Calling All Horse Owners: Time for a Barn Safety Checkup!

Newspaper articles and television news give credence to the fact that barn and stable fires are often fatal to both horses and humans. The fall season is an important time to do a safety checkup on all horse barns and stables. Taking time now, may save save you not only the loss of your valuable barn and its contents, but also may save the lives of your horses and people as well.
As the weather grows colder and days become shorter, the use of electricity and heating devices increases making it important to do a safety check to ensure that electrical shorts or heat from sources such as stall heaters won't lead to a fire.

A systematic check of all electrical and heating systems, including a check of all fire extinguishers will help insure the safety of your animals, as well as the people who care for them.

If you don't already have easily heard smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide fire detectors installed in your barn and stable areas, now is a good time to get that done.

If you haven't already done so, develop an evacuation plan and post it prominently in your barn and stable areas.  Include fire department, veterinarian, and emergency service phone numbers and also include how you can be reached if not on the premises.

In the event of a barn fire, get people out of the barn and call the fire department.  Get your horses and other animals out and use fire extinguishers and hoses, but only if you can safely do so.

The greatest danger to life in fires comes from the gases and smoke produced by burning materials.  Barn fires are especially dangerous because of plastic and petroleum-based products used and stored in barn areas.

Carbon monoxide is a major component of smoke.  Colorless and odorless, it is deadly when inhaled and will cause disorientation, dizziness, weakness, loss of muscle control and loss of consciousness in both humans and animals.

Smoke from a fire causes eye irritation and respiratory damage.  Depending on the concentration of smoke, successful evacuation from a burning barn can be extremely difficult given the frightened state of animals and the possible disorientation caused by inhaling smoke and carbon monoxide.

Following are important fire prevention ideas that should be part of your over-all plan:

    1.Smoking should be banned within a minimum of 50 feet of barns and stables.
    2.Fire extinguishers that are properly up-dated and charged on a regular basis should be kept near every exterior door and next to the main electrical panel box.
    3. Hay and all combustibles should be properly stored, and, if possible, kept in a separate structure.
    4.All lighting and electrical wiring should be checked several times a year and repaired whenever necessary.
    5.Barn and stable layout should be safety-oriented with exits clearly marked for use in case of emergency.  Door frames should be a minimum of 8 feet high and 4 feet wide for easy ingress and egress.  More than one exit should be provided in all cases and all personnel should be trained in what to do in case of fire.
    6.A 50-foot firebreak should be cleared around your barn by removing grass, brush, trees and debris.
    7.Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that sound a loud external alarm should be installed in every barn and stable area.
    8.Have a water and power supply installed outside your barn near the barn doors and keep a water hose attached to the outdoor water supply.  Consider installing a sprinkler system.  The initial cost may be high, but you may receive up to a 50% discount on your fire insurance each year.

Source:Equimed