Tennessee State Fire Marshal says Be ‘Stop, Drop, and Roll’ Smart

Nashville, TN – “Stop, drop, and roll” has been one of the most recognizable fire safety messages for decades. Many adults remember the concept from being introduced to it as a young child. Unfortunately, it is common for people, especially children, to mistakenly believe that they should utilize stop, drop, and roll as a reaction to all fire situations.

State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak wants to make sure Tennesseans know how and when to stop, drop, and roll. “It is important to stress, especially to children, that stop, drop, and roll is appropriate when your clothing or body is on fire,” says McPeak. “If a fire occurs in a home or a building, however, they need to know that getting out fast and staying out is the priority.”

Make sure you and your family are prepared for what to do in case a clothing fire occurs:

• If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll. Stop immediately, drop to the ground, and cover your face with your hands. Roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is out.
• If you cannot “stop, drop, and roll”, keep a blanket or towel nearby to help you or others smother flames. Cover the person with a blanket to smother the fire.
• If you use a wheelchair, scooter, or other device and are able to get to the floor, lock the device first to stay in place before getting on the floor to roll until the flames are out.
• Use cool water to treat any resulting burns immediately for 3 to 5 minutes. Cover with a clean, dry cloth. Do not apply creams, ointments, sprays, or other home remedies. Get medical help right away by calling 9-1-1 or the fire department.

To prevent clothes from catching fire:

• Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking or grilling,
• Teach children to never play with matches or lighters, and
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around fireplaces, candles, grills, and stoves.

For more information on making your home fire-safe, download and print the State Fire Marshal’s home fire safety checklist (http://tn.gov/fire/fsk/documents/checklist.pdf).

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is a division of the Department of Commerce and Insurance, which works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee.

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