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Fire Safety Tips that you can live with!
More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and more than 25,000 are injured. Many of them might be alive today if they had only
had the information they needed to avoid a disaster. The following
life-saving tips could make a big difference to your audience. By
incorporating them in your story now, while the moment is still fresh, you
could help save a life.
Did you know?
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Eighty percent of all fire deaths occur in the home.
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Heating is the second leading cause of residential fires and ties with
arson as the second leading cause of fire deaths.
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Deaths due to heating a home improperly are particularly avoidable.
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 Having a working smoke alarm more than doubles one's chances of
surviving a fire.
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Following these simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates
dramatically. Please share them with your readers because knowledge is the
best fire protection.
| Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
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| Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene, not gasoline
or camp stove fuel both explode easily. |
| Keep the fire in the fireplace by making sure you have a screen large
enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs. |
| Clean your chimney regularly chimney tar build-up can ignite your
chimney, roof and the whole house. |
| Space heaters need space. Keep combustibles at least three feet away
from each heater. |
| When buying a space heater, look for a control feature that
automatically shuts off the power if the heater falls over. |
| Carefully follow manufacturers' installation and maintenance
instructions. |
| For wood stove fuel use only seasoned wood, not green wood, artificial
logs or trash. |
| In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and have
an escape plan already worked out. |
| Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries
every month and change them at least once a year. |
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| Regularly inspect your extension cords for fraying and never use an
extension cord as permanent wiring. |
| Instead of a simple extension cord, get a UL-approved unit with
built-in circuit breakers. |
| Routinely check your wiring. Look for outlets that don't work, light
switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker. |
| Never overload outlets or extension cords. |
| Immediately repair appliances or lamps that sputter or spark. |
| Keep appliances away from wet areas in the kitchen, bathroom, basement
and garage. |
| If an appliance has a three-prong plug, never force it into a two-slot
outlet or extension cord. |
| Don't let children play near electrical space heaters. Keep clothes,
curtains and other flammable items at least three feet away from heaters.
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| In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and have
an escape plan already worked out. |
| Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries
every month and change them at least once a year. |
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| Never smoke in bed. Replace mattresses made prior to the 1973 Federal
Mattress Flammability Standard. |
| Don't put ashtrays on the arms of sofas or chairs. |
| Use large ashtrays with wide lips. While smaller ashtrays may be more
attractive, they are not safe. Cigarettes can roll off the edge, and ashes
can easily be blown away. |
| Empty ashtrays into the toilet or an airtight metal container. Warm
ashes dumped in waste cans can smolder for hours, then ignite. |
| Don't leave cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended. |
| Put out all smoking materials before you walk away. |
| If you begin to feel drowsy while watching television or reading,
extinguish your cigarette or cigar. |
| Close a matchbook before striking and hold it away from your body. Set
your cigarette lighter on "low" flame to prevent burns. |
| If friends or relatives who smoke have visited, be sure to check on
the floor and around chair cushions for ashes that may have been dropped
accidentally. |
| In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and have
an escape plan already worked out. |
| Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries
every month and change them at least once a year. |
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| Keep matches, lighters and other ignitables in a secured drawer or
cabinet out of the reach of children. |
| Have your children tell you when they find matches and lighters. |
| Always dress children in pajamas that meet federal flammability
standards. Avoid dressing children for sleep in loose-fitting 100 percent
cotton garments, such as oversized T-shirts. |
| Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly
and call for help from another location. |
| Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get
out of the house and stay out. |
| Teach children a signal to alert the rest of the family to get out if
they hear a smoke alarm. |
| Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground, and roll if clothes catch
fire. |
| Develop a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside.
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| Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm. |
| Help your child test every smoke alarm each month and replace its
batteries at least once a year. |
| Replace mattresses made prior to the 1973 Federal Mattress
Flammability Standard. |
| Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches, evidence your child
may be playing with fire. |
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| Never leave cooking unattended. A serious fire can start in just
seconds. |
| Always wear short, tight-fitting sleeves when cooking. |
| Turn pot handles inward to avoid spills. Always use a potholder when
reaching for handles. |
| Keep towels, pot holders and curtains away from flames and hot
surfaces. |
| Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup which can
ignite. |
| If a fire breaks out while cooking, put a lid on the pan to smother
it. You may also use baking soda. Never throw water on a grease fire. |
| Heat oil gradually to avoid burns from spattering grease. Use extra
caution when preparing deep-fried foods. |
| Place a rubber mat on the floor in front of your stove to give you
added traction in case liquids or grease spill. |
| Never use the range or oven to heat your home. In addition to being a
fire hazard, toxic fumes may leak into your home. |
| Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house. Make
sure all other appliances are turned off. |
| Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries
every month, and change them once a year. |
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| Make sure everyone in your family knows two routes to escape from
bedrooms. |
| Buy a collapsible ladder for escape from upper story windows. |
| Keep the fire department's number by the phone. |
| Have a flashlight by your bed, to help you see and a whistle to alert
your family. |
| Practice feeling your way out of the house with your eyes closed. |
| Never open doors that are hot to the touch. |
| Teach your family to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their
clothes catch fire. |
| Designate a meeting place outside and take attendance. |
| Remember to escape first, then notify the fire department. |
| Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries
every month and change them at least once a year. |
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| Arson is a serious crime. It injures and kills people, destroys
property and destabilizes neighborhoods. Ask law enforcement and fire
authorities to identify buildings at risk for arson. |
| Monitor run-down and vacant buildings. |
| Report suspicious activity. |
| Keep boxes, trash, wood and other combustibles away from buildings.
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| In the case of arson, every second counts. Make sure everyone in your
family knows two ways to escape from the home. Escape first, then notify
the fire department using the 911 system or the local emergency number in
your area. |
| Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and test the
batteries every month. |
| Never open doors that are hot to the touch. |
| Practice feeling your way out of your home with your eyes closed. |
(back to top)
| Never smoke in bed. |
| Replace all mattresses made before the 1973 Federal Mattress
Flammability Standard. Mattresses made since then are required by law to
be safer. |
| Keep lighters, matches and other ignitables in a secured drawer or
cabinet out of reach of children. Children are one of the highest risk
groups for death in residential fires. |
| Keep lit candles away from bedding, curtains, papers and anything else
that can ignite easily. |
| Do not run electrical cords under your bed or trap them against a wall
where heat can build up. And avoid overloading extension cords. |
| Take extra care when using portable heaters. Keep bedding, clothes,
curtains and other flammable items at least three feet away from space
heaters. |
| Only use lab-approved electric blankets and warmers. Check to make
sure the cords are not frayed. |
| Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two escape routes
from their bedrooms, and practice these often. |
| In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and use
the escape plan you have worked out. Get out and stay out. |
| Install at least one working smoke alarm on each level of your home
and in halls outside bedrooms. Test the batteries every month and change
them at least once a year. |
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| Use fire-resistant and protective roofing and materials like stone,
brick and metal to protect your home. Avoid using wood materials that
offer the least fire protection. |
| Let your landscape defend your property. Create defensible space by
thinning trees and brush within 30 feet around your home. |
| Landscape your property with fire resistant plants and vegetation to
prevent fire from spreading quickly. |
| Stack firewood at least 30 feet away from your home and other
structures. |
| Store flammable materials, liquids and solvents in metal containers
outside the home, at least 30 feet away from structures and wooden fences.
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| Burning yard waste is a fire hazard. Check with your local fire
department on a non-emergency number for fire permit requirements and
restricted burning times. |
| Have your chimney inspected and cleaned regularly by a certified
specialist. |
| Provide emergency vehicle access with properly constructed driveways
and roadways, at least 12 feet wide with adequate turnaround space. |
| Post home address signs that are clearly visible from the road. |
| Develop and practice fire escape and evacuation plans with your
family. |
| Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. |
| Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change them at least once a
year. Consider installing the new long- life smoke alarms. |
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| The kitchen is a high danger zone for fire, so be extra cautious when
cooking. |
| Remember not to leave food unattended on the stove. |
| Don't use the oven to heat your home. In addition to being a fire
hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes. |
| Double-check the kitchen to be sure the oven and all appliances are
turned off before going to bed. |
| Don't wear loose clothes or have curtains hanging near a hot stove.
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| Never smoke in bed. Replace mattresses made prior to the 1973 Federal
Mattress Flammability Standard. |
| Keep flammable materials at least three feet away from your heater.
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| Don't overload electrical outlets with several appliances. |
| In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and have
an escape plan already worked out. |
| Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Check the batteries
every month and change them at least once a year. |
(back to top)
| Place a smoke alarm on each level of your home and in all outside
bedrooms. |
| Check smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button. If you cannot
reach the button easily, use a broom handle. |
| Change the batteries in your alarms twice a year - perhaps when you
change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time. |
| Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do - leave
the building immediately by crawling under the smoke when they hear it
sound. |
| If cooking smoke sets off the alarm, do not disable it. Turn on the
range fan, open a window or wave a towel near the alarm. |
| Do not remove the batteries to put in other appliances such as
personal stereos or games. |
| Smoke alarms wear out over time. Replace yours if it is 10 years old
or more. |
| Consider buying a lithium battery-powered smoke alarm which will
operate for 10 years and is sealed so it cannot be tampered with or
opened. |
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| Make sure your space heaters have an emergency shut off in case they
tip over. ONLY use the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. |
| Never refill a space heater while it is operating or still hot. Refuel
outside, away from the house. |
| Make sure wood stoves are properly installed, away from combustible
surfaces, have the proper floor support and adequate ventilation. |
| Never use flammable liquids (such as gasoline) to start or accelerate
fire. |
| Have your furnace and chimney professionally inspected annually and
cleaned if necessary. Chimney tar build-up is a common cause of chimney
fires. |
| Use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to prevent
sparks from igniting nearby carpets or furniture. |
| Never thaw frozen pipes with a blow torch or other open flame. Use hot
water or a UL listed device such as a hand held dryer. |
| Dispose of hot ashes in metal containers placed away from the house.
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| Don't use the oven to heat your home. In addition to being a fire
hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes. |
| If there is a fire hydrant near your home, keep it clear of snow for
easy access. |
| Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries
every month and change them at least once a year. |
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