Fire Safety Tips

A: Smoke detectors in good working order can alert you to a fire in your home in time for you to get out, even if you and your family are asleep. Smoke detectors should be installed on every level of your home, including the basement and outside each sleeping area. If you sleep with the door closed, one should be installed inside the sleeping area as well. Detectors should be tested every month according to the manufacturer's directions. Batteries should be replaced once a year. If the detector "chirps" or "beeps" occasionally, this is an indicator of a low battery. Always replace the old battery with a new one and test the detector after installing the battery. Never borrow a smoke detector's battery for another use. Disabled detectors can't save your life! Detectors that are over 10 years old should be replaced with new ones.

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Q: Why should I have an escape plan for my family?

A: If fire breaks out in your home, you need to get out fast. Prepare for a fire emergency by sitting down with your family and establishing an escape plan. Everybody in your family should know at least two unobstructed exits--doors or windows--from every room. Elevators should NOT be used in a fire emergency. Choose a meeting place in a safe area outside where everyone will meet after they escape. Your entire family should practice the escape plan at least twice a year.

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Q: What should I do to get out of a burning house or building?

A: During a fire, smoke and poisonous gases rise with the heat. The air is cleaner and cooler near the floor. If you encounter smoke while escaping from a fire, use an alternative escape route. If you must go through the smoke, crawl on your hands and knees, keeping your head 12 to 24 inches above the floor. Do not linger trying to save valuables or other items. You and your family should get out immediately.

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Q: What do I need to know about fire safety in the kitchen?

A: Never leave cooking unattended. Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles and wear clothing with short, rolled-up, or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking. Turn pot handles inward to prevent you bumping them or children grabbing them. Enforce a "kid-free zone" three feet (one meter) around your kitchen stove. If grease or oil catches fire in a pan, slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames and turn off the heat. Leave lid on until it cools. It is a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher designed for kitchen use within close reach in your cooking area. If the fire gets out of your control, exit the building and call the fire department or 911.

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Q: What should I do if my clothing catches fire?

A: Stop where you are; don't run! Immediately drop to the ground or floor, cover your face with your hands, and roll over and over to smother the flames. Call for help. If clothing is stuck to your skin, do not try to pull it loose. Leave it in place until you can get medical help.

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Q: How should I treat a burn?

A: Run cool water over a burn for 10-15 minutes. Never put butter or any type of grease on the burn. If the skin blisters or is charred, see a doctor immediately. Never use ice on a burn.

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Q: As a smoker, what special precautions should I take?

A: Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths in North America. Smoking in bed or when you are drowsy could be deadly. Provide smokers with large, deep, non-tip ashtrays and soak butts and pipe ashes with water before discarding them. Before going to bed or leaving home after someone has been smoking, check to be sure there are no smoldering cigarettes or cigars under or around cushions or upholstery.

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Q: What safety precautions should I take regarding children and matches or lighters?

A: A child playing with matches or a lighter can end in tragedy. Use only child resistant lighters and store all matches and lighters up high where small children can't see or reach them. It is best to store lighters and matches in a locked cabinet. Teach children that matches and lighters are not toys and are to be used only by adults or under direct adult supervision. Teach young children to tell an adult if they find matches or lighters; older children should bring matches and lighters to an adult immediately.

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Q: Are there safety issues dealing with electricity and household appliances?

A: If an electrical appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it immediately, then have it serviced before using it again. Replace cracked or frayed electrical cords. Don't overload extension cords or run them under rugs or carpeting. Don't tamper with your fuse/breaker box or use improper breakers or fuses. Keep appliances such as toasters or toaser ovens clean and free of grease or food scraps and always unplug them before cleaning. Clean the lint trap on dryers before each use. Inspect the dryer vent hose on a regular basis. Do not overload a dryer or leave it running unattended. Do not tamper with the internal areas of any appliance....only qualified technicians should make repairs to an electrical appliance.

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Q: What is the safe way to use space heaters?

A: Keep space heaters and portable heaters at least three feet (one meter) away from anything that can burn, especially furniture and curtains. Keep children and pets away from heaters, and never leave heaters on when you leave home or go to bed. Always take kerosene burning heaters outside to refill them. Never try to refill a kerosene heater until it is shut down and has had ample time to cool off. Wipe any spilled kerosene up completely before starting heater. Do not attempt to move or relocate a kerosene heater while it is burning. Be sure you keep fuels in properly labeled containers to prevent kerosene heaters from accidentally being filled with gasoline. Always store containers of fuel outside the home in a safe place.

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