
chances of a home fire death in half. Smoke alarms must be replaced
after 10 years; CO alarms should be replaced every 7-10 years,
depending on the model. In addition to testing alarms once each
week, check the manufacturing date on your smoke and CO alarms to
make sure they are under 10 years of age. If they are older than
that, it is time to replace them.
- Alarm Placement: Smoke alarms should be installed on
every level of the home, including the basement, as well as inside
and outside of each sleeping area.
For more grilling safety information, visit
kidde.com/grillingsafety. For smoke and CO safety tips,
visit kidde.com.
About Kidde
Kidde, a leading manufacturer of residential smoke alarms, carbon
monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, and safety accessories, has
been keeping the world a safer place for over 100 years. Kidde
produced the first integrated smoke detection system a century ago
and continues its legacy today by delivering advanced fire-safety
technology. Kidde is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the
leading global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building
and cold chain solutions. For more information, visit
kidde.com or follow @KiddeSafety, and on Facebook and
Instagram.
Survey Methodology:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf
of Kidde from May 18-20,
2021 among 2,032 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom
1,302 own an outdoor grill (e.g., gas, electric,
charcoal). This online survey is not based on a probability sample
and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be
calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting
variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Sharon
Cooksey at sharon.cooksey@carrier.com.
Contact:
|
Sharon
Cooksey
|
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919-612-0583
|
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sharon.cooksey@carrier.com
|
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SOURCE Kidde