| Home Fire Safety Tips
Prepare the house. - Install and test smoke detectors and install night lights near floor to aid escape.
- Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors.
- Make sure that there are two exits for every room.
- Keep bedroom doors closed while sleeping.
- Ensure that all windows, doors, and other escape options can be opened, even by children.
Create a good escape plan. - Meet with entire family and make a plan about what to do in case of a fire.
- Write down a step-by-step procedure for escape.
- Choose a meeting place outside the house after the evacuation.
- Emphasize that it's vital to NEVER go back into the house. Once you are out, stay out!
Practice your escape plan.
- Choose a monitor to sound the alarm at time of the drill.
- Establish a secondary escape route.
- Use a smoke detector as your sounding device.
- Practice alternate escape routes from every room.
- Roll out of bed when you hear an alarm.
- Feel doors with back of your hand for heat prior to opening.
- If door is hot use alternate escape route.
- Stay low during escape because heat and smoke rise.
- Practice crawling fast and try to improve your time.
- Maintain constant contact with the walls.
IF YOU BECOME TRAPPED:
- Put closed doors between you and the smoke.
- Stuff cracks and cover vents to keep smoke out.
- Signal from a window with a flashlight or sheet.
Escaping from a multi-story building. - Identify route to nearest stairway.
- Identify a safe way to the ground level.
- Set up special arrangements needed for escape. (ropes, ladders, etc.)
- Identify safe area if unable to reach ground level.
- Create special plans for disabled people and children.
Smoke Detector/ Carbon Monoxide Detector Safety Tips. - Install detectors on EVERY floor.
- Vacuum your detectors.
- Replace the battery at every time change (Spring and Fall).
- Make sure the detectors can be heard with the doors closed.
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