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How to make your house fire-safe
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were
an estimated 406,500 residential fires in 1997 - resulting in 3,390
fatalities and estimated property losses of more than $4.5 billion.*
Some other NFPA findings: Accidents related to cooking continue
to ignite more residential fires than any other known cause... and
careless smoking continues to be the leading cause of death. Many
of these fires probably could have been prevented with proper education,
preventive measures and a little planning. Use the following simple
home-fire safety checklist to prevent your family and home from
becoming a startling statistic.
Smoke Detectors
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Install at least one smoke detector
on every level, near bedrooms, and in the garage. |
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Test batteries monthly and replace them annually
-- change batteries when you turn the clocks back in the fall,
this way you're sure to remember! |
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Clean your detector of dust and cobwebs once
a month to ensure it's in proper working condition. |
Safe Cooking
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Take care to prevent grease build-up in the stove
or range hood -- most kitchen fires involve oil or grease. |
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Use a pan or skillet lid to smother grease fires.
NEVER use water -- it causes ignited oil to splatter. |
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Wear fitted clothing when cooking. Long, draping
sleeves can catch fire simply by brushing against a hot burner. |
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Teach children not to play around the stove,
and never leave a stove unattended. |
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Keep flammable items such as towels and curtains
away from the stove. |
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Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know
how to use it. |
Fire-Escape Drills
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Plan and practice a fire escape route from every
room. |
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Use rope or chain ladders from second-story windows. |
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Teach children how to open windows and climb
to safety and not to hide from firefighters. |
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Establish an outside meeting place. |
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Know how to call for emergency assistance. |
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Practice your family fire drill at least twice
a year. |
Using Your Escape Plan
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Crawl low and keep your mouth covered if you
must escape under smoke. |
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Feel closed doors with the back of your hand.
If not hot, slowly open the door and check for smoke and fire.
If hot, use another exit. |
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Stop where you are, drop, cover your face with
your hands, and roll to smother flames if your clothes ignite. |
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Go to the pre-determined meeting place outside
and call for help. |
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Never return to a burning building. |
Safe Smoking Habits
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Use child-resistant lighters. |
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Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. |
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Never smoke in bed. |
Electricity
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Use safety plugs in electrical outlets, especially
if you have small children. |
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Avoid overloading outlets and running cords under
carpets and furniture. |
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Replace cords that are cracked or frayed. |
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Use proper-sized fuses in the fuse box. |
Portable Heaters
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Keep heaters at least three feet from anything
flammable. |
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Turn off heaters when leaving the house or going
to sleep. |
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Plug heaters directly into wall outlets. |
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Keep children and pets away from all heating
appliances. |
*Most recent data published by the National Fire Protection
Association.
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