10 Tips for Fire Safety

11/15/2016 (Permalink)

1. Watch your cooking
   1. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
2. Give space heaters space
   1. Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn.
   2. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
3. Smoke outside
   1. Ask smokers to smoke outside. Have you sturdy, deep ashtrays for smokers.
4. Keep matches and lighters out of reach
   1. Keep matches and lighters up high and out of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.
5. Inspect electrical cords
   1. Replace cords that are cracked or damaged, have broken plugs, or have loose connections.
6. Install smoke alarms
   1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
   2. Interconnect smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds they all sound.
7. Have a home fire escape plan
   1. Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.
8. Be careful when using candles
   1. Keep candles at least 1 food from anything that can burn. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep
9. Test smoke alarms
   1. Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace batteries once a year or when the alarm “chirps” to tell you the battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old.
10. Install sprinklers
    1. If you are building or remodeling your home, consider installing a home fire sprinkler system. If moving into an apartment or condominium building, make sure common areas and individual apartments are sprinklered. Sprinklers can limit a fire and may even extinguish it in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.