Greg shares fire safety tips for children in this episode of Ask The Expert. 800 CHAB radio presents Ask the Expert with Greg Marcyniuk of Heritage Insurance located in Moose Jaw.
Here's a full transcript of the episode.
Rob Carnie: The month of October is Fire Safety Month.
And here to talk about that on 800 CHAB's Ask the Expert feature is our insurance expert — Greg Marcyniuk at Heritage Insurance.
Fire safety month, the furnaces are on, the fireplaces are going to be on, and that's why October is Fire Safety Month, sir.
Greg Marcyniuk: That's correct, Rob. And you know I was doing some research on this, and I was rather shocked that children under five are twice as likely to perish in a fire as other people.
So, I felt it very important that we should focus on helping children survive a fire. And how do we do it?
First and foremost, we should install smoke alarms on every floor. And you should check them at least once a month by testing the battery, and also replace the batteries at minimum every year.
Yeah, you should teach your children what smoke alarms sound like. You can make a bit a game out of that and actually punch it and let them hear what it is. Ensure that the household members — especially these younger children — are familiar with at least escaping your home in two places if there is a fire. Practice fire drills, and fire escape plans at least twice a year. And as well, at different times of the day. So, again that they are aware of what to do in the event of a fire. And also let them know how to dial 911, another very important thing.
The other thing is emphasize, "Get out and stay out." The only person or persons that should enter a home that is ablaze is a actual professional firefighter.
So, don't go in to try and get anyone or get any pets, or any family heirlooms. Like, again, very important that they're made aware that only fire professionals, firefighters should go in there.
Rob: Yeah, it only takes one breath of that toxic smoke to knock you down.
Greg: Well that's right Rob.
And the other thing is consider getting ladders if you're at a second level. Escape ladders in each room that is easily accessible that you can hang out there. And another very important thing for especially younger children is teach them to stop, drop and roll in case any of their clothes do catch on fire.
So, these are fire safety tips more towards younger people, and we're actually excited this month of October being Fire Safety Month. We're going to be giving away a skateboard. And how we're going to give that away, Rob, is we're going to be putting a quiz — it's just a simple four question quiz — on Facebook, and any of the children we encourage again, 10 and under to go through and answer these quizzes, and everyone who gets it correctly we're going to put in to an actual drum.
In fact, you know what, anybody that does it, regardless whether you got 100 percent or not, are going to go into the drum. I've just made that corporate decision — that anyone that actually goes on, fills out, and tries to answer the questions, they're going to get in. And it's a beautiful little skateboard, and you'll be able to see that on our Heritage Insurance Facebook page.
Rob: Awesome. Kids 10 and under, go to the Heritage Insurance Facebook page, and get in it to win a lovely skateboard. You'll give that away at the end of October?
Greg: The end of October, we'll do the draw, and we'll actually do a live draw right on Facebook and people will be able to see who actually won.
Rob: Awesome. It's fire safety month. Greg Marcyniuk, Heritage Insurance, on 800 CHAB's Ask the Expert.
(Video transcription by Speechpad)