Did you know that if a fire starts in your home right now, you may have as little as two minutes to get out of your house safely?  In order to maximize your chances of getting out safely, early warning from a Smoke Alarm is essential, as well as having an escape plan in place that has been practiced regularly by your family. 

Top Tips for Fire Safety Include:

• Installing smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside of sleeping areas. 
• Test your smoke alarms every month. If they are not working, change the batteries and test again.  Regardless, its a good idea to change the batteries at least once a year or more.
• Teach your children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
• Make sure you have a family communication plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.
• Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
• Talk with all of your family members about your fire escape plan and then practice that plan at least twice a year.
• If a fire happens in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT, and C
• ALL FOR HELP.  Never go back in the house for anything or anyone.
• Teach everyone how to STOP, DROP, and ROLL if their clothes should catch fire.

Top Tips for Fire Prevention

• Smoking materials are the leading cause of house fire deaths in the United States.  If you smoke, take precautions: Smoke outside, choose fire-safe cigarettes, NEVER smoke in bed, when drowsy, or medicated, or if anyone in the house is using oxygen.
• Keep items that can catch fire at least 3 feet away from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters and candles. 
• Talk to your children regularly about the dangers of fire, matches, and lighters.  Keep them out of reach!
• Never leave a burning candle unattended, not even for one minute!
• Clean our your dryer vent on a regular basis.
• Never leave food cooking on your stove unattended.
• Keep fire extinguishers in several areas of your home including kitchen, garage, and bedroom closets.

 

What to do if a fire starts:

• Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisher.
• Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT, and      CALL 9-1-1.
• Yell "FIRE" several times and go outside right away.  If you live in a building with elevators, use the stairs. Do not take anything with you. Get out.
• If closed doors or handles are warm or smoke blocks your primary exit route, use your second way out.  Never open doors that are warm to the touch!
• If you must escape through smoke, get low on the ground and go under the smoke to your exit.  Close doors behind you.
• If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room and place a wet towel under the door and call fire department or 9-1-1.  Open a window and wave a bright colored cloth or flashlight if you are unable to safely exit the window.
• Once you are outside, go to your meeting place.

 

 

 

 

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