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Home Fire Safety Tips

Working Smoke Detectors Save Lives!
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWFebsmHrEc
- The places your home needs to have a smoke detector: a) Inside of every bedroom, b) Just outside of every bedroom, c) On every level of your home including the basement.
- Smoke alarms should be tested every month!
- Smoke alarms should be replaced every 7 to 10 years.
- Smoke alarm batteries should be changed every six months!
  - If your smoke alarm has a non replaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
  - If your smoke alarm is powered by your home’s electricity, the smoke alarm’s back-up battery will still need to be replaced.
Have a Home Fire Escape Plan
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc-AkbpdSYk
- Parents! Here are some considerations when building your home escape plan!
- Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them.
- Teach your children how to escape on their own in case you cannot help them. Make sure they can open windows, remove screens, and unlock doors.
- Have a plan for everyone in your home who has a disability.
- Practice your home fire escape drill with overnight guests
Have a Safe Meeting Place
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh_icreTA08
- Having a safe meeting place is very important! If you are not at your safe meeting place, firefighters will assume that you are still inside the burning house! This could make for a very dangerous situation!
- Examples of good family meeting places:
  - A mailbox at the edge of the street.
  - A next door neighbor’s front porch.
  - A tree that is a safe distance from the house.
- Examples of bad family meeting places:
  - A neighbor’s house that is across the street.
  - A swing set in the backyard.
  - The front porch.
Plan a Safe Escape for ALL OCCUPANTS
- If anyone in your home cannot escape on their own in an emergency, they are at a much higher risk of injury or death. Keep in mind that circumstances change. A new baby or an elderly relative visiting or moving in may change things for you.
- It is important to take into consideration that not everyone in your home will be able to get out by themselves.
  - Adults with limited mobility should not be above the first floor.
  - Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them.
  - Teach your children how to escape on their own in case you cannot help them. Make sure they can open windows, remove screens, and unlock doors.
Make sure to have SECOND ESCAPE ROUTE
- It is important to identify the second escape route in each bedroom. If your first escape route is blocked by smoke, heat, or fire, you need to go to your second escape route immediately! Seconds count!
- Windows are usually the best second escape route in a bedroom. If you have to use your second escape route, ISOLATE your room by closing the door. You can place a blanket or towel under the door to stop smoke or heat.
  - Feeling the door for heat, closing the door and isolating video (Video Coming Soon)
- Next open the window and remove the screen. PARENTS! Teach your children how to open their bedroom windows and remove the screens.
- NEVER JUMP OUT OF THE WINDOW!
- If your window is far off the ground, having a safety ladder will save you valuable seconds and help you escape! Make sure to practice how to deploy and use your safe ladder.
  - Safety ladder instruction video (Video Coming Soon)
- If you are unable to safely climb from the window, make as much noise as you can to get the attention of firefighters and bystanders.
CLOSE BEFORE YOU DOZE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSP03BE74WA
Kitchen Fire Safety
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm6UMPP2z8I