Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-26

URGES SAFETY
FROM FIRE IN
STATE SCHOOLS
Fire Marshal Accents Need
for Work in Blaze
Prevention.
MUST PROTECT CHILD

Urging that everything possible be
done to safeguard Indiana school chill
dren against fire, Newman T. Miller,
State fire marChR1- issued a statement to
day on the subject OF guarding against
FIRE hazards The statement follows:
In q few weeks the schools Of Indi-
ana VIII be opencd and every school room
win be occupied By the children Of our
State
Those who sro charged with the re-
sponEibIlity Of the care Of these children
should be sure that everything has been
done to insure their safety Be sure that
every FIRE hazard has been removed: that
the heating plant IN each building is
properly installed and n correct repair;
that approved Ere eKring uiShers have been
installed when and where needed; that
the installation Of the electrical wiring
has been thoroughly inspected and that
same Is IN goOd condition and that exits
and fire escapes are in proper shape
Ten per cent of all accidental deaths
in this country result from fire Each
year a great many Of our school houses
IN I1disua burn Don't let Il be said
any school house burns, or a child loses
its life as a result Of your neglect OF
inattenti0u-
"Eighty-fve Per cent OF the fires Of
this country are caused by carelsssness,
a proportionate part Of which fires are
in schools, not through the csrelessness
Of children, but through the careless
ness Of those charged with the legal
obligation of safeguarding the limb and
Life Of your child and mine This re-
sPonsibility rests upon every school Of
fetal including teachers II you are a
member Of a school board, q township
trustee, county superintendent Of
schools, you are charged with the re
sponsibility Of seeing that the children
are properly protected. Every parent
should make It his or her business TO
see that their children are properly
cared for.
During an average Of i've hours each
day during 200 days IN each year, 25,-
100000 children are IN the schools Of
the United States The attendance IS
compulsory; no fundamental educational
problem is greater than the safety OF
these children
Fire losses in schools IN Indiana dur
ing the years 1915, 1919 and 1920 amount
ed to S34s. 53J.
Fire drills are extremely important
and should be held At least twice q
month, but perfection OF drilling is OF
little value il fire exits are omitted or
improperly designed. or If doors are
doors 10 school buildings should open
outward and should be equipped with
panic release bar latcheS
The 1anItor is an important factor in
the prevention Of fires and should be
made thoroughly acquainted with the
vital need for careful housekeeping. Il
would be productive Of beneficial results
II school principals or boards Of educa-
ton would supply janitors with a short
but comprehensive notice concerning fire
hazards with a view to enhancing the
safety Of pupils.
What the country needs IS national
team work in hgi ing the Ire waste. Our
schools have a Doubt responsibility and
opportunity in the premises; first. TO put
their own houses il order and second,
to yield a powerful educational influence.
The education Of the public IN matters
Of FIRE prevention is the most important
step that can be taken toward limiting
the loss Of life ana property by fire. II
within the next year the teaching Of fire
prevention were incorporated in the
courses Of all schools and colleges in the
United States. 10 IS safe TO predict that
the effect upon the IRE waste would be
very great Some Sta ties already require
that a certain amount Of time be de-
voted each month TO the study Of fire
prevention IN grammar schools This
should be required IN the upper grades
OF grammar schools TO the extent Of at
least two hours a week
1t should be remembered that the de-
gree Of attention given 70 IRE protection
IN the school buildings themselves VIII
to a large extent determine the imPOr-
lance OF fire protection in the estimation
Of the child. The best literature on fire
protection should be available I'm every
school library and important matters
should be emphasized by pictures and
notices.
knowledge IS the basis OF all intelli-
gent action and where proper protection
is afforded the knowledge Of the chill
dren as to the value of IRE doors. fire
walls, automatic sprinklers and E prop
erly executed FIRE drill viii do much
toward preventing panic.
"Let each and every citizen OF the
State use his endeavors to reduce the
awful FIRE waste which visits our State
and Nation each year