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Safety Tips
Fire Safety
Use this checklist to increase your awareness of how fires can occur and to learn basic fire protection skills. By spotting fire hazards and taking some simple precautions, most fires can be prevented.
Smoke Alarms
- Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home, including the basement, and in or near sleeping areas?
- Know for certain that everyone in your family awakens to the sound of the smoke alarm? (It's important to find out during realistic family fire drills, in case some family members have hearing problems, or simply sleep through the sound of the alarm.)
- Keep your alarms clean, and test the batteries monthly? (It's a good idea to test all smoke alarms when you return from an extended trip in case a battery has gone dead during your absence.)
- Replace batteries when the alarm "chirps" or at least once a year?
- Relocate the smoke alarm if it is causing nuisance alarms as a result of being placed too close to the kitchen or bathroom?
- Install new smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or older (sooner if one is damaged or not working)?
Escape Plan
- Does every member of your family know your plan for escape in the event of fire?
- Does everyone know at least two ways out of each room?
- Have you agreed on a meeting place outside of your home where you will gather to wait for the fire department?
- Does everyone know to get out first, then call for help from a neighbor's or nearby phone?
- Does everyone understand that they should never, ever go back inside a burning building?
- Has your family practiced escaping through smoke by getting down on hands and knees and crawling low under it (with their head 12" to 24" above the ground) to the nearest exit? (Make sure everyone understands that they should use the exit "free from smoke or flames if they can.)
- Does everyone in your family know how to stop, drop, and roll on the ground to smother flames if clothes catch fire?
Household Heating Equipment
Heating equipment is the second-leading cause of U.S. home fires. In addition to preventable injuries and deaths from heating equipment fires, contact burns and carbon monoxide poisoning are also a risk.
Properly use and maintain your heating equipment. Furnaces should be inspected annually and cleaned and repaired as needed. Keep the area around the furnace clean and clear of combustibles and all items that can block the flow of air around the furnace. Keep flammable liquids well away from heat sources (preferably in an outdoor shed).
Fireplaces should be protected with screens or tempered glass doors. Kindling and other combustible items must be kept at least three feet away from the opening. Have the chimney inspected before the heating season and cleaned if necessary.
When purchasing an electric space heater, look for the UL mark. Keep at least three feet between the heater and anything that can burn. Turn it off before falling asleep or leaving the area you are heating.
Wood and Coal Burning Stoves
Make sure wood and coal burning stoves are properly installed and meet your town's building and fire codes.
hese stoves are not designed to burn trash or other items. Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids to start a stove fire. Burn coal only if recommended by the manufacturer.
Remember that wood and coal stoves get very hot. If you have young children living in or visiting your home, supervise them carefully and consider installing a temporary stove guard to help prevent contact burns.
Do you:
- Follow instructions for proper location of your stove, placing it at least 3 feet away from walls and other combustible materials?
- Follow stove instructions and cleaning and maintenance requirements?
- Have chimneys inspected each year and cleaned, if necessary, by a professional chimney sweep to avoid dangerous creosote buildup?
- Use an approved stone board under your wood or coal stove to protect the floor from heat and stray embers?
Kerosene Heaters
Ask your fire marshal about local and state codes and regulations governing the use of kerosene heaters. These heaters are illegal for home use in some areas.
Use kerosene only. Never use gasoline in your heater. Gasoline is highly volatile, greatly increasing the risk of fire.
Refill kerosene heaters outside, after they have cooled down.
If a flare-up occurs, activate the manual shut-off switch and call your fire department.
Do you:
- Use properly labeled fuel containers to reduce the likelihood of mistaking another liquid for kerosene?
- Use 1K kerosene? (Other grades contain more sulfur and will increase emissions, posing a health problem. If you buy kerosene from a gas station, make sure you or the attendant is using the correct pump.)
- Refuel outdoors?
- Place the heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn and in a low traffic area so it will not be knocked over or trap you in the event of a fire?
- Keep the room ventilated (a door open, or a window ajar) to prevent an indoor air pollution problem?
Gas-Fired Space Heaters
These heaters should not be used in small-enclosed areas, especially bedrooms, because of the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for lighting the pilot. Gas vapors may accumulate and ignite explosively, burning your hand or face.
Do not operate a vented-style heater un-vented. It might allow combustion products to reach dangerous levels, resulting in illness or death.
Do not use a propane heater (LP) with a gas cylinder stored in the body of the heater or stored anywhere in the house. This practice is prohibited in most of the United States.
Do you:
- Light one match, if needed for lighting the pilot, before you turn on the gas to prevent gas buildup?
- Keep flammable materials away from gas-fired appliances?
Cooking Equipment
Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires. Kitchen fires are very common, but highly preventable.
Do you:
- Keep constant vigilance on anything you're cooking on a setting higher than "keep warm."
- Keep pot holders, plastic utensils, towels, or other non-cooking equipment away from the range, because these items can catch fire?
- Roll up or fasten long, loose sleeves while cooking?
- Ensure everyone knows how to stop, drop, and roll on the ground to smother flames if clothes catch fire from cooking or other heat/flame sources?
- Store candy or cookies away from cooking equipment to avoid the temptation kids feel to climb on cooking equipment?
Cigarettes, Lighters and Matches
Smoking materials are the leading cause of home fire deaths. The tools used to light them are also a fire hazard.
Do you:
- Keep lighters and matches in a locked cabinet
out of sight and reach of children, and remind children
that they are tools for adults, not toys? (If you keep these
items in a pocketbook, remember to store it out of reach
as well.)
- Assure that cigarette butts are fully extinguished
before emptying ashtrays, and never place a cigarette butt
directly into a trashcan without dousing it with water first?
- Carefully check furniture where smokers have
been sitting for accidentally discarded smoking materials?
- Use sturdy ashtrays that are placed on stable
surfaces?
Source: Home Safety Council
For more information visit the Home
Safety Council Website
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