Safety Tips

Fire Prevention

1. Give heating equipment space: Keep space heaters and all heating equipment at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn. Have a qualified technician inspect central heating systems annually, and clean space heaters every year.
2. Never heat your home with a cook stove: Using burners or an open oven to heat a room creates a major fire hazard and can ignite nearby walls or cabinets.
3. Inspect gas heaters and electric outlets: Gas heaters should burn with a clean blue flame; a yellow flame means it needs professional service. Avoid overloading outlets or using extension cords on large appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, or heaters.
4. Store fuels outdoors: Never store gasoline, camp fuel, or propane cylinders indoors or in attached garages. Fumes can build up and cause an explosion. Keep all fuels outdoors, far away from children.
5. Keep lighters and matches locked away: Store all matches and lighters in high cabinets or locked spaces where small children cannot reach them.
6. Practice candle safety: Blow out all candles when leaving a room or going to bed. Keep burning candles at least 12 inches away from flammable materials, or switch to flameless LED candles.
7. Keep a portable fire extinguisher ready: Store a 5 lb. ABC All-Purpose dry chemical extinguisher in a visible, easily accessible location on every level of the home rather than tucked away in a cabinet.
8. Install and maintain smoke alarms: Install smoke alarms in every bedroom and outside each sleeping area. Test smoke alarms monthly. Replace batteries once a year (or immediately if it chirps). Replace the entire alarm unit every 10 years, or immediately if a sealed-battery unit chirps.
9. Create and practice a home escape plan: Know two ways out of every room and establish an outside meeting place a safe distance from the home. Practice the plan regularly with everyone in the household.
10. Get out, stay low, and stay out: If the smoke alarm sounds or if you see smoke, get low under the smoke and evacuate immediately. Never go back inside a burning building for anything or anyone.
11. Respond safely to cooking fires: Keep a tight-fitting lid near your skillet when cooking. If a grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Always prioritize evacuation: get outside first, stay outside, and then call 9-1-1.
12. Treat burns properly and prevent scalding: Cool burns immediately with cool running water for 3 to 5 minutes, then cover loosely with a clean, dry cloth. Never apply ice, butter, or oil to a burn. Set your home water heater to 120°F (49°C) to prevent scalding. Seek medical attention if skin is blistered or peeled.

Fire Safety

1. Make a home fire escape plan and practice it regularly.
2. Know at least 2 ways out of every room and out of the building.
3. Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance from the house.
4. Teach children how to escape and where to meet outside.
5. If the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Never go back inside.
6. If there is smoke, get low and crawl under it.
7. Call 9-1-1 after you are safely outside.
8. Test your smoke alarms once a month to make sure they work.