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Fire
Fire is the most common of all hazards and causes several deaths and injuries each year, as well as millions of dollars in property damage.
Keep your family safe
- Never leave small children alone in your home, even for a minute.
- Place a barrier around open flames.
- Do not allow children to play near kitchen, stoves or other sources of fire.
- Do not wear loose-fitting clothing near a stove or other sources of fire.
Make your home "fire safe"
- Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each level of your home.
- If people sleep with doors closed, install smoke alarms inside sleeping areas as well.
- Use the test button to check each smoke alarm once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately. Replace all batteries once a year.
- Vacuum away cobwebs and dust from your smoke alarms monthly.
- Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time, so replace your smoke alarms every ten years.
- Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department on how to use them.
- Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home.
- Do not smoke in your home, especially in bed.
- Dispose of cigarette butts, matches, and ashes with care.
- Keep matches and lighters away from children.
- Check electric appliances and cords regularly for wear or loose connections.
Plan your escape routes
- Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
- Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on upper floors. Learn how to use them and store them near the window.
- Select a location outside your home where everyone should meet after escaping.
- Practice your escape plan with your family at least twice every year. Even preschool-aged children (3 and older) can begin to learn what to do in case of a fire.
Escape safely
- Do not stop to dress or put out a fire. Most deaths occur from suffocation due to hot fumes and smoke, not from direct burning.
- Once you are out, stay out! Call the fire department from a neighbor's home.
- If you see smoke or fire in your first escape route, use your second way out. If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke to your exit.
- If you are escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it. If it is warm, use your second way out.
- If smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed. Signal for help using a bright-colored cloth at the window. If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and tell them where you are.
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