Home Fire Safety Tips to Keep You Safe

Fire Safety Tips

• Prevent clothes dryers from overheating by always removing lint from the screens before and after use.
• Every home should have at least one fire extinguisher that’s kept out of children’s reach.
• When choosing a fire extinguisher for the home, select one that is classified A-B-C. An A-B-C fire extinguisher fights three different types of fires, including those started by flammable liquids, electricity, and combustibles.
• Remember the acronym PASS when it comes to using a fire extinguisher: Pull out the pin. Aim at the fire’s base. Squeeze together the levers. Sweep from one side of the fire’s base to the other.
• Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor in the home, placed outside of sleeping areas and inside each bedroom, and tested monthly.

Preparing for and Preventing a Home Fire

• Reduce the risk of fires due to space heaters by placing them in a location that is away from combustible items, turning them off before sleeping, and never leaving them unattended.
• When burning candles, place the holders on heat-resistant surfaces that cannot easily be reached or knocked over by children or pets.
• Store lighters and matches in a location inaccessible to children.
• Prevent smoking-related fires by putting out cigarettes in ashtrays and dousing them with water before throwing them in the trash.
• Educate kids about fire safety and teach them never to pick up or play with matches, lighters, or other items that can be used to start a fire.

Smoke Alarms

• Maintain smoke alarms by cleaning cobwebs and dust from sensors and vents. Annually, use a vacuum to clean the alarm.
• Test smoke alarms on a monthly basis to ensure that they are operating properly.
• Replace batteries once a year or whenever the battery warning chirps.
• Replace all smoke alarms that are 10 years old, including those with non-replaceable batteries. When looking at homes for sale, ask how old the smoke alarms are.
• Install smoke alarms 10 feet away from the kitchen and as high as possible on the wall or on the ceiling.

Home Fire Escape Plans

• Create a fire escape plan with two exits from every room, and conduct practice drills with the entire family at least once every six months.
• When creating the fire escape plan, draw a layout that shows each room and potential escape route in the home.
• Teach family members to never go back into a home that’s on fire after successfully escaping.
• When selecting a meeting spot, consider the location and its proximity to the home. The ideal spot should also be one that’s a permanent fixture
• Explain the escape plan to children and ensure that they recognize the sound of the fire alarm and know to check the door for heat and how to stay low to the ground.

Cooking Safely

• Prevent kitchen fires by always staying in the kitchen while cooking food on the stove.
• Move flammable items such as paper towels or pot holders at least three feet from the stove and other heat sources in the kitchen.
• Create a three-foot area around the stove where children and pets are not allowed.
• Keep the cooking area clean and grease-free to avoid potential fires from grease or food splatters.
• In the event of a grease fire, smother it with a lid and turn the burner off. Never attempt to douse this type of fire with water.

Carbon Monoxide Safety

• Recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which include dizziness, headaches, nausea, and confusion.
• Keep portable generators at least 20 feet from the home, and never use them indoors.
• Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed on every level of the home.
• Every seven years, replace all carbon monoxide detectors in the home.
• All occupants in a home must exit the premises immediately if the carbon monoxide detector sounds.

Miscellaneous Fire Safety Tips

• Do not use extension cords on a long-term basis, and avoid using them with air conditioners or heaters.
• Never use more plugs than a socket is designed for.
• Avoid using combustible chemicals such as charcoal lighter fluid to light a fire in a fireplace.
• Never place a candle near a flammable object such as books, carpets, or drapes.
• Avoid smoking cigarettes while in bed. Cigarettes can set sheets and other nearby objects on fire.

More on Fire Safety

• For Parents: Fire Safety: Visit the KidsHealth website for a list of fire-prevention tips to be shared with the whole family. Electrical appliances, candles, fire extinguisher usage, and smoke alarms are some of the subjects this article covers.
• Fire Safety for Kids: Click this link to go to the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s fire safety Web page. Readers can find statistics on fires and mortality rates as well as advice on how to prevent children from starting fires.
• Fire Safety: Go here to visit the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Web page about fire safety. It features a checklist and links to other fire safety programs in the state.
• Fire Safety for People With Disabilities: Visit West Virginia’s ReadyWV website to read a release from the state fire marshal on protecting real estate and one’s family from fire. It includes information about planning an escape, the proper use of smoke alarms, and other sites with additional information.
• Senior Fire Safety: Those interested in protecting older adults from the risks of fire can click this link to view a brochure by the Seattle Fire Department.