1000 SW Jackson
Suite 230
Topeka, KS 66612-1274
(785) 296-1223
(785) 296-8645 (FAX)

Coordinator:
Jan Stegelman

Executive Committee
Dennis Cooley, MD
Medical Advisor
American Academy of
Pediatrics, Kansas
Chapter

Vanda Easley
State Farm Insurance
Companies

Cindy Hermes
State Capitol Area
Firefighters Association

Ami Hyten
Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association

Elena Nuss
Kansas State
Fire Marshall's Office

Rosanne Rutkowski
Kansas State Nurses
Association

Cindy Yelkin
Kansas Hospital
Association

Kansas SAFE KIDS reminds all Kansans:
'When Fire Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out!'
Fire Prevention Week is October 5-11, 2003

Fire can be furious and deadly - the smoke alone can kill. Despite a 27% decrease in unintentional fire/flame injury death rates for Kansas children ages 0-14 when comparing 1981-1990 and 1991-2000, fire/burn injury remains the third leading cause of unintentional injury death for children in our state. The theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11, 2003, "When Fire Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out!" is a lifesaving reminder to leave right away when the smoke alarm goes off, and to stay out until firefighters say it is safe to go back inside.

"Children, especially those ages 4 and under, are at greatest risk from home fire related death and injury," said Jan Stegelman, Coordinator, Kansas SAFE KIDS. "Having a working smoke alarm on every level of your home and making sure that your children know what to do in the case of a fire can make the difference between surviving a fire and dying in one."

Kansas SAFE KIDS offers these simple tips for Fire Prevention Week:

• Install working smoke alarms on each level of the home, and test them monthly. Replace batteries at least once a year. Replace smoke detectors every 10 years. The chance of dying in a residential fire is cut in half when a working smoke detector is present.
• Plan and practice with your children two escape routes out of the house and each room. Make sure your children know the sound of your smoke alarm. Have a home fire drill to prepare your children. An unprepared child may attempt to hide from the fire instead of leaving immediately.
• Designate an outside meeting place for your family. Teach everyone in your household that once they are out, they must stay out until firefighters say it is safe to go back inside. Children should be reminded not to stop or return for anything such as a toy. A call to 9-1-1 should be placed after leaving the house.

Time is precious when a fire starts in the home. Making sure that your home is protected by working smoke detectors and your family learns and practices basic fire safety will give every member of your family a better chance at staying alive and safe.

Kansas SAFE KIDS, Inc. is a nonprofit coalition of 67 statewide organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries to Kansas children ages 0-14. Local coalitions and chapters are located in Anderson, Clay, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ford, Franklin, Johnson, Marion, Montgomery, Osage, Pottawatomie, Rice, Saline, and Shawnee Counties, as well as Chanute, Hutchinson, Junction City, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Norton, Pittsburg, and Wichita. Kansas SAFE KIDS is affiliated with the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.