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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 1980)
Portland Obaarvar January 3. 1980 Paga 3 Residential fires cause 8,000 unnecessary deaths by Robert W. Shirley R oom W ith the median cost o f a new home now at $63,000 and replace ment costs o f o ld e r homes also zoom ing to staggering levels, who can a ffo rd to be nonchalant about fire protection? Even worse, residential fires k ill about 8,000 people and injure 32, (XX) more annually. Nearly eight out o f ten U.S. fire deaths happen at home and over ha lf o f them are in one- and tw o-fam ily homes, according to the National Fire Protection Association (N F P A ) - all the m ore reason to make lire safety a household con cern. W ell over h a lf o f the 800,000 home fires occur between m idnight and 6:00 a m. Cirgarettes, cigars and pipes are s till the m a jo r c u lp rits , most often igniting in living rooms and bedroom s. W h ile th e y may smoulder fo r several hours, it only takes tw o to fo u r m in u te s a fte r ignition fo r combustible materials to go up in roaring fiâmes which release poisonous gases. U n fo rtu n a te ly, all th is can happen undetected by a sleeping fam ily. W ithout a doubt, smoke detectors can often mean the difference bet ween lif e and d eath. Recent te ch n o lo g y has produced a ready assortment o f low-cost alarms. The im p o rta n t co n sid e ra tio n in selecting residential smoke detectors is approval by a certified laboratory to assure reliability. S m oke d e te cto rs buy tim e to escape fro m fire, but planning fo r what each fam ily member would do in the event o f actual fire is still vital. Planning pays when minutes count. The N FP A suggests that families make a sketch o f th e ir homes, in dicating every possible exit: doors, w in d o w s, balconies, porches and garages. “ Discuss which exits should be tried firs t and the alternatives. M ake sure ch id re n recognize the alarm sound and can open windows and d o o rs ," M a rio n C ole, N F P A public affairs specialist counsels. She has other pointers: - Shut doors to barricade fire and smoke. I f the door feels hot, head immediately to an alternative exit. - D on’ t waste time getting dressed o r trying to get to valuables. C rawling may aid escape. Smoke rises so the best air may be close to the flo o r. - I f clothing catches on fire, drop to the flo o r and ro ll quickly to sinoth er flames. - E sta b lish an o u ts id e m eeting place where everyone is to gather a f ter escaping so you can see w h o ’ s m issing, but d o n 't let anyone go back inside. Send someone to call the fire d e p a rtm e n t at a n e ig h b o r’ s, reporting i f you suspect someone is trapped in the burning home. Preparing fo r the worst, with e f fective smoke detection and good fam ily planning, is likely to have the best p a y o ff in p ro te ctin g pro p e rty and lives from fire. American State Bank “ The Rank that integration b u ilt” 2737 N.E. Union 282 2216 WHERE FATAL RESIDENTIAL FIRES START* P 'o teci'O f' A n o u th o n S u b it ic i L ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------ J M o st fatal residential fires start in living room s, dens, fam ily rooms or bedrooms of homes, accor ding to s ta tis tic s c o m p ile d by th e N a tio n a l Fire Protection Association Nearly eight out of ten U S . fire deaths happen at home and over half of them are in one and tw o fam ily homes all the more reason to m ake fire safety a household concern. Eight ways for securing home Is securing your home something you should be seriously concerned about? I f you consider the facts, you'll probably agree the answer is “ yes.’ ’ According to latest statistics, 2 million burglaries are committed in residences annually, with an estimated loss o f $l billion. Moreover, residential burglaries are on the rise. The incidence o f burglaries in homes has risen 19 percent in the last five years. And, according to a recent national survey o f crim e in major cities, a homeowner’ s chance o f being burglarized is I in i I . But there are simple, inexpensive steps that can be taken to avoid becoming one o f those statistics. Crime experts say that i f protective measures can delay a burglar for just four minutes, he or she w ill give up and try another home. 1. STR O N G DOORS W IT H STRONG LOCKS. Doors are the first place a burglar will try. A secure door will force him to try another entrance. How do you know if your doors are secure? First, outside doors should be solid wood or metal so that they can’ t be kicked in. Hollow-core or paneled doors just aren't strong enough. 2. P R O T E C T W IN D O W S F R O M EASY ENTRY. A burglar will usually avoid breaking large windows because noise may attract attention. Sometimes, however, to keep the glass from shattering, he’ ll put tape on a window befor breaking it with a blunt instrument. Then he'll reach inside to open the window lock. Window locks that require keys to open are one way to stop a burglar. However, there is another way to secure double-hung windows and sliding doors: simply drill a downward slanting hole through both frames where the frames overlap and insert a nail o r pin. This keeps the burglar from opening the window from out side, and prevents him from lifting a sliding door out o f its tracks. Another method is to place a piece o f dowel o r an old broom stick in the sliding door’s track. This will stop the burglar from opening the window from the outside; however, it w on’ t stop him from liftin g some doors or windows out o f their tracks. 3. L IG H T T H E O U T S ID E O F YOUR H O M E . G ood lig h tin g can keep a burglar fro m using trees or shrubs as a cover while working on a window. And it increases the chance your neighbor will see him and call the police. 4. A U T O M A T IC TIM ER S O N IN DOOR LIG H TS . Most people leave one to tw o lights on when they leave for an evening to make it appear as if they’ re home. But a kitchen or bedroom light that stays on 24 hours a day, day after day, is a sure sign that you’ ve gone away. Automatic timers on lights throughout the house can be programmed to simulate a more nor mal routine. Available at a nominal cost from most department or hard ware stores, th e y ’ re an excellent security investment. 5. S TO P A L L D E L IV E R IE S . Newspapers, mail and advertising cir culars that pile up on a doorstep when you’re away are a real giveaway to a burglar. Stop whatever deliveries you can while you’ r gone and ask a neigh bor to stop by once a day to pick anything else up. I f you’ ll be gone for more than a week, arrange to have someone mow the lawn or shovel your walk while you’re away, too. 6 D O N ’ T RE CARELESS A R O U T KEYS. Burglars know all the hiding places for spare house keys - under rugs in mailboxes, on top o f door STOP LOOKING BUY TOMORROW'S SECURITY FOR YOUR FAMILY TODAY New 3 and 4 bedroom homes with or without family rooms in Vancouver close to 1-5 and 8 minutes from Interstate bridge. Include 2 baths, double garage, brick fireplaces, range, dishwasher, garbage disposal, w /w car pets. All are energy efficient with 10 year Home Owner's Warranty. Cash price for 3 bedroom with 1036 sq. ft. would be $48,500, 11 Vi % Annual Per centage Rate with 360 monthly payments at $480 64 principal and interest plus estimated taxes and insurance. Veterans move-in for $100 00, FHA purchaser’s move in approx. $2,650 00 HERMITAGE REALTY, INC. 471) S(. John* Rd. V .n c.W A 9X661 <206)694 -H577 206(574.1522 716 N F 991 h Ave Portland. OR 97220 223 8229 241 3723 The Morns Marks House 1501 SW Harrison Street Portlond 97201 Telephone 2 27 2 6 8 8 frames, in planters, and the like. Give your keys to a neighbor you trust. 7. ID E N T IF Y Y O U R B E L O N G INGS. t his precaution won’ t stop a burglar from getting into your home, but it w ill help you recover your possessions i f they are stolen. Mark y o u r b e lo ng in g s w ith an e le c tric engraving pencil. (The Police Bureau can make these available on a loan basis.) Use your drivers license num ber as your identification. 8. CONSIDER THE RENEFITS OF A H O M E S E C U R IT Y S Y S TE M Having a dependable alarm system in stalled is one o f the most important steps you can take toward protecting your family and home from burglary. Y ou’ ll want one o ffe rin g a high level o f protection, and will provide reliable service over the long run. Check the label and the company to make sure the system has been tested and rated by U n d e rw rite r’ s L a b o ra to ry , that it provides 24-hour m o n ito rin g and response and that it has a loud alarm that can be heard th roughout your house even with the doors closed. PCC offers consum er health class Learn how to spend health care dollars wisely in a new course offered winter term at Portland Com m unity College Sylvania Center, 12000 S.W. 49th Avenue. In s tru c to rs G la yd s D a v id w ill show students how to in te llig e n tly evaluate advertising, labeling and health products such as over-the- counter drugs, sure-cures for chronic diseases, short-cuts to beauty and weight control, guildelines fo r selec tion o f health services and other facets o f consumer health. "S o m e health products and ser vices are not actually in the best in terests o f the c o n s u m e r,” D avid pointed out. The three hour credit course is not only useful to the general consumer, but is applicable toward a m ajor in health education, acts as an elective in any PCC associate degree p ro g ra m and tra n s fe rs to o th e r educational institutions. D a v id said the course in vo lve s decision m aking re g a rd in g a d ve r tising, quackery, how to spend ap p ro p ria te ly fo r h e a lth care and health products. Lccture/discussion periods, demons! ration/exam ination o f fraudulent products or misleading advertising and guest speakers w ill all be used in the class form at. Preregistration is now underway fo r classes w hich start January 2. Consumer health w ill be held at noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Health Technology building. Building. ENERGY. We can't afford to waste it. DES C O N N A LL Professional Corporation LEGAL CLINIC CONCENTRATING IN THE FIELDS OF: CRIMINAL LAW INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICANTS DOMESTIC RELATIONS WORKERS' COMPENSATION BANKRUPTCY PERSONAL INJURY W ILLS-PROBATE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS CONSUMER PROTECTION If you have a problem that is not covered in this list, please call and ask whether we can help. Charges are, we can. If not, we can recommend someone else for you to call. One way or the other, we want to see you get the kind of professional legal counsel you're entitled to. The best time to call us, or any attorney, is before you are embroiled in a legal problem This is called preventative law and it makes a lot of sense. Regardless, when you call us we will arrange for an initial consultation at your convenience. Cost: $20. We probably can't solve anything in this meeting, but it is a chance for you to explain your particular problem and for us to give you some idea of what it'll take to reach a solution. If you want us to proceed, we'll give you an estimate of the fees you should plan on. In writing.
