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Home Fire Safety Tips

In a matter of minutes a fire can completely engulf a home, so understanding these home fire safety tips will be crucial to possibly preventing or surviving a building or house fire.

Do you know what you need to do to lessen the risk of fire in your home?

Here are some home fire safety tips:

One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your family in case of a fire is to install smoke detectors in various places throughout your home.

Install smoke detectors:

Directly inside and outside all bedrooms doors.
On every level of the home, including the basement.
Near living areas, such as dens, family rooms or living rooms.
For additional protection, install in dining rooms, furnace rooms, utility rooms and hallways.
For the hearing impaired, buy smoke detectors that flash a strobe light.

Your home smoke detectors should be tested once a month and batteries should be replaced once a year.

Your family escape plan and fire safety lessons should be developed and practiced and all family members should know what to do in case of a fire:

Draw an escape map with two ways of escaping from all rooms.
A safe meeting place outside of the house should be chosen.
While blindfolded have each family member practice evacuating your home. Because in the event of an actual fire, smoke can make it almost impossible to see.
During practice lessons, try staying low to the ground while escaping the house.
All doors should be felt for heat before opening. Do not open the door if hot! Use an alternate escape method.
Practice stop, drop to the ground and roll if your clothes are on fire.
A flashlight and a bell or whistle should be in each bedroom for the purpose of alerting other family members.
Emergency numbers should be posted next to all your home telephones.

Additional home fire safety tips:

If there is a fire in your home, get out of your home as quickly as possible, then once outside call 9-1-1.
If your home has more than one story, purchase collapsible fire safety ladders and make sure all family members know how to use them correctly.
A-B-C type fire extinguishers should be installed throughout the home and all family members should be taught how to use them.
Combustible material should not be stored near a heat source or in closed areas.

For more information about fire safety codes contact your nearest fire department or Red Cross chapter.

Cooking Precautions:

Make sure that you keep your stove clean and the surrounding area clear of appliances, bags, boxes or other combustibles.
If you are cooking and your pan catches on fire, cover it with a lid or use a kitchen fire extinguisher, be very cautious as you try to put out the fire.
Do not try to move the pan as this could cause the pan fire to spread.
When dealing with a grease fire, never pour water on it!

Electrical Wiring Precautions:

Make sure that all outlets have cover plates.
All appliances and electrical devices that you purchase should come with a label which indicates that they have been tested and inspected by a laboratory such as Factory Mutual (FM) or Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Frayed or cracked wiring should be replaced.
It's not a good idea to have wiring under rugs, in high traffic areas or over nails.
Overloaded outlets or extension cords should be avoided.

What to do during a fire:

As safely and quickly as possible, get out of the house.
If the stairway in your house is safe, use it to escape.
Stay low to the ground when evacuating.
To avoid breathing in smoke and gases, if it's possible cover your mouth with a cloth.

When you are in a room and the door is closed:

If the door is hot to the touch, don't open the door!
Keep the door closed if smoke is coming in from around the door.
Use a window to escape if smoke is entering the room.
If you can not use the window to escape, open the window for fresh air until help arrives.
Open the door slowly if there is no evidence of smoke and the door is not hot to the touch.
Close the door quickly if there is any evidence of smoke or fire in the hall.

From a location outside the house, call the fire department.

What to do after a fire:

Where needed give first aid.
Immediately call for professional medical help for any seriously injured or burn victims.
If there is damage to the building(s), stay out and do not enter.
You can return to your home when the fire department says it is safe.
All food that was exposed to smoke, heat or soot should be thrown away.
Call your insurance agent as soon as possible.
Take inventory of your damaged goods and notify your insurance agent before discarding them.
Keep the receipts for any money spent that is related to the fire loss.