Home Fire Safety

Here are several things you can routinely check to help prevent household fires:

KITCHEN:

• All electrical appliances and tools should have a testing agency label.
• Have appliances repaired if they aren’t working right.
• Don’t overload the outlets.
• Water and electricity don’t mix. Have dry hands; don’t stand in water. If an appliance gets wet, have it serviced.
• Don’t store things over the stove. It is easy to get burned when reaching over the stove.
• Turn pot handles so children can’t pull them down.
• Wear short sleeve or tight fitting sleeves when cooking.  Loose-fitting garments can catch fire.

LIVING OR FAMILY ROOM:

• If you or someone in your home smokes, use large ashtrays that aren’t likely to tip over.
• If you have a smoker in the house, check under cushions for smoldering cigarettes before going to bed.
• Put matches and lighters out of children’s reach.
• Use a metal fireplace screen.
• Have the chimney checked and cleaned regularly.
• Allow air space around the TV and stereo to prevent overheating. If the TV doesn’t work right it could be a fire danger.
• Keep portable heaters at least three feet from people and combustables.
• Use special outlet covers on any unused outlets to keep children’s fingers and other objects out.

BEDROOM:

• Buy a smoke detector and install it outside each bedroom.
• Plan two escapes from each bedroom.
• Don’t smoke in bed.
• Don’t overload electrical outlets.
• If you are hearing impaired or sleep with your bedroom door closed, consider putting a smoke detector in your room.

BASEMENT, GARAGE, STORAGE:

• Store gasoline and other flamables in tight metal containers.
• Don’t use flamable liquids near heat, a pilot light or while smoking.
• Have heating equipment checked yearly.
• Clean up workareas.
• If a fuse blows, find the cause (replace with a fuse of the correct size.)
• Sort and remove trash. Don’t store things near the furnace or heater.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A FIRE:

• Get out immediately, don’t try and grab your possessions they can be replaced, you can’t.
• Have a predetermined place to meet all the occupants of the residence so everyone can be accounted for.
• Call 911.  Don’t assume someone else has.
• Give any information you can to the fire department regarding the location of the fire and what is burning.