- Most fire deaths occur at home and in homes with no working smoke detectors!!!
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Smoke detectors warn you of fire in time to let you escape. Install them on
each level of your home and outside of each sleeping area. Follow the manufacturer's directions,
and test once a week. Replace the batteries twice a year, or when the
detector chirps to signal that the battery is dead. Don't ever take the battery out for
other uses!
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If fire breaks out in your home, you must get out FAST!
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Have a family meeting to discuss what to do if there is a fire.
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Practice your plan.
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Plan two exits from each room.
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Keep calm.
- Close the door behind you.
- Don’t go back.
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By deciding on a meeting place, you will know if everyone has gotten out safely.
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Dial 911 to report a fire.
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Don’t use elevators - it may stop and trap you.
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Try to place one hand in contact with the wall. This may prevent you from getting lost.
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If there’s smoke, escape by staying very low to the ground where the air is cooler.
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Open window at the top to let out heat and smoke; and at the bottom to breathe
clean air.
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If you cannot get out, wave a sheet out the window.
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Don’t go back into a fire for any reason.
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Keep portable space heaters at least 3 feet from paper, curtains, furniture, clothing,
bedding, or anything else that can burn. Never leave space heaters on when you leave home
or go to bed, and keep all children and pets well away from them.
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Carelessly discarded cigarettes cause tens of thousands of home fires every year. Never
smoke in bed or when you are drowsy! Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers, and put
water on the butts before discarding them. Before going to bed, check under and around
sofa cushions for smoldering cigarettes.
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Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles, and don’t leave cooking unattended. Keep
your pot’s handles turned inward so children won’t knock or pull them over the
edge of the stove. If grease catches fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan to smother
the flames, then turn off the burner.
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In the hands of a child, matches or lighters are extremely dangerous. Store them up high
where kids can’t reach them, preferably in a locked cabinet. And teach your children
from the start that matches and lighters are tools for adults, not toys for kids.
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If an appliance smokes or begins to smell unusual, unplug it immediately and have it
repaired. Check all your electrical cords, and replace any that are cracked or frayed. If
you use extension cords, replace any that are cracked or frayed; and do not overload them
or run them under rugs. Remember that fuses and circuit breakers protect you from fire; do
not tamper with the fuse box or use fuses of an improper size.
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If someone gets burned, immediately place the wound in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes
to ease the pain. Do not use butter on a burn, as this could prolong the heat and further
damage the skin. If the burn blisters or chars, seek medical assistance immediately.
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STOP, DROP, AND ROLL!
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Everyone should know this rule: if your clothes catch on fires, DON’T RUN!! Stop
where you are, drop to the ground, and roll over and over to smother the flames. Cover
your face with your hands to protect your face and lungs.
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If you encounter smoke using your primary exit, use your alternate route instead. If you
must exit through smoke, clean air will be several inches off the floor. Get down on your
hands and knees, and crawl to the nearest safe exit.