Here are some tips to help you prevent fires and help avoid injury or death from a fire:
- Cook Safely: Never leave a stove unattended. If you must leave the stove for any length of time, turn the burner off. Keep the pot handles turned inward. This prevents anyone from accidentally bumping the handles. Always keep children away from the stove. This will prevent a child from pulling a pot of scalding water on top of them.
- Install Smoke Detectors: The best line of defense is a smoke detector. Smoke detectors are early warning devices especially during sleep. Install a detector on every floor. Install a detector outside every sleeping area and inside the sleeping area if you keep your doors shut. Batteries should be replaced twice a year. Every time you change you clocks, change your battery. Replace your smoke detector every 10 years.
- Have a Planned Escape: Always have a plan when a fire does occur. Try to have 2 escape routes out of each room. Familiarize your family or guest of your exit plan. Then have everyone practice this plan. Once outside, everyone should meet at the same place. Try to practice your plan when every time you change your batteries in your smoke detector. Always crawl low and under the smoke when escaping. Feel the door with the back to the hand. If the door is hot, use another way out. If the door is not hot, then open door slowly and check for smoke and/or fire.
- Be Careful when Smoking: Don't smoke in bed or when your drowsy. Do not empty your cigarettes into a trash can. Use a deep non-tip ashtray. Always soak the butts before dumping them. Do not discard your butts out of your moving vehicles. In the right conditions, they can cause grass or brush fires.
- Lighter and Matches: Always keep lighters and matches out of reach of children and in a locked area. Children should always tell an adult if they discover matches or lighters. Also, children need to tell an adult if they see another child playing with matches.
- Electrical Safety: Keep extension cords to a minimum. Do not run extension cords across areas of travel such as doorways or under rugs. Replace cracked or frayed cords. Do not replace a fuse with a larger one if it has blown. Do not allow furniture to be placed on top of cords. Use child safety covers to cover unused outlets. This will prevent a child from sticking an object or their finger in the outlet.
- Space Heaters and Fire Places: Keep objects at least 3 feet from the heaters or fire places. Always have your fire places and furnaces inspected once a year by a professional. Always keep a grill guard around your heaters. Keep children away from the fire places and heaters. Never get to close to the heaters or fire places with your clothing, especially if the clothing is flammable.
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