Home Fire Safety

5/30/2017 (Permalink)

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home you may have as little as two minutes to escape? During a fire, early warning from a working smoke alarm plus a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. Learn what else to do to keep your loved ones safe!

Top Tips for Fire Safety

1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.

2. Test smoke alarms every month. If they’re not working, change the batteries.

3. Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.

4. If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL FOR HELP. Never go back inside for anything or anyone.

   If a Fire Starts:

    
5. Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisher 
6. Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency phone number.
7. Yell "Fire!" several times and go outside right away. If you live in a building with elevators, use the stairs. Leave all your things where they are and save yourself.
8. If closed doors or handles are warm or smoke blocks your primary escape route, use your second way out. Never open doors that are warm to the touch.
9. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Close doors behind you.
10. If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call the fire department or 9-1-1. Open a window and wave a brightly colored cloth or flashlight to signal for help.
11. Once you are outside, go to your meeting place and then send one person to call the fire department. If you cannot get to your meeting place, follow your family emergency communication plan.
12.  

    If your clothes catch on fire:

13. Stop what you’re doing.
14. Drop to the ground and cover your face if you can.
15. Roll over and over or back and forth until the flames go out. Running will only make the fire burn faster.

16.  

    THEN:

    Once the flames are out, cool the burned skin with water for three to five minutes. Call for medical attention.