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Have a
Plan
Create an escape plan
now and practice it with the whole family at least
twice a year. College students and elderly persons
should make sure they know the fire plan in their
dorm or residential facility. Remember to pick a
meeting place outside of the house a safe distance
away to gather the family together once they’ve
gotten out.
Get
Early Warning
Having a working smoke
alarm reduces the risk of dying in a fire by nearly
50 percent, so check smoke detectors monthly and
replace batteries every year… even if you think they
are “still good.” Experts recommend, and many
building codes require, placement of one smoke alarm
in every bedroom with one additional unit in a
common area (stairway, main hallway, etc.) on every
floor.
Learn Best Practices
Make sure that every
family member knows: to stay as calm as possible; to
stop, drop and roll! should their clothing catch
fire; to feel doors with the back of their hand and
not to open a door if it is hot; and to drop to the
floor to get available fresh air and crawl to the
nearest safe exit.
Block The Smoke
Smoke - not fire - is
the cause of 70 percent of all residential fire
fatalities. Always sleep with doors closed and
install a revolutionary new safety device called
The SMOKESTOPPER under every bedroom
door. Featuring a series of smoke inhibiting
chambers and a highly reflective strip, The
SMOKESTOPPER inhibits smoke from passing under
doors and aids rescue personnel in prioritizing
their search and identifying loved ones’ rooms
during rescue operations.
Heat During The Cold
Keep space heaters at
least three feet away from things that can burn,
such as curtains or stacks of newspaper.
Always turn
off heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
When it comes to open-flame heating devices in the
house, have a service person inspect chimneys,
fireplaces, wood and coal stoves and central
furnaces once a year. Have them cleaned when
necessary.
Keep things that can
burn away from your fireplace and keep a glass or
metal screen in front of your fireplace.
In The Kitchen
When in the kitchen,
keep things that can burn, such as dishtowels, paper
or plastic bags, and curtains at least three feet
away from the range top.
Always stay in the kitchen
while cooking and before you begin cooking, roll up
sleeves and use oven mitts. Loose-fitting clothes
can touch a hot burner and catch on fire.
By The Grill
Always stay by
the grill when cooking, Your grill may stay hot for
a long time. Keep children and pets away.
Keep grills at least
ten feet away from other objects, especially the
house and any shrubs or bushes.
Know Another Way Out
Everyone should know
as least two ways out of their bedroom. A window can
be used if the door is blocked by heat, smoke or
flames. Consider a rope or chain escape ladder for
sleeping areas on the second or third floors. If
trapped in a room, keep the door closed, stay low to
the floor and wait by the window. Do not hide under
beds or in closets.
Circumnavigating Security
Bars
Security bars on
windows can help keep thieves out, but can also trap
you inside your house in a fire. Install simple to
use emergency releases on the inside of all bedroom
windows.
Once You Are Out, Stay Out!
Getting yourself and
family members out should be your No. 1 priority.
Use a neighbor’s phone to call 911 or the fire
department. Stay out under all circumstances until a
fire official tells you it is safe to go back
inside.
Matches & Lighters
Many young children
are badly burned or die playing with matches and
lighters. Store matches & lighters in a locked
cabinet if at all possible. Or at least out of the
reach of young children.
Smoking
Use "fire-safe"
cigarettes and smoke outside. Use larger, deep
ashtrays on sturdy surfaces like a table to prevent
the ashtray from accidently falling on a rug or
flammable surface.
Douse cigarette and
cigar butts with water before dumping them in the
trash.
Products In The Home
Read the label of
everything you buy. If you see the words "Caution,"
"Warning," "Danger," or "Flammable," be very
careful. |
