Home Fire Safety Tips

Safety Basics

• Keep flammable items at least three feet from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters.
  

• Never smoke in bed, when drowsy, or when in an altered state. Never smoke when anyone in the home is using medical oxygen. It is always best to smoke outside.

• Dispose of cigarettes in sturdy ashtrays or – even better, douse with water or use a canister filled with sand outside.

• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children, and talk to them about the dangers of fire.

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.

• Never leave a portable heater on overnight.

Smoking Safety

Smoking is the number one cause of home fire deaths across the country. Fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials can be prevented. Read on to learn some simple ways to stay safe and avoid common fire hazards.

Smoke outside: there are a lot of things in your home can catch on fire if cone into contact with a lit cigarette or hot ashes. It is always safer to smoke outside.

Never smoke in bed: Mattresses and bedding can catch on fire easily. Do not smoke in bed because you might fall asleep with a lit cigarette.

Do not smoke after taking medicine that makes you tired: You may not be able to prevent or escape from a fire if you are not alert.

Never smoke around medical oxygen: Medical oxygen can explode if a flame or spark is near. Even if the oxygen is turned off, it can still catch on fire.

Protecting your home

Without a properly functioning smoke alarm, you may not wake up in the event of a fire and be overcome from the smoke and flames while sleeping. This is why home fires are most dangerous at night, while people are sleeping, and why placing smoke alarms outside bedrooms are is important.

Have working smoke alarms: You should have a smoke alarm on every level of your home. You should also have a smoke alarm outside every sleeping area.

Test your smoke alarms once a month: Use the test button to make sure your smoke alarms are working. Replace batteries immediately if needed.

Is It Audible? Some people are sound sleepers. If you cannot hear your alarm, you may need an alarm that has a different sound or one that comes with a bed shaker or strobe light.

Replace smoke alarms after 10 years: Smoke alarms age like all electronic equipment. If your alarms are 10 years old or older, replace them with new alarms.

Make an escape plan around your abilities.If there is a fire, you may have less than three minutes to evacuate your home. Having a home safety plan in place before a fire occurs is important so everyone is prepared and ready to act.

Plan ahead: Talk with all of the members in your household about fire safety. Make sure everyone in the home knows where the fire alarms and fire extinguishers are located. Make a fire escape plan and practice it yearly.

Know two ways out of every room: Always know an alternative exit to every room in the event the main exit is blocked or dangerous to use.

Plan for your abilities: If you need to use devices to assist you in moving, seeing, or hearing – leave them within reach of your bed so you can have quick access.

Have a phone near the bed: Know the local emergency numbers in case of an emergency and have a phone near the bed. If you are trapped in a fire and cannot get out of the bedroom, you will need a way to phone for help.